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Tsekrekou M, Giannakou M, Papanikolopoulou K, Skretas G. Protein aggregation and therapeutic strategies in SOD1- and TDP-43- linked ALS. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1383453. [PMID: 38855322 PMCID: PMC11157337 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1383453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with severe socio-economic impact. A hallmark of ALS pathology is the presence of aberrant cytoplasmic inclusions composed of misfolded and aggregated proteins, including both wild-type and mutant forms. This review highlights the critical role of misfolded protein species in ALS pathogenesis, particularly focusing on Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), and emphasizes the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies targeting these misfolded proteins directly. Despite significant advancements in understanding ALS mechanisms, the disease remains incurable, with current treatments offering limited clinical benefits. Through a comprehensive analysis, the review focuses on the direct modulation of the misfolded proteins and presents recent discoveries in small molecules and peptides that inhibit SOD1 and TDP-43 aggregation, underscoring their potential as effective treatments to modify disease progression and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsekrekou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Giannakou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Papanikolopoulou
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
- ResQ Biotech, Patras Science Park, Rio, Greece
| | - Georgios Skretas
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
- ResQ Biotech, Patras Science Park, Rio, Greece
- Institute for Bio-innovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
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2
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Xin J, Huang S, Wen J, Li Y, Li A, Satyanarayanan SK, Yao X, Su H. Drug Screening and Validation Targeting TDP-43 Proteinopathy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0440. [PMID: 38739934 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) stands as a rare, yet severely debilitating disorder marked by the deterioration of motor neurons (MNs) within the brain and spinal cord, which is accompanied by degenerated corticobulbar/corticospinal tracts and denervation in skeletal muscles. Despite ongoing research efforts, ALS remains incurable, attributed to its intricate pathogenic mechanisms. A notable feature in the pathology of ALS is the prevalence of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) proteinopathy, detected in approximately 97% of ALS cases, underscoring its significance in the disease's progression. As a result, strategies targeting the aberrant TDP-43 protein have garnered attention as a potential avenue for ALS therapy. This review delves into the existing drug screening systems aimed at TDP-43 proteinopathy and the models employed for drug efficacy validation. It also explores the hurdles encountered in the quest to develop potent medications against TDP-43 proteinopathy, offering insights into the intricacies of drug discovery and development for ALS. Through this comprehensive analysis, the review sheds light on the critical aspects of identifying and advancing therapeutic solutions for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Sen Huang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases; National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Yunhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Ang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Senthil Kumaran Satyanarayanan
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong Science Park, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiaoli Yao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases; National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huanxing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
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Eck RJ, Stair JG, Kraemer BC, Liachko NF. Simple models to understand complex disease: 10 years of progress from Caenorhabditis elegans models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Front Neurosci 2024; 17:1300705. [PMID: 38239833 PMCID: PMC10794587 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1300705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are a powerful model system to study human disease, with numerous experimental advantages including significant genetic and cellular homology to vertebrate animals, a short lifespan, and tractable behavioral, molecular biology and imaging assays. Beginning with the identification of SOD1 as a genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), C. elegans have contributed to a deeper understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of this devastating neurodegenerative disease. More recently this work has expanded to encompass models of other types of ALS and the related disease frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-TDP), including those characterized by mutation or accumulation of the proteins TDP-43, C9orf72, FUS, HnRNPA2B1, ALS2, DCTN1, CHCHD10, ELP3, TUBA4A, CAV1, UBQLN2, ATXN3, TIA1, KIF5A, VAPB, GRN, and RAB38. In this review we summarize these models and the progress and insights from the last ten years of using C. elegans to study the neurodegenerative diseases ALS and FTLD-TDP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Randall J. Eck
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jade G. Stair
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Brian C. Kraemer
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Nicole F. Liachko
- Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
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Chen L, Zhang S, Liu S, Gao S. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Mechanism: Insights from the Caenorhabditis elegans Models. Cells 2024; 13:99. [PMID: 38201303 PMCID: PMC10778397 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010099] [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: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons. Despite extensive research in various model animals, the cellular signal mechanisms of ALS remain elusive, impeding the development of efficacious treatments. Among these models, a well-characterized and diminutive organism, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), has emerged as a potent tool for investigating the molecular and cellular dimensions of ALS pathogenesis. This review summarizes the contributions of C. elegans models to our comprehension of ALS, emphasizing pivotal findings pertaining to genetics, protein aggregation, cellular pathways, and potential therapeutic strategies. We analyze both the merits and constraints of the C. elegans system in the realm of ALS research and point towards future investigations that could bridge the chasm between C. elegans foundational discoveries and clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Shangbang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China; (L.C.); (S.Z.); (S.L.)
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Hedge JM, Hunter DL, Sanders E, Jarema KA, Olin JK, Britton KN, Lowery M, Knapp BR, Padilla S, Hill BN. Influence of Methylene Blue or Dimethyl Sulfoxide on Larval Zebrafish Development and Behavior. Zebrafish 2023; 20:132-145. [PMID: 37406269 PMCID: PMC10627343 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2023.0017] [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] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of larval zebrafish developmental testing and assessment, specifically larval zebrafish locomotor activity, has been recognized as a higher throughput testing strategy to identify developmentally toxic and neurotoxic chemicals. There are, however, no standardized protocols for this type of assay, which could result in confounding variables being overlooked. Two chemicals commonly employed during early-life stage zebrafish assays, methylene blue (antifungal agent) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, a commonly used vehicle) have been reported to affect the morphology and behavior of freshwater fish. In this study, we conducted developmental toxicity (morphology) and neurotoxicity (behavior) assessments of commonly employed concentrations for both chemicals (0.6-10.0 μM methylene blue; 0.3%-1.0% v/v DMSO). A light-dark transition behavioral testing paradigm was applied to morphologically normal, 6 days postfertilization (dpf) zebrafish larvae kept at 26°C. Additionally, an acute DMSO challenge was administered based on early-life stage zebrafish assays typically used in this research area. Results from developmental toxicity screens were similar between both chemicals with no morphological abnormalities detected at any of the concentrations tested. However, neurodevelopmental results were mixed between the two chemicals of interest. Methylene blue resulted in no behavioral changes up to the highest concentration tested, 10.0 μM. By contrast, DMSO altered larval behavior following developmental exposure at concentrations as low as 0.5% (v/v) and exhibited differential concentration-response patterns in the light and dark photoperiods. These results indicate that developmental DMSO exposure can affect larval zebrafish locomotor activity at routinely used concentrations in developmental neurotoxicity assessments, whereas methylene blue does not appear to be developmentally or neurodevelopmentally toxic to larval zebrafish at routinely used concentrations. These results also highlight the importance of understanding the influence of experimental conditions on larval zebrafish locomotor activity that may ultimately confound the interpretation of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan M. Hedge
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Advanced Experimental Toxicology Models Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Deborah L. Hunter
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Erik Sanders
- Aquatics Lab Services LLC 1112 Nashville Street St. Peters, MO 63376, USA
| | - Kimberly A. Jarema
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Immediate Office, Program Operations Staff, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Jeanene K. Olin
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Katy N. Britton
- ORAU Research Participation Program hosted by EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Morgan Lowery
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Bridget R. Knapp
- ORISE Research Participation Program hosted by EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Stephanie Padilla
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
| | - Bridgett N. Hill
- ORISE Research Participation Program hosted by EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Rapid Assay Development Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, USA
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Qi H, Kan K, Sticht C, Bennewitz K, Li S, Qian X, Poschet G, Kroll J. Acrolein-inducing ferroptosis contributes to impaired peripheral neurogenesis in zebrafish. Front Neurosci 2023; 16:1044213. [PMID: 36711148 PMCID: PMC9877442 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1044213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with physiological disorders such as delayed wound healing, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Over 50% of diabetic patients will develop DPN, characterized by motor dysfunction and impaired sensory nerve function. In a previous study, we have uncovered acrolein (ACR) as an upstream initiator which induced impaired glucose homeostasis and microvascular alterations in zebrafish. Whether ACR has specific effects on peripheral neurogenesis and mediates DPN, is still waiting for clarification. Methods To evaluate the function of ACR in peripheral nerve development, in vivo experiments were performed in Tg(hb9:GFP) zebrafish. In addition, a series of rescue experiments, metabolomics assessment, and bioinformatics analysis was performed aimed at identifying the molecular mechanisms behind ACR's function and impaired neurogenesis. Results Impaired motor neuron development was confirmed in wild-type embryos treated with external ACR. ACR treated embryos displayed ferroptosis and reduction of several amino acids and increased glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, ferroptosis inducer caused similarly suppressed neurogenesis in zebrafish embryos, while anti-ACR treatment or ferroptosis inhibitor could successfully reverse the detrimental phenotypes of ACR on neurogenesis in zebrafish. Discussion Our data indicate that ACR could directly activate ferroptosis and impairs peripheral neurogenesis. The data strongly suggest ACR and activated ferroptosis as inducers and promising therapeutic targets for future DPN studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haozhe Qi
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany,Department of Vascular Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kejia Kan
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China,Department of Surgery, Universitätsmedizin Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Carsten Sticht
- The Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Core Facility, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Katrin Bennewitz
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Shu Li
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Xin Qian
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Gernot Poschet
- Metabolomics Core Technology Platform, Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jens Kroll
- Department of Vascular Biology and Tumor Angiogenesis, European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany,*Correspondence: Jens Kroll,
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He J, Zhao F, Chen B, Cui N, Li Z, Qin J, Luo L, Zhao C, Li L. Alterations in immune cell heterogeneities in the brain of aged zebrafish using single-cell resolution. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2023:10.1007/s11427-021-2223-4. [PMID: 36607494 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-021-2223-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Immunocytes, including the microglia, are crucial in the neurodegenerative process in old people. However, the understanding of regarding microglia heterogeneity and other involved immunocytes remains elusive. We analyzed 26,456 immunocytes from 12-and 26-month-old zebrafish brains at single-cell resolution. Microglia and T lymphocytes were detected in the brain at both time points. Two types of microglia were annotated, namely, ac+ microglia and xr+ microglia, which were clustered into subsets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and subsets 6, 7, 8, 9, respectively. Diversified microglia predominated the adult brains and cooperated with T cells to perform the functions of immune response and neuronal nutrition. We validated the specific microglia markers. The novel transgenic lines, Tg(lgals3bpb:eGFP) and Tg(apoc1:eGFP), were created, which faithfully labeled ac+ microglia and served as valuable labeling tools. However, the microglia population reduced while T cells of six subtypes intriguingly increased to serve as the primary immune cells in aged brains. Unlike in 12-month-old brains, T cells, together with microglia, exhibited a coordinated signature of inflammation in the 26-month-old brains. Our findings revealed the immunocytes atlas in aged zebrafish brains. It implied the involvement of microglia and T cells in the progression of neurodegeneration in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangyong He
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.,Research Center of Stem cells and Aging, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China
| | - Fangying Zhao
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Bingyue Chen
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Nianfei Cui
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Zhifan Li
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jie Qin
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Lingfei Luo
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Congjian Zhao
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Medical Electronics and Information Technology, School of Bioinformatics, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, 400065, China.
