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Animal Models of the Neuromuscular Junction, Vitally Informative for Understanding Function and the Molecular Mechanisms of Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051326. [PMID: 29710836 PMCID: PMC5983836 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuromuscular junction is the point of contact between motor nerve and skeletal muscle, its vital role in muscle function is reliant on the precise location and function of many proteins. Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are a heterogeneous group of disorders of neuromuscular transmission with 30 or more implicated proteins. The use of animal models has been instrumental in determining the specific role of many CMS-related proteins. The mouse neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has been extensively studied in animal models of CMS due to its amenability for detailed electrophysiological and histological investigations and relative similarity to human NMJ. As well as their use to determine the precise molecular mechanisms of CMS variants, where an animal model accurately reflects the human phenotype they become useful tools for study of therapeutic interventions. Many of the animal models that have been important in deconvolving the complexities of neuromuscular transmission and revealing the molecular mechanisms of disease are highlighted.
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Capó-Vélez CM, Morales-Vargas B, García-González A, Grajales-Reyes JG, Delgado-Vélez M, Madera B, Báez-Pagán CA, Quesada O, Lasalde-Dominicci JA. The alpha7-nicotinic receptor contributes to gp120-induced neurotoxicity: implications in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1829. [PMID: 29379089 PMCID: PMC5788855 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20271-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, there are no specific therapies to treat HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The HIV-1 envelope, gp120, induces neuropathological changes similar to those in HAND patients; furthermore, it triggers an upregulation of the α7-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-nAChR), facilitating intracellular calcium overload and neuronal cell death. Using a gp120IIIB-transgenic mouse (gp120-tgm) model, we demonstrate that α7-nAChRs are upregulated on striatal neurons. Activation of α7-nAChRs leads to an increase in both intracellular calcium and percentage of apoptotic cells, which can be abrogated by antagonizing the receptor, suggesting a role for α7-nAChRs in gp120-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, we demonstrate for the first time that gp120-tgm have learning deficiencies on a striatum-dependent behavioral task. They also show locomotor deficiencies, which improved with α7-nAChR antagonists, further supporting a role for this receptor in gp120-induced neurotoxicity. Together, these results uncover a new mechanism through which gp120-induced modulation of α7-nAChRs in the striatum can contribute to HAND development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coral M Capó-Vélez
- University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Department of Biology, San Juan, P.R, 00931-3360, Puerto Rico.,University of Puerto Rico, Molecular Sciences and Research Center, San Juan, P.R, 00926, Puerto Rico
| | - Bryan Morales-Vargas
- University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Department of Biology, San Juan, P.R, 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | - Aurian García-González
- University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Department of Biology, San Juan, P.R, 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | - José G Grajales-Reyes
- University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Department of Biology, San Juan, P.R, 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | - Manuel Delgado-Vélez
- University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Department of Biology, San Juan, P.R, 00931-3360, Puerto Rico.,University of Puerto Rico, Molecular Sciences and Research Center, San Juan, P.R, 00926, Puerto Rico
| | - Bismark Madera
- University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Department of Biology, San Juan, P.R, 00931-3360, Puerto Rico.,University of Puerto Rico, Molecular Sciences and Research Center, San Juan, P.R, 00926, Puerto Rico
| | - Carlos A Báez-Pagán
- University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Department of Physical Sciences, San Juan, P.R, 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | - Orestes Quesada
- University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Department of Physical Sciences, San Juan, P.R, 00931-3360, Puerto Rico
| | - José A Lasalde-Dominicci
- University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Department of Biology, San Juan, P.R, 00931-3360, Puerto Rico. .,University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Department of Chemistry, San Juan, P.R, 00931-3360, Puerto Rico. .,University of Puerto Rico, Molecular Sciences and Research Center, San Juan, P.R, 00926, Puerto Rico.
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