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Song Y, Li H, Li Y, Xu H, Nazir FH, Jiang W, Zheng L, Tang C. Astrocyte-derived PTN alleviates deficits in hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in models of multiple sclerosis. Stem Cell Reports 2025; 20:102383. [PMID: 39729991 PMCID: PMC11784482 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2024] [Revised: 11/25/2024] [Accepted: 11/25/2024] [Indexed: 12/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease that results in motor, sensory, cognitive, and affective deficits. Hippocampal demyelination, a common occurrence in MS, is linked to impaired cognitive function and mood. Despite this, the precise mechanisms underlying cognitive impairments in MS remain elusive. Pleiotrophin (PTN), secreted by neural stem cells and astrocytes, plays a crucial role in regulating cognition. This study investigates the role of astrocyte-derived PTN. We found that genetic deletion of astrocyte-derived PTN hinders hippocampal neurogenesis. Additionally, conditional ablation of PTN in astrocytes exacerbates neurogenic deficits in the demyelinated hippocampus. Importantly, overexpression of PTN in astrocytes reverses neurogenic and cognitive impairments caused by demyelination, underscoring PTN's protective role in MS. PTN cooperates with protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z1 (PTPRZ1) or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) receptors to activate the AKT signaling pathway, thereby enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition in demyelinated mice. These findings illuminate novel effects of astrocyte-derived PTN on hippocampal neurogenesis and cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanna Song
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Haoyang Li
- Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No.119, South 4th Ring Road West, Fengtai District, Beijing 100070, China
| | - Yuhan Li
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Huiming Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Faisal Hayat Nazir
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's Disease, and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Mitochondrial Medicine and Rare Diseases, Research Institute of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
| | - Lu Zheng
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Changyong Tang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, Guangzhou 510630, Guangdong Province, China.
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Pla-Tenorio J, Velazquez-Perez B, Mendez-Borrero Y, Cruz ML, Sepulveda-Orengo MT, Noel RJ. Astrocytic HIV-1 Nef Expression Decreases Glutamate Transporter Expression in the Nucleus Accumbens and Increases Cocaine-Seeking Behavior in Rats. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2025; 18:40. [PMID: 39861103 PMCID: PMC11769493 DOI: 10.3390/ph18010040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2024] [Revised: 12/23/2024] [Accepted: 12/27/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Cocaine use disorder is an intersecting issue in populations with HIV-1, further exacerbating the clinical course of the disease and contributing to neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation. Cocaine and HIV neurotoxins play roles in neuronal damage during neuroHIV progression by disrupting glutamate homeostasis in the brain. Even with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), HIV-1 Nef, an early viral protein expressed in approximately 1% of infected astrocytes, remains a key neurotoxin. This study investigates the relationship among Nef, glutamate homeostasis, and cocaine in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a critical brain region associated with drug motivation and reward. METHODS Male and female Sprague Dawley rats were used to compare the effects of astrocytic Nef and cocaine by molecular analysis of glutamate transporters, GLT-1 and the cysteine glutamate exchanger (xCT), in the NAc. Behavioral assessments for cocaine self-administration were used to evaluate cocaine-seeking behavior. RESULTS The findings indicate that both cocaine and Nef independently decrease the expression of the glutamate transporter GLT-1 in the NAc. Additionally, rats with astrocytic Nef expression exhibited increased cocaine-seeking behavior but demonstrated sex-dependent molecular differences after the behavioral paradigm. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the expression of Nef intensifies cocaine-induced alterations in glutamate homeostasis in the NAc, potentially underlying increased cocaine-seeking behavior. Understanding these interactions better may inform therapeutic strategies for managing cocaine use disorder in HIV-infected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessalyn Pla-Tenorio
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA;
| | - Bethzaly Velazquez-Perez
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA; (B.V.-P.); (Y.M.-B.); (M.L.C.); (M.T.S.-O.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, PR 00717, USA
| | - Yainira Mendez-Borrero
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA; (B.V.-P.); (Y.M.-B.); (M.L.C.); (M.T.S.-O.)
| | - Myrella L. Cruz
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA; (B.V.-P.); (Y.M.-B.); (M.L.C.); (M.T.S.-O.)
| | - Marian T. Sepulveda-Orengo
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA; (B.V.-P.); (Y.M.-B.); (M.L.C.); (M.T.S.-O.)
| | - Richard J. Noel
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, PR 00716, USA; (B.V.-P.); (Y.M.-B.); (M.L.C.); (M.T.S.-O.)
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3
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Pla-Tenorio J, Velazquez-Perez B, Mendez-Borrero Y, Cruz-Rentas M, Sepulveda-Orengo M, Noel RJ. Astrocytic HIV-1 Nef expression decreases glutamate transporter expression in the nucleus accumbens and increases cocaine-seeking behavior in rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.10.10.617598. [PMID: 39416088 PMCID: PMC11483060 DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.10.617598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2024]
Abstract
Cocaine use disorder is an intersecting issue in populations with HIV-1, further exacerbating the clinical course of the disease, contributing to neurotoxicity and neuroinflammation. Cocaine and HIV neurotoxins play roles in neuronal damage during neuroHIV progression by disrupting glutamate homeostasis in the brain. Even with cART, HIV-1 Nef, an early viral protein expressed in approximately 1% of infected astrocytes, remains a key neurotoxin. This study investigates the relationship that exists between Nef, glutamate homeostasis, and cocaine in the NAc, a critical brain region associated with drug motivation and reward. Using a rat model, we compared the effects of astrocytic Nef and cocaine by molecular analysis of glutamate transporters in the NAc. We further conducted behavioral assessments for cocaine self-administration to evaluate cocaine-seeking behavior. Our findings indicate that both cocaine and Nef independently decrease the expression of the glutamate transporter GLT-1 in the NAc. Additionally, rats with astrocytic Nef expression exhibited increased cocaine-seeking behavior but demonstrated sex dependent molecular differences after behavioral paradigm. In conclusion, our results suggest the expression of Nef intensifies cocaine-induced alterations in glutamate homeostasis in the NAc, potentially underlying increased cocaine-seeking. Understanding these interactions better may inform therapeutic strategies for managing cocaine use disorder in HIV-infected individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessalyn Pla-Tenorio
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Bethzaly Velazquez-Perez
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Yainira Mendez-Borrero
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Myrella Cruz-Rentas
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Marian Sepulveda-Orengo
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
| | - Richard J. Noel
- Department of Basic Sciences, Ponce Research Institute, Ponce Health Sciences University, Ponce, Puerto Rico
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4
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Winchester G, Steele OG, Liu S, Maia Chagas A, Aziz W, Penn AC. Reproducible supervised learning-assisted classification of spontaneous synaptic waveforms with Eventer. Front Neuroinform 2024; 18:1427642. [PMID: 39345285 PMCID: PMC11427245 DOI: 10.3389/fninf.2024.1427642] [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: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Detection and analysis of spontaneous synaptic events is an extremely common task in many neuroscience research labs. Various algorithms and tools have been developed over the years to improve the sensitivity of detecting synaptic events. However, the final stages of most procedures for detecting synaptic events still involve the manual selection of candidate events. This step in the analysis is laborious and requires care and attention to maintain consistency of event selection across the whole dataset. Manual selection can introduce bias and subjective selection criteria that cannot be shared with other labs in reporting methods. To address this, we have created Eventer, a standalone application for the detection of spontaneous synaptic events acquired by electrophysiology or imaging. This open-source application uses the freely available MATLAB Runtime and is deployed on Mac, Windows, and Linux systems. The principle of the Eventer application is to learn the user's "expert" strategy for classifying a set of detected event candidates from a small subset of the data and then automatically apply the same criterion to the remaining dataset. Eventer first uses a suitable model template to pull out event candidates using fast Fourier transform (FFT)-based deconvolution with a low threshold. Random forests are then created and trained to associate various features of the events with manual labeling. The stored model file can be reloaded and used to analyse large datasets with greater consistency. The availability of the source code and its user interface provide a framework with the scope to further tune the existing Random Forest implementation, or add additional, artificial intelligence classification methods. The Eventer website (https://eventerneuro.netlify.app/) includes a repository where researchers can upload and share their machine learning model files and thereby provide greater opportunities for enhancing reproducibility when analyzing datasets of spontaneous synaptic activity. In summary, Eventer, and the associated repository, could allow researchers studying synaptic transmission to increase throughput of their data analysis and address the increasing concerns of reproducibility in neuroscience research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giles Winchester
