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Zanon A, Guida M, Lavdas AA, Corti C, Castelo Rueda MP, Negro A, Pramstaller PP, Domingues FS, Hicks AA, Pichler I. Intracellular delivery of Parkin-RING0-based fragments corrects Parkin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction through interaction with SLP-2. J Transl Med 2024; 22:59. [PMID: 38229174 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04850-3] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Loss-of-function mutations in the PRKN gene, encoding Parkin, are the most common cause of autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease (PD). We have previously identified mitoch ondrial Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP-2), which functions in the assembly of respiratory chain proteins, as a Parkin-binding protein. Selective knockdown of either Parkin or SLP-2 led to reduced mitochondrial and neuronal function in neuronal cells and Drosophila, where a double knockdown led to a further worsening of Parkin-deficiency phenotypes. Here, we investigated the minimal Parkin region involved in the Parkin-SLP-2 interaction and explored the ability of Parkin-fragments and peptides from this minimal region to restore mitochondrial function. METHODS In fibroblasts, human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons, and neuroblastoma cells the interaction between Parkin and SLP-2 was investigated, and the Parkin domain responsible for the binding to SLP-2 was mapped. High resolution respirometry, immunofluorescence analysis and live imaging were used to analyze mitochondrial function. RESULTS Using a proximity ligation assay, we quantitatively assessed the Parkin-SLP-2 interaction in skin fibroblasts and hiPSC-derived neurons. When PD-associated PRKN mutations were present, we detected a significantly reduced interaction between the two proteins. We found a preferential binding of SLP-2 to the N-terminal part of Parkin, with a highest affinity for the RING0 domain. Computational modeling based on the crystal structure of Parkin protein predicted several potential binding sites for SLP-2 within the Parkin RING0 domain. Amongst these, three binding sites were observed to overlap with natural PD-causing missense mutations, which we demonstrated interfere substantially with the binding of Parkin to SLP-2. Finally, delivery of the isolated Parkin RING0 domain and a Parkin mini-peptide, conjugated to cell-permeant and mitochondrial transporters, rescued compromised mitochondrial function in Parkin-deficient neuroblastoma cells and hiPSC-derived neurons with endogenous, disease causing PRKN mutations. CONCLUSIONS These findings place further emphasis on the importance of the protein-protein interaction between Parkin and SLP-2 for the maintenance of optimal mitochondrial function. The possibility of restoring an abolished binding to SLP-2 by delivering the Parkin RING0 domain or the Parkin mini-peptide involved in this specific protein-protein interaction into cells might represent a novel organelle-specific therapeutic approach for correcting mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkin-linked PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zanon
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Marianna Guida
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alexandros A Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Corrado Corti
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Negro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Peter P Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Francisco S Domingues
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Andrew A Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Irene Pichler
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy.
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Tasser E, Lavdas AA, Schirpke U. Assessing landscape aesthetic values: Do clouds in photographs influence people's preferences? PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288424. [PMID: 37506121 PMCID: PMC10381034 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288424] [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] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Photo-based surveys are widely applied to elicit landscape preferences and to assess cultural ecosystem services. Variations in weather and light conditions can potentially alter people's preferences, as sunny landscapes are more positively perceived than those under inclement weather conditions. To assure comparability across pictures, studies usually include photographs taken at sunny days (i.e., blue sky). However, the influence of clouds in sunny landscapes on people's preferences has been rarely considered, although color contrasts between clouds and the blue sky may attract people's attention. This study therefore aimed to assess the effects of clouds in landscape photographs on people's preferences by (1) examining differences in preference between pairs of landscape photographs (i.e., with clouds and without clouds), and (2) explaining variations through variables from eye-tracking simulation, photo content analysis, and Geographic Information System (GIS)-based analysis. Our results indicate no significant differences in preferences between pictures with and without clouds when the pictures with clouds contained a proportion of sky around 22% and a cloud cover of about 39%. However, a higher proportion of sky positively influenced landscape preferences, while a higher proportion of clouds, especially in combination with a lower proportion of sky, had negative effects. These findings suggest that landscape preference studies should pay attention not only to the appearance of the sky in terms of cloudiness, but they also should control the proportion of sky across different pictures to obtain comparable results. Future research should address limitations regarding the transferability of our findings to other types of landscapes and regarding potential differences in perceptions between respondents with different socio-cultural characteristics. Moreover, landscape preferences under changing weather conditions or different cloud types as well as diurnal and seasonal changes should be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich Tasser
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alexandros A Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Eurac Research, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy
- The Human Architecture & Planning Institute, Inc., Concord, MA, United States of America
| | - Uta Schirpke
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Department of Geography, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, Germany
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3
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Castelo Rueda MP, Zanon A, Gilmozzi V, Lavdas AA, Raftopoulou A, Delcambre S, Del Greco M F, Klein C, Grünewald A, Pramstaller PP, Hicks AA, Pichler I. Molecular phenotypes of mitochondrial dysfunction in clinically non-manifesting heterozygous PRKN variant carriers. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:65. [PMID: 37072441 PMCID: PMC10113363 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00499-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Homozygous or compound heterozygous (biallelic) variants in PRKN are causal for PD with highly penetrant symptom expression, while the much more common heterozygous variants may predispose to PD with highly reduced penetrance, through altered mitochondrial function. In the presence of pathogenic heterozygous variants, it is therefore important to test for mitochondrial alteration in cells derived from variant carriers to establish potential presymptomatic molecular markers. We generated lymphoblasts (LCLs) and human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons from non-manifesting heterozygous PRKN variant carriers and tested them for mitochondrial functionality. In LCLs, we detected hyperactive mitochondrial respiration, and, although milder compared to a biallelic PRKN-PD patient, hiPSC-derived neurons of non-manifesting heterozygous variant carriers also displayed several phenotypes of altered mitochondrial function. Overall, we identified molecular phenotypes that might be used to monitor heterozygous PRKN variant carriers during the prodromal phase. Such markers might also be useful to identify individuals at greater risk of eventual disease development and for testing potential mitochondrial function-based neuroprotective therapies before neurodegeneration advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Paulina Castelo Rueda
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Zanon
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Valentina Gilmozzi
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alexandros A Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Athina Raftopoulou
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Economics, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Sylvie Delcambre
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esche-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Fabiola Del Greco M
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Christine Klein
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Anne Grünewald
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Esche-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Peter P Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Andrew A Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Irene Pichler
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
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4
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Di Leva F, Filosi M, Oyston L, Silvestri E, Picard A, Lavdas AA, Lobbestael E, Baekelandt V, Neely GG, Pramstaller PP, Hicks AA, Corti C. Increased Levels of the Parkinson's Disease-Associated Gene ITPKB Correlate with Higher Expression Levels of α-Synuclein, Independent of Mutation Status. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031984. [PMID: 36768321 PMCID: PMC9916293 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031984] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Autosomal dominant mutations in the gene encoding α-synuclein (SNCA) were the first to be linked with hereditary Parkinson's disease (PD). Duplication and triplication of SNCA has been observed in PD patients, together with mutations at the N-terminal of the protein, among which A30P and A53T influence the formation of fibrils. By overexpressing human α-synuclein in the neuronal system of Drosophila, we functionally validated the ability of IP3K2, an ortholog of the GWAS identified risk gene, Inositol-trisphosphate 3-kinase B (ITPKB), to modulate α-synuclein toxicity in vivo. ITPKB mRNA and protein levels were also increased in SK-N-SH cells overexpressing wild-type α-synuclein, A53T or A30P mutants. Kinase overexpression was detected in the cytoplasmatic and in the nuclear compartments in all α-synuclein cell types. By quantifying mRNAs in the cortex of PD patients, we observed higher levels of ITPKB mRNA when SNCA was expressed more (p < 0.05), compared to controls. A positive correlation was also observed between SNCA and ITPKB expression in the cortex of patients, which was not seen in the controls. We replicated this observation in a public dataset. Our data, generated in SK-N-SH cells and in cortex from PD patients, show that the expression of α-synuclein and ITPKB is correlated in pathological situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Leva
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.D.L.); (C.C.); Tel.: +39-0471-055-474 (F.D.L.); +39-0471-055-538 (C.C.)
