scholarly journals The necroptosis machinery mediates axonal degeneration in a model of Parkinson disease

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maritza Oñate ◽  
Alejandra Catenaccio ◽  
Natalia Salvadores ◽  
Cristian Saquel ◽  
Alexis Martinez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Axonal Degeneration ◽  
Neuronal Loss ◽  
Postmortem Brain ◽  
Death Process ◽  
Early Event ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Postmortem Brain Tissue

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative condition, characterized by motor impairment due to the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and depletion of dopamine release in the striatum. Accumulating evidence suggest that degeneration of axons is an early event in the disease, involving destruction programs that are independent of the survival of the cell soma. Necroptosis, a programmed cell death process, is emerging as a mediator of neuronal loss in models of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we demonstrate activation of necroptosis in postmortem brain tissue from PD patients and in a toxin-based mouse model of the disease. Inhibition of key components of the necroptotic pathway resulted in a significant delay of 6-hydroxydopamine dependent axonal degeneration of dopaminergic and cortical neurons in vitro. Genetic ablation of necroptosis mediators MLKL and RIPK3, as well as pharmacological inhibition of RIPK1 in vivo, decreased dopaminergic neuron degeneration, improving motor performance. Together, these findings suggest that axonal degeneration in PD is mediated by the necroptosis machinery, a process here referred to as necroaxoptosis, a druggable pathway to target dopaminergic neuronal loss.

scholarly journals Machine learning-based classification of mitochondrial morphology in primary neurons and brain

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Garrett M. Fogo ◽  
Anthony R. Anzell ◽  
Kathleen J. Maheras ◽  
Sarita Raghunayakula ◽  
Joseph M. Wider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Image Analysis ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Mitochondrial Dynamics ◽  
Automated Image Analysis ◽  
Mitochondrial Morphology ◽  
Analysis Pipeline ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Block Face

AbstractThe mitochondrial network continually undergoes events of fission and fusion. Under physiologic conditions, the network is in equilibrium and is characterized by the presence of both elongated and punctate mitochondria. However, this balanced, homeostatic mitochondrial profile can change morphologic distribution in response to various stressors. Therefore, it is imperative to develop a method that robustly measures mitochondrial morphology with high accuracy. Here, we developed a semi-automated image analysis pipeline for the quantitation of mitochondrial morphology for both in vitro and in vivo applications. The image analysis pipeline was generated and validated utilizing images of primary cortical neurons from transgenic mice, allowing genetic ablation of key components of mitochondrial dynamics. This analysis pipeline was further extended to evaluate mitochondrial morphology in vivo through immunolabeling of brain sections as well as serial block-face scanning electron microscopy. These data demonstrate a highly specific and sensitive method that accurately classifies distinct physiological and pathological mitochondrial morphologies. Furthermore, this workflow employs the use of readily available, free open-source software designed for high throughput image processing, segmentation, and analysis that is customizable to various biological models.

scholarly journals Modulator of apoptosis-1 is a potential therapeutic target in acute ischemic injury

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 2406-2418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su Jing Chan ◽  
Hui Zhao ◽  
Kazuhide Hayakawa ◽  
Chou Chai ◽  
Chong Teik Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Infarct Volume ◽  
Neuronal Loss ◽  
Ischemic Injury ◽  
Glucose Deprivation ◽  
Artery Occlusion ◽  
In Vivo Models ◽  
The Brain

Modulator of apoptosis 1 (MOAP-1) is a Bax-associating protein highly enriched in the brain. In this study, we examined the role of MOAP-1 in promoting ischemic injuries following a stroke by investigating the consequences of MOAP-1 overexpression or deficiency in in vitro and in vivo models of ischemic stroke. MOAP-1 overexpressing SH-SY5Y cells showed significantly lower cell viability following oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) treatment when compared to control cells. Consistently, MOAP-1−/− primary cortical neurons were observed to be more resistant against OGD treatment than the MOAP-1+/+ primary neurons. In the mouse transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) model, ischemia triggered MOAP-1/Bax association, suggested activation of the MOAP-1-dependent apoptotic cascade. MOAP-1−/− mice were found to exhibit reduced neuronal loss and smaller infarct volume 24 h after tMCAO when compared to MOAP-1+/+ mice. Correspondingly, MOAP-1−/− mice also showed better integrity of neurological functions as demonstrated by their performance in the rotarod test. Therefore, both in vitro and in vivo data presented strongly support the conclusion that MOAP-1 is an important apoptotic modulator in ischemic injury. These results may suggest that a reduction of MOAP-1 function in the brain could be a potential therapeutic approach in the treatment of acute stroke.

scholarly journals Inhibition of the autophagic protein ULK1 attenuates axonal degeneration in vitro and in vivo, enhances translation, and modulates splicing