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Oliver G Steele
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Samuel Liu
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Andre Maia Chagas
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Wajeeha Aziz
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew C Penn
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, United Kingdom
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Heit BS, Chu A, McRay A, Richmond JE, Heckman CJ, Larson J. Interference with glutamate antiporter system x c - enables post-hypoxic long-term potentiation in hippocampus. Exp Physiol 2024; 109:1572-1592. [PMID: 39153228 PMCID: PMC11363115 DOI: 10.1113/ep092045] [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: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
Our group previously showed that genetic or pharmacological inhibition of the cystine/glutamate antiporter, system xc -, mitigates excitotoxicity after anoxia by increasing latency to anoxic depolarization, thus attenuating the ischaemic core. Hypoxia, however, which prevails in the ischaemic penumbra, is a condition where neurotransmission is altered, but excitotoxicity is not triggered. The present study employed mild hypoxia to further probe ischaemia-induced changes in neuronal responsiveness from wild-type and xCT KO (xCT-/-) mice. Synaptic transmission was monitored in hippocampal slices from both genotypes before, during and after a hypoxic episode. Although wild-type and xCT-/- slices showed equal suppression of synaptic transmission during hypoxia, mutant slices exhibited a persistent potentiation upon re-oxygenation, an effect we termed 'post-hypoxic long-term potentiation (LTP)'. Blocking synaptic suppression during hypoxia by antagonizing adenosine A1 receptors did not preclude post-hypoxic LTP. Further examination of the induction and expression mechanisms of this plasticity revealed that post-hypoxic LTP was driven by NMDA receptor activation, as well as increased calcium influx, with no change in paired-pulse facilitation. Hence, the observed phenomenon engaged similar mechanisms as classical LTP. This was a remarkable finding as theta-burst stimulation-induced LTP was equivalent between genotypes. Importantly, post-hypoxic LTP was generated in wild-type slices pretreated with system xc - inhibitor, S-4-carboxyphenylglycine, thereby confirming the antiporter's role in this phenomenon. Collectively, these data indicate that system xc - interference enables neuroplasticity in response to mild hypoxia, and, together with its regulation of cellular damage in the ischaemic core, suggest a role for the antiporter in post-ischaemic recovery of the penumbra.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley S. Heit
- Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biomedical EngineeringNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Alex Chu
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Alyssa McRay
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Janet E. Richmond
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Charles J. Heckman
- Department of Neuroscience and Department of Biomedical EngineeringNorthwestern UniversityChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - John Larson
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
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6
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Frare C, Pitt SK, Hewett SJ. Sex- and age-dependent contribution of System x c- to cognitive, sensory, and social behaviors revealed by comprehensive behavioral analyses of System x c- null mice. Front Behav Neurosci 2023; 17:1238349. [PMID: 37649973 PMCID: PMC10462982 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1238349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background System xc- (Sxc-) is an important heteromeric amino acid cystine/glutamate exchanger that plays a pivotal role in the CNS by importing cystine into cells while exporting glutamate. Although certain behaviors have been identified as altered in Sxc- null mutant mice, our understanding of the comprehensive impact of Sxc- on behavior remains incomplete. Methods To address this gap, we compared motor, sensory and social behaviors of male and female mice in mice null for Sxc- (SLC7A11sut/sut) with wildtype littermates (SLC7A11+/+) in a comprehensive and systematic manner to determine effects of genotype, sex, age, and their potential interactions. Results Motor performance was not affected by loss of Sxc- in both males and females, although it was impacted negatively by age. Motor learning was specifically disrupted in female mice lacking Sxc- at both 2 and 6 months of age. Further, female SLC7A11sut/sut mice at both ages exhibited impaired sociability, but normal spatial and recognition memory, as well as sensorimotor gating. Finally, pronounced open-space anxiety was displayed by female SLC7A11sut/sut when they were young. In contrast, young SLC7A11sut/sut male mice demonstrated normal sociability, delayed spatial learning, increased open-space anxiety and heightened sensitivity to noise. As they aged, anxiety and noise sensitivity abated but hyperactivity emerged. Discussion We find that the behavioral phenotypes of female SLC7A11sut/sut are similar to those observed in mouse models of autism spectrum disorder, while behaviors of male SLC7A11sut/sut resemble those seen in mouse models of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These results underscore the need for further investigation of SLC7A11 in neurodevelopment. By expanding our understanding of the potential involvement of Sxc-, we may gain additional insights into the mechanisms underlying complex neurodevelopmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandra J. Hewett
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, United States
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Fujii J, Osaki T, Soma Y, Matsuda Y. Critical Roles of the Cysteine-Glutathione Axis in the Production of γ-Glutamyl Peptides in the Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098044. [PMID: 37175751 PMCID: PMC10179188 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
γ-Glutamyl moiety that is attached to the cysteine (Cys) residue in glutathione (GSH) protects it from peptidase-mediated degradation. The sulfhydryl group of the Cys residue represents most of the functions of GSH, which include electron donation to peroxidases, protection of reactive sulfhydryl in proteins via glutaredoxin, and glutathione conjugation of xenobiotics, whereas Cys-derived sulfur is also a pivotal component of some redox-responsive molecules. The amount of Cys that is available tends to restrict the capacity of GSH synthesis. In in vitro systems, cystine is the major form in the extracellular milieu, and a specific cystine transporter, xCT, is essential for survival in most lines of cells and in many primary cultivated cells as well. A reduction in the supply of Cys causes GPX4 to be inhibited due to insufficient GSH synthesis, which leads to iron-dependent necrotic cell death, ferroptosis. Cells generally cannot take up GSH without the removal of γ-glutamyl moiety by γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) on the cell surface. Meanwhile, the Cys-GSH axis is essentially common to certain types of cells; primarily, neuronal cells that contain a unique metabolic system for intercellular communication concerning γ-glutamyl peptides. After a general description of metabolic processes concerning the Cys-GSH axis, we provide an overview and discuss the significance of GSH-related compounds in the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junichi Fujii
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Tsukasa Osaki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Yuya Soma
- Graduate School of Nursing, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Yumi Matsuda
- Graduate School of Nursing, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
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Hess EM, Kassel SN, Simandl G, Raddatz N, Maunze B, Hurley MM, Grzybowski M, Klotz J, Geurts A, Liu QS, Choi S, Twining RC, Baker DA. Genetic Disruption of System xc-Mediated Glutamate Release from Astrocytes Increases Negative-Outcome Behaviors While Preserving Basic Brain Function in Rat. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2349-2361. [PMID: 36788029 PMCID: PMC10072291 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1525-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The importance of neuronal glutamate to synaptic transmission throughout the brain illustrates the immense therapeutic potential and safety risks of targeting this system. Astrocytes also release glutamate, the clinical relevance of which is unknown as the range of brain functions reliant on signaling from these cells hasn't been fully established. Here, we investigated system xc- (Sxc), which is a glutamate release mechanism with an in vivo rodent expression pattern that is restricted to astrocytes. As most animals do not express Sxc, we first compared the expression and sequence of the obligatory Sxc subunit xCT among major classes of vertebrate species. We found xCT to be ubiquitously expressed and under significant negative selective pressure. Hence, Sxc likely confers important advantages to vertebrate brain function that may promote biological fitness. Next, we assessed brain function in male genetically modified rats (MSxc) created to eliminate Sxc activity. Unlike other glutamatergic mechanisms, eliminating Sxc activity was not lethal and didn't alter growth patterns, telemetry measures of basic health, locomotor activity, or behaviors reliant on simple learning. However, MSxc rats exhibited deficits in tasks used to assess cognitive behavioral control. In a pavlovian conditioned approach, MSxc rats approached a food-predicted cue more frequently than WT rats, even when this response was punished. In attentional set shifting, MSxc rats displayed cognitive inflexibility because of an increased frequency of perseverative errors. MSxc rats also displayed heightened cocaine-primed drug seeking. Hence, a loss of Sxc-activity appears to weaken control over nonreinforced or negative-outcome behaviors without altering basic brain function.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Glutamate is essential to synaptic activity throughout the brain, which illustrates immense therapeutic potential and risk. Notably, glutamatergic mechanisms are expressed by most types of brain cells. Hence, glutamate likely encodes multiple forms of intercellular signaling. Here, we hypothesized that the selective manipulation of astrocyte to neuron signaling would alter cognition without producing widespread brain impairments. First, we eliminated activity of the astrocytic glutamate release mechanism, Sxc, in rat. This impaired cognitive flexibility and increased expression of perseverative, maladaptive behaviors. Notably, eliminating Sxc activity did not alter metrics of health or noncognitive brain function. These data add to recent evidence that the brain expresses cognition-specific molecular mechanisms that could lead to highly precise, safe medications for impaired cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan M Hess