| | - Michele Filosi
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Lisa Oyston
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Erica Silvestri
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Anne Picard
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alexandros A. Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Evy Lobbestael
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Baekelandt
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - G. Gregory Neely
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Peter P. Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Andrew A. Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Corrado Corti
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.D.L.); (C.C.); Tel.: +39-0471-055-474 (F.D.L.); +39-0471-055-538 (C.C.)
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5
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Volani C, Pagliaro A, Rainer J, Paglia G, Porro B, Stadiotti I, Foco L, Cogliati E, Paolin A, Lagrasta C, Frati C, Corradini E, Falco A, Matzinger T, Picard A, Ermon B, Piazza S, De Bortoli M, Tondo C, Philippe R, Medici A, Lavdas AA, Blumer MJF, Pompilio G, Sommariva E, Pramstaller PP, Troppmair J, Meraviglia V, Rossini A. GCN5 contributes to intracellular lipid accumulation in human primary cardiac stromal cells from patients affected by Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. J Cell Mol Med 2022; 26:3687-3701. [PMID: 35712781 PMCID: PMC9258704 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is a genetic disease associated with sudden cardiac death and cardiac fibro‐fatty replacement. Over the last years, several works have demonstrated that different epigenetic enzymes can affect not only gene expression changes in cardiac diseases but also cellular metabolism. Specifically, the histone acetyltransferase GCN5 is known to facilitate adipogenesis and modulate cardiac metabolism in heart failure. Our group previously demonstrated that human primary cardiac stromal cells (CStCs) contribute to adipogenesis in the ACM pathology. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the role of GCN5 in ACM intracellular lipid accumulation. To do so, CStCs were obtained from right ventricle biopsies of ACM patients and from samples of healthy cadaveric donors (CTR). GCN5 expression was increased both in ex vivo and in vitro ACM samples compared to CTR. When GCN5 expression was silenced or pharmacologically inhibited by the administration of MB‐3, we observed a reduction in lipid accumulation and a mitigation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in ACM CStCs. In agreement, transcriptome analysis revealed that the presence of MB‐3 modified the expression of pathways related to cellular redox balance. Altogether, our findings suggest that GCN5 inhibition reduces fat accumulation in ACM CStCs, partially by modulating intracellular redox balance pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Volani
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy.,The Cell Physiology MiLab, Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pagliaro
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Johannes Rainer
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Paglia
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Vedano al Lambro, MB, Italy
| | - Benedetta Porro
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Ilaria Stadiotti
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Luisa Foco
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | | | - Adolfo Paolin
- Fondazione Banca dei Tessuti di Treviso, Treviso, Italy
| | - Costanza Lagrasta
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Caterina Frati
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Emilia Corradini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Angela Falco
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Università degli Studi di Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Theresa Matzinger
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Anne Picard
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Benedetta Ermon
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Silvano Piazza
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology - CIBIO, Università degli Studi di Trento, Povo, TN, Italy.,Computational Biology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, ICGEB, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marzia De Bortoli
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Claudio Tondo
- Heart Rhythm Center, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milano, Italy.,Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.,Department of Clinical Electrophysiology&Cardiac Pacing, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - Réginald Philippe
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Andrea Medici
- Daniel Swarovski Research Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexandros A Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Michael J F Blumer
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Institute of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Giulio Pompilio
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milano, Italy.,Heart Rhythm Center, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Elena Sommariva
- Unit of Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Centro Cardiologico Monzino IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Peter P Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Jakob Troppmair
- Daniel Swarovski Research Laboratory, Department of Visceral, Transplant and Thoracic Surgery, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Viviana Meraviglia
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rossini
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
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6
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Gilmozzi V, Gentile G, Riekschnitz DA, Von Troyer M, Lavdas AA, Kerschbamer E, Weichenberger CX, Rosato-Siri MD, Casarosa S, Conti L, Pramstaller PP, Hicks AA, Pichler I, Zanon A. Generation of hiPSC-Derived Functional Dopaminergic Neurons in Alginate-Based 3D Culture. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:708389. [PMID: 34409038 PMCID: PMC8365765 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.708389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) represent an unlimited cell source for the generation of patient-specific dopaminergic (DA) neurons, overcoming the hurdle of restricted accessibility to disease-affected tissue for mechanistic studies on Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the complexity of the human brain is not fully recapitulated by existing monolayer culture methods. Neurons differentiated in a three dimensional (3D) in vitro culture system might better mimic the in vivo cellular environment for basic mechanistic studies and represent better predictors of drug responses in vivo. In this work we established a new in vitro cell culture system based on the microencapsulation of hiPSCs in small alginate/fibronectin beads and their differentiation to DA neurons. Optimization of hydrogel matrix concentrations and composition allowed a high viability of embedded hiPSCs. Neural differentiation competence and efficiency of DA neuronal generation were increased in the 3D cultures compared to a conventional 2D culture methodology. Additionally, electrophysiological parameters and metabolic switching profile confirmed increased functionality and an anticipated metabolic resetting of neurons grown in alginate scaffolds with respect to their 2D counterpart neurons. We also report long-term maintenance of neuronal cultures and preservation of the mature functional properties. Furthermore, our findings indicate that our 3D model system can recapitulate mitochondrial superoxide production as an important mitochondrial phenotype observed in neurons derived from PD patients, and that this phenotype might be detectable earlier during neuronal differentiation. Taken together, these results indicate that our alginate-based 3D culture system offers an advantageous strategy for the reliable and rapid derivation of mature and functional DA neurons from hiPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Gilmozzi
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giovanna Gentile
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Diana A. Riekschnitz
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Michael Von Troyer
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alexandros A. Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Emanuela Kerschbamer
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Christian X. Weichenberger
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Marcelo D. Rosato-Siri
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Simona Casarosa
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Luciano Conti
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Peter P. Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Andrew A. Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Irene Pichler