| | - Li Li
- Institute of Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China. .,Research Center of Stem cells and Aging, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China.
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8
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Gureev AP, Sadovnikova IS, Popov VN. Molecular Mechanisms of the Neuroprotective Effect of Methylene Blue. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2022; 87:940-956. [PMID: 36180986 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922090073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Methylene blue (MB) is the first fully synthetic compound that had found its way into medicine over 120 years ago as a treatment against malaria. MB has been approved for the treatment of methemoglobinemia, but there are premises for its repurposing as a neuroprotective agent based on the efficacy of this compound demonstrated in the models of Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, traumatic brain injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, depressive disorders, etc. However, the goal of this review was not so much to focus on the therapeutic effects of MB in the treatment of various neurodegeneration diseases, but to delve into the mechanisms of direct or indirect effect of this drug on the signaling pathways. MB can act as an alternative electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain in the case of dysfunctional electron transport chain. It also displays the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, inhibits monoamine oxidase (MAO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), activates signaling pathways involved in the mitochondrial pool renewal (mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy), and prevents aggregation of misfolded proteins. Comprehensive understanding of all aspects of direct and indirect influence of MB, and not just some of its effects, can help in further research of this compound, including its clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem P Gureev
- Voronezh State University, Voronezh, 394018, Russia.
- Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036, Voronezh, Russia
| | | | - Vasily N Popov
- Voronezh State University, Voronezh, 394018, Russia
- Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, 394036, Voronezh, Russia
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9
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Kim S, Kim DK, Jeong S, Lee J. The Common Cellular Events in the Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Associated Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5894. [PMID: 35682574 PMCID: PMC9180188 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23115894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are inseparably linked with aging and increase as life expectancy extends. There are common dysfunctions in various cellular events shared among neurogenerative diseases, such as calcium dyshomeostasis, neuroinflammation, and age-associated decline in the autophagy-lysosome system. However, most of all, the prominent pathological feature of neurodegenerative diseases is the toxic buildup of misfolded protein aggregates and inclusion bodies accompanied by an impairment in proteostasis. Recent studies have suggested a close association between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and neurodegenerative pathology in cellular and animal models as well as in human patients. The contribution of mutant or misfolded protein-triggered ER stress and its associated signaling events, such as unfolded protein response (UPR), to the pathophysiology of various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and prion disease, is described here. Impaired UPR action is commonly attributed to exacerbated ER stress, pathogenic protein aggregate accumulation, and deteriorating neurodegenerative pathologies. Thus, activating certain UPR components has been shown to alleviate ER stress and its associated neurodegeneration. However, uncontrolled activation of some UPR factors has also been demonstrated to worsen neurodegenerative phenotypes, suggesting that detailed molecular mechanisms around ER stress and its related neurodegenerations should be understood to develop effective therapeutics against aging-associated neurological syndromes. We also discuss current therapeutic endeavors, such as the development of small molecules that selectively target individual UPR components and address ER stress in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soojeong Kim
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Korea; (S.K.); (D.K.K.); (S.J.)
| | - Doo Kyung Kim
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Korea; (S.K.); (D.K.K.); (S.J.)
| | - Seho Jeong
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Korea; (S.K.); (D.K.K.); (S.J.)
| | - Jaemin Lee
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Korea; (S.K.); (D.K.K.); (S.J.)
- New Biology Research Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Korea
- Well Aging Research Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu 42988, Korea
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10
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Wang C, Zheng C. Using Caenorhabditis elegans to Model Therapeutic Interventions of Neurodegenerative Diseases Targeting Microbe-Host Interactions. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:875349. [PMID: 35571084 PMCID: PMC9096141 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.875349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence from both clinical studies and animal models indicates the importance of the interaction between the gut microbiome and the brain in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). Although how microbes modulate neurodegeneration is still mostly unclear, recent studies have started to probe into the mechanisms for the communication between microbes and hosts in NDs. In this review, we highlight the advantages of using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) to disentangle the microbe-host interaction that regulates neurodegeneration. We summarize the microbial pro- and anti-neurodegenerative factors identified using the C. elegans ND models and the effects of many are confirmed in mouse models. Specifically, we focused on the role of bacterial amyloid proteins, such as curli, in promoting proteotoxicity and neurodegeneration by cross-seeding the aggregation of endogenous ND-related proteins, such as α-synuclein. Targeting bacterial amyloid production may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating NDs, and several compounds, such as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), were shown to suppress neurodegeneration at least partly by inhibiting curli production. Because bacterial amyloid fibrils contribute to biofilm formation, inhibition of amyloid production often leads to the disruption of biofilms. Interestingly, from a list of 59 compounds that showed neuroprotective effects in C. elegans and mouse ND models, we found that about half of them are known to inhibit bacterial growth or biofilm formation, suggesting a strong correlation between the neuroprotective and antibiofilm activities. Whether these potential therapeutics indeed protect neurons from proteotoxicity by inhibiting the cross-seeding between bacterial and human amyloid proteins awaits further investigations. Finally, we propose to screen the long list of antibiofilm agents, both FDA-approved drugs and novel compounds, for their neuroprotective effects and develop new pharmaceuticals that target the gut microbiome for the treatment of NDs. To this end, the C. elegans ND models can serve as a platform for fast, high-throughput, and low-cost drug screens that target the microbe-host interaction in NDs.
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11
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Pampalakis G, Angelis G, Zingkou E, Vekrellis K, Sotiropoulou G. A chemogenomic approach is required for effective treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e657. [PMID: 35064780 PMCID: PMC8783349 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.657] [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: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
ALS is a fatal untreatable disease involving degeneration of motor neurons. Μultiple causative genes encoding proteins with versatile functions have been identified indicating that diverse biological pathways lead to ALS. Chemical entities still represent a promising choice to delay ALS progression, attenuate symptoms and/or increase life expectancy, but also gene-based and stem cell-based therapies are in the process of development, and some are tested in clinical trials. Various compounds proved effective in transgenic models overexpressing distinct ALS causative genes unfortunately though, they showed no efficacy in clinical trials. Notably, while animal models provide a uniform genetic background for preclinical testing, ALS patients are not stratified, and the distinct genetic forms of ALS are treated as one group, which could explain the observed discrepancies between treating genetically homogeneous mice and quite heterogeneous patient cohorts. We suggest that chemical entity-genotype correlation should be exploited to guide patient stratification for pharmacotherapy, that is administered drugs should be selected based on the ALS genetic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Pampalakis
- Department of Pharmacology - Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgios Angelis
- Department of Pharmacology - Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Rion-Patras, Greece
| | - Eleni Zingkou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Rion-Patras, Greece
| | - Kostas Vekrellis
- Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Sotiropoulou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Rion-Patras, Greece
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12
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Genetic architecture of motor neuron diseases. J Neurol Sci 2021; 434:120099. [PMID: 34965490 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.120099] [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: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are rare and frequently fatal neurological disorders in which motor neurons within the brainstem and spinal cord regions slowly die. MNDs are primarily caused by genetic mutations, and > 100 different mutant genes in humans have been discovered thus far. Given the fact that many more MND-related genes have yet to be discovered, the growing body of genetic evidence has offered new insights into the diverse cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the aetiology and pathogenesis of MNDs. This search may aid in the selection of potential candidate genes for future investigation and, eventually, may open the door to novel interventions to slow down disease progression. In this review paper, we have summarized detailed existing research findings of different MNDs, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), spinal bulbar muscle atrophy (SBMA) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) in relation to their complex genetic architecture.