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (10) ◽  
pp. 2810-2827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Friedhelm Vahsen ◽  
Vinicius Toledo Ribas ◽  
Jonas Sundermeyer ◽  
Alexander Boecker ◽  
Vivian Dambeck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Axonal Degeneration ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Focal Lesion ◽  
Pathological Feature ◽  
Nerve Crush ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Rat Cortical Neurons

Abstract Axonal degeneration is a key and early pathological feature in traumatic and neurodegenerative disorders of the CNS. Following a focal lesion to axons, extended axonal disintegration by acute axonal degeneration (AAD) occurs within several hours. During AAD, the accumulation of autophagic proteins including Unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) has been demonstrated, but its role is incompletely understood. Here, we study the effect of ULK1 inhibition in different models of lesion-induced axonal degeneration in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of a dominant negative of ULK1 (ULK1.DN) in primary rat cortical neurons attenuates axotomy-induced AAD in vitro. Both ULK1.DN and the ULK1 inhibitor SBI-0206965 protect against AAD after rat optic nerve crush in vivo. ULK1.DN additionally attenuates long-term axonal degeneration after rat spinal cord injury in vivo. Mechanistically, ULK1.DN decreases autophagy and leads to an mTOR-mediated increase in translational proteins. Consistently, treatment with SBI-0206965 results in enhanced mTOR activation. ULK1.DN additionally modulates the differential splicing of the degeneration-associated genes Kif1b and Ddit3. These findings uncover ULK1 as an important mediator of axonal degeneration in vitro and in vivo, and elucidate its function in splicing, defining it as a putative therapeutic target.

scholarly journals Overexpression of Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter Causes Neuronal Death

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Veronica Granatiero ◽  
Marco Pacifici ◽  
Anna Raffaello ◽  
Diego De Stefani ◽  
Rosario Rizzuto
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Neuronal Death ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Neuronal Cell Death ◽  
Neuronal Cell ◽  
Neuronal Loss ◽  
Calcium Uniporter ◽  
Organelle Morphology

Neurodegenerative diseases are a large and heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by selective and progressive death of specific neuronal subtypes. In most of the cases, the pathophysiology is still poorly understood, although a number of hypotheses have been proposed. Among these, dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis and mitochondrial dysfunction represent two broadly recognized early events associated with neurodegeneration. However, a direct link between these two hypotheses can be drawn. Mitochondria actively participate to global Ca2+ signaling, and increases of [Ca2+] inside organelle matrix are known to sustain energy production to modulate apoptosis and remodel cytosolic Ca2+ waves. Most importantly, while mitochondrial Ca2+ overload has been proposed as the no-return signal, triggering apoptotic or necrotic neuronal death, until now direct evidences supporting this hypothesis, especially in vivo, are limited. Here, we took advantage of the identification of the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) and tested whether mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling controls neuronal cell fate. We overexpressed MCU both in vitro, in mouse primary cortical neurons, and in vivo, through stereotaxic injection of MCU-coding adenoviral particles in the brain cortex. We first measured mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake using quantitative genetically encoded Ca2+ probes, and we observed that the overexpression of MCU causes a dramatic increase of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake both at resting and after membrane depolarization. MCU-mediated mitochondrial Ca2+ overload causes alteration of organelle morphology and dysregulation of global Ca2+ homeostasis. Most importantly, MCU overexpression in vivo is sufficient to trigger gliosis and neuronal loss. Overall, we demonstrated that mitochondrial Ca2+ overload is per se sufficient to cause neuronal cell death both in vitro and in vivo, thus highlighting a potential key step in neurodegeneration.

scholarly journals New Treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease, Kamikihito, Reverses Amyloid-β-Induced Progression of Tau Phosphorylation and Axonal Atrophy

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidetoshi Watari ◽  
Yutaka Shimada ◽  
Chihiro Tohda
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Axonal Degeneration ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Tau Phosphorylation ◽  
Axonal Atrophy ◽  
Pp2a Activity

Aims.We previously reported that kamikihito (KKT), a traditional Japanese medicine, improved memory impairment and reversed the degeneration of axons in the 5XFAD mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the mechanism underlying the effects of KKT remained unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism by which KKT reverses the progression of axonal degeneration.Methods.Primary cultured cortical neurons were treated with amyloid beta (Aβ) fragment comprising amino acid residues (25–35) (10 μM) in anin vitroAD model. KKT (10 μg/mL) was administered to the cells before or after Aβtreatment. The effects of KKT on Aβ-induced tau phosphorylation, axonal atrophy, and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity were investigated. We also performed anin vivoassay in which KKT (500 mg/kg/day) was administered to 5XFAD mice once a day for 15 days. Cerebral cortex homogenates were used to measure PP2A activity.Results.KKT improved Aβ-induced tau phosphorylation and axonal atrophy after they had already progressed. In addition, KKT increased PP2A activityin vitroandin vivo.Conclusions.KKT reversed the progression of Aβ-induced axonal degeneration. KKT reversed axonal degeneration at least in part through its role as an exogenous PP2A stimulator.