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alessandra Zanon
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
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7
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Abstract
There is extensive evidence today linking exposure to natural environments to favorable changes in mental and even physical health. There is also a growing body of work indicating that there are specific geometric properties of natural scenes that mediate these effects, and that these properties can also be found in artificial structures like buildings, especially those designed before the emergence of modernism. These geometries are also associated with aesthetic preference–we seem to like what is good for us. Here, using a questionnaire-based survey, we have tried to elucidate some of the parameters that play a role in formulating a preference for one form over the other. The images used were nature scenes from the Alpine landscape with various manipulations to alter their complexity, or with additions of computer graphics or various buildings. In all cases, the presence of a natural scaling hierarchy and of either fractal graphics or of ornate, non-local pre-modern buildings was always preferable to the alternative. We discuss these findings under the light of recent evidence in the field and conclude that they support the idea of the existence of a preference of our perceptive system for certain types of visual organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros A. Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Uta Schirpke
- Institute for Alpine Environment, Eurac Research, Bozen/Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Ecology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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8
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Obergasteiger J, Frapporti G, Lamonaca G, Pizzi S, Picard A, Lavdas AA, Pischedda F, Piccoli G, Hilfiker S, Lobbestael E, Baekelandt V, Hicks AA, Corti C, Pramstaller PP, Volta M. Kinase inhibition of G2019S-LRRK2 enhances autolysosome formation and function to reduce endogenous alpha-synuclein intracellular inclusions. Cell Death Discov 2020; 6:45. [PMID: 32550012 PMCID: PMC7280235 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-020-0279-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The Parkinson's disease (PD)-associated kinase Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a crucial modulator of the autophagy-lysosome pathway, but unclarity exists on the precise mechanics of its role and the direction of this modulation. In particular, LRRK2 is involved in the degradation of pathological alpha-synuclein, with pathogenic mutations precipitating neuropathology in cellular and animal models of PD, and a significant proportion of LRRK2 patients presenting Lewy neuropathology. Defects in autophagic processing and lysosomal degradation of alpha-synuclein have been postulated to underlie its accumulation and onset of neuropathology. Thus, it is critical to obtain a comprehensive knowledge on LRRK2-associated pathology. Here, we investigated a G2019S-LRRK2 recombinant cell line exhibiting accumulation of endogenous, phosphorylated alpha-synuclein. We found that G2019S-LRRK2 leads to accumulation of LC3 and abnormalities in lysosome morphology and proteolytic activity in a kinase-dependent fashion, but independent from constitutively active Rab10. Notably, LRRK2 inhibition was ineffective upon upstream blockade of autophagosome-lysosome fusion events, highlighting this step as critical for alpha-synuclein clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Obergasteiger
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck - Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giulia Frapporti
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck - Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, TN Italy
| | - Giulia Lamonaca
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck - Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Sara Pizzi
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck - Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Anne Picard
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck - Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alexandros A. Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck - Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Francesca Pischedda
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, TN Italy
| | - Giovanni Piccoli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, TN Italy
| | - Sabine Hilfiker
- Department of Anesthesiology, Rutgers University - New Jersey Medical School, Medical Science Building, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103 USA
| | - Evy Lobbestael
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 bus 1023, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Baekelandt
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49 bus 1023, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andrew A. Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck - Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Corrado Corti
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck - Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Peter P. Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck - Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Neurology, General Central Hospital, Via Böhler 5, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Mattia Volta
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck - Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
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9
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Guida M, Zanon A, Montibeller L, Lavdas AA, Ladurner J, Pischedda F, Rakovic A, Domingues FS, Piccoli G, Klein C, Pramstaller PP, Hicks AA, Pichler I. Parkin Interacts with Apoptosis-Inducing Factor and Interferes with Its Translocation to the Nucleus in Neuronal Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20030748. [PMID: 30754623 PMCID: PMC6386878 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20030748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the PRKN gene (encoding parkin) have been linked to the most frequent known cause of recessive Parkinson's disease (PD), and parkin dysfunction represents a risk factor for sporadic PD. Parkin is widely neuroprotective through different cellular pathways, as it protects dopaminergic neurons from apoptosis in a series of cellular and animal models of PD. The mitochondrial protein apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is an important cell death effector, which, upon cellular stress in many paradigms, is redistributed from the mitochondria to the nucleus to function as a proapoptotic factor, mostly independent of caspase activity, while in normal mitochondria it functions as an antiapoptotic factor. AIF is known to participate in dopaminergic neuron loss in experimental PD models and in patients with PD. We, therefore, investigated possible crosstalk between parkin and AIF. By using immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays, we demonstrated a physical interaction between the two proteins. Nuclear AIF translocation was significantly reduced by parkin expression in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells after exposure to an apoptogenic stimulus. These results were confirmed in primary murine cortical neurons, which showed a higher nuclear translocation of AIF in parkin-deficient neurons upon an excitotoxic stimulus. Our results indicate that the interaction of parkin with AIF interferes with the nuclear translocation of AIF, which might contribute to the neuroprotective activity of parkin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna Guida
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Zanon
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Luigi Montibeller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Alexandros A Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Judith Ladurner
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Francesca Pischedda
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology and Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, Italy.
| | - Aleksandar Rakovic
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Maria-Goeppert-Straße 1, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Francisco S Domingues
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Piccoli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology and Dulbecco Telethon Institute, University of Trento, via Sommarive 9, 38123 Povo, Italy.
| | - Christine Klein
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Maria-Goeppert-Straße 1, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Peter P Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
- Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.
| | - Andrew A Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
| | - Irene Pichler
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.