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13
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Cao D. An autoregulation loop in fust-1 for circular RNA regulation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2021; 219:iyab145. [PMID: 34740247 PMCID: PMC8570788 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Many circular RNAs (circRNAs) are differentially expressed in different tissues or cell types, suggestive of specific factors that regulate their biogenesis. Here, taking advantage of available mutation strains of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in Caenorhabditis elegans, I performed a screening of circRNA regulation in 13 conserved RBPs. Among them, loss of FUST-1, the homolog of Fused in Sarcoma (FUS), caused downregulation of multiple circRNAs. By rescue experiments, I confirmed FUST-1 as a circRNA regulator. Through RNA sequencing using circRNA-enriched samples, circRNAs targets regulated by FUST-1 were identified globally, with hundreds of them significantly altered. Furthermore, I showed that FUST-1 regulates circRNA formation with only small to little effect on the cognate linear mRNAs. When recognizing circRNA pre-mRNAs, FUST-1 can affect both exon-skipping and circRNA in the same genes. Moreover, I identified an autoregulation loop in fust-1, where FUST-1, isoform a (FUST-1A) promotes the skipping of exon 5 of its own pre-mRNA, which produces FUST-1, isoform b (FUST-1B) with different N-terminal sequences. FUST-1A is the functional isoform in circRNA regulation. Although FUST-1B has the same functional domains as FUST-1A, it cannot regulate either exon-skipping or circRNA formation. This study provided an in vivo investigation of circRNA regulation, which will be helpful to understand the mechanisms that govern circRNA formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Cao
- Information Processing Biology Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
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14
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Choi GJ, Ahn EJ, Lee OH, Kang H. Effects of a BMI1008 mixture on postoperative pain in a rat model of incisional pain. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257267. [PMID: 34570780 PMCID: PMC8476004 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of BMI1008 (a new drug containing lidocaine, methylene blue, dexamethasone and vitamin B complex) and to investigate the analgesic effect of lidocaine and BMI-L (other components of BMI1008 except lidocaine) at different concentrations in a rat model of incisional pain. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats (250–300 g) were used for the incisional pain model simulating postoperative pain. After the operation, normal saline, various concentrations of BMI1008, lidocaine with a fixed concentration of BMI-L, and BMI-L with a fixed concentration of lidocaine were injected at the incision site. The preventive analgesic effect was evaluated using BMI1008 administered 30 min before and immediately after the operation. In addition, BMI1008 was compared with positive controls using intraperitoneal ketorolac 30 mg/kg and fentanyl 0.5 μg/kg. The mechanical withdrawal threshold was measured with a von Frey filament. Results The analgesic effect according to the concentration of BMI1008, lidocaine with a fixed concentration of BMI-L, and BMI-L with a fixed concentration of lidocaine showed a concentration-dependent response and statistically significant difference among the groups (P <0.001, P <0.001, and P <0.001, respectively). The analgesic effect according to the time point of administration (before and after the operation) showed no evidence of a statistically significant difference between the groups (P = 0.170). Compared with the positive control groups, the results showed a statistically significant difference between the groups (P = 0.024). Conclusion BMI1008 showed its analgesic effect in a rat model of incisional pain in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, BMI-L showed an additive effect on the analgesic effect of lidocaine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geun Joo Choi
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Jin Ahn
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Oh Haeng Lee
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun Kang
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea
- * E-mail:
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15
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Kropp PA, Bauer R, Zafra I, Graham C, Golden A. Caenorhabditis elegans for rare disease modeling and drug discovery: strategies and strengths. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm049010. [PMID: 34370008 PMCID: PMC8380043 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although nearly 10% of Americans suffer from a rare disease, clinical progress in individual rare diseases is severely compromised by lack of attention and research resources compared to common diseases. It is thus imperative to investigate these diseases at their most basic level to build a foundation and provide the opportunity for understanding their mechanisms and phenotypes, as well as potential treatments. One strategy for effectively and efficiently studying rare diseases is using genetically tractable organisms to model the disease and learn about the essential cellular processes affected. Beyond investigating dysfunctional cellular processes, modeling rare diseases in simple organisms presents the opportunity to screen for pharmacological or genetic factors capable of ameliorating disease phenotypes. Among the small model organisms that excel in rare disease modeling is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. With a staggering breadth of research tools, C. elegans provides an ideal system in which to study human disease. Molecular and cellular processes can be easily elucidated, assayed and altered in ways that can be directly translated to humans. When paired with other model organisms and collaborative efforts with clinicians, the power of these C. elegans studies cannot be overstated. This Review highlights studies that have used C. elegans in diverse ways to understand rare diseases and aid in the development of treatments. With continuing and advancing technologies, the capabilities of this small round worm will continue to yield meaningful and clinically relevant information for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Andy Golden
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Genetics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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16
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Wang X, Zhang JB, He KJ, Wang F, Liu CF. Advances of Zebrafish in Neurodegenerative Disease: From Models to Drug Discovery. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:713963. [PMID: 34335276 PMCID: PMC8317260 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.713963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disease (NDD), including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are characterized by the progressive loss of neurons which leads to the decline of motor and/or cognitive function. Currently, the prevalence of NDD is rapidly increasing in the aging population. However, valid drugs or treatment for NDD are still lacking. The clinical heterogeneity and complex pathogenesis of NDD pose a great challenge for the development of disease-modifying therapies. Numerous animal models have been generated to mimic the pathological conditions of these diseases for drug discovery. Among them, zebrafish (Danio rerio) models are progressively emerging and becoming a powerful tool for in vivo study of NDD. Extensive use of zebrafish in pharmacology research or drug screening is due to the high conserved evolution and 87% homology to humans. In this review, we summarize the zebrafish models used in NDD studies, and highlight the recent findings on pharmacological targets for NDD treatment. As high-throughput platforms in zebrafish research have rapidly developed in recent years, we also discuss the application prospects of these new technologies in future NDD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jin-Bao Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Kai-Jie He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fen Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chun-Feng Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,Department of Neurology, Suqian First Hospital, Suqian, China
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17
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Braems E, Tziortzouda P, Van Den Bosch L. Exploring the alternative: Fish, flies and worms as preclinical models for ALS. Neurosci Lett 2021; 759:136041. [PMID: 34118308 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136041] [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: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons. In general, patients succumb to respiratory insufficiency due to respiratory muscle weakness. Despite many promising therapeutic strategies primarily identified in rodent models, patient trials remain rather unsuccessful. There is a clear need for alternative approaches, which could provide directions towards the justified use of rodents and which increase the likelihood to identify new promising clinical candidates. In the last decades, the use of fast genetic approaches and the development of high-throughput screening platforms in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and in zebrafish (Danio rerio) have contributed to new insights into ALS pathomechanisms, disease modifiers and therapeutic targets. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of these alternative small animal studies, modeling the most common ALS genes and discuss the most recent preclinical discoveries. We conclude that small animal models will not replace rodent models, yet they clearly represent an important asset for preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Braems
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paraskevi Tziortzouda
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium.
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18
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Zebrafish, an In Vivo Platform to Screen Drugs and Proteins for Biomedical Use. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14060500. [PMID: 34073947 PMCID: PMC8225009 DOI: 10.3390/ph14060500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The nearly simultaneous convergence of human genetics and advanced molecular technologies has led to an improved understanding of human diseases. At the same time, the demand for drug screening and gene function identification has also increased, albeit time- and labor-intensive. However, bridging the gap between in vitro evidence from cell lines and in vivo evidence, the lower vertebrate zebrafish possesses many advantages over higher vertebrates, such as low maintenance, high fecundity, light-induced spawning, transparent embryos, short generation interval, rapid embryonic development, fully sequenced genome, and some phenotypes similar to human diseases. Such merits have popularized the zebrafish as a model system for biomedical and pharmaceutical studies, including drug screening. Here, we reviewed the various ways in which zebrafish serve as an in vivo platform to perform drug and protein screening in the fields of rare human diseases, social behavior and cancer studies. Since zebrafish mutations faithfully phenocopy many human disorders, many compounds identified from zebrafish screening systems have advanced to early clinical trials, such as those for Adenoid cystic carcinoma, Dravet syndrome and Diamond-Blackfan anemia. We also reviewed and described how zebrafish are used to carry out environmental pollutant detection and assessment of nanoparticle biosafety and QT prolongation.
