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Trageser KJ, Yang EJ, Smith C, Iban-Arias R, Oguchi T, Sebastian-Valverde M, Iqbal UH, Wu H, Estill M, Al Rahim M, Raval U, Herman FJ, Zhang YJ, Petrucelli L, Pasinetti GM. Inflammasome-Mediated Neuronal-Microglial Crosstalk: a Therapeutic Substrate for the Familial C9orf72 Variant of Frontotemporal Dementia/Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:4004-4016. [PMID: 37010807 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03315-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Intronic G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat expansions (HRE) of C9orf72 are the most common cause of familial variants of frontotemporal dementia/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FTD/ALS). G4C2 HREs in C9orf72 undergo non-canonical repeat-associated translation, producing dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins, with various deleterious impacts on cellular homeostasis. While five different DPRs are produced, poly(glycine-arginine) (GR) is amongst the most toxic and is the only DPR to accumulate in the associated clinically relevant anatomical locations of the brain. Previous work has demonstrated the profound effects of a poly (GR) model of C9orf72 FTD/ALS, including motor impairment, memory deficits, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammation is hypothesized to be a driving factor in the disease course; microglia activation is present prior to symptom onset and persists throughout the disease. Here, using an established mouse model of C9orf72 FTD/ALS, we investigate the contributions of the nod-like receptor pyrin-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the pathogenesis of FTD/ALS. We find that inflammasome-mediated neuroinflammation is increased with microglial activation, cleavage of caspase-1, production of IL-1β, and upregulation of Cxcl10 in the brain of C9orf72 FTD/ALS mice. Excitingly, we find that genetic ablation of Nlrp3 significantly improved survival, protected behavioral deficits, and prevented neurodegeneration suggesting a novel mechanism involving HRE-mediated induction of innate immunity. The findings provide experimental evidence of the integral role of HRE in inflammasome-mediated innate immunity in the C9orf72 variant of FTD/ALS pathogenesis and suggest the NLRP3 inflammasome as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Trageser
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Eun-Jeong Yang
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Chad Smith
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Ruth Iban-Arias
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Tatsunori Oguchi
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | | | - Umar Haris Iqbal
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Henry Wu
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Molly Estill
- Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Md Al Rahim
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Urdhva Raval
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Francis J Herman
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Yong Jie Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | | | - Giulio Maria Pasinetti
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, 10468, USA.
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Iban-Arias R, Sebastian-Valverde M, Wu H, Lyu W, Wu Q, Simon J, Pasinetti GM. Role of Polyphenol-Derived Phenolic Acid in Mitigation of Inflammasome-Mediated Anxiety and Depression. Biomedicines 2022; 10:1264. [PMID: 35740286 PMCID: PMC9219614 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Overexposure to mental stress throughout life is a significant risk factor for the development of neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. The immune system can initiate a physiological response, releasing stress hormones and pro-inflammatory cytokines, in response to stressors. These effects can overcome allostatic physiological mechanisms and generate a pro-inflammatory environment with deleterious effects if occurring chronically. Previous studies in our lab have identified key anti-inflammatory properties of a bioavailable polyphenolic preparation BDPP and its ability to mitigate stress responses via the attenuation of NLRP3 inflammasome-dependent responses. Inflammasome activation is part of the first line of defense against stimuli of different natures, provides a rapid response, and, therefore, is of capital importance within the innate immunity response. malvidin-3-O-glucoside (MG), a natural anthocyanin present in high proportions in grapes, has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects, but its mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic potential of MG on inflammasome-induced inflammation in vitro and in a mouse model of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS). Here, it is shown that MG is an anti-pyroptotic phenolic metabolite that targets NLRP3, NLRC4, and AIM2 inflammasomes, subsequently reducing caspase-1 and IL-1β protein levels in murine primary cortical microglia and the brain, as its beneficial effect to counteract anxiety and depression is also demonstrated. The present study supports the role of MG to mitigate bacterial-mediated inflammation (lipopolysaccharide or LPS) in vitro and CUS-induced behavior impairment in vivo to address stress-induced inflammasome-mediated innate response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Iban-Arias
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.I.-A.); (M.S.-V.); (H.W.)