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10
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Segklia K, Stamatakis A, Stylianopoulou F, Lavdas AA, Matsas R. Increased Anxiety-Related Behavior, Impaired Cognitive Function and Cellular Alterations in the Brain of Cend1-deficient Mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 12:497. [PMID: 30760981 PMCID: PMC6361865 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cend1 is a neuronal-lineage specific modulator involved in coordination of cell cycle exit and differentiation of neuronal precursors. We have previously shown that Cend1-/- mice show altered cerebellar layering caused by increased proliferation of granule cell precursors, delayed radial granule cell migration and compromised Purkinje cell differentiation, leading to ataxic gait and deficits in motor coordination. To further characterize the effects of Cend1 genetic ablation we determined herein a range of behaviors, including anxiety and exploratory behavior in the elevated plus maze (EPM), associative learning in fear conditioning, and spatial learning and memory in the Morris water maze (MWM). We observed significant deficits in all tests, suggesting structural and/or functional alterations in brain regions such as the cortex, amygdala and the hippocampus. In agreement with these findings, immunohistochemistry revealed reduced numbers of γ amino butyric acid (GABA) GABAergic interneurons, but not of glutamatergic projection neurons, in the adult cerebral cortex. Reduced GABAergic interneurons were also observed in the amygdala, most notably in the basolateral nucleus. The paucity in GABAergic interneurons in adult Cend1-/- mice correlated with increased proliferation and apoptosis as well as reduced migration of neuronal progenitors from the embryonic medial ganglionic eminence (MGE), the origin of these cells. Further we noted reduced GABAergic neurons and aberrant neurogenesis in the adult dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus, which has been previously shown to confer spatial learning and memory deficits. Our data highlight the necessity of Cend1 expression in the formation of a structurally and functionally normal brain phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Segklia
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology-Stem Cells, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonios Stamatakis
- Biology-Biochemistry Lab, Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Fotini Stylianopoulou
- Biology-Biochemistry Lab, Faculty of Nursing, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Alexandros A Lavdas
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology-Stem Cells, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Rebecca Matsas
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology-Stem Cells, Department of Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
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11
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Zanon A, Kalvakuri S, Rakovic A, Foco L, Guida M, Schwienbacher C, Serafin A, Rudolph F, Trilck M, Grünewald A, Stanslowsky N, Wegner F, Giorgio V, Lavdas AA, Bodmer R, Pramstaller PP, Klein C, Hicks AA, Pichler I, Philip S. Corrigendum: SLP-2 interacts with Parkin in mitochondria and prevents mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkin-deficient human iPSC-derived neurons and Drosophila. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 28:1225. [PMID: 30517638 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zanon
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Sreehari Kalvakuri
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Luisa Foco
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Marianna Guida
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Christine Schwienbacher
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alice Serafin
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | | | - Michaela Trilck
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Anne Grünewald
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.,Molecular and Functional Neurobiology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | | | - Florian Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Alexandros A Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Rolf Bodmer
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Peter P Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy.,Department of Neurology, General Central Hospital, Bolzano, Italy.,Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christine Klein
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Andrew A Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Irene Pichler
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Seibler Philip
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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12
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Volani C, Doerrier C, Demetz E, Haschka D, Paglia G, Lavdas AA, Gnaiger E, Weiss G. Dietary iron loading negatively affects liver mitochondrial function. Metallomics 2018; 9:1634-1644. [PMID: 29026901 DOI: 10.1039/c7mt00177k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Iron is an essential co-factor for several metabolic processes, including mitochondrial respiration, and mitochondria are the major sites of iron-utilization. Cellular iron homeostasis must be tightly regulated, as intracellular iron deficiency can lead to insufficient energy production, whereas iron overload triggers ROS (reactive oxygen species) formation via the Fenton reaction. So far little is known on how iron imbalances affect mitochondrial function in vivo and the impact of the genotype on that, we studied the effects of dietary iron loading on mitochondrial respiratory capacity in liver by comparing two genetically divergent mouse strains, namely C57BL/6N and FVB mice. Both mouse strains differed in their basal iron levels and their metabolic responses to iron loading as determined by expression of iron trafficking proteins (ferritin was increased in livers of animals receiving high iron diet) as well as tissue iron content (2-fold increase, FVB p = 0.0013; C57BL/6N p = 0.0022). Dietary iron exposure caused a significant impairment of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, especially regarding OXPHOS capacity (FVB p = 0.0006; C57BL/6N p = 0.0087) and S-ETS capacity (FVB p = 0.0281; C57BL/6N p = 0.0159). These effects were more pronounced in C57BL/6N than in FVB mice and were paralleled by an iron mediated induction of oxidative stress in mitochondria. The increased susceptibility of C57BL6/N mice to iron loading may be due to reduced expression of anti-oxidant defense mechanisms and altered iron trafficking upon dietary challenge pointing to a role of genetic modifiers for cellular and mitochondrial iron trafficking. Finally, iron-mediated induction of mitochondrial oxidative stress and reduction of oxidative phosphorylation may underlie fatigue in subjects with iron loading diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Volani
- Department of Internal Medicine II (Infectious Diseases, Immunology, Rheumatology and Pneumology), Medical University of Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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13
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Zanon A, Kalvakuri S, Rakovic A, Foco L, Guida M, Schwienbacher C, Serafin A, Rudolph F, Trilck M, Grünewald A, Stanslowsky N, Wegner F, Giorgio V, Lavdas AA, Bodmer R, Pramstaller PP, Klein C, Hicks AA, Pichler I, Seibler P. SLP-2 interacts with Parkin in mitochondria and prevents mitochondrial dysfunction in Parkin-deficient human iPSC-derived neurons and Drosophila. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:2412-2425. [PMID: 28379402 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the Parkin gene (PARK2) have been linked to a recessive form of Parkinson's disease (PD) characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Deficiencies of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I activity have been observed in the substantia nigra of PD patients, and loss of Parkin results in the reduction of complex I activity shown in various cell and animal models. Using co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assays on endogenous proteins, we demonstrate that Parkin interacts with mitochondrial Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP-2), which also binds the mitochondrial lipid cardiolipin and functions in the assembly of respiratory chain proteins. SH-SY5Y cells with a stable knockdown of Parkin or SLP-2, as well as induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons from Parkin mutation carriers, showed decreased complex I activity and altered mitochondrial network morphology. Importantly, induced expression of SLP-2 corrected for these mitochondrial alterations caused by reduced Parkin function in these cells. In-vivo Drosophila studies showed a genetic interaction of Parkin and SLP-2, and further, tissue-specific or global overexpression of SLP-2 transgenes rescued parkin mutant phenotypes, in particular loss of dopaminergic neurons, mitochondrial network structure, reduced ATP production, and flight and motor dysfunction. The physical and genetic interaction between Parkin and SLP-2 and the compensatory potential of SLP-2 suggest a functional epistatic relationship to Parkin and a protective role of SLP-2 in neurons. This finding places further emphasis on the significance of Parkin for the maintenance of mitochondrial function in neurons and provides a novel target for therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Zanon
