Alterations in embryonic neural stem cells play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We hypothesized that embryonic neural stem cells from SOD1G93A individuals might be more susceptible ...Alterations in embryonic neural stem cells play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We hypothesized that embryonic neural stem cells from SOD1G93A individuals might be more susceptible to oxidative injury, resulting in a propensity for neurodegeneration at later stages. In this study, embryonic neural stem cells obtained from human superoxide dis- mutase 1 mutant （SOD1G93A） and wild-type （SOD1wv） mouse models were exposed to H202. We assayed cell viability with mitochondrial succinic dehydrogenase colorimetric reagent, and measured cell apoptosis by flow cytometry. Moreover, we evaluated the expression of the adenos- ine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK） ct-subunit, paired box 3 （Pax3） protein, and p53 in western blot analyses. Compared with SOD1wr cells, SOD1~93A embryonic neural stem cells were more likely to undergo H202-induced apoptosis. Phosphorylation of AMPKct in SOD1G93A cells was higher than that in SOD1wr cells. Pax3 expression was inversely correlated with the phosphorylation levels of AMPKct. p53 protein levels were also correlated with AMPKct phosphorylation levels. Compound C, an inhibitor of AMPKa, attenuated the effects of H20~. These results suggest that embryonic neural stem cells from SOD1C93A mice are more susceptible to apoptosis in the presence of oxidative stress compared with those from wild-type controls, and the effects are mainly mediated by Pax3 and p53 in the AMPKa pathway.展开更多
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons(MNs)with large unmet medical needs.Multiple pathological mechanisms are considered to contribut...Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons(MNs)with large unmet medical needs.Multiple pathological mechanisms are considered to contribute to the progression of ALS,including neuronal oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.Honokiol(HNK)has been reported to exert therapeutic effects in several neurologic disease models including ischemia stroke,Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.Here we found that honokiol also exhibited protective effects in ALS disease models both in vitro and in vivo.Honokiol improved the viability of NSC-34 motor neuron-like cells that expressed the mutant G93A SOD1 proteins(SOD1-G93A cells for short).Mechanistical studies revealed that honokiol alleviated cellular oxidative stress by enhancing glutathione(GSH)synthesis and activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2)-antioxidant response element(ARE)pathway.Also,honokiol improved both mitochondrial function and morphology via fine-tuning mitochondrial dynamics in SOD1-G93A cells.Importantly,honokiol extended the lifespan of the SOD1-G93A transgenic mice and improved the motor function.The improvement of antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial function was further confirmed in the spinal cord and gastrocnemius muscle in mice.Overall,honokiol showed promising preclinical potential as a multiple target drug for ALS treatment.展开更多
The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder primarily involving motoneurons in the cerebral cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. SOD1-G93A mice, which express multiple ...The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder primarily involving motoneurons in the cerebral cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. SOD1-G93A mice, which express multiple copies of the mutant form of the human Cu/Zn SOD, are one of the most widely used animal models for ALS pathology. However, the onset of the disease can vary between animals of 1-2 weeks while the progression is quite fast. In order to evaluate the efficacy of any treatment, it is very important to treat all animals at the early onset of the disease, instead of at a fixed age-point. To this aim, we performed behavioral analysis and measured hSOD1 mRNA expression to identify the appearance of the first motor deficits. Rotarod and PaGE tests revealed to be the most sensitive approaches to detect the beginning of the symptomatic phase of the disease, while neurological score and weight monitoring showed significant differences only at later stages in ALS pathology. Furthermore, we found a better correlation between hSOD1 mRNA expression with disease onset than with a transgene copy number. Therefore, the association of behavioral tests and molecular analysis represents a sensible and accurate tool to early detect the murine symptoms.展开更多