| | - Maria Sebastian-Valverde
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.I.-A.); (M.S.-V.); (H.W.)
| | - Henry Wu
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.I.-A.); (M.S.-V.); (H.W.)
| | - Weiting Lyu
- New Use Agriculture and Natural Plant Products Program, Department of Plant Biology, Center for Agricultural Food Ecosystems, Institute of Food, Nutrition & Health, SEBS, Rutgers University, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (W.L.); (Q.W.); (J.S.)
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, 160 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Qingli Wu
- New Use Agriculture and Natural Plant Products Program, Department of Plant Biology, Center for Agricultural Food Ecosystems, Institute of Food, Nutrition & Health, SEBS, Rutgers University, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (W.L.); (Q.W.); (J.S.)
| | - Jim Simon
- New Use Agriculture and Natural Plant Products Program, Department of Plant Biology, Center for Agricultural Food Ecosystems, Institute of Food, Nutrition & Health, SEBS, Rutgers University, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA; (W.L.); (Q.W.); (J.S.)
| | - Giulio Maria Pasinetti
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; (R.I.-A.); (M.S.-V.); (H.W.)
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Sebastian-Valverde M, Wu H, Pasinetti G. The Inhibition of Caspase-1 Activity With a Dietary Polyphenol Reduces Anxiety and Depression in a Murine Model of Chronic Stress. Curr Dev Nutr 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzab037_078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives
Polyphenols constitute a broad class of natural compounds with anti-oxidant properties. We previously demonstrated that polyphenol-rich dietary supplements confer resilience against stress-induced depressive behaviors. Here, we aimed to characterize the mechanism by which individual phenolic metabolites improve depressive phenotypes induced by exposure to chronic stress.
Methods
To identify individual polyphenols with anti-inflammasome properties, we conducted a screening using primary microglial cultures. Through ELISA, we measured the ability of the metabolites to reduce the release of IL-1β upon activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome with LPS-ATP. Using LDH assays, we determine the cytotoxicity of a selected compound, and its anti-pyroptotic effect. We assessed the potency and specificity of the compound by ELISA, and its ability to modify the transcriptional expression of inflammatory genes using qPCR. Finally, we administrated mice with 5 μg/kg·day of the metabolite through gavage 14 days prior to start a Chronic Unpredictable Stress (CUS) protocol. The treatment was maintained during the 28 days of the CUS paradigm, during which the animals were subjected to randomized stressors. After that, anxiety and depression were assessed by the elevated plus maze and the forced-swim test.
Results
From the screened polyphenols, malvidin-glucoside (MG) inhibited NLRP3-mediated IL-1β production with the greater potency, presenting an IC50 value of 0.94 μM. MG also inhibited other inflammasomes, such as NLRC4 or AIM2, but it did not affect the production of IL-6 or TNF-α, and it neither the gene expression of inflammatory markers. MG was not toxic and inhibited pyroptosis, but not the oligomerization of the adaptor protein ASC. Taking all these data together, we hypothesized that MG reduced inflammation by its direct inhibition of the caspase-1 activity, what was verified by measuring the activity of purified caspase-1 protein and by molecular docking. From our in-vivo study, we inferred that CUS promoted anxiety and depression-like phenotypes, which were ameliorate by MG treatment.
Conclusions
MG reduces inflammation by inhibition of caspase-1 activity, which promotes resilience to stress-induced anxiety and depression.