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Sara N Kassel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Gregory Simandl
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Nicholas Raddatz
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Brian Maunze
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Matthew M Hurley
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | | | | | | | - Qing-Song Liu
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226
| | - SuJean Choi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - Robert C Twining
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
| | - David A Baker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233
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Heit BS, Chu A, Sane A, Featherstone DE, Park TJ, Larson J. Tonic extracellular glutamate and ischaemia: glutamate antiporter system x c - regulates anoxic depolarization in hippocampus. J Physiol 2023; 601:607-629. [PMID: 36321247 PMCID: PMC10107724 DOI: 10.1113/jp283880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In stroke, the sudden deprivation of oxygen to neurons triggers a profuse release of glutamate that induces anoxic depolarization (AD) and leads to rapid cell death. Importantly, the latency of the glutamate-driven AD event largely dictates subsequent tissue damage. Although the contribution of synaptic glutamate during ischaemia is well-studied, the role of tonic (ambient) glutamate has received far less scrutiny. The majority of tonic, non-synaptic glutamate in the brain is governed by the cystine/glutamate antiporter, system xc - . Employing hippocampal slice electrophysiology, we showed that transgenic mice lacking a functional system xc - display longer latencies to AD and altered depolarizing waves compared to wild-type mice after total oxygen deprivation. Experiments which pharmacologically inhibited system xc - , as well as those manipulating tonic glutamate levels and those antagonizing glutamate receptors, revealed that the antiporter's putative effect on ambient glutamate precipitates the ischaemic cascade. As such, the current study yields novel insight into the pathogenesis of acute stroke and may direct future therapeutic interventions. KEY POINTS: Ischaemic stroke remains the leading cause of adult disability in the world, but efforts to reduce stroke severity have been plagued by failed translational attempts to mitigate glutamate excitotoxicity. Elucidating the ischaemic cascade, which within minutes leads to irreversible tissue damage induced by anoxic depolarization, must be a principal focus. Data presented here show that tonic, extrasynaptic glutamate supplied by system xc - synergizes with ischaemia-induced synaptic glutamate release to propagate AD and exacerbate depolarizing waves. Exploiting the role of system xc - and its obligate release of ambient glutamate could, therefore, be a novel therapeutic direction to attenuate the deleterious effects of acute stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley S Heit
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alex Chu
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Abhay Sane
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David E Featherstone
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Thomas J Park
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - John Larson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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10
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Hao Y, Plested AJ. Seeing glutamate at central synapses. J Neurosci Methods 2022; 375:109531. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2022.109531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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11
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Beckers P, Lara O, Belo do Nascimento I, Desmet N, Massie A, Hermans E. Validation of a System xc– Functional Assay in Cultured Astrocytes and Nervous Tissue Samples. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 15:815771. [PMID: 35095428 PMCID: PMC8793334 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.815771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruption of the glutamatergic homeostasis is commonly observed in neurological diseases and has been frequently correlated with the altered expression and/or function of astrocytic high-affinity glutamate transporters. There is, however, a growing interest for the role of the cystine-glutamate exchanger system xc– in controlling glutamate transmission. This exchanger is predominantly expressed in glial cells, especially in microglia and astrocytes, and its dysregulation has been documented in diverse neurological conditions. While most studies have focused on measuring the expression of its specific subunit xCT by RT-qPCR or by Western blotting, the activity of this exchanger in tissue samples remains poorly examined. Indeed, the reported use of sulfur- and carbon-radiolabeled cystine in uptake assays shows several drawbacks related to its short radioactive half-life and its relatively high cost. We here report on the elaborate validation of a method using tritiated glutamate as a substrate for the reversed transport mediated by system xc–. The uptake assay was validated in primary cultured astrocytes, in transfected cells as well as in crude synaptosomes obtained from fresh nervous tissue samples. Working in buffers containing defined concentrations of Na+, allowed us to differentiate the glutamate uptake supported by system xc– or by high-affinity glutamate transporters, as confirmed by using selective pharmacological inhibitors. The specificity was further demonstrated in primary astrocyte cultures from transgenic mice lacking xCT or in cell lines where xCT expression was genetically induced or reduced. As such, this assay appears to be a robust and cost-efficient solution to investigate the activity of this exchanger in physiological and pathological conditions. It also provides a reliable tool for the screening and characterization of new system xc– inhibitors which have been frequently cited as valuable drugs for nervous disorders and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Beckers
- Group of Neuropharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olaya Lara
- Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ines Belo do Nascimento
- Group of Neuropharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Desmet
- Group of Neuropharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ann Massie
- Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emmanuel Hermans
- Group of Neuropharmacology, Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Emmanuel Hermans,
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12
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Bentea E, De Pauw L, Verbruggen L, Winfrey LC, Deneyer L, Moore C, Albertini G, Sato H, Van Eeckhaut A, Meshul CK, Massie A. Aged xCT-Deficient Mice Are Less Susceptible for Lactacystin-, but Not 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6- Tetrahydropyridine-, Induced Degeneration of the Nigrostriatal Pathway. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 15:796635. [PMID: 34975413 PMCID: PMC8718610 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.796635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The astrocytic cystine/glutamate antiporter system x c - (with xCT as the specific subunit) imports cystine in exchange for glutamate and has been shown to interact with multiple pathways in the brain that are dysregulated in age-related neurological disorders, including glutamate homeostasis, redox balance, and neuroinflammation. In the current study, we investigated the effect of genetic xCT deletion on lactacystin (LAC)- and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway, as models for Parkinson's disease (PD). Dopaminergic neurons of adult xCT knock-out mice (xCT-/-) demonstrated an equal susceptibility to intranigral injection of the proteasome inhibitor LAC, as their wild-type (xCT+/+) littermates. Contrary to adult mice, aged xCT-/- mice showed a significant decrease in LAC-induced degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons, depletion of striatal dopamine (DA) and neuroinflammatory reaction, compared to age-matched xCT+/+ littermates. Given this age-related protection, we further investigated the sensitivity of aged xCT-/- mice to chronic and progressive MPTP treatment. However, in accordance with our previous observations in adult mice (Bentea et al., 2015a), xCT deletion did not confer protection against MPTP-induced nigrostriatal degeneration in aged mice. We observed an increased loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons, but equal striatal DA denervation, in MPTP-treated aged xCT-/- mice when compared to age-matched xCT+/+ littermates. To conclude, we reveal age-related protection against proteasome inhibition-induced nigrostriatal degeneration in xCT-/- mice, while xCT deletion failed to protect nigral dopaminergic neurons of aged mice against MPTP-induced toxicity. Our findings thereby provide new insights into the role of system x c - in mechanisms of dopaminergic cell loss and its interaction with aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Bentea
