scholarly journals Imaging Biomarkers for Monitoring the Inflammatory Redox Landscape in the Brain

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 528
Author(s):  
Eduardo Felipe Alves Fernandes ◽  
Dennis Özcelik

Inflammation is one key process in driving cellular redox homeostasis toward oxidative stress, which perpetuates inflammation. In the brain, this interplay results in a vicious cycle of cell death, the loss of neurons, and leakage of the blood–brain barrier. Hence, the neuroinflammatory response fuels the development of acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. Interrogation of the interplay between inflammation, oxidative stress, and cell death in neurological tissue in vivo is very challenging. The complexity of the underlying biological process and the fragility of the brain limit our understanding of the cause and the adequate diagnostics of neuroinflammatory diseases. In recent years, advancements in the development of molecular imaging agents addressed this limitation and enabled imaging of biomarkers of neuroinflammation in the brain. Notable redox biomarkers for imaging with positron emission tomography (PET) tracers are the 18 kDa translocator protein (TSPO) and monoamine oxygenase B (MAO–B). These findings and achievements offer the opportunity for novel diagnostic applications and therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes experimental as well as established pharmaceutical and biotechnological tools for imaging the inflammatory redox landscape in the brain, and provides a glimpse into future applications.

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 252
Author(s):  
Jacopo Meldolesi

Biomarkers are molecules that are variable in their origin, nature, and mechanism of action; they are of great relevance in biology and also in medicine because of their specific connection with a single or several diseases. Biomarkers are of two types, which in some cases are operative with each other. Fluid biomarkers, started around 2000, are generated in fluid from specific proteins/peptides and miRNAs accumulated within two extracellular fluids, either the central spinal fluid or blood plasma. The switch of these proteins/peptides and miRNAs, from free to segregated within extracellular vesicles, has induced certain advantages including higher levels within fluids and lower operative expenses. Imaging biomarkers, started around 2004, are identified in vivo upon their binding by radiolabeled molecules subsequently revealed in the brain by positron emission tomography and/or other imaging techniques. A positive point for the latter approach is the quantitation of results, but expenses are much higher. At present, both types of biomarker are being extensively employed to study Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases, investigated from the presymptomatic to mature stages. In conclusion, biomarkers have revolutionized scientific and medical research and practice. Diagnosis, which is often inadequate when based on medical criteria only, has been recently improved by the multiplicity and specificity of biomarkers. Analogous results have been obtained for prognosis. In contrast, improvement of therapy has been limited or fully absent, especially for Alzheimer’s in which progress has been inadequate. An urgent need at hand is therefore the progress of a new drug trial design together with patient management in clinical practice.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bérenger Largeau ◽  
Anne-Claire Dupont ◽  
Denis Guilloteau ◽  
Maria-João Santiago-Ribeiro ◽  
Nicolas Arlicot

Peripheral sterile inflammatory diseases (PSIDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders that gathers several chronic insults involving the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, or musculoskeletal system and wherein inflammation is the cornerstone of the pathophysiology. In PSID, timely characterization and localization of inflammatoryfociare crucial for an adequate care for patients. In brain diseases,in vivopositron emission tomography (PET) exploration of inflammation has matured over the last 20 years, through the development of radiopharmaceuticals targeting the translocator protein-18 kDa (TSPO) as molecular biomarkers of activated microglia. Recently, TSPO has been introduced as a possible molecular target for PSIDs PET imaging, making this protein a potential biomarker to address disease heterogeneity, to assist in patient stratification, and to contribute to predicting treatment response. In this review, we summarized the major research advances recently made in the field of TSPO PET imaging in PSIDs. Promising preliminary results have been reported in bowel, cardiovascular, and rheumatic inflammatory diseases, consolidated by preclinical studies. Limitations of TSPO PET imaging in PSIDs, regarding both its large expression in healthy peripheral tissues, unlike in central nervous system, and the production of peripheral radiolabeled metabolites, are also discussed, regarding their possible consequences on TSPO PET signal’s quantification.


Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasmina Dimitrova-Shumkovska ◽  
Ljupcho Krstanoski ◽  
Leo Veenman

Neuroinflammation and cell death are among the common symptoms of many central nervous system diseases and injuries. Neuroinflammation and programmed cell death of the various cell types in the brain appear to be part of these disorders, and characteristic for each cell type, including neurons and glia cells. Concerning the effects of 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) on glial activation, as well as being associated with neuronal cell death, as a response mechanism to oxidative stress, the changes of its expression assayed with the aid of TSPO-specific positron emission tomography (PET) tracers’ uptake could also offer evidence for following the pathogenesis of these disorders. This could potentially increase the number of diagnostic tests to accurately establish the stadium and development of the disease in question. Nonetheless, the differences in results regarding TSPO PET signals of first and second generations of tracers measured in patients with neurological disorders versus healthy controls indicate that we still have to understand more regarding TSPO characteristics. Expanding on investigations regarding the neuroprotective and healing effects of TSPO ligands could also contribute to a better understanding of the therapeutic potential of TSPO activity for brain damage due to brain injury and disease. Studies so far have directed attention to the effects on neurons and glia, and processes, such as death, inflammation, and regeneration. It is definitely worthwhile to drive such studies forward. From recent research it also appears that TSPO ligands, such as PK11195, Etifoxine, Emapunil, and 2-Cl-MGV-1, demonstrate the potential of targeting TSPO for treatments of brain diseases and disorders.


Antioxidants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amritpal Singh ◽  
Yu Fung Yau ◽  
Kin Sum Leung ◽  
Hani El-Nezami ◽  
Jetty Chung-Yung Lee

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the onset as well as the progression of inflammation. Without proper intervention, acute inflammation could progress to chronic inflammation, resulting in the development of inflammatory diseases. Antioxidants, such as polyphenols, have been known to possess anti-oxidative properties which promote redox homeostasis. This has encouraged research on polyphenols as potential therapeutics for inflammation through anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory pathways. In this review, the ability of polyphenols to modulate the activation of major pathways of inflammation and oxidative stress, and their potential to regulate the activity of immune cells are examined. In addition, in this review, special emphasis has been placed on the effects of polyphenols on inflammation in the brain–liver–gut axis. The data derived from in vitro cell studies, animal models and human intervention studies are discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-10
Author(s):  
V. S. Nedzvetsky ◽  
V. Ya. Gasso ◽  
A. M. Hahut ◽  
I. A. Hasso

Cadmium is a common transition metal that entails an extremely wide range of toxic effects in humans and animals. The cytotoxicity of cadmium ions and its compounds is due to various genotoxic effects, including both DNA damage and chromosomal aberrations. Some bone diseases, kidney and digestive system diseases are determined as pathologies that are closely associated with cadmium intoxication. In addition, cadmium is included in the list of carcinogens because of its ability to initiate the development of tumors of several forms of cancer under conditions of chronic or acute intoxication. Despite many studies of the effects of cadmium in animal models and cohorts of patients, in which cadmium effects has occurred, its molecular mechanisms of action are not fully understood. The genotoxic effects of cadmium and the induction of programmed cell death have attracted the attention of researchers in the last decade. In recent years, the results obtained for in vivo and in vitro experimental models have shown extremely high cytotoxicity of sublethal concentrations of cadmium and its compounds in various tissues. One of the most studied causes of cadmium cytotoxicity is the development of oxidative stress and associated oxidative damage to macromolecules of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Brain cells are most sensitive to oxidative damage and can be a critical target of cadmium cytotoxicity. Thus, oxidative damage caused by cadmium can initiate genotoxicity, programmed cell death and inhibit their viability in the human and animal brains. To test our hypothesis, cadmium cytotoxicity was assessed in vivo in U251 glioma cells through viability determinants and markers of oxidative stress and apoptosis. The result of the cell viability analysis showed the dose-dependent action of cadmium chloride in glioma cells, as well as the generation of oxidative stress (p <0.05). Calculated for 48 hours of exposure, the LD50 was 3.1 μg×ml-1. The rates of apoptotic death of glioma cells also progressively increased depending on the dose of cadmium ions. A high correlation between cadmium concentration and apoptotic response (p <0.01) was found for cells exposed to 3–4 μg×ml-1 cadmium chloride. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation) and induction of apoptosis. The results indicate a strong relationship between the generation of oxidative damage by macromolecules and the initiation of programmed cell death in glial cells under conditions of low doses of cadmium chloride. The presented results show that cadmium ions can induce oxidative damage in brain cells and inhibit their viability through the induction of programmed death. Such effects of cadmium intoxication can be considered as a model of the impact of heavy metal pollution on vertebrates.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (22) ◽  
pp. 2610-2619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarique Hussain ◽  
Ghulam Murtaza ◽  
Huansheng Yang ◽  
Muhammad S. Kalhoro ◽  
Dildar H. Kalhoro