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19
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Giunta M, Solje E, Gardoni F, Borroni B, Benussi A. Experimental Disease-Modifying Agents for Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. J Exp Pharmacol 2021; 13:359-376. [PMID: 33790662 PMCID: PMC8005747 DOI: 10.2147/jep.s262352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia is a clinically, genetically and pathologically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder, enclosing a wide range of different pathological entities, associated with the accumulation of proteins such as tau and TPD-43. Characterized by a high hereditability, mutations in three main genes, MAPT, GRN and C9orf72, can drive the neurodegenerative process. The connection between different genes and proteinopathies through specific mechanisms has shed light on the pathophysiology of the disease, leading to the identification of potential pharmacological targets. New experimental strategies are emerging, in both preclinical and clinical settings, which focus on small molecules rather than gene therapy. In this review, we provide an insight into the aberrant mechanisms leading to FTLD-related proteinopathies and discuss recent therapies with the potential to ameliorate neurodegeneration and disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Giunta
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Eino Solje
- Institute of Clinical Medicine - Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Fabrizio Gardoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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20
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Deng M, Huang H, Ma YG, Zhou Y, Chen Q, Xie P. Intradiskal Injection of Methylene Blue for Discogenic Back Pain: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2021; 82:161-165. [PMID: 33477188 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1721015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Intradiskal injection of methylene blue has some potential in alleviating discogenic back pain. This meta-analysis aims to explore the impact of intradiskal injection of methylene blue for discogenic back pain. METHODS Several databases such as PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases have been searched through November 2019, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of intradiskal injection of methylene blue for discogenic back pain are included. RESULTS Three RCTs are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control group for discogenic back pain, intradiskal injection of methylene blue remarkably decreased pain scores at 3 months (mean difference [MD] = -0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.96 to -0.46; p < 0.00001) and 6 months (MD = -13.92; 95% CI = -22.31 to -5.54; p = 001) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at 4 to 6 weeks (MD = -10.39; 95% CI = -16.95 to -3.83; p = 0.002) and 3 months (MD = -3.66; 95% CI = -4.85 to -2.48; p < 0.00001), but demonstrated no obvious effect on ODI at 6 months (MD = -11.76; 95% CI = -33.33 to 9.80; p = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS Intradiskal injection of methylene blue can substantially decrease pain scores and improve function for discogenic back pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Deng
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Hui Huang
- Department of Orthopedics, Hainan Provincial People's Hospital, Haikou, Hainan, P. R. China
| | - Yong-Gang Ma
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Qing Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P. R. China
| | - Ping Xie
- Department of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P. R. China
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21
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McAlary L, Chew YL, Lum JS, Geraghty NJ, Yerbury JJ, Cashman NR. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Proteins, Proteostasis, Prions, and Promises. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:581907. [PMID: 33328890 PMCID: PMC7671971 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.581907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive degeneration of the motor neurons that innervate muscle, resulting in gradual paralysis and culminating in the inability to breathe or swallow. This neuronal degeneration occurs in a spatiotemporal manner from a point of onset in the central nervous system (CNS), suggesting that there is a molecule that spreads from cell-to-cell. There is strong evidence that the onset and progression of ALS pathology is a consequence of protein misfolding and aggregation. In line with this, a hallmark pathology of ALS is protein deposition and inclusion formation within motor neurons and surrounding glia of the proteins TAR DNA-binding protein 43, superoxide dismutase-1, or fused in sarcoma. Collectively, the observed protein aggregation, in conjunction with the spatiotemporal spread of symptoms, strongly suggests a prion-like propagation of protein aggregation occurs in ALS. In this review, we discuss the role of protein aggregation in ALS concerning protein homeostasis (proteostasis) mechanisms and prion-like propagation. Furthermore, we examine the experimental models used to investigate these processes, including in vitro assays, cultured cells, invertebrate models, and murine models. Finally, we evaluate the therapeutics that may best prevent the onset or spread of pathology in ALS and discuss what lies on the horizon for treating this currently incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke McAlary
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Yee Lian Chew
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Jeremy Stephen Lum
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas John Geraghty
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Justin John Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Neil R. Cashman
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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22
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Peneyra SM, Lerpiriyapong K, Riedel ER, Lipman NS, Lieggi C. Impact of Pronase, Sodium Thiosulfate, and Methylene Blue Combinations on Development and Survival of Sodium Hypochlorite Surface-Disinfected Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) Embryos. Zebrafish 2020; 17:342-353. [PMID: 33048660 PMCID: PMC7578187 DOI: 10.1089/zeb.2020.1917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryo surface disinfection is utilized in aquaculture to decrease the risk of pathogen introduction into established colonies. Zebrafish embryos are commonly disinfected with unbuffered sodium hypochlorite at 25-50 ppm for 10 min with or without concurrent treatment with chemicals, including pronase (Pron), sodium thiosulfate, and/or methylene blue; however, the impact of these chemicals on embryo survival and development has not been evaluated. In this study, AB and casper embryos were exposed to disinfection protocols that used Pron, sodium thiosulfate, and/or methylene blue (given alone, in various combinations, or all three combined) with 50 and 100 ppm sodium hypochlorite performed 6 and 24 h postfertilization (HPF). All groups were evaluated for survival, hatching, and malformations at 5 days postfertilization. Maximal survival (69%-97%) and hatching rates (66%-94%) were generally observed with sodium hypochlorite disinfection followed by exposure to both Pron and sodium thiosulfate and maintenance in standard embryo medium without methylene blue. Methylene blue had variable effects on survival and hatching. Higher survival and hatching rates were seen in AB embryos disinfected at 6 HPF and casper embryos disinfected at 24 HPF. Susceptibility to sodium hypochlorite toxicity differed by strain, emphasizing the need to test disinfection protocols on small embryo cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M. Peneyra
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine and Science, New York, New York, USA
- Center of Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Hospital For Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kvin Lerpiriyapong
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine and Science, New York, New York, USA
- Center of Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Hospital For Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
| | - Elyn R. Riedel
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Neil S. Lipman
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine and Science, New York, New York, USA
- Center of Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Hospital For Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christine Lieggi
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine and Science, New York, New York, USA
- Center of Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and the Hospital For Special Surgery, New York, New York, USA
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23
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Kaur S, Benov LT. Methylene blue induces the soxRS regulon of Escherichia coli. Chem Biol Interact 2020; 329:109222. [PMID: 32771325 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2020.109222] [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: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Extensive application of methylene blue (MB) for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, and reports for unwanted side effects, demand better understanding of the mechanisms of biological action of this thiazine dye. Because MB is redox-active, its biological activities have been attributed to transfer of electrons, generation of reactive oxygen species, and antioxidant action. Results of this study show that MB is more toxic to a superoxide dismutase-deficient Escherichia coli mutant than to its SOD-proficient parent, which indicates that superoxide anion radical is involved. Incubation of E. coli with MB induced the enzymes fumarase C, SOD, nitroreductase A, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, all controlled by the soxRS regulon. Induction of these enzymes was prevented by blocking protein synthesis with chloramphenicol and was not observed when soxRS-negative mutants were incubated with MB. These results show that MB is capable of inducing the soxRS regulon of E. coli, which plays a key role in protecting bacteria against oxidative stress and redox-cycling compounds. Irrespective of the abundance of heme-containing proteins in living cells, which are preferred acceptors of electrons from the reduced form of MB, reduction of oxygen to superoxide radical still takes place. Induction of the soxRS regulon suggests that in humans, beneficial effects of MB could be attributed to activation of redox-sensitive transcription factors like Nrf2 and FoxO. If defense systems are compromised or genes coding for protective proteins are not induced, MB would have deleterious effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simranbir Kaur
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait
| | - Ludmil T Benov
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait.