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laura De Pauw
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lise Verbruggen
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lila C Winfrey
- Neurocytology Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research Services, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Lauren Deneyer
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cynthia Moore
- Neurocytology Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research Services, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Giulia Albertini
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hideyo Sato
- Department of Medical Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Ann Van Eeckhaut
- Research Group Experimental Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Charles K Meshul
- Neurocytology Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research Services, Portland, OR, United States.,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience and Pathology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Ann Massie
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging and Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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13
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Verbruggen L, Ates G, Lara O, De Munck J, Villers A, De Pauw L, Ottestad-Hansen S, Kobayashi S, Beckers P, Janssen P, Sato H, Zhou Y, Hermans E, Njemini R, Arckens L, Danbolt NC, De Bundel D, Aerts JL, Barbé K, Guillaume B, Ris L, Bentea E, Massie A. Lifespan extension with preservation of hippocampal function in aged system x c--deficient male mice. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:2355-2368. [PMID: 35181756 PMCID: PMC9126817 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01470-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc- has been identified as the major source of extracellular glutamate in several brain regions as well as a modulator of neuroinflammation, and genetic deletion of its specific subunit xCT (xCT-/-) is protective in mouse models for age-related neurological disorders. However, the previously observed oxidative shift in the plasma cystine/cysteine ratio of adult xCT-/- mice led to the hypothesis that system xc- deletion would negatively affect life- and healthspan. Still, till now the role of system xc- in physiological aging remains unexplored. We therefore studied the effect of xCT deletion on the aging process of mice, with a particular focus on the immune system, hippocampal function, and cognitive aging. We observed that male xCT-/- mice have an extended lifespan, despite an even more increased plasma cystine/cysteine ratio in aged compared to adult mice. This oxidative shift does not negatively impact the general health status of the mice. On the contrary, the age-related priming of the innate immune system, that manifested as increased LPS-induced cytokine levels and hypothermia in xCT+/+ mice, was attenuated in xCT-/- mice. While this was associated with only a very moderate shift towards a more anti-inflammatory state of the aged hippocampus, we observed changes in the hippocampal metabolome that were associated with a preserved hippocampal function and the retention of hippocampus-dependent memory in male aged xCT-/- mice. Targeting system xc- is thus not only a promising strategy to prevent cognitive decline, but also to promote healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lise Verbruggen
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gamze Ates
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olaya Lara
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jolien De Munck
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Agnès Villers
- grid.8364.90000 0001 2184 581XDepartment of Neurosciences, Université de Mons (UMONS), Mons, Belgium
| | - Laura De Pauw
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sigrid Ottestad-Hansen
- grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Neurotransporter Group, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sho Kobayashi
- grid.268394.20000 0001 0674 7277Department of Food, Life and Environmental Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Pauline Beckers
- grid.7942.80000 0001 2294 713XInstitute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pauline Janssen
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hideyo Sato
- grid.260975.f0000 0001 0671 5144Department of Medical Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yun Zhou
- grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Neurotransporter Group, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Emmanuel Hermans
- grid.7942.80000 0001 2294 713XInstitute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rose Njemini
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Frailty in Ageing research Department, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niels C. Danbolt
- grid.5510.10000 0004 1936 8921Neurotransporter Group, Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Dimitri De Bundel
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, C4N, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joeri L. Aerts
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Kurt Barbé
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069The Biostatistics and Medical Informatics Department, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Laurence Ris
- grid.8364.90000 0001 2184 581XDepartment of Neurosciences, Université de Mons (UMONS), Mons, Belgium
| | - Eduard Bentea
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ann Massie
- Laboratory of Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
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14
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Sears SMS, Roberts SH, Hewett SJ. Hyperexcitability and brain morphological differences in mice lacking the cystine/glutamate antiporter, system x c. J Neurosci Res 2021; 99:3339-3353. [PMID: 34747522 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
System xc - (Sxc - ) is a heteromeric antiporter (L-cystine/L-glutamate exchanger) expressed predominately on astrocytes in the central nervous system. Its activity contributes importantly to the maintenance of the ambient extracellular glutamate levels, as well as, to cellular redox homeostasis. Since alterations in glutamate levels and redox modifications could cause structural changes, we analyzed gross regional morphology of thionin-stained brain sections and cellular and subcellular morphology of Golgi-Cox stained layer V pyramidal neurons in the primary motor cortex (PM1) of mice naturally null for SLC7A11 (SLC7A11sut/sut )-the gene that encodes the substrate specific light chain (xCT) for Sxc - . Intriguingly, in comparison to age- and sex-matched wild-type (SLC7A11+/+ ) littermate controls, we found morphologic changes-including increased dendritic complexity and mushroom spine area in males and reduced corpus callosum and soma size in females-that have previously been described, in each case, as morphological correlates of excitability. Consistent with this, we found that both male and female SLC7A11sut/sut mice had lower convulsive seizure thresholds and greater seizure severity than their sex-matched wild-type (SLC7A11+/+ ) littermates after acute challenge with two pharmacologically distinct chemoconvulsants: the Glu receptor agonist, kainic acid (KA), or the GABAA receptor antagonist, pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). These results suggest that the loss of Sxc - signaling in males and females perturbs excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance in vivo, potentially through its regulation of cellular and subcellular morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila M S Sears
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Sarah H Roberts
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Sandra J Hewett
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
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15
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Cocaine use disorder: A look at metabotropic glutamate receptors and glutamate transporters. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 221:107797. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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16
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Baltan S, Jawaid SS, Chomyk AM, Kidd GJ, Chen J, Battapady HD, Chan R, Dutta R, Trapp BD. Neuronal hibernation following hippocampal demyelination. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:34. [PMID: 33648591 PMCID: PMC7923530 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01130-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognitive dysfunction occurs in greater than 50% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Hippocampal demyelination is a prominent feature of postmortem MS brains and hippocampal atrophy correlates with cognitive decline in MS patients. Cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for neuronal dysfunction in demyelinated hippocampi are not fully understood. Here we investigate a mouse model of hippocampal demyelination where twelve weeks of treatment with the oligodendrocyte toxin, cuprizone, demyelinates over 90% of the hippocampus and causes decreased memory/learning. Long-term potentiation (LTP) of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons is considered to be a major cellular readout of learning and memory in the mammalian brain. In acute slices, we establish that hippocampal demyelination abolishes LTP and excitatory post-synaptic potentials of CA1 neurons, while pre-synaptic function of Schaeffer collateral fibers is preserved. Demyelination also reduced Ca2+-mediated firing of hippocampal neurons in vivo. Using three-dimensional electron microscopy, we investigated the number, shape (mushroom, stubby, thin), and post-synaptic densities (PSDs) of dendritic spines that facilitate LTP. Hippocampal demyelination did not alter the number of dendritic spines. Surprisingly, dendritic spines appeared to be more mature in demyelinated hippocampi, with a significant increase in mushroom-shaped spines, more perforated PSDs, and more astrocyte participation in the tripartite synapse. RNA sequencing experiments identified 400 altered transcripts in demyelinated hippocampi. Gene transcripts that regulate myelination, synaptic signaling, astrocyte function, and innate immunity were altered in demyelinated hippocampi. Hippocampal remyelination rescued synaptic transmission, LTP, and the majority of gene transcript changes. We establish that CA1 neurons projecting demyelinated axons silence their dendritic spines and hibernate in a state that may protect the demyelinated axon and facilitates functional recovery following remyelination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selva Baltan