scholarly journals Interleukin-26, preferentially produced by TH17 lymphocytes, regulates CNS barrier function

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. e870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bieke Broux ◽  
Stephanie Zandee ◽  
Elizabeth Gowing ◽  
Marc Charabati ◽  
Marc-André Lécuyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Cell ◽  
Postmortem Brain ◽  
Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis ◽  
Th17 Lymphocytes ◽  
Postmortem Brain Tissue ◽  
Human And Mouse ◽  
Experimental Autoimmune

ObjectiveTo investigate the involvement of interleukin (IL)-26 in neuroinflammatory processes in multiple sclerosis (MS), in particular in blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity.MethodsExpression of IL-26 was measured in serum, CSF, in vitro differentiated T helper (TH) cell subsets, and postmortem brain tissue of patients with MS and controls by ELISA, quantitative PCR, and immunohistochemistry. Primary human and mouse BBB endothelial cells (ECs) were treated with IL-26 in vitro and assessed for BBB integrity. RNA sequencing was performed on IL-26–treated human BBB ECs. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein35–55 experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice were injected IP with IL-26. BBB leakage and immune cell infiltration were assessed in the CNS of these mice using immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry.ResultsIL-26 expression was induced in TH lymphocytes by TH17-inducing cytokines and was upregulated in the blood and CSF of patients with MS. CD4+IL-26+ T lymphocytes were found in perivascular infiltrates in MS brain lesions, and both receptor chains for IL-26 (IL-10R2 and IL-20R1) were detected on BBB ECs in vitro and in situ. In contrast to IL-17 and IL-22, IL-26 promoted integrity and reduced permeability of BBB ECs in vitro and in vivo. In EAE, IL-26 reduced disease severity and proinflammatory lymphocyte infiltration into the CNS, while increasing infiltration of Tregs.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that although IL-26 is preferentially expressed by TH17 lymphocytes, it promotes BBB integrity in vitro and in vivo and is protective in chronic EAE, highlighting the functional diversity of cytokines produced by TH17 lymphocytes.

scholarly journals Na+-Dependent Chloride Transporter (NKCC1)-Null Mice Exhibit Less Gray and White Matter Damage after Focal Cerebral Ischemia

2005 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Chen ◽  
Jing Luo ◽  
Douglas B Kintner ◽  
Gary E Shull ◽  
Dandan Sun
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Neuronal Damage ◽  
Focal Cerebral Ischemia ◽  
Left Middle Cerebral Artery ◽  
White Matter Damage ◽  
Genetic Ablation

We previously demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of Na+−K+−Cl− cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1) is neuroprotective in in vivo and in vitro ischemic models. In this study, we investigated whether genetic ablation of NKCC1 provides neuroprotection after ischemia. Focal ischemia was induced by 2 hours occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCAO) followed by 10 or 24 hours reperfusion. Two hours MCAO and ten or twenty-four hours reperfusion caused infarction (˜85 mm3) in NKCC1 wild-type (NKCC1+/+) mice. Infarction volume in NKCC1−/− mice was reduced by ˜30% to 46%. Heterozygous mutant (NKCC1+/–) mice showed ˜28% reduction in infarction ( P>0.05). Two hours MCAO and twenty-four hours reperfusion led to a significant increase in brain edema in NKCC1+/+ mice. In contrast, NKCC1+/– and NKCC1−/− mice exhibited ˜50% less edema ( P<0.05). Moreover, white matter damage was assessed by immunostaining of amyloid precursor protein (APP). An increase in APP was detected in NKCC1+/+ mice after 2 hours MCAO and 10 hours reperfusion. However, NKCC1−/− mice exhibited significantly less APP accumulation ( P<0.05). Oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induced ˜67% cell death and a fourfold increase in Na+ accumulation in cultured NKCC1+/+ cortical neurons. OGD-mediated cell death and Na+ influx were significantly reduced in NKCC1−/− neurons ( P<0.05). In addition, inhibition of NKCC1 by bumetanide resulted in similar protection in NKCC1+/+ neurons and astrocytes ( P<0.05). These results imply that stimulation of NKCC1 activity is important in ischemic neuronal damage.

scholarly journals TRAF3 mediates neuronal apoptosis in early brain injury following subarachnoid hemorrhage via targeting TAK1-dependent MAPKs and NF-κB pathways