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24
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Musteikyte G, Ziaunys M, Smirnovas V. Methylene blue inhibits nucleation and elongation of SOD1 amyloid fibrils. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9719. [PMID: 32864220 PMCID: PMC7430317 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation into highly-structured amyloid fibrils is linked to several neurodegenerative diseases. Such fibril formation by superoxide dismutase I (SOD1) is considered to be related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a late-onset and fatal disorder. Despite much effort and the discovery of numerous anti-amyloid compounds, no effective cure or treatment is currently available. Methylene blue (MB), a phenothiazine dye, has been shown to modulate the aggregation of multiple amyloidogenic proteins. In this work we show its ability to inhibit both the spontaneous amyloid aggregation of SOD1 as well as elongation of preformed fibrils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greta Musteikyte
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Mantas Ziaunys
- Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Vytautas Smirnovas
- Life Sciences Center, Institute of Biotechnology, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania
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25
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Buratti E. Targeting TDP-43 proteinopathy with drugs and drug-like small molecules. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 178:1298-1315. [PMID: 32469420 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the discovery of the involvement of the ribonucleoprotein TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), a major research focus has been to develop treatments that can prevent or alleviate these disease conditions. One pharmacological approach has been to use TDP-43-based disease models to test small molecules and drugs already known to have some therapeutic effect in a variety of neurodegenerative conditions. In parallel, various disease models have been used to perform high-throughput screens of drugs and small compound libraries. The aim of this review will be to provide a general overview of the compounds that have been described to alter pathological characteristics of TDP-43. These include expression levels, cytoplasmic mis-localization, post-translational modifications, cleavage, stress granule recruitment and aggregation. In parallel, this review will also address the use of compounds that modify the autophagic/proteasome systems that are known to target TDP-43 misfolding and aggregation. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Neurochemistry in Japan. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.6/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
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26
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Wang H, Webster P, Chen L, Fisher AL. Cell-autonomous and non-autonomous roles of daf-16 in muscle function and mitochondrial capacity in aging C. elegans. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 11:2295-2311. [PMID: 31017874 PMCID: PMC6520005 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, contributes to disability and health-related conditions with aging. In vitro studies indicate that age-related mitochondrial dysfunction could play a central role in the development and progression of sarcopenia, but because of limitations in the methods employed, how aging affects muscle mitochondrial function in vivo is not fully understood. We use muscle-targeted fluorescent proteins and the ratiometric ATP reporter, ATeam, to examine changes in muscle mitochondrial mass and morphology, and intracellular ATP levels in C. elegans. We find that the preserved muscle function in aging daf-2 mutants is associated with higher muscle mitochondrial mass, preserved mitochondrial morphology, and higher levels of intracellular ATP. These phenotypes require the daf-16/FOXO transcription factor. Via the tissue-specific rescue of daf-16, we find that daf-16 activity in either muscle or neurons is sufficient to enhance muscle mitochondrial mass, whereas daf-16 activity in the muscle is required for the enhanced muscle function and mobility of the daf-2 mutants. Finally, we show through the use of drugs known to enhance mitochondrial activity that augmenting mitochondrial function leads to improved mobility during aging. These results suggest an important role for mitochondrial function in muscle aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongning Wang
- Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.,Center for Healthy Aging, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Phillip Webster
- Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.,Center for Healthy Aging, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Lizhen Chen
- Center for Healthy Aging, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.,Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Alfred L Fisher
- Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.,Center for Healthy Aging, UTHSCSA, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.,GRECC, South Texas VA Healthcare System, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA.,Division of Geriatrics, Gerontology, and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
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27
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Gois AM, Mendonça DMF, Freire MAM, Santos JR. IN VITRO AND IN VIVO MODELS OF AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS: AN UPDATED OVERVIEW. Brain Res Bull 2020; 159:32-43. [PMID: 32247802 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2020.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by loss of upper motor neurons (UMN) and lower motor neurons (LMN). Disease affects people all over the world and is more prevalent in men. Patients with ALS develop extensive muscle wasting, paralysis and ultimately death, with a median survival of usually fewer than five years after disease onset. ALS may be sporadic (sALS, 90%) or familial (fALS, 10%). The large majority of fALS cases are associated with genetic alterations, which are mainly related to the genes SOD1, TDP-43, FUS, and C9ORF72. In vitro and in vivo models have helped elucidate ALS etiology and pathogenesis, as well as its molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms. Many studies in cell cultures and animal models, such as Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, zebrafish, rodents, and non-human primates have been performed to clarify the relationship of these genes to ALS disease. However, there are inherent limitations to consider when using experimental models. In this review, we provide an updated overview of the most used in vitro and in vivo studies that have contributed to a better understanding of the different ALS pathogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Auderlan M Gois
- Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Deise M F Mendonça
- Laboratory of Neurobiology of Degenerative Diseases of the Nervous System, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurelio M Freire
- Postgraduation Program in Health and Society, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - Jose R Santos
- Behavioral and Evolutionary Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sergipe, Itabaiana, SE, Brazil.
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28
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Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Signalling Induces Casein Kinase 1-Dependent Formation of Cytosolic TDP-43 Inclusions in Motor Neuron-Like Cells. Neurochem Res 2020; 45:1354-1364. [PMID: 31280399 PMCID: PMC7260270 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02832-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2019] [Revised: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Motor neuron disease (MND) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no effective treatment. One of the principal pathological hallmarks is the deposition of TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in cytoplasmic inclusions. TDP-43 aggregation occurs in both familial and sporadic MND; however, the mechanism of endogenous TDP-43 aggregation in disease is incompletely understood. This study focused on the induction of cytoplasmic accumulation of endogenous TDP-43 in the motor neuronal cell line NSC-34. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressor tunicamycin induced casein kinase 1 (CK1)-dependent cytoplasmic accumulation of endogenous TDP-43 in differentiated NSC-34 cells, as seen by immunocytochemistry. Immunoblotting showed that induction of ER stress had no effect on abundance of TDP-43 or phosphorylated TDP-43 in the NP-40/RIPA soluble fraction. However, there were significant increases in abundance of TDP-43 and phosphorylated TDP-43 in the NP-40/RIPA-insoluble, urea-soluble fraction, including high molecular weight species. In all cases, these increases were lowered by CK1 inhibition. Thus ER stress signalling, as induced by tunicamycin, causes CK1-dependent phosphorylation of TDP-43 and its consequent cytosolic accumulation.
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29
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Lecor PA, Touré B, Moreau N, Braud A, Dieb W, Boucher Y. Could methylene blue be used to manage burning mouth syndrome? A pilot case series. JOURNAL OF ORAL MEDICINE AND ORAL SURGERY 2020. [DOI: 10.1051/mbcb/2020032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Burning mouth syndrome is a disabling condition of complex pathophysiology characterized by spontaneous pain felt in the oral mucosa in the absence of evident mucosal lesions which lacks efficient treatments to this day. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy of methylene blue in the management of burning mouth syndrome. Methods: The study was conducted at the dental clinic of the Anta Diop University and Newtown dental clinic of Dakar, Senegal. A solution of methylene blue as a mouth-rinse (0.5%) was applied for 5 minutes in five patients satisfying the ICHD-3 diagnostic criteria for burning mouth syndrome. This procedure was repeated every 6 hours 3 times per 24h, during 7 days. Using numeric rating scale, pain severity was assessed as the mean pain felt during the last day of application. Results: After 7 days, the pain was significantly reduced by two-thirds and almost absent at 3 and 6 months follow-up. No secondary effects of the use of methylene blue were observed. Putative mechanisms of action and potential implications for treatment are discussed. Conclusion: Methylene blue is an old compound but a novel topical therapy that could prove beneficial in the management of burning mouth syndrome.
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30
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Bose P, Tremblay E, Maios C, Narasimhan V, Armstrong GAB, Liao M, Parker JA, Robitaille R, Wen XY, Barden C, Drapeau P. The Novel Small Molecule TRVA242 Stabilizes Neuromuscular Junction Defects in Multiple Animal Models of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neurotherapeutics 2019; 16:1149-1166. [PMID: 31342410 PMCID: PMC6985319 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-019-00765-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder in which the neuromuscular junction progressively degenerates, leading to movement difficulties, paralysis, and eventually death. ALS is currently being treated by only two FDA-approved drugs with modest efficacy in slowing disease progression. Often, the translation of preclinical findings to bedside terminates prematurely as the evaluation of potential therapeutic compounds focuses on a single study or a single animal model. To circumscribe these issues, we screened 3,765 novel small molecule derivatives of pimozide, a recently identified repurposed neuroleptic for ALS, in Caenorhabditis elegans, confirmed the hits in zebrafish and validated the most active compounds in mouse genetic models. Out of the 27 small molecules identified from the high-throughput screen in worms, 4 were found to recover locomotor defects in C. elegans and genetic zebrafish models of ALS. TRVA242 was identified as the most potent compound as it significantly improved efficiency in rescuing locomotor, motorneuron, and neuromuscular junction synaptic deficits in a C. elegans TDP-43 model and in multiple zebrafish genetic (TDP-43, SOD1, and C9ORF72) models of ALS. The actions of TRVA242 were also conserved in a mammalian model as it also stabilized neuromuscular junction deficits in a mouse SOD1 model of ALS. Compounds such as TRVA242 therefore represent new potential therapeutics for the treatment of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poulomee Bose
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM Tour Viger R09-482), 900 Rue Saint Denis, Montréal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Elsa Tremblay
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- FRQS Group de recherche sur le system nerveux centrale, Montreal, Canada
| | - Claudia Maios
- Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM Tour Viger R09-482), 900 Rue Saint Denis, Montréal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Vijay Narasimhan
- Zebrafish Centre for Advanced Drug Discovery and Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital and Department of Medicine and Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gary A B Armstrong
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University and Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Canada
| | - Meijiang Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM Tour Viger R09-482), 900 Rue Saint Denis, Montréal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - J Alex Parker
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM Tour Viger R09-482), 900 Rue Saint Denis, Montréal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada
| | - Richard Robitaille
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
- FRQS Group de recherche sur le system nerveux centrale, Montreal, Canada
| | - Xiao Yan Wen
- Zebrafish Centre for Advanced Drug Discovery and Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital and Department of Medicine and Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Pierre Drapeau
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
- Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM Tour Viger R09-482), 900 Rue Saint Denis, Montréal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada.