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue/NC30, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
- Department of Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Safdar S Jawaid
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue/NC30, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Anthony M Chomyk
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue/NC30, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Grahame J Kidd
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue/NC30, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Jacqueline Chen
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue/NC30, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
- Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Harsha D Battapady
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue/NC30, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Ricky Chan
- Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA
| | - Ranjan Dutta
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue/NC30, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA
| | - Bruce D Trapp
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue/NC30, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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17
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Fischer KD, Knackstedt LA, Rosenberg PA. Glutamate homeostasis and dopamine signaling: Implications for psychostimulant addiction behavior. Neurochem Int 2021; 144:104896. [PMID: 33159978 PMCID: PMC8489281 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2020.104896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cocaine, amphetamine, and methamphetamine abuse disorders are serious worldwide health problems. To date, there are no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of these disorders. Elucidation of the biochemical underpinnings contributing to psychostimulant addiction is critical for the development of effective therapies. Excitatory signaling and glutamate homeostasis are well known pathophysiological substrates underlying addiction-related behaviors spanning multiple types of psychostimulants. To alleviate relapse behavior to psychostimulants, considerable interest has focused on GLT-1, the major glutamate transporter in the brain. While many brain regions are implicated in addiction behavior, this review focuses on two regions well known for their role in mediating the effects of cocaine and amphetamines, namely the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA). In addition, because many investigators have utilized Cre-driver lines to selectively control gene expression in defined cell populations relevant for psychostimulant addiction, we discuss potential off-target effects of Cre-recombinase that should be considered in the design and interpretation of such experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn D Fischer
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Lori A Knackstedt
- Psychology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Paul A Rosenberg
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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18
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Sears SM, Hewett SJ. Influence of glutamate and GABA transport on brain excitatory/inhibitory balance. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2021; 246:1069-1083. [PMID: 33554649 DOI: 10.1177/1535370221989263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An optimally functional brain requires both excitatory and inhibitory inputs that are regulated and balanced. A perturbation in the excitatory/inhibitory balance-as is the case in some neurological disorders/diseases (e.g. traumatic brain injury Alzheimer's disease, stroke, epilepsy and substance abuse) and disorders of development (e.g. schizophrenia, Rhett syndrome and autism spectrum disorder)-leads to dysfunctional signaling, which can result in impaired cognitive and motor function, if not frank neuronal injury. At the cellular level, transmission of glutamate and GABA, the principle excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system control excitatory/inhibitory balance. Herein, we review the synthesis, release, and signaling of GABA and glutamate followed by a focused discussion on the importance of their transport systems to the maintenance of excitatory/inhibitory balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Ms Sears
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, 2029Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Sandra J Hewett
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, 2029Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
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19
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Bentea E, Villers A, Moore C, Funk AJ, O’Donovan SM, Verbruggen L, Lara O, Janssen P, De Pauw L, Declerck NB, DePasquale EAK, Churchill MJ, Sato H, Hermans E, Arckens L, Meshul CK, Ris L, McCullumsmith RE, Massie A. Corticostriatal dysfunction and social interaction deficits in mice lacking the cystine/glutamate antiporter. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:4754-4769. [PMID: 32366950 PMCID: PMC7609546 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0751-3] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The astrocytic cystine/glutamate antiporter system xc- represents an important source of extracellular glutamate in the central nervous system, with potential impact on excitatory neurotransmission. Yet, its function and importance in brain physiology remain incompletely understood. Employing slice electrophysiology and mice with a genetic deletion of the specific subunit of system xc-, xCT (xCT-/- mice), we uncovered decreased neurotransmission at corticostriatal synapses. This effect was partly mitigated by replenishing extracellular glutamate levels, indicating a defect linked with decreased extracellular glutamate availability. We observed no changes in the morphology of striatal medium spiny neurons, the density of dendritic spines, or the density or ultrastructure of corticostriatal synapses, indicating that the observed functional defects are not due to morphological or structural abnormalities. By combining electron microscopy with glutamate immunogold labeling, we identified decreased intracellular glutamate density in presynaptic terminals, presynaptic mitochondria, and in dendritic spines of xCT-/- mice. A proteomic and kinomic screen of the striatum of xCT-/- mice revealed decreased expression of presynaptic proteins and abnormal kinase network signaling, that may contribute to the observed changes in postsynaptic responses. Finally, these corticostriatal deregulations resulted in a behavioral phenotype suggestive of autism spectrum disorder in the xCT-/- mice; in tests sensitive to corticostriatal functioning we recorded increased repetitive digging behavior and decreased sociability. To conclude, our findings show that system xc- plays a previously unrecognized role in regulating corticostriatal neurotransmission and influences social preference and repetitive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduard Bentea
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Agnès Villers
- grid.8364.90000 0001 2184 581XDepartment of Neurosciences, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Cynthia Moore
- grid.410404.50000 0001 0165 2383Research Services, Neurocytology Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR USA
| | - Adam J. Funk
- grid.267337.40000 0001 2184 944XDepartment of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
| | - Sinead M. O’Donovan
- grid.267337.40000 0001 2184 944XDepartment of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
| | - Lise Verbruggen
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olaya Lara
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pauline Janssen
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Laura De Pauw
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Noemi B. Declerck
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Erica A. K. DePasquale
- grid.239573.90000 0000 9025 8099Division of Biomedical Informatics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH USA ,grid.24827.3b0000 0001 2179 9593Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Madeline J. Churchill
- grid.410404.50000 0001 0165 2383Research Services, Neurocytology Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR USA
| | - Hideyo Sato
- grid.260975.f0000 0001 0671 5144Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Emmanuel Hermans
- grid.7942.80000 0001 2294 713XInstitute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lutgarde Arckens
- grid.5596.f0000 0001 0668 7884Laboratory of Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Charles K. Meshul
- grid.410404.50000 0001 0165 2383Research Services, Neurocytology Laboratory, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, OR USA ,grid.5288.70000 0000 9758 5690Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR USA
| | - Laurence Ris
- grid.8364.90000 0001 2184 581XDepartment of Neurosciences, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Robert E. McCullumsmith
- grid.267337.40000 0001 2184 944XDepartment of Neurosciences, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH USA
| | - Ann Massie
- Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium.