Background: Inflammation is a complex response of the host defense system to different internal and external stimuli. It is believed that persistent inflammation may lead to chronic inflammatory diseases such as, inflammatory bowel disease, neurological and cardiovascular diseases. Oxidative stress is the main factor responsible for the augmentation of inflammation via various molecular pathways. Therefore, alleviating oxidative stress is effective a therapeutic option against chronic inflammatory diseases. Methods: This review article extends the knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of flavonoids targeting inflammatory pathways in chronic diseases, which would be the best approach for the development of suitable therapeutic agents against chronic diseases. Results: Since the inflammatory response is initiated by numerous signaling molecules like NF-κB, MAPK, and Arachidonic acid pathways, their encountering function can be evaluated with the activation of Nrf2 pathway, a promising approach to inhibit/prevent chronic inflammatory diseases by flavonoids. Over the last few decades, flavonoids drew much attention as a potent alternative therapeutic agent. Recent clinical evidence has shown significant impacts of flavonoids on chronic diseases in different in-vivo and in-vitro models. Conclusion: Flavonoid compounds can interact with chronic inflammatory diseases at the cellular level and modulate the response of protein pathways. A promising approach is needed to overlook suitable alternative compounds providing more therapeutic efficacy and exerting fewer side effects than commercially available antiinflammatory drugs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 345-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara D'Orio ◽  
Anna Fracassi ◽  
Maria Paola Cerù ◽  
Sandra Moreno

Background: The molecular mechanisms underlying Alzheimer's disease (AD) are yet to be fully elucidated. The so-called “amyloid cascade hypothesis” has long been the prevailing paradigm for causation of disease, and is today being revisited in relation to other pathogenic pathways, such as oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and energy dysmetabolism. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and regulate many physiological processes, such as energy metabolism, neurotransmission, redox homeostasis, autophagy and cell cycle. Among the three isotypes (α, β/δ, γ), PPARγ role is the most extensively studied, while information on α and β/δ are still scanty. However, recent in vitro and in vivo evidence point to PPARα as a promising therapeutic target in AD. Conclusion: This review provides an update on this topic, focussing on the effects of natural or synthetic agonists in modulating pathogenetic mechanisms at AD onset and during its progression. Ligandactivated PPARα inihibits amyloidogenic pathway, Tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation. Concomitantly, the receptor elicits an enzymatic antioxidant response to oxidative stress, ameliorates glucose and lipid dysmetabolism, and stimulates autophagy.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1514 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akihiro Yachie

Since Yachie et al. reported the first description of human heme oxygenase (HO)-1 deficiency more than 20 years ago, few additional human cases have been reported in the literature. A detailed analysis of the first human case of HO-1 deficiency revealed that HO-1 is involved in the protection of multiple tissues and organs from oxidative stress and excessive inflammatory reactions, through the release of multiple molecules with anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory functions. HO-1 production is induced in vivo within selected cell types, including renal tubular epithelium, hepatic Kupffer cells, vascular endothelium, and monocytes/macrophages, suggesting that HO-1 plays critical roles in these cells. In vivo and in vitro studies have indicated that impaired HO-1 production results in progressive monocyte dysfunction, unregulated macrophage activation and endothelial cell dysfunction, leading to catastrophic systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Data from reported human cases of HO-1 deficiency and numerous studies using animal models suggest that HO-1 plays critical roles in various clinical settings involving excessive oxidative stress and inflammation. In this regard, therapy to induce HO-1 production by pharmacological intervention represents a promising novel strategy to control inflammatory diseases.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaudia A. Cybulska ◽  
Vera Bloemers ◽  
Lars R. Perk ◽  
Peter Laverman