Funding Sources
Grant AT008661 from the NIH's ODS and the NCCIH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry Wu
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
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Sebastian-Valverde M, Wu H, Al Rahim M, Sanchez R, Kumar K, De Vita RJ, Pasinetti GM. Discovery and characterization of small-molecule inhibitors of NLRP3 and NLRC4 inflammasomes. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100597. [PMID: 33781745 PMCID: PMC8095128 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Inflammasomes are macromolecular complexes involved in the host response to external and endogenous danger signals. Inflammasome-mediated sterile inflammation plays a central role in several human conditions such as autoimmune diseases, type-2 diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders, indicating inflammasomes could be appealing therapeutic targets. Previous work has demonstrated that inhibiting the ATPase activity of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3), disrupts inflammasome assembly and function. However, there is a necessity to find new potent compounds with therapeutic potential. Here we combine computational modeling of the target and virtual screening to discover a group of novel compounds predicted to inhibit NLRP3. We characterized the best compounds and determined their potency, specificity, and ability to inhibit processes downstream from NLRP3 activation. Moreover, we analyzed in mice the competence of a lead candidate to reduce lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation. We also validated the active pharmacophore shared among all the NLRP3 inhibitors, and through computational docking, we clarify key structural features for compound positioning within the inflammasome ATP-binding site. Our study sets the basis for rational design and optimization of inflammasome-targeting probes and drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Henry Wu
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Md Al Rahim
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Roberto Sanchez
- Drug Discovery Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kunal Kumar
- Drug Discovery Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Robert J De Vita
- Drug Discovery Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Giulio Maria Pasinetti
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA; James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, USA.
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Sebastian-Valverde M, Pasinetti GM. The NLRP3 Inflammasome as a Critical Actor in the Inflammaging Process. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061552. [PMID: 32604771 PMCID: PMC7348816 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As a consequence of the considerable increase in the human lifespan over the last century, we are experiencing the appearance and impact of new age-related diseases. The causal relationships between aging and an enhanced susceptibility of suffering from a broad spectrum of diseases need to be better understood. However, one specific shared feature seems to be of capital relevance for most of these conditions: the low-grade chronic inflammatory state inherently associated with aging, i.e., inflammaging. Here, we review the molecular and cellular mechanisms that link aging and inflammaging, focusing on the role of the innate immunity and more concretely on the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, as well as how the chronic activation of this inflammasome has a detrimental effect on different age-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giulio M. Pasinetti
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA;
- James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, New York, NY 10468, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-212-241-1952
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Trageser KJ, Sebastian-Valverde M, Naughton SX, Pasinetti GM. The Innate Immune System and Inflammatory Priming: Potential Mechanistic Factors in Mood Disorders and Gulf War Illness. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:704. [PMID: 32848904 PMCID: PMC7396635 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gulf War Illness is a chronic multisystem disorder affecting approximately a third of the Veterans of the Gulf War, manifesting with physical and mental health symptoms such as cognitive impairment, neurological abnormalities, and dysregulation of mood. Among the leading theories into the etiology of this multisystem disorder is environmental exposure to the various neurotoxins encountered in the Gulf Theatre, including organophosphates, nerve agents, pyridostigmine bromide, smoke from oil well fires, and depleted uranium. The relationship of toxin exposure and the pathogenesis of Gulf War Illness converges on the innate immune system: a nonspecific form of immunity ubiquitous in nature that acts to respond to both exogenous and endogenous insults. Activation of the innate immune system results in inflammation mediated by the release of cytokines. Cytokine mediated neuroinflammation has been demonstrated in a number of psychiatric conditions and may help explain the larger than expected population of Gulf War Veterans afflicted with a mood disorder. Several of the environmental toxins encountered by soldiers during the first Gulf War have been shown to cause upregulation of inflammatory mediators after chronic exposure, even at low levels. This act of inflammatory priming, by which repeated exposure to chronic subthreshold insults elicits robust responses, even after an extended period of latency, is integral in the connection of Gulf War Illness and comorbid mood disorders. Further developing the understanding of the relationship between environmental toxin exposure, innate immune activation, and pathogenesis of disease in the Gulf War Veterans population, may yield novel therapeutic targets, and a greater understanding of disease pathology and subsequently prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Trageser
- Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Sean X Naughton
- Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Giulio Maria Pasinetti
- Department of Neurology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.,Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
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