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Sreehari Kalvakuri
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - Luisa Foco
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Marianna Guida
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Christine Schwienbacher
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Alice Serafin
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Franziska Rudolph
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Michaela Trilck
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Anne Grünewald
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.,Molecular and Functional Neurobiology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, L-4367 Belvaux, Luxembourg
| | - Nancy Stanslowsky
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Florian Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Alexandros A Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Rolf Bodmer
- Development, Aging and Regeneration Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Peter P Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.,Department of Neurology, General Central Hospital, 39100 Bolzano, Italy.,Department of Neurology, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christine Klein
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Andrew A Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Irene Pichler
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Philip Seibler
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
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14
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Peronio P, Labanca I, Acconcia G, Ruggeri A, Lavdas AA, Hicks AA, Pramstaller PP, Ghioni M, Rech I. 32-channel time-correlated-single-photon-counting system for high-throughput lifetime imaging. Rev Sci Instrum 2017; 88:083704. [PMID: 28863689 DOI: 10.1063/1.4986049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) is a very efficient technique for measuring weak and fast optical signals, but it is mainly limited by the relatively "long" measurement time. Multichannel systems have been developed in recent years aiming to overcome this limitation by managing several detectors or TCSPC devices in parallel. Nevertheless, if we look at state-of-the-art systems, there is still a strong trade-off between the parallelism level and performance: the higher the number of channels, the poorer the performance. In 2013, we presented a complete and compact 32 × 1 TCSPC system, composed of an array of 32 single-photon avalanche diodes connected to 32 time-to-amplitude converters, which showed that it was possible to overcome the existing trade-off. In this paper, we present an evolution of the previous work that is conceived for high-throughput fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. This application can be addressed by the new system thanks to a centralized logic, fast data management and an interface to a microscope. The new conceived hardware structure is presented, as well as the firmware developed to manage the operation of the module. Finally, preliminary results, obtained from the practical application of the technology, are shown to validate the developed system.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Peronio
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - I Labanca
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - G Acconcia
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - A Ruggeri
- Micro Photon Devices S.R.L., via Stradivari 4, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - A A Lavdas
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - A A Hicks
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - P P Pramstaller
- Institute for Biomedicine, Eurac Research, Affiliated Institute of the University of Lübeck, via Galvani 31, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - M Ghioni
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - I Rech
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
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15
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Meraviglia V, Zanon A, Lavdas AA, Schwienbacher C, Silipigni R, Di Segni M, Chen HSV, Pramstaller PP, Hicks AA, Rossini A. Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Frozen Buffy Coats using Non-integrating Episomal Plasmids. J Vis Exp 2015:e52885. [PMID: 26131963 DOI: 10.3791/52885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Somatic cells can be reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) by forcing the expression of four transcription factors (Oct-4, Sox-2, Klf-4, and c-Myc), typically expressed by human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Due to their similarity with hESCs, iPSCs have become an important tool for potential patient-specific regenerative medicine, avoiding ethical issues associated with hESCs. In order to obtain cells suitable for clinical application, transgene-free iPSCs need to be generated to avoid transgene reactivation, altered gene expression and misguided differentiation. Moreover, a highly efficient and inexpensive reprogramming method is necessary to derive sufficient iPSCs for therapeutic purposes. Given this need, an efficient non-integrating episomal plasmid approach is the preferable choice for iPSC derivation. Currently the most common cell type used for reprogramming purposes are fibroblasts, the isolation of which requires tissue biopsy, an invasive surgical procedure for the patient. Therefore, human peripheral blood represents the most accessible and least invasive tissue for iPSC generation. In this study, a cost-effective and viral-free protocol using non-integrating episomal plasmids is reported for the generation of iPSCs from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs) obtained from frozen buffy coats after whole blood centrifugation and without density gradient separation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Rosamaria Silipigni
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS Ca´ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
| | - Marina Di Segni
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Fondazione IRCCS Ca´ Granda, Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico
| | - Huei-Sheng Vincent Chen
- Del E. Webb Center for Neuroscience, Aging & Stem Cell Research, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
| | | | - Andrew A Hicks
- Center for Biomedicine, European Academy Bozen/Bolzano (EURAC)
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16
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Lavdas AA, Papastefanaki F, Thomaidou D, Matsas R. Cell adhesion molecules in gene and cell therapy approaches for nervous system repair. Curr Gene Ther 2011; 11:90-100. [PMID: 21291359 DOI: 10.2174/156652311794940755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2010] [Accepted: 12/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The inability of the central nervous system (CNS) to efficiently repair damages results in severe functional impairment after trauma or neurodegenerative/demyelinating diseases. Regeneration failure is attributed to inhibitory molecules creating a nonpermissive environment for axonal regrowth, and dictates the necessity for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. An emerging approach for improving regeneration is the use of gene therapy to manipulate cell adhesion molecule expression in experimental animal models of degeneration. Alternatively, cell transplantation to replace lost neurons and the grafting of myelinating cells to repair demyelinating lesions are promising approaches for treating CNS injuries and demyelination. Schwann cells (SCs), oligodendrocyte progenitors, olfactory ensheathing cells and embryonic and neural stem cells have been shown to form myelin after transplantation into the demyelinated CNS. The repair capacity of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is much higher, but there is still a limit to the amount of nerve loss that can be bridged after injury, and longer nerve gaps call for the use of conduits populated with living cells. In both cases, the interaction of grafted cells with the host environment is of paramount importance for the incorporation and functional integration of these cells and the manipulation of cell adhesion molecules is an attractive approach towards achieving this goal. In this review we summarize data from the recent literature regarding the manipulation of cell adhesion molecule expression towards CNS and PNS repair and discuss the prospects for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros A Lavdas
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece.