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20
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Smaga I, Gawlińska K, Frankowska M, Wydra K, Sadakierska-Chudy A, Suder A, Piechota M, Filip M. Extinction Training after Cocaine Self-Administration Influences the Epigenetic and Genetic Machinery Responsible for Glutamatergic Transporter Gene Expression in Male Rat Brain. Neuroscience 2020; 451:99-110. [PMID: 33065231 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate is a key excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The balance of glutamatergic transporter proteins allows long-term maintenance of glutamate homeostasis in the brain, which is impaired during cocaine use disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in the gene expression of SLC1A2 (encoding GLT-1), and SLC7A11 (encoding xCT), in rat brain structures after short-term (3 days) and long-term (10 days) extinction training using microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR. Furthermore, we analyzed the expression of genes encoding transcription factors, i.e., NFKB1 and NFKB2 (encoding NF-κB), PAX6, (encoding Pax6), and NFE2L2 (encoding Nrf2), to verify the correlation between changes in glutamatergic transporters and changes in their transcriptional factors and microRNAs (miRNAs; miR-124a, miR-543-3p and miR-342-3p) and confirm the epigenetic mechanism. We found reduced GLT-1 transcript and mRNA level in the prefrontal cortex (PFCTX) and dorsal striatum (DSTR) in rats that had previously self-administered cocaine after 3 days of extinction training, which was associated with downregulation of PAX6 (transcript and mRNA) and NFKB2 (mRNA) level in the PFCTX and with upregulation of miR-543-3p and miR-342-3p in the DSTR. The xCT mRNA level was reduced in the PFCTX and DSTR, and NFE2L2 transcript level in the PFCTX was decreased on the 3rd day of extinction training. In conclusion, 3-day drug-free period modulates GLT-1 and xCT gene expression through genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, and such changes in expression seem to be potential molecular targets for developing a treatment for cocaine-seeking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Smaga
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland.
| | - Kinga Gawlińska
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Frankowska
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Karolina Wydra
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Anna Sadakierska-Chudy
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Agata Suder
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Marcin Piechota
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Molecular Neuropharmacology, Smętna 12, 31-343 Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Filip
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Drug Addiction Pharmacology, Smętna 12, PL 31-343 Kraków, Poland
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21
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Identification, Expression, and Roles of the Cystine/Glutamate Antiporter in Ocular Tissues. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2020; 2020:4594606. [PMID: 32655769 PMCID: PMC7320271 DOI: 10.1155/2020/4594606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The cystine/glutamate antiporter (system x c -) is composed of a heavy chain subunit 4F2hc linked by a disulphide bond to a light chain xCT, which exchanges extracellular cystine, the disulphide form of the amino acid cysteine, for intracellular glutamate. In vitro research in the brain, kidney, and liver have shown this antiporter to play a role in minimising oxidative stress by providing a source of intracellular cysteine for the synthesis of the antioxidant glutathione. In vivo studies using the xCT knockout mouse revealed that the plasma cystine/cysteine redox couple was tilted to a more oxidative state demonstrating system xc - to also play a role in maintaining extracellular redox balance by driving a cystine/cysteine redox cycle. In addition, through import of cystine, system xc - also serves to export glutamate into the extracellular space which may influence neurotransmission and glutamate signalling in neural tissues. While changes to system xc - function has been linked to cancer and neurodegenerative disease, there is limited research on the roles of system xc - in the different tissues of the eye, and links between the antiporter, aging, and ocular disease. Hence, this review seeks to consolidate research on system xc - in the cornea, lens, retina, and ocular humours conducted across several species to shed light on the in vitro and in vivo roles of xCT in the eye and highlight the utility of the xCT knockout mouse as a tool to investigate the contribution of xCT to age-related ocular diseases.
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22
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Niedzielska-Andres E, Mizera J, Sadakierska-Chudy A, Pomierny-Chamioło L, Filip M. Changes in the glutamate biomarker expression in rats vulnerable or resistant to the rewarding effects of cocaine and their reversal by ceftriaxone. Behav Brain Res 2019; 370:111945. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.111945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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23
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McGuire JL, Ngwenya LB, McCullumsmith RE. Neurotransmitter changes after traumatic brain injury: an update for new treatment strategies. Mol Psychiatry 2019; 24:995-1012. [PMID: 30214042 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-018-0239-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a pervasive problem in the United States and worldwide, as the number of diagnosed individuals is increasing yearly and there are no efficacious therapeutic interventions. A large number of patients suffer with cognitive disabilities and psychiatric conditions after TBI, especially anxiety and depression. The constellation of post-injury cognitive and behavioral symptoms suggest permanent effects of injury on neurotransmission. Guided in part by preclinical studies, clinical trials have focused on high-yield pathophysiologic mechanisms, including protein aggregation, inflammation, metabolic disruption, cell generation, physiology, and alterations in neurotransmitter signaling. Despite successful treatment of experimental TBI in animal models, clinical studies based on these findings have failed to translate to humans. The current international effort to reshape TBI research is focusing on redefining the taxonomy and characterization of TBI. In addition, as the next round of clinical trials is pending, there is a pressing need to consider what the field has learned over the past two decades of research, and how we can best capitalize on this knowledge to inform the hypotheses for future innovations. Thus, it is critically important to extend our understanding of the pathophysiology of TBI, particularly to mechanisms that are associated with recovery versus development of chronic symptoms. In this review, we focus on the pathology of neurotransmission after TBI, reflecting on what has been learned from both the preclinical and clinical studies, and we discuss new directions and opportunities for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L McGuire
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Laura B Ngwenya
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Neurotrauma Center, University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute, Cincinnati, OH, 45219, USA
| | - Robert E McCullumsmith
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Cincinnati Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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24