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Zhou ◽  
Tao Tao ◽  
Guangjie Liu ◽  
Xuan Gao ◽  
Yongyue Gao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
Therapeutic Target ◽  
Cortical Neurons ◽  
Neuronal Apoptosis ◽  
Early Brain Injury ◽  
Neurological Deficits ◽  
Human Brain Tissue

AbstractNeuronal apoptosis has an important role in early brain injury (EBI) following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). TRAF3 was reported as a promising therapeutic target for stroke management, which covered several neuronal apoptosis signaling cascades. Hence, the present study is aimed to determine whether downregulation of TRAF3 could be neuroprotective in SAH-induced EBI. An in vivo SAH model in mice was established by endovascular perforation. Meanwhile, primary cultured cortical neurons of mice treated with oxygen hemoglobin were applied to mimic SAH in vitro. Our results demonstrated that TRAF3 protein expression increased and expressed in neurons both in vivo and in vitro SAH models. TRAF3 siRNA reversed neuronal loss and improved neurological deficits in SAH mice, and reduced cell death in SAH primary neurons. Mechanistically, we found that TRAF3 directly binds to TAK1 and potentiates phosphorylation and activation of TAK1, which further enhances the activation of NF-κB and MAPKs pathways to induce neuronal apoptosis. Importantly, TRAF3 expression was elevated following SAH in human brain tissue and was mainly expressed in neurons. Taken together, our study demonstrates that TRAF3 is an upstream regulator of MAPKs and NF-κB pathways in SAH-induced EBI via its interaction with and activation of TAK1. Furthermore, the TRAF3 may serve as a novel therapeutic target in SAH-induced EBI.

scholarly journals Complement C5 is not critical for the formation of sub-RPE deposits in Efemp1 mutant mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donita L. Garland ◽  
Eric A. Pierce ◽  
Rosario Fernandez-Godino
Keyword(s):  
Macular Degeneration ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Deposit Formation ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Complement Dysregulation

AbstractThe complement system plays a role in the formation of sub-retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) deposits in early stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). But the specific mechanisms that connect complement activation and deposit formation in AMD patients are unknown, which limits the development of efficient therapies to reduce or stop disease progression. We have previously demonstrated that C3 blockage prevents the formation of sub-RPE deposits in a mouse model of EFEMP1-associated macular degeneration. In this study, we have used double mutant Efemp1R345W/R345W:C5-/- mice to investigate the role of C5 in the formation of sub-RPE deposits in vivo and in vitro. The data revealed that the genetic ablation of C5 does not eliminate the formation of sub-RPE deposits. Contrarily, the absence of C5 in RPE cultures promotes complement dysregulation that results in increased activation of C3, which likely contributes to deposit formation even in the absence of EFEMP1-R345W mutant protein. The results also suggest that genetic ablation of C5 alters the extracellular matrix turnover through an effect on matrix metalloproteinases in RPE cell cultures. These results confirm that C3 rather than C5 could be an effective therapeutic target to treat early AMD.

scholarly journals Astrocytes derived from p53-deficient mice provide a multistep in vitro model for development of malignant gliomas.

1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (8) ◽  
pp. 4249-4259 ◽  
Author(s):  
A M Yahanda ◽  
J M Bruner ◽  
L A Donehower ◽  
R S Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Genomic Instability ◽  
Malignant Transformation ◽  
Nude Mice ◽  
Malignant Gliomas ◽  
Early Event ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Early Passage ◽  
Wild Type P53

Loss or mutation of p53 is thought to be an early event in the malignant transformation of many human astrocytic tumors. To better understand the role of p53 in their growth and transformation, we developed a model employing cultured neonatal astrocytes derived from mice deficient in one (p53 +/-) or both (p53 -/-) p53 alleles, comparing them with wild-type (p53 +/+) cells. Studies of in vitro and in vivo growth and transformation were performed, and flow cytometry and karyotyping were used to correlate changes in growth with genomic instability. Early-passage (EP) p53 -/- astrocytes achieved higher saturation densities and had more rapid growth than EP p53 +/- and +/+ cells. The EP p53 -/- cells were not transformed, as they were unable to grow in serum-free medium or in nude mice. With continued passaging, p53 -/- cells exhibited a multistep progression to a transformed phenotype. Late-passage p53 -/- cells achieved saturation densities 50 times higher than those of p53 +/+ cells and formed large, well-vascularized tumors in nude mice. p53 +/- astrocytes exhibited early loss of the remaining wild-type p53 allele and then evolved in a manner phenotypically similar to p53 -/- astrocytes. In marked contrast, astrocytes retaining both wild-type p53 alleles never exhibited a transformed phenotype and usually senesced after 7 to 10 passages. Dramatic alterations in ploidy and karyotype occurred and were restricted to cells deficient in wild-type p53 following repeated passaging. The results of these studies suggest that loss of wild-type p53 function promotes genomic instability, accelerated growth, and malignant transformation in astrocytes.

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