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17
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Lavdas AA, Efrose R, Douris V, Gaitanou M, Papastefanaki F, Swevers L, Thomaidou D, Iatrou K, Matsas R. Soluble forms of the cell adhesion molecule L1 produced by insect and baculovirus-transduced mammalian cells enhance Schwann cell motility. J Neurochem 2010; 115:1137-49. [PMID: 20846298 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.07003.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
For biotechnological applications, insect cell lines are primarily known as hosts for the baculovirus expression system that is capable to direct synthesis of high levels of recombinant proteins through use of powerful viral promoters. Here, we demonstrate the implementation of two alternative approaches based on the baculovirus system for production of a mammalian recombinant glycoprotein, comprising the extracellular part of the cell adhesion molecule L1, with potential important therapeutic applications in nervous system repair. In the first approach, the extracellular part of L1 bearing a myc tag is produced in permanently transformed insect cell lines and purified by affinity chromatography. In the second approach, recombinant baculoviruses that express L1-Fc chimeric protein, derived from fusion of the extracellular part of L1 with the Fc part of human IgG1, under the control of a mammalian promoter are used to infect mammalian HEK293 and primary Schwann cells. Both the extracellular part of L1 bearing a myc tag accumulating in the supernatants of insect cultures as well as L1-Fc secreted by transduced HEK293 or Schwann cells are capable of increasing the motility of Schwann cells with similar efficiency in a gap bridging bioassay. In addition, baculovirus-transduced Schwann cells show enhanced motility when grafted on organotypic cultures of neonatal brain slices while they retain their ability to myelinate CNS axons. This proof-of-concept that the migratory properties of myelin-forming cells can be modulated by recombinant protein produced in insect culture as well as by means of baculovirus-mediated adhesion molecule expression in mammalian cells may have beneficial applications in the field of CNS therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros A Lavdas
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
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18
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Kouroupi G, Lavdas AA, Gaitanou M, Thomaidou D, Stylianopoulou F, Matsas R. Lentivirus-mediated expression of insulin-like growth factor-I promotes neural stem/precursor cell proliferation and enhances their potential to generate neurons. J Neurochem 2010; 115:460-74. [PMID: 20681949 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.06939.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Strategies to enhance neural stem/precursor cell (NPC) capacity to yield multipotential, proliferative, and migrating pools of cells that can efficiently differentiate into neurons could be crucial for structural repair after neurodegenerative damage. Here, we have generated a lentiviral vector for expression of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1) and investigated the impact of IGF-1 transduction on the properties of cultured NPCs (IGF-1-NPCs). Under proliferative conditions, IGF-1 transduction promoted cell cycle progression via cyclin D1 up-regulation and Akt phosphorylation. Remarkably upon differentiation-inducing conditions, IGF-1-NPCs cease to proliferate and differentiate to a greater extent into neurons with significantly longer neurites, at the expense of astrocytes. Moreover, using live imaging we provide evidence that IGF-1 transduction enhances the motility and tissue penetration of grafted NPCs in cultured cortical slices. These results illustrate the important consequence of IGF-1 transduction in regulating NPC functions and offer a potential strategy to enhance the prospective repair potential of NPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Kouroupi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
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19
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Makri G, Lavdas AA, Katsimpardi L, Charneau P, Thomaidou D, Matsas R. Transplantation of embryonic neural stem/precursor cells overexpressing BM88/Cend1 enhances the generation of neuronal cells in the injured mouse cortex. Stem Cells 2010; 28:127-39. [PMID: 19911428 DOI: 10.1002/stem.258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The intrinsic inability of the central nervous system to efficiently repair traumatic injuries renders transplantation of neural stem/precursor cells (NPCs) a promising approach towards repair of brain lesions. In this study, NPCs derived from embryonic day 14.5 mouse cortex were genetically modified via transduction with a lentiviral vector to overexpress the neuronal lineage-specific regulator BM88/Cend1 that coordinates cell cycle exit and differentiation of neuronal precursors. BM88/Cend1-overexpressing NPCs exhibiting enhanced differentiation into neurons in vitro were transplanted in a mouse model of acute cortical injury and analyzed in comparison with control NPCs. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that a smaller proportion of BM88/Cend1-overexpressing NPCs, as compared with control NPCs, expressed the neural stem cell marker nestin 1 day after transplantation, while the percentage of nestin-positive cells was significantly reduced thereafter in both types of cells, being almost extinct 1 week post-grafting. Both types of cells did not proliferate up to 4 weeks in vivo, thus minimizing the risk of tumorigenesis. In comparison with control NPCs, Cend1-overexpressing NPCs generated more neurons and less glial cells 1 month after transplantation in the lesioned cortex whereas the majority of graft-derived neurons were identified as GABAergic interneurons. Furthermore, transplantation of Cend1-overexpressing NPCs resulted in a marked reduction of astrogliosis around the lesioned area as compared to grafts of control NPCs. Our results suggest that transplantation of Cend1-overexpressing NPCs exerts beneficial effects on tissue regeneration by enhancing the number of generated neurons and restricting the formation of astroglial scar, in a mouse model of cortical brain injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Makri
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 11521 Athens, Greece
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20
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Lavdas AA, Chen J, Papastefanaki F, Chen S, Schachner M, Matsas R, Thomaidou D. Schwann cells engineered to express the cell adhesion molecule L1 accelerate myelination and motor recovery after spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2010; 221:206-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2009.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2009] [Revised: 10/30/2009] [Accepted: 10/31/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
The inability of the CNS to efficiently repair damage caused by trauma and neurodegenerative or demyelinating diseases has underlined the necessity for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Cell transplantation to replace lost neurons and the grafting of myelinating cells to repair demyelinating lesions are promising approaches for treating CNS injuries and demyelination. In this review, we will address the prospects of using stem cells or myelinating glial cells of the PNS, as well as olfactory ensheathing cells, in cell-replacement therapies. The recent generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from adult somatic cells by introduction of three or four genes controlling ‘stemness’ and their subsequent differentiation to desired phenotypes, constitutes a significant advancement towards personalized cell-replacement therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros A Lavdas
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece
| | - Rebecca Matsas
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vassilissis Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece
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22
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Abstract