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Sears SMS, Hewett JA, Hewett SJ. Decreased epileptogenesis in mice lacking the System x c - transporter occurs in association with a reduction in AMPA receptor subunit GluA1. Epilepsia Open 2019; 4:133-143. [PMID: 30868123 PMCID: PMC6398109 DOI: 10.1002/epi4.12307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although the cystine/glutamate antiporter System xc - (Sxc -) plays a permissive role in glioma-associated seizures, its contribution to other acquired epilepsies has not been determined. As such, the present study investigates whether and how Sxc - contributes to the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) chemical kindling model of epileptogenesis. METHODS Male Sxc - null (sut/sut) mice and their wild-type littermates were administered PTZ (i.p.) daily for up to 21 days (kindling paradigm). Seizure severity was scored on a 5-point behavioral scale. Mossy fiber sprouting, cellular degeneration, and Sxc - light chain (xCT) messenger RNA (mRNA) were explored using Timm staining, thionin staining, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), respectively. Levels of reduced and oxidized glutathione and cysteine were determined via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Plasma membrane protein levels of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunits as well as the K+/Cl- co-transporter KCC2 were quantified via western blot analysis. RESULTS Repeated administration of PTZ produced chemical kindling in only 50% of Sxc - null mice as compared to 82% of wild-type littermate control mice. Kindling did not result in any changes in xCT mRNA levels assessed in wild-type mice. No cellular degeneration or mossy fiber sprouting was discernible in either genotype. Except for a small, but significant, decrease in oxidized cysteine in the hippocampus, no other change in measured redox couples was determined in Sxc - null mice. Cortical levels of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor subunit GluA1 were decreased in Sxc - null mice as compared to wild-type littermates, whereas all other proteins tested showed no difference between genotypes. SIGNIFICANCE This study provides the first evidence that Sxc - signaling contributes to epileptogenesis in the PTZ kindling model of acquired epilepsy. Further data indicate that a reduction in AMPA receptor signaling could underlie the resistance to PTZ kindling uncovered in Sxc - null mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila M. S. Sears
- Department of BiologyProgram in NeuroscienceSyracuse UniversitySyracuseNew York
| | - James A. Hewett
- Department of BiologyProgram in NeuroscienceSyracuse UniversitySyracuseNew York
| | - Sandra J. Hewett
- Department of BiologyProgram in NeuroscienceSyracuse UniversitySyracuseNew York
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25
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Albertini G, Deneyer L, Ottestad-Hansen S, Zhou Y, Ates G, Walrave L, Demuyser T, Bentea E, Sato H, De Bundel D, Danbolt NC, Massie A, Smolders I. Genetic deletion of xCT attenuates peripheral and central inflammation and mitigates LPS-induced sickness and depressive-like behavior in mice. Glia 2018; 66:1845-1861. [PMID: 29693305 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The communication between the immune and central nervous system (CNS) is affected in many neurological disorders. Peripheral injections of the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are widely used to study this communication: an LPS challenge leads to a biphasic syndrome that starts with acute sickness and is followed by persistent brain inflammation and chronic behavioral alterations such as depressive-like symptoms. In vitro, the response to LPS treatment has been shown to involve enhanced expression of system <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msubsup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>x</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mrow><mml:mi>c</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mrow><mml:mo>-</mml:mo></mml:mrow> </mml:msubsup> </mml:math> . This cystine-glutamate antiporter, with xCT as specific subunit, represents the main glial provider of extracellular glutamate in mouse hippocampus. Here we injected male xCT knockout and wildtype mice with a single intraperitoneal dose of 5 mg/kg LPS. LPS-injection increased hippocampal xCT expression but did not alter the mainly astroglial localization of the xCT protein. Peripheral and central inflammation (as defined by cytokine levels and morphological activation of microglia) as well as LPS-induced sickness and depressive-like behavior were significantly attenuated in xCT-deficient mice compared with wildtype mice. Our study is the first to demonstrate the involvement of system <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msubsup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>x</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mrow><mml:mi>c</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mrow><mml:mo>-</mml:mo></mml:mrow> </mml:msubsup> </mml:math> in peripheral and central inflammation in vivo and the potential therapeutic relevance of its inhibition in brain disorders characterized by peripheral and central inflammation, such as depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Albertini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Lauren Deneyer
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Sigrid Ottestad-Hansen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0372, Norway
| | - Yun Zhou
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0372, Norway
| | - Gamze Ates
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Laura Walrave
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Thomas Demuyser
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Eduard Bentea
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Hideyo Sato
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Medical Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, 951-8518, Japan
| | - Dimitri De Bundel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Niels C Danbolt
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, 0372, Norway
| | - Ann Massie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
| | - Ilse Smolders
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Drug Analysis and Drug Information, Center for Neurosciences (C4N), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, 1090, Belgium
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26
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Gestational exposure to inorganic arsenic (iAs3+) alters glutamate disposition in the mouse hippocampus and ionotropic glutamate receptor expression leading to memory impairment. Arch Toxicol 2017; 92:1037-1048. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-017-2111-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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27
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Hamashima S, Homma T, Kobayashi S, Ishii N, Kurahashi T, Watanabe R, Kimura N, Sato H, Fujii J. Decreased reproductive performance in xCT-knockout male mice. Free Radic Res 2017; 51:851-860. [DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2017.1388504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Shinji Hamashima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Takujiro Homma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Sho Kobayashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Naoki Ishii
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Kurahashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Ren Watanabe
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Japan
| | - Naoko Kimura
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Agricultural Sciences, Yamagata University, Tsuruoka, Japan
| | - Hideyo Sato
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Junichi Fujii
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
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28
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Astrocytic transporters in Alzheimer's disease. Biochem J 2017; 474:333-355. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20160505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes play a fundamental role in maintaining the health and function of the central nervous system. Increasing evidence indicates that astrocytes undergo both cellular and molecular changes at an early stage in neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). These changes may reflect a change from a neuroprotective to a neurotoxic phenotype. Given the lack of current disease-modifying therapies for AD, astrocytes have become an interesting and viable target for therapeutic intervention. The astrocyte transport system covers a diverse array of proteins involved in metabolic support, neurotransmission and synaptic architecture. Therefore, specific targeting of individual transporter families has the potential to suppress neurodegeneration, a characteristic hallmark of AD. A small number of the 400 transporter superfamilies are expressed in astrocytes, with evidence highlighting a fraction of these are implicated in AD. Here, we review the current evidence for six astrocytic transporter subfamilies involved in AD, as reported in both animal and human studies. This review confirms that astrocytes are indeed a viable target, highlights the complexities of studying astrocytes and provides future directives to exploit the potential of astrocytes in tackling AD.