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31
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Lissouba A, Liao M, Kabashi E, Drapeau P. Transcriptomic Analysis of Zebrafish TDP-43 Transgenic Lines. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:463. [PMID: 30618614 PMCID: PMC6301209 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a late-onset progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects both upper and lower motor neurons, leading to muscle atrophy with spasticity and eventual death in 3-5 years after the disease onset. More than 50 mutations linked to ALS have been found in the gene TARDBP, encoding the protein TDP-43 that is the predominant component of neuronal inclusions in ALS. TDP-43 is an RNA binding protein with glycine-rich domains that binds to more than 6,000 RNAs in the human brain. However, ALS-related mutations do not appear to affect the function of these genes, indicating that a toxic gain-of-function may occur. We generated transgenic zebrafish lines expressing human TDP-43, either the wild-type form or the ALS-causative G348C mutation identified in a subset of ALS patients, with the transgene expression driven by an inducible heat shock promoter in order to bypass a potential early mortality. The expression of the mutant but not the wild-type human TDP-43 in zebrafish embryos induced a reduction of the locomotor activity in response to touch compared to controls and moderate axonopathy of the motor neurons of the spinal cord, with premature branching of the main axonal branch, recapitulating previous results obtained by mRNA injections. We used these lines to investigate transcriptomic changes due to the presence of mutant TDP-43 using RNA sequencing and have found 159 genes that are differentially expressed compared to control, with 67 genes up-regulated and 92 genes down-regulated. These transcriptomic changes are in line with recent transcriptomic data obtained in mouse models, indicating that these zebrafish transgenic lines are adequate to further study TDP-43-related ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Lissouba
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Research Center of the University of Montréal Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Meijiang Liao
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Research Center of the University of Montréal Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Edor Kabashi
- UMR CNRS 1127, UPMC INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, Sorbonne Université Paris VI, Paris, France.,Institut Imagine, UMR INSERM 1163, Hospital Necker-Enfants, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Research Center of the University of Montréal Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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32
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Lissouba A, Liao M, Kabashi E, Drapeau P. Transcriptomic Analysis of Zebrafish TDP-43 Transgenic Lines. Front Mol Neurosci 2018. [PMID: 30618614 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00463.ecollection2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a late-onset progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects both upper and lower motor neurons, leading to muscle atrophy with spasticity and eventual death in 3-5 years after the disease onset. More than 50 mutations linked to ALS have been found in the gene TARDBP, encoding the protein TDP-43 that is the predominant component of neuronal inclusions in ALS. TDP-43 is an RNA binding protein with glycine-rich domains that binds to more than 6,000 RNAs in the human brain. However, ALS-related mutations do not appear to affect the function of these genes, indicating that a toxic gain-of-function may occur. We generated transgenic zebrafish lines expressing human TDP-43, either the wild-type form or the ALS-causative G348C mutation identified in a subset of ALS patients, with the transgene expression driven by an inducible heat shock promoter in order to bypass a potential early mortality. The expression of the mutant but not the wild-type human TDP-43 in zebrafish embryos induced a reduction of the locomotor activity in response to touch compared to controls and moderate axonopathy of the motor neurons of the spinal cord, with premature branching of the main axonal branch, recapitulating previous results obtained by mRNA injections. We used these lines to investigate transcriptomic changes due to the presence of mutant TDP-43 using RNA sequencing and have found 159 genes that are differentially expressed compared to control, with 67 genes up-regulated and 92 genes down-regulated. These transcriptomic changes are in line with recent transcriptomic data obtained in mouse models, indicating that these zebrafish transgenic lines are adequate to further study TDP-43-related ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Lissouba
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Research Center of the University of Montréal Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Meijiang Liao
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Research Center of the University of Montréal Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Edor Kabashi
- UMR CNRS 1127, UPMC INSERM U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, Sorbonne Université Paris VI, Paris, France
- Institut Imagine, UMR INSERM 1163, Hospital Necker-Enfants, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Research Center of the University of Montréal Hospital Center, University of Montreal, Montréal, QC, Canada
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33
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Fardghassemi Y, Tauffenberger A, Gosselin S, Parker JA. Rescue of ATXN3 neuronal toxicity in Caenorhabditiselegans by chemical modification of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Dis Model Mech 2017; 10:1465-1480. [PMID: 29061563 PMCID: PMC5769603 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.029736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion diseases are a group of hereditary neurodegenerative disorders that develop when a CAG repeat in the causative genes is unstably expanded above a certain threshold. The expansion of trinucleotide CAG repeats causes hereditary adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington's disease, dentatorubral–pallidoluysian atrophy, spinobulbar muscular atrophy and multiple forms of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). The most common dominantly inherited SCA is the type 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado–Joseph disease (MJD), which is an autosomal dominant, progressive neurological disorder. The gene causatively associated with MJD is ATXN3. Recent studies have shown that this gene modulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We generated transgenic Caenorhabditiselegans strains expressing human ATXN3 genes in motoneurons, and animals expressing mutant ATXN3-CAG89 alleles showed decreased lifespan, impaired movement, and rates of neurodegeneration greater than wild-type ATXN3-CAG10 controls. We tested three neuroprotective compounds (Methylene Blue, guanabenz and salubrinal) believed to modulate ER stress and observed that these molecules rescued ATXN3-CAG89 phenotypes. Furthermore, these compounds required specific branches of the ER unfolded protein response (UPRER), reduced global ER and oxidative stress, and polyglutamine aggregation. We introduce new C. elegans models for MJD based on the expression of full-length ATXN3 in a limited number of neurons. Using these models, we discovered that chemical modulation of the UPRER reduced neurodegeneration and warrants investigation in mammalian models of MJD. Summary: We introduce a novel C. elegans model for Machado–Joseph disease for use in preclinical drug discovery and identified guanabenz as a potent neuroprotective molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Fardghassemi
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) Montréal, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada.,Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Arnaud Tauffenberger
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) Montréal, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada.,Département de pathologie et biologie cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Sarah Gosselin
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) Montréal, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada.,Département de neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - J Alex Parker
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) Montréal, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada .,Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada.,Département de pathologie et biologie cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada.,Département de neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
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34
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Ma L, Zhao Y, Chen Y, Cheng B, Peng A, Huang K. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for target identification and drug screening against neurodegenerative diseases. Eur J Pharmacol 2017; 819:169-180. [PMID: 29208474 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2017.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decades, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has been widely used as a model system because of its small size, transparent body, short generation time and lifespan (~3 days and 3 weeks, respectively), completely sequenced genome and tractability to genetic manipulation. Protein misfolding and aggregation are key pathological features in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Animal models, including C. elegans, have been extensively used to discover and validate new drugs against neurodegenerative diseases. The well-defined and genetically tractable nervous system of C. elegans offers an effective model to explore basic mechanistic pathways of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent progress in high-throughput drug screening also provides a powerful approach for identifying chemical modulators of biological processes. Here, we summarize the latest progress of using C. elegans as a model system for target identification and drug screening in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yudan Zhao
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yuchen Chen
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Biao Cheng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430014, China
| | - Anlin Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Hospital of Wuhan, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Center for Biomedicine Research, Wuhan Institute of Biotechnology, Wuhan 430075, China.
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35
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Patten SA, Aggad D, Martinez J, Tremblay E, Petrillo J, Armstrong GA, La Fontaine A, Maios C, Liao M, Ciura S, Wen XY, Rafuse V, Ichida J, Zinman L, Julien JP, Kabashi E, Robitaille R, Korngut L, Parker JA, Drapeau P. Neuroleptics as therapeutic compounds stabilizing neuromuscular transmission in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. JCI Insight 2017; 2:97152. [PMID: 29202456 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.97152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressing, fatal disorder with no effective treatment. We used simple genetic models of ALS to screen phenotypically for potential therapeutic compounds. We screened libraries of compounds in C. elegans, validated hits in zebrafish, and tested the most potent molecule in mice and in a small clinical trial. We identified a class of neuroleptics that restored motility in C. elegans and in zebrafish, and the most potent was pimozide, which blocked T-type Ca2+ channels in these simple models and stabilized neuromuscular transmission in zebrafish and enhanced it in mice. Finally, a short randomized controlled trial of sporadic ALS subjects demonstrated stabilization of motility and evidence of target engagement at the neuromuscular junction. Simple genetic models are, thus, useful in identifying promising compounds for the treatment of ALS, such as neuroleptics, which may stabilize neuromuscular transmission and prolong survival in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunmoogum A Patten
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada.,INRS Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, Canada
| | - Dina Aggad
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada.,Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron IBMM, UMR 5247, CNRS-Université Montpellier-ENSCM, Montpellier, France
| | - Jose Martinez
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elsa Tremblay
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,FRQS Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central, Montreal, Canada
| | - Janet Petrillo
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Gary Ab Armstrong
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada.,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University and Montreal Neurological Institute, Montreal, Canada
| | - Alexandre La Fontaine
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,FRQS Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central, Montreal, Canada
| | - Claudia Maios
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada
| | - Meijiang Liao
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada
| | - Sorana Ciura
- Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Université de Paris 06, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), Paris, France
| | - Xiao-Yan Wen
- Zebrafish Centre for Advanced Drug Discovery & Keenan Research Centre for Biomedical Science, Li Ka Sheng Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital and Department of Medicine & Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victor Rafuse
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Justin Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine and Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Department of Neurology, University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre,Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- Centre de recherche CERVO, Chemin de la Canardière, Université Laval, Québec City, Canada
| | - Edor Kabashi
- Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), Université de Paris 06, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), Paris, France
| | - Richard Robitaille
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,FRQS Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central, Montreal, Canada
| | - Lawrence Korngut
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - J Alexander Parker
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada
| | - Pierre Drapeau
- Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Canada.,Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, Canada.,FRQS Groupe de recherche sur le système nerveux central, Montreal, Canada
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36
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Calpain Inhibition Is Protective in Machado-Joseph Disease Zebrafish Due to Induction of Autophagy. J Neurosci 2017; 37:7782-7794. [PMID: 28687604 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1142-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Revised: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurodegenerative disease Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as spinocerebellar ataxin-3, affects neurons of the brain and spinal cord, disrupting control of the movement of muscles. We have successfully established the first transgenic zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of MJD by expressing human ataxin-3 protein containing either 23 glutamines (23Q, wild-type) or 84Q (MJD-causing) within neurons. Phenotypic characterization of the zebrafish (male and female) revealed that the ataxin-3-84Q zebrafish have decreased survival compared with ataxin-3-23Q and develop ataxin-3 neuropathology, ataxin-3 cleavage fragments and motor impairment. Ataxin-3-84Q zebrafish swim shorter distances than ataxin-3-23Q zebrafish as early as 6 days old, even if expression of the human ataxin-3 protein is limited to motor neurons. This swimming phenotype provides a valuable readout for drug treatment studies. Treating the EGFP-ataxin-3-84Q zebrafish with the calpain inhibitor compound calpeptin decreased levels of ataxin-3 cleavage fragments, but also removed all human ataxin-3 protein (confirmed by ELISA) and prevented the early MJD zebrafish motor phenotype. We identified that this clearance of ataxin-3 protein by calpeptin treatment resulted from an increase in autophagic flux (indicated by decreased p62 levels and increased LC3II). Cotreatment with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine blocked the decrease in human ataxin-3 levels and the improved movement produced by calpeptin treatment. This study demonstrates that this first transgenic zebrafish model of MJD is a valuable tool for testing potential treatments for MJD. Calpeptin treatment is protective in this model of MJD and removal of human ataxin-3 through macro-autophagy plays an important role in this beneficial effect.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We have established the first transgenic zebrafish model of the neurodegenerative disease MJD, and identified relevant disease phenotypes, including impaired movement from an early age, which can be used in rapid drug testing studies. We have found that treating the MJD zebrafish with the calpain inhibitor compound calpeptin produces complete removal of human ataxin-3 protein, due to induction of the autophagy quality control pathway. This improves the movement of the MJD zebrafish. Artificially blocking the autophagy pathway prevents the removal of human ataxin-3 and improved movement produced by calpeptin treatment. These findings indicate that induction of autophagy, and removal of ataxin-3 protein, plays an important role in the protective effects of calpain inhibition for the treatment of MJD.