Demyelination occurs in several central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including multiple sclerosis, viral infection and spinal cord injury and can result in severe functional impairment. Therefore there is great interest in developing therapies promoting repair in CNS demyelinating diseases and trauma. Cell replacement therapy is an attractive approach for myelin repair, and experimental transplantation has provided convincing evidence of the repair potential of grafted myelin-forming cells. Schwann cells (SCs), oligodendrocyte progenitors, olfactory ensheathing cells and embryonic and neural stem cells have been shown to form myelin after transplantation into the demyelinated CNS. SCs are among the most promising candidates for autologous grafting. They can remyelinate spinal cord lesions after experimental demyelination, leading in some cases to functional recovery in rodent and primate models. However, SCs do not normally enter the CNS, and migration of SCs transplanted in CNS white matter is inhibited by astrocytes. As SC migration and myelination is mediated by interactions of sets of extracellular matrix molecules with cell surface molecules, genetic engineering of SCs to alter aspects of these interactions is a possible way forward. Thus efforts towards the development of SC-based therapies are focused in enhancing their migration and functional integration into the lesioned CNS. In addition, efforts are being made to use these cells as gene delivery vehicles for an array of molecules with repair potential. In this review we summarize data from the recent literature regarding the use of SCs in CNS repair and discuss the prospects for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Lavdas
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias Avenue, 11521 Athens, Greece
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23
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Papastefanaki F, Chen J, Lavdas AA, Thomaidou D, Schachner M, Matsas R. Grafts of Schwann cells engineered to express PSA-NCAM promote functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Brain 2007; 130:2159-74. [PMID: 17626035 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awm155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schwann cells (SCs) are among the most attractive cellular candidates for the development of remyelination therapies for CNS lesions. Yet, their integration in the CNS is inhibited by astrocytes and therefore the use of genetically modified SCs with improved properties is an alternative promising approach. Our strategy for ameliorating the therapeutic potential of SCs has been to alter their adhesive properties by expressing on their surface the polysialylated (PSA) form of the neural cell adhesion molecule NCAM. In the present study, SCs from transgenic GFP-mice were transduced with a retroviral vector encoding sialyl-transferase X (STX), the enzyme responsible for transferring PSA on NCAM. Engineered STX-GFP-SCs with sustained PSA expression were thus generated and were found to have improved ability to associate with astrocytes in vitro. Importantly, when these cells were transplanted in vivo in a mouse model of spinal cord injury they promoted faster and significantly greater functional recovery as compared to using SCs transduced with a control retroviral vector or no cells at all. Morphological analysis indicated that the improved locomotor recovery correlated with earlier and enhanced remyelination by grafted STX-GFP-SCs, increased remyelination by host SCs as well as enhanced differentiation/remyelination by resident oligodendrocyte precursors. Moreover, sprouting of regenerating serotonergic nerve fibres, which are known to be important for locomotion and recovery after injury, was observed into and across the lesion site. These results underline the potential therapeutic benefit of early activation of myelin-forming cells to differentiate and remyelinate severed axons thus restoring functions in CNS trauma and/or demyelinating diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florentia Papastefanaki
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vassilissis Sofias, 11521 Athens, Greece
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Lavdas AA, Franceschini I, Dubois-Dalcq M, Matsas R. Schwann cells genetically engineered to express PSA show enhanced migratory potential without impairment of their myelinating ability in vitro. Glia 2006; 53:868-78. [PMID: 16598779 DOI: 10.1002/glia.20340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Schwann cells, the myelin-forming cells of the PNS, are attractive candidates for remyelination therapy as they can remyelinate CNS axons. Yet their integration in CNS tissue appears hampered, at least in part, by their limited motility in the CNS environment. As the polysialylated (PSA) form of NCAM regulates migration of neural precursors in the CNS and is not expressed by developing Schwann cells, we investigated whether conferring sustained expression of PSA to Schwann cells derived from postnatal rats enhances their motility. Cells were transduced with a retrovirus encoding polysialyl-transferase STX, an enzyme that synthesizes PSA on NCAM. Migration of wild type and transduced cells expressing STX or the marker gene alkaline phosphatase was examined using a gap bridging assay in dissociated cells and by grafting cells in slice cultures of postnatal brain. Migration of PSA expressing cells was significantly increased in both models, as compared to control cells, and this effect was abolished by endoneuraminidase-N stripping of PSA. PSA-positive Schwann cells retained the ability to differentiate in vitro and expressed the Krox20 and P zero myelination markers. When grafted in neonatal cerebellar slices, STX-transduced cells started to myelinate Purkinje cell axons like control cells and make myelin internodes after 2 to 3 weeks. PSA was redistributed on the cell membrane and downregulated during differentiation in pure Schwann cell cultures and slice co-cultures. Thus, migratory properties of PNS myelin-forming cells within the CNS can be enhanced without altering their differentiation program. This finding may be beneficial for the development of remyelination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandros A Lavdas
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, 127 Vas. Sofias, 11521 Athens, Greece
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25
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Kenoutis C, Efrose RC, Swevers L, Lavdas AA, Gaitanou M, Matsas R, Iatrou K. Baculovirus-mediated gene delivery into Mammalian cells does not alter their transcriptional and differentiating potential but is accompanied by early viral gene expression. J Virol 2006; 80:4135-46. [PMID: 16571829 PMCID: PMC1440473 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.80.8.4135-4146.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2005] [Accepted: 02/01/2006] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene delivery to neural cells is central to the development of transplantation therapies for neurological diseases. In this study, we used a baculovirus derived from the domesticated silk moth, Bombyx mori, as vector for transducing a human cell line (HEK293) and primary cultures of rat Schwann cells. Under optimal conditions of infection with a recombinant baculovirus containing the reporter green fluorescent protein gene under mammalian promoter control, the infected cells express the transgene with high efficiency. Toxicity assays and transcriptome analyses suggest that baculovirus infection is not cytotoxic and does not induce differential transcriptional responses in HEK293 cells. Infected Schwann cells retain their characteristic morphological and molecular phenotype as determined by immunocytochemistry for the marker proteins S-100, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and p75 nerve growth factor receptor. Moreover, baculovirus-infected Schwann cells are capable of differentiating in vitro and express the P0 myelination marker. However, transcripts for several immediate-early viral genes also accumulate in readily detectable levels in the transduced cells. This transcriptional activity raises concerns regarding the long-term safety of baculovirus vectors for gene therapy applications. Potential approaches for overcoming the identified problem are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Kenoutis
- Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Group, Institute of Biology, National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos, P.O. Box 60228, 153 10 Aghia Paraskevi Attikis (Athens), Greece
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26
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Parnavelas JG, Anderson SA, Lavdas AA, Grigoriou M, Pachnis V, Rubenstein JL. The contribution of the ganglionic eminence to the neuronal cell types of the cerebral cortex. Novartis Found Symp 2001; 228:129-39; discussion 139-47. [PMID: 10929320 DOI: 10.1002/0470846631.ch10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
The principal neuronal types of the mammalian cerebral cortex are the excitatory pyramidal cells and the inhibitory interneurons, the non-pyramidal cells. It is thought that these neurons arise in the ventricular zone surrounding the telencephalic ventricles. From there, newly generated neurons migrate outward along the processes of radial glial cells to reach the cortical plate where they accumulate in an 'inside-out' sequence to form the six-layered structure of the neocortex. Here we review emerging evidence that pyramidal neurons are generated in the cortical ventricular zone, whereas the majority of the non-pyramidal cells arise in the ganglionic eminences of the ventral telencephalon. These neurons follow tangential migratory routes to reach their positions in the developing cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- J G Parnavelas
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, UK
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27
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Lavdas AA, Grigoriou M, Pachnis V, Parnavelas JG. The medial ganglionic eminence gives rise to a population of early neurons in the developing cerebral cortex. J Neurosci 1999; 19:7881-8. [PMID: 10479690 PMCID: PMC6782477] [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] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/1999] [Revised: 06/25/1999] [Accepted: 06/30/1999] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
During development of the neocortex, the marginal zone (layer I) and the subplate (layer VII) are the first layers to form from a primordial plexiform neoropil. The cortical plate (layers II-VI) is subsequently established between these superficial and deep components of the primordial plexiform neuropil. Neurons in the early zones are thought to play important roles in the formation of the cortex: the Cajal-Retzius cells of the marginal zone are instrumental in neuronal migration and laminar formation, and cells of the subplate are involved in the formation of cortical connections. Using the fluorescent tracer 1,1'-dioctodecyl-3,3,3', 3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine (DiI), we have shown here that a substantial proportion of neurons of the marginal zone, including cells with features of Cajal-Retzius cells, and of the subplate and lower intermediate zone are not born in the ventricular neuroepithelium but instead originate in the medial ganglionic eminence (MGE), the pallidal primordium. These neurons follow a tangential migratory route to their positions in the developing cortex. They express the neurotransmitter GABA but seem to lack the calcium binding protein calretinin; some migrating cells found in the marginal zone express reelin. In addition, migrating cells express the LIM-homeobox gene Lhx6, a characteristic marker of the MGE. It is suggested that this gene uniquely or in combination with other transcription factors may be involved in the decision of MGE cells to differentiate in situ or migrate to the neocortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Lavdas
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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28
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Lavdas AA, Blue ME, Lincoln J, Parnavelas JG. Serotonin promotes the differentiation of glutamate neurons in organotypic slice cultures of the developing cerebral cortex. J Neurosci 1997; 17:7872-80. [PMID: 9315907 PMCID: PMC6793899] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/1997] [Revised: 08/04/1997] [Accepted: 08/05/1997] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The monoamines serotonin (5-HT), noradrenaline (NA), and dopamine (DA), which are present in the developing brain apparently before they assume their neurotransmitter functions, are regarded as strong candidates for a role in the maturation of the cerebral cortex. Here we sought to investigate their effects on the generation and differentiation of cortical cell types. Slice cultures, prepared from the cortices of embryonic day (E) 14, E16, and E19 rat fetuses, were kept in defined medium or in defined medium plus 5-HT for 7 d. E16 cortices were also exposed to NA or DA for the same period. At the end of this period, the proportions of the neuronal [glutamate (Glu)-, GABA-, calbindin-, calretinin-labeled], glial (GFAP), and neuroepithelial (nestin) cell types were estimated for all conditions. We found that in E16 cultures, application of 5-HT, but not of NA or DA, significantly increased the proportion of Glu-containing neurons without affecting the overall neuronal population or the proportions of any other cell types. A similar effect was observed in co-cultures of E16 cortex with slices through the midbrain raphe nuclei of E19 rats. The total amount of cortical Glu, as measured with HPLC, was also increased in these co-cultures. To investigate whether the effect of 5-HT was the result of changes in cell proliferation, we exposed slices to bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and found that the proportion of BrdU-labeled cells was similar in the 5-HT-treated and control slices. These results indicate that 5-HT promotes the differentiation of cortical Glu-containing neurons without affecting neuroepithelial cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Lavdas
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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29
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Lavdas AA, Mione MC, Parnavelas JG. Neuronal clones in the cerebral cortex show morphological and neurotransmitter heterogeneity during development. Cereb Cortex 1996; 6:490-7. [PMID: 8670674 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/6.3.490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian cerebral cortex, although a structure of great complexity, is characterized by a high degree of organization where the proportions, spatial relationships, and properties of the various cell types are rigidly controlled. The mechanisms responsible for the creation of such a rigid distribution of cell types are not known. Lineage studies in adult rats have suggested that each of the cortical progenitor cells lining the telencephalic ventricles during embryonic development gives rise to progeny of the same phenotype (homogeneous clones). However, the possibility that homogeneous clones are the result of complex processes affecting both the final number and the phenotype of clonally related cells during development has not been investigated. In the present study, we followed the development of cortical cell lineages labeled with retroviral injections at embryonic day (E) 16 in rats of 7, 14, or 21 d of age using electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry for the neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA. We found that a significant number of cortical clones at postnatal day (P) 7 and P14, and fewer at P21, showed mixed pyramidal/nonpyramidal cell composition. We sometimes observed that "mixed" neuronal clones contained cells immunoreactive for both glutamate and GABA. In the general population of cortical cells, "bireactive" neurons represented 3.7% of all neurons at P7, 18% at P14, and 0.6% in adult rats. Although the change in the composition of neuronal clones between the third week of postnatal life and adulthood may be due to changes in the phenotype of some developing neurons, we would like to suggest that it is probably due to selective neuronal cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Lavdas
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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