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29
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Zhang D, Jin B, Ondrejcak T, Rowan MJ. Opposite in vivo effects of agents that stimulate or inhibit the glutamate/cysteine exchanger system xc- on the inhibition of hippocampal LTP by Aß. Hippocampus 2016; 26:1655-1665. [PMID: 27701797 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Aggregated amyloid ß-protein (Aß) is pathognomonic of Alzheimer's disease and certain assemblies of Aß are synaptotoxic. Excess glutamate or diminished glutathione reserve are both implicated in mediating or modulating Aß-induced disruption of synaptic plasticity. The system xc- antiporter promotes Na+ -independent exchange of cystine with glutamate thereby providing a major source of extracellular glutamate and intracellular glutathione concentrations. Here we probed the ability of two drugs with opposite effects on system xc-, the inhibitor sulfasalazine and facilitator N-acetylcysteine, to modulate the ability of Aß1-42 to inhibit long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 area of the anaesthetized rat. Whereas acute systemic treatment with sulfasalazine lowered the threshold for Aß to interfere with synaptic plasticity, N-acetylcysteine prevented the inhibition of LTP by Aß alone or in combination with sulfasalazine. Moreover acute N-acetylcysteine also prevented the inhibition of LTP by TNFα, a putative mediator of Aß actions, and repeated systemic N-acetylcysteine treatment for 7 days reversed the delayed deleterious effect of Aß on LTP. Since both of these drugs are widely used clinically, further evaluation of their potential beneficial and deleterious actions in early Alzheimer's disease seems warranted. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dainan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland.,Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, 453100, China
| | - Baozhe Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui, 453100, China
| | - Tomas Ondrejcak
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Michael J Rowan
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, and Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
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30
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Soria FN, Zabala A, Pampliega O, Palomino A, Miguelez C, Ugedo L, Sato H, Matute C, Domercq M. Cystine/glutamate antiporter blockage induces myelin degeneration. Glia 2016; 64:1381-95. [DOI: 10.1002/glia.23011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Revised: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Federico N. Soria
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neurosciences, CIBERNED and Departamento de Neurociencias; Universidad Del País Vasco; Leioa Spain
| | - Alazne Zabala
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neurosciences, CIBERNED and Departamento de Neurociencias; Universidad Del País Vasco; Leioa Spain
| | - Olatz Pampliega
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neurosciences, CIBERNED and Departamento de Neurociencias; Universidad Del País Vasco; Leioa Spain
| | - Aitor Palomino
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neurosciences, CIBERNED and Departamento de Neurociencias; Universidad Del País Vasco; Leioa Spain
| | - Cristina Miguelez
- Departamento de Farmacología; Universidad Del País Vasco; Leioa Spain
| | - Luisa Ugedo
- Departamento de Farmacología; Universidad Del País Vasco; Leioa Spain
| | - Hideyo Sato
- Department of Food and Applied Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture; Yamagata University; Tsuruoka Japan
| | - Carlos Matute
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neurosciences, CIBERNED and Departamento de Neurociencias; Universidad Del País Vasco; Leioa Spain
| | - María Domercq
- Achucarro Basque Center for Neurosciences, CIBERNED and Departamento de Neurociencias; Universidad Del País Vasco; Leioa Spain
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31
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Du J, Li XH, Li YJ. Glutamate in peripheral organs: Biology and pharmacology. Eur J Pharmacol 2016; 784:42-8. [PMID: 27164423 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Glutamate is a versatile molecule existing in both the central nervous system and peripheral organs. Previous studies have mainly focussed on the biological effect of glutamate in the brain. Recently, abundant evidence has demonstrated that glutamate also participates in the regulation of physiopathological functions in peripheral tissues, including the lung, kidney, liver, heart, stomach and immune system, where the glutamate/glutamate receptor/glutamate transporter system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of certain diseases, such as myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury and acute gastric mucosa injury. All these findings provide new insight into the biology and pharmacology of glutamate and suggest a potential therapeutic role of glutamate in non-neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Du
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China; Department of Pharmacy, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Yuan-Jian Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
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32
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The Amino Acid Transporter JhI-21 Coevolves with Glutamate Receptors, Impacts NMJ Physiology, and Influences Locomotor Activity in Drosophila Larvae. Sci Rep 2016; 6:19692. [PMID: 26805723 PMCID: PMC4726445 DOI: 10.1038/srep19692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in synaptic physiology underlie neuronal network plasticity and behavioral phenomena, which are adjusted during development. The Drosophila larval glutamatergic neuromuscular junction (NMJ) represents a powerful synaptic model to investigate factors impacting these processes. Amino acids such as glutamate have been shown to regulate Drosophila NMJ physiology by modulating the clustering of postsynaptic glutamate receptors and thereby regulating the strength of signal transmission from the motor neuron to the muscle cell. To identify amino acid transporters impacting glutmatergic signal transmission, we used Evolutionary Rate Covariation (ERC), a recently developed bioinformatic tool. Our screen identified ten proteins co-evolving with NMJ glutamate receptors. We selected one candidate transporter, the SLC7 (Solute Carrier) transporter family member JhI-21 (Juvenile hormone Inducible-21), which is expressed in Drosophila larval motor neurons. We show that JhI-21 suppresses postsynaptic muscle glutamate receptor abundance, and that JhI-21 expression in motor neurons regulates larval crawling behavior in a developmental stage-specific manner.
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33
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Massie A, Boillée S, Hewett S, Knackstedt L, Lewerenz J. Main path and byways: non-vesicular glutamate release by system xc(-) as an important modifier of glutamatergic neurotransmission. J Neurochem 2015; 135:1062-79. [PMID: 26336934 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
System xc(-) is a cystine/glutamate antiporter that exchanges extracellular cystine for intracellular glutamate. Cystine is intracellularly reduced to cysteine, a building block of GSH. As such, system xc(-) can regulate the antioxidant capacity of cells. Moreover, in several brain regions, system xc(-) is the major source of extracellular glutamate. As such this antiporter is able to fulfill key physiological functions in the CNS, while evidence indicates it also plays a role in certain brain pathologies. Since the transcription of xCT, the specific subunit of system xc(-), is enhanced by the presence of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines, system xc(-) could be involved in toxic extracellular glutamate release in neurological disorders that are associated with increased oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. System xc(-) has also been reported to contribute to the invasiveness of brain tumors and, as a source of extracellular glutamate, could participate in the induction of peritumoral seizures. Two independent reviews (Pharmacol. Rev. 64, 2012, 780; Antioxid. Redox Signal. 18, 2013, 522), approached from a different perspective, have recently been published on the functions of system xc(-) in the CNS. In this review, we highlight novel achievements and insights covering the regulation of system xc(-) as well as its involvement in emotional behavior, cognition, addiction, neurological disorders and glioblastomas, acquired in the past few years. System xc(-) constitutes an important source of extrasynaptic glutamate in the brain. By modulating the tone of extrasynaptic metabotropic or ionotropic glutamate receptors, it affects excitatory neurotransmission, the threshold for overexcitation and excitotoxicity and, as a consequence, behavior. This review describes the current knowledge of how system xc(-) is regulated and involved in physiological as well as pathophysiological brain functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Massie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Molecular Biology, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Séverine Boillée
- Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Paris, France
| | - Sandra Hewett
- Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Lori Knackstedt
- Psychology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jan Lewerenz
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Oberer Eselsberg 45, Ulm, Germany
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Ojeda-Torres G, Williams L, Featherstone DE, Shippy SA. Sample collection and amino acids analysis of extracellular fluid of mouse brain slices with low flow push-pull perfusion. Analyst 2015; 140:6563-70. [PMID: 26299259 DOI: 10.1039/c5an00805k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Brain tissue slices are a common neuroscience model that allows relatively sophisticated analysis of neuronal networks in a simplified preparation. Most experimental methodology utilizes electrophysiological tools to probe these model systems. The work here demonstrates the adaptation of low-flow push-pull perfusion sampling (LFPS) to a brain slice system. LFPS is used to sample from the hippocampus of mouse brain slices. Perfusate amino acid levels are quantified following sampling with capillary electrophoresis. Glutamate was measured from the CA1 region of the hippocampus in slices taken from a cystine-glutamate transporter deletion mutant, xCT(-/-), and the background strain C57BL/6J. Sampling is performed over up to 6.5 h with standard tissue slice preparation and experimentation methods. Four amino acids were quantified to demonstrate the ability to perform LFPS and show good agreement with published literature. Perfusate glutamate levels are found to be significantly lower with xCT(-/-) slices (1.9(±0.5) μM) relative to controls (4.90(±1.1) μM). But, experiments with control slices show a significant decrease in glutamate over the 6 h sampling period that are not seen with xCT(-/-) slices. Increasing the LFPS sample collection rate during the first 90 min of sampling did not show a sampling artifact in perfusate glutamate content. Sampling immediately following slicing did not show an early increasing glutamate level that would be indicative of a significant contribution from blood or tissue damage. The data presented here show a complementarity to electrophysiological studies of tissue slices. The ability to characterize extracellular fluid chemical content with LFPS in these slices provides an alternative data stream for probing neurochemical signaling networks in brain tissue slices.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Ojeda-Torres
- Department of Chemistry University of Illinois at Chicago, M/C 111 845 W. Taylor St. Room 4500, Chicago, IL 60607, USA.
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