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Khan KM, Collier AD, Meshalkina DA, Kysil EV, Khatsko SL, Kolesnikova T, Morzherin YY, Warnick JE, Kalueff AV, Echevarria DJ. Zebrafish models in neuropsychopharmacology and CNS drug discovery. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:1925-1944. [PMID: 28217866 PMCID: PMC5466539 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the high prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders, their aetiology and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is increasingly utilized as a powerful animal model in neuropharmacology research and in vivo drug screening. Collectively, this makes zebrafish a useful tool for drug discovery and the identification of disordered molecular pathways. Here, we discuss zebrafish models of selected human neuropsychiatric disorders and drug-induced phenotypes. As well as covering a broad range of brain disorders (from anxiety and psychoses to neurodegeneration), we also summarize recent developments in zebrafish genetics and small molecule screening, which markedly enhance the disease modelling and the discovery of novel drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanza M Khan
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Southern MississippiHattiesburgMSUSA
| | - Adam D Collier
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Southern MississippiHattiesburgMSUSA
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC)SlidellLAUSA
| | - Darya A Meshalkina
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC)SlidellLAUSA
- Institute of Translational BiomedicineSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. PetersburgRussia
| | - Elana V Kysil
- Institute of Translational BiomedicineSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. PetersburgRussia
| | | | | | | | - Jason E Warnick
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC)SlidellLAUSA
- Department of Behavioral SciencesArkansas Tech UniversityRussellvilleARUSA
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC)SlidellLAUSA
- Institute of Translational BiomedicineSt. Petersburg State UniversitySt. PetersburgRussia
- Ural Federal UniversityEkaterinburgRussia
- Research Institute of Marine Drugs and Nutrition, College of Food Science and TechnologyGuangdong Ocean UniversityZhanjiangGuangdongChina
| | - David J Echevarria
- Department of PsychologyUniversity of Southern MississippiHattiesburgMSUSA
- The International Zebrafish Neuroscience Research Consortium (ZNRC)SlidellLAUSA
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38
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Pinkas A, Aschner M. AGEs/RAGE-Related Neurodegeneration: daf-16 as a Mediator, Insulin as an Ameliorant, and C. elegans as an Expedient Research Model. Chem Res Toxicol 2017; 30:38-42. [PMID: 27704837 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6b00264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are nonenzymatically glycated proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. These compounds both originate exogenously and are formed endogenously, and they are associated, along with one of their receptors (RAGE), with a variety of pathologies and neurodegeneration. Some of their deleterious effects include affecting insulin signaling and FOXO-related pathways in both receptor-dependent and -independent manners. A potential ameliorating agent for these effects is insulin, which is being studied in several in vivo and in vitro models; one of these models is C. elegans, whose maintenance, genetic malleability, and well-described longevity-related pathways make it an optimal complementary model for assessing these objectives. In the realm of neuroscience, this model is currently being used only for general assessment of neurodegeneration and shortened lifespan. We suggest that characterization of (a) the effects of AGEs/RAGE on specific neurotransmitter systems, (b) the role of the daf-2/daf-16 pathway in these neurodegenerative processes, and
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Affiliation(s)
- Adi Pinkas
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Forchheimer Building, Room 209, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
| | - Michael Aschner
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Forchheimer Building, Room 209, Bronx, New York 10461, United States
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39
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Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterised by a progressive loss of cognitive functions. Histopathologically, AD is defined by the presence of extracellular amyloid plaques containing Aβ and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. According to the now well-accepted amyloid cascade hypothesis is the Aβ pathology the primary driving force of AD pathogenesis, which then induces changes in tau protein leading to a neurodegenerative cascade during the progression of disease. Since many earlier drug trials aiming at preventing Aβ pathology failed to demonstrate efficacy, tau and microtubules have come into focus as prominent downstream targets. The article aims to develop the current concept of the involvement of tau in the neurodegenerative triad of synaptic loss, cell death and dendritic simplification. The function of tau as a microtubule-associated protein and versatile interaction partner will then be introduced and the rationale and progress of current tau-directed therapy will be discussed in the biological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidia Bakota
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 11, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Roland Brandt
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Osnabrück, Barbarastrasse 11, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany.
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40
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41
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Farrokhi MR, Yazdanpanah H, Gholami M, Farrokhi F, Mesbahi AR. Pain and functional improvement effects of methylene blue injection on the soft tissue around fusion site after traumatic thoracolumbar fixation: A double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2016; 150:6-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2016.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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42
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Preservation of neuromuscular function in symptomatic SOD1-G93A mice by peripheral infusion of methylene blue. Exp Neurol 2016; 285:96-107. [PMID: 27567739 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 07/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mouse models of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) some of the earliest signs of morphological and functional damage occur in the motor nerve terminals that innervate fast limb muscles. This study tested whether localized peripheral application of a protective drug could effectively preserve neuromuscular junctions in late-stage disease. Methylene blue (MB), which has mitochondria-protective properties, was infused via an osmotic pump into the anterior muscle compartment of one hind limb of late pre- symptomatic SOD1-G93A mice for ≥3weeks. When mice reached end-stage disease, peak twitch and tetanic contractions evoked by stimulation of the muscle nerve were measured in two anterior compartment muscles (tibialis anterior [TA] and extensor digitorum longus [EDL], both predominantly fast muscles). With 400μM MB in the infusion reservoir, muscles on the MB-infused side exhibited on average a ~100% increase in nerve-evoked contractile force compared to muscles on the contralateral non-infused side (p<0.01 for both twitch and tetanus in EDL and TA). Pairwise comparisons of endplate innervation also revealed a beneficial effect of MB infusion, with an average of 65% of endplates innervated in infused EDL, compared to only 35% on the non-infused side (p<0.01). Results suggested that MB's protective effects required an extracellular [MB] of ~1μM, were initiated peripherally (no evidence of retrograde transport into the spinal cord), and involved MB's reduced form. Thus peripherally-initiated actions of MB can help preserve neuromuscular structure and function in SOD1-G93A mice, even at late stages of disease.