Abstract Background The translocator protein 18 kDa is recognised as an important biomarker for neuroinflammation due to its soaring expression in microglia. This process is common for various neurological disorders. DPA-714 is a potent TSPO-specific ligand which found its use in Positron Emission Tomography following substitution of fluorine-19 with fluorine-18, a positron-emitting radionuclide. [18F]DPA-714 enables visualisation of inflammatory processes in vivo non-invasively. Radiolabelling of this tracer is well described in literature, including validation for clinical use. Here, we report significant enhancements to the process which resulted in the design of a fully GMP-compliant robust synthesis of [18F]DPA-714 on a popular cassette-based system, Trasis AllinOne, boosting reliability, throughput, and introducing a significant degree of simplicity. Results [18F]DPA-714 was synthesised using the classic nucleophilic aliphatic substitution on a good leaving group, tosylate, with [18F]fluoride using tetraethylammonium bicarbonate in acetonitrile at 100∘C. The process was fully automated on a Trasis AllinOne synthesiser using an in-house designed cassette and sequence. With a relatively small precursor load of 4 mg, [18F]DPA-714 was obtained with consistently high radiochemical yields of 55-71% (n=6) and molar activities of 117-350 GBq/µmol at end of synthesis. With a single production batch, starting with 31-42 GBq of [18F]fluoride, between 13-20 GBq of the tracer can be produced, enabling multi-centre studies. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge, the process presented herein is the most efficient [18F]DPA-714 synthesis, with advantageous GMP compliance. The use of a Trasis AllinOne synthesiser increases reliability and allows rapid training of production staff.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1118
Author(s):  
Jan Homolak ◽  
Ana Babic Perhoc ◽  
Ana Knezovic ◽  
Jelena Osmanovic Barilar ◽  
Melita Salkovic-Petrisic

The gastrointestinal system may be involved in the etiopathogenesis of the insulin-resistant brain state (IRBS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Gastrointestinal hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is being explored as a potential therapy as activation of brain GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1R) exerts neuroprotection and controls peripheral metabolism. Intracerebroventricular administration of streptozotocin (STZ-icv) is used to model IRBS and GLP-1 dyshomeostasis seems to be involved in the development of neuropathological changes. The aim was to explore (i) gastrointestinal homeostasis in the STZ-icv model (ii) assess whether the brain GLP-1 is involved in the regulation of gastrointestinal redox homeostasis and (iii) analyze whether brain-gut GLP-1 axis is functional in the STZ-icv animals. Acute intracerebroventricular treatment with exendin-3(9-39)amide was used for pharmacological inhibition of brain GLP-1R in the control and STZ-icv rats, and oxidative stress was assessed in plasma, duodenum and ileum. Acute inhibition of brain GLP-1R increased plasma oxidative stress. TBARS were increased, and low molecular weight thiols (LMWT), protein sulfhydryls (SH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were decreased in the duodenum, but not in the ileum of the controls. In the STZ-icv, TBARS and CAT were increased, LMWT and SH were decreased at baseline, and no further increment of oxidative stress was observed upon central GLP-1R inhibition. The presented results indicate that (i) oxidative stress is increased in the duodenum of the STZ-icv rat model of AD, (ii) brain GLP-1R signaling is involved in systemic redox regulation, (iii) brain-gut GLP-1 axis regulates duodenal, but not ileal redox homeostasis, and iv) brain-gut GLP-1 axis is dysfunctional in the STZ-icv model.


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