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43
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Patten SA, Parker JA, Wen XY, Drapeau P. Simple animal models for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2016; 11:797-804. [DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2016.1196183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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44
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Costa SRD, Monteiro MDC, da Silva Júnior FMR, Sandrini JZ. Methylene blue toxicity in zebrafish cell line is dependent on light exposure. Cell Biol Int 2016; 40:895-905. [PMID: 27238358 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.10629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Methylene blue (MB) has been widely applied in the clinical area and is currently being used in aquaculture as biocide. Some recent studies have emphasized the importance of understanding the action mechanism and the MB cellular targets. In this sense, zebrafish is considered a relevant model to study the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis as well as the cellular responses involving DNA damage and repair. So, the aim of the present study was to compare MB action mechanisms in a zebrafish cell line, both in the absence (MB alone; dark toxicity) and in the presence of photosynthetically active radiation (MB+PAR; phototoxicity). There was a significant increase of the levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species 3 h after MB treatment, whereas this increase was only observed 12 h after treatment with MB+PAR. All treatments with MB resulted in an increase in DNA damage after 3 and 6 h. However, cell death by apoptosis was observed from 6 h after treatment with MB+PAR and 12 h after treatment with MB alone. The expression of genes related to apoptosis was altered after MB and MB+PAR treatment. Therefore, this zebrafish cell line is sensitive to the photodynamic action of MB; MB is able to generate DNA damage and induce apoptosis in this cell line both alone and in the presence of PAR. However, the pathways leading to apoptosis in this model appear to be dependent on the type of MB exposure (in the presence or absence of PAR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Rutz da Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas-Fisiologia Animal Comparada, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália km 8, 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Mauricio da Costa Monteiro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas-Fisiologia Animal Comparada, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália km 8, 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Juliana Zomer Sandrini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Fisiológicas-Fisiologia Animal Comparada, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália km 8, 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.,Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande-FURG, Av. Itália km 8, 96203-900, Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
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45
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Abstract
In modern biomedicine, the increasing need to develop experimental models to further our understanding of disease conditions and delineate innovative treatments has found in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) an experimental model, and indeed a valuable asset, to close the gap between in vitro and in vivo assays. Translation of ideas at a faster pace is vital in the field of neurodegeneration, with the attempt to slow or prevent the dramatic impact on the society's welfare being an essential priority. Our research group has pioneered the use of zebrafish to contribute to the quest for faster and improved understanding and treatment of neurodegeneration in concert with, and inspired by, many others who have primed the study of the zebrafish to understand and search for a cure for disorders of the nervous system. Aware of the many advantages this vertebrate model holds, here, we present an update on the recent zebrafish models available to study neurodegeneration with the goal of stimulating further interest and increasing the number of diseases and applications for which they can be exploited. We shall do so by citing and commenting on recent breakthroughs made possible via zebrafish, highlighting their benefits for the testing of therapeutics and dissecting of disease mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Martín-Jiménez
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London, NW1 0TU, UK
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46
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Aaron C, Beaudry G, Parker JA, Therrien M. Maple Syrup Decreases TDP-43 Proteotoxicity in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2016; 64:3338-3344. [PMID: 27071850 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5b05432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease causing death of the motor neurons. Proteotoxicity caused by TDP-43 protein is an important aspect of ALS pathogenesis, with TDP-43 being the main constituent of the aggregates found in patients. We have previously tested the effect of different sugars on the proteotoxicity caused by the expression of mutant TDP-43 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we tested maple syrup, a natural compound containing many active molecules including sugars and phenols, for neuroprotective activity. Maple syrup decreased several age-dependent phenotypes caused by the expression of TDP-43(A315T) in C. elegans motor neurons and requires the FOXO transcription factor DAF-16 to be effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Aaron
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) , 900 St-Denis Street, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2X 0A9
| | - Gabrielle Beaudry
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) , 900 St-Denis Street, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2X 0A9
| | - J Alex Parker
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) , 900 St-Denis Street, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2X 0A9
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montréal , 2960 Chemin de la Tour, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3T 1J4
| | - Martine Therrien
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) , 900 St-Denis Street, Montréal, Québec, Canada H2X 0A9
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, University of Montreal , 2900 Edouard-Montpetit Boul, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3T 1J4
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47
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Therrien M, Rouleau GA, Dion PA, Parker JA. FET proteins regulate lifespan and neuronal integrity. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25159. [PMID: 27117089 PMCID: PMC4846834 DOI: 10.1038/srep25159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The FET protein family includes FUS, EWS and TAF15 proteins, all of which have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. Here, we show that a reduction of FET proteins in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans causes synaptic dysfunction accompanied by impaired motor phenotypes. FET proteins are also involved in the regulation of lifespan and stress resistance, acting partially through the insulin/IGF-signalling pathway. We propose that FET proteins are involved in the maintenance of lifespan, cellular stress resistance and neuronal integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Therrien
- CHUM Research Center, Montreal, H2X 3H8, Canada
- Pathology and Cell biology department, University of Montreal, Montreal, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Guy A. Rouleau
- Neurology and Neurosurgery department, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 0G4, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Hospital, Montreal, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Patrick A. Dion
- Neurology and Neurosurgery department, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 0G4, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Hospital, Montreal, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - J. Alex Parker
- CHUM Research Center, Montreal, H2X 3H8, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, H3T 1J4, Canada
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48
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Julien C, Lissouba A, Madabattula S, Fardghassemi Y, Rosenfelt C, Androschuk A, Strautman J, Wong C, Bysice A, O'sullivan J, Rouleau GA, Drapeau P, Parker JA, Bolduc FV. Conserved pharmacological rescue of hereditary spastic paraplegia-related phenotypes across model organisms. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:1088-99. [PMID: 26744324 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddv632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/29/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) are a group of neurodegenerative diseases causing progressive gait dysfunction. Over 50 genes have now been associated with HSP. Despite the recent explosion in genetic knowledge, HSP remains without pharmacological treatment. Loss-of-function mutation of the SPAST gene, also known as SPG4, is the most common cause of HSP in patients. SPAST is conserved across animal species and regulates microtubule dynamics. Recent studies have shown that it also modulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Here, utilizing null SPAST homologues in C. elegans, Drosophila and zebrafish, we tested FDA-approved compounds known to modulate ER stress in order to ameliorate locomotor phenotypes associated with HSP. We found that locomotor defects found in all of our spastin models could be partially rescued by phenazine, methylene blue, N-acetyl-cysteine, guanabenz and salubrinal. In addition, we show that established biomarkers of ER stress levels correlated with improved locomotor activity upon treatment across model organisms. Our results provide insights into biomarkers and novel therapeutic avenues for HSP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Surya Madabattula
- Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and
| | - Yasmin Fardghassemi
- CRCHUM and Department of Biochemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Cory Rosenfelt
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and
| | - Alaura Androschuk
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and
| | - Joel Strautman
- Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and
| | - Clement Wong
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and
| | - Andrew Bysice
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and
| | - Julia O'sullivan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and
| | - Guy A Rouleau
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | - François V Bolduc
- Institute for Neuroscience and Mental Health and Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and
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49
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Horstick EJ, Tabor KM, Jordan DC, Burgess HA. Genetic Ablation, Sensitization, and Isolation of Neurons Using Nitroreductase and Tetrodotoxin-Insensitive Channels. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1451:355-66. [PMID: 27464821 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3771-4_25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Advances in genetic technologies enable the highly selective expression of transgenes in targeted neuronal cell types. Transgene expression can be used to noninvasively ablate, silence or activate neurons, providing a tool to probe their contribution to the control of behavior or physiology. Here, we describe the use of the tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.5 for either sensitizing neurons to depolarizing input, or isolating targeted neurons from surrounding neural activity, and methods for selective neuronal ablation using the bacterial nitroreductase NfsB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric J Horstick
- Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Kathryn M Tabor
- Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Diana C Jordan
- Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Harold A Burgess
- Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA. .,NIH, 6 Center Drive, Building 6B, Room 3B308, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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50
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Farrokhi MR, Lotfi M, Masoudi MS, Gholami M. Effects of methylene blue on postoperative low-back pain and functional outcomes after lumbar open discectomy: a triple-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Neurosurg Spine 2016; 24:7-15. [DOI: 10.3171/2015.3.spine141172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECT
Despite advances in surgical and anesthesiology techniques, many patients continue to experience postoperative pain after lumbar disc operations. This study aims to investigate the effects of methylene blue (MB) on preventing postoperative low-back pain (LBP) with or without radicular pain and improving the quality of life (QOL) in patients undergoing lumbar open discectomy.
METHODS
This is a prospective, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, which was conducted at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences between July 2011 to January 2012. Of a total of 130 patients, 115 were eligible for participation; 56 received 1 ml of MB solution at a concentration of 0.5% (MB group) and 59 received an equivalent volume of normal saline (control group). Primary outcomes were the control of LBP with or without radicular pain, which was evaluated preoperatively and at 24 hours and 3 months after surgery with the use of a visual analog scale (VAS), and the improvement of QOL, which was assessed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively by means of the Persian translation of the Oswestry Disability Index questionnaire.
RESULTS
The mean VAS scores for LBP were significantly lower in the MB group compared with the control group at 24 hours (1.25 ± 0.97 vs 2.80 ± 0.69, p < 0.001) and 3 months (1.02 ± 1.29 vs 2.07 ± 1.10, p = 0.019) after treatment. The mean radicular pain scores decreased significantly in the 2 groups at 24 hours after surgery, but the mean radicular pain score was significantly lower in the MB-treated patients than the control group. However, the difference between radicular pain scores in the MB group (1 ± 1.1) and the control group (1.2 ± 1) was not statistically significant (p = 0.64). The reduction in LBP was greater in the MB group than the control group (8.11 ± 1.74 vs 6.07 ± 1.52, p = 0.023, CI 95% −1.37 to −0.10). The functional QOL improved significantly 3 months after the operation in both groups (p < 0.001). Moderate disability occurred more frequently in the control group than in the MB group (14.5% vs 7.7%, p = 0.004). No toxicity, adverse effects, or complications were found in the group of patients treated with MB injection.
CONCLUSIONS
A single dose of MB (1 ml 0.5%) for coating the dura and surrounding tissues (facet and muscle) shows promising results in terms of safety, reduction of postoperative pain, and functional outcome compared with placebo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mehrzad Lotfi
- 2Radiology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Mehrnaz Gholami
- 1Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center and Neurosurgery Department, and
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