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal multisystemic neurodegenerative disease with motor neurons being a primary target.Although progressive weakness is a hallmark feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,there is ...Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal multisystemic neurodegenerative disease with motor neurons being a primary target.Although progressive weakness is a hallmark feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,there is considerable heterogeneity,including clinical presentation,progression,and the underlying triggers for disease initiation.Based on longitudinal studies with families harboring amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated gene mutations,it has become apparent that overt disease is preceded by a prodromal phase,possibly in years,where compensatory mechanisms delay symptom onset.Since 85-90%of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is sporadic,there is a strong need for identifying biomarkers that can detect this prodromal phase as motor neurons have limited capacity for regeneration.Current Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies work by slowing the degenerative process and are most effective early in the disease.Skeletal muscle,including the neuromuscular junction,manifests abnormalities at the earliest stages of the disease,before motor neuron loss,making it a promising source for identifying biomarkers of the prodromal phase.The accessibility of muscle through biopsy provides a lens into the distal motor system at earlier stages and in real time.The advent of“omics”technology has led to the identification of numerous dysregulated molecules in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis muscle,ranging from coding and non-coding RNAs to proteins and metabolites.This technology has opened the door for identifying biomarkers of disease activity and providing insight into disease mechanisms.A major challenge is correlating the myriad of dysregulated molecules with clinical or histological progression and understanding their relevance to presymptomatic phases of disease.There are two major goals of this review.The first is to summarize some of the biomarkers identified in human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis muscle that have a clinicopathological correlation with disease activity,evidence of a similar dysregulation in the SOD1G93A mouse during presymptomatic stages,and evidence of progressive change during disease progression.The second goal is to review the molecular pathways these biomarkers reflect and their potential role in mitigating or promoting disease progression,and as such,their potential as therapeutic targets in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.展开更多
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis （ALS） is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive death of the upper and lower motor neurons. Transgenic mice over-expressing a mutant form of the huma...Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis （ALS） is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive death of the upper and lower motor neurons. Transgenic mice over-expressing a mutant form of the human SOD1 gene develop an ALS-like phenotype. Currently, there is no effective treatment or drug for the fatal disease. Previous studies reported potent efficacy of dl-3-n-butylphthalide （DL-NBP） for several neurodegenerative disorders and cerebral ischemia. SOD1-G93A mice are a mouse model of ALS. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of DL-NBP on this ALS mouse model. Methods Sixty SOD1-G93A female mice were divided into four groups. The vehicle control group received 0 mg.kg-1.d-~ DL-NBP. The experimental groups received DL-NBP with doses of 30, 60 or 120 mg.kgl.d1, respectively. For measurement of motor activity, the hanging wire test and rotarod test were performed. Survival statistics were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The body weight of each mouse was recorded twice per week. The statistical motor unit number estimation （MUNE） technique was used to estimate the number of functioning motor units in gastrocnemius muscle. Muscle morphology was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Motor neuron quantJtation was performed by Nissl staining and microglia activation was observed by immunohistochemistry. Results Oral administration of 60 mg.kg-l-d-1 DL-NBP significantly prolonged survival （（164.78±16.67） days） of SOD1-G93A mice compared with vehicle control （（140.00＋16.89） days）. Treating mice with DL-NBP （60 mg.kg-1.d-1） significantly decreased the progression rate of motor deficits and suppressed body weight reduction. Furthermore, we found that treating SOD1-G93A mice with DL-NBP （60 mg.kgl.d1） slowed the rate of MUNE reduction （P 〈0.01）. Motor neurons were remarkably preserved in the anterior horns in mice treated with DL-NBP （60 mg.kg-1d-1） at the stage of 19 weeks （P 〈0.01）. Treating mice with DL-NBP （60 mg.kg1.d1） significantly reduced CD11b immunoreactivity compared with vehicle control mice （P 〈0.05）. No significant effect was observed in mice treated with DL-NBP of 30 or 120 mg.kg-1.d-1. Conclusions The post-disease-onset administration of DL-NBP significantly prolonged survival and improved motor performance in SOD1-G93A mice. DL-NBP mav be a Dotential theraDeutic aaent for ALS.展开更多
Previous studies have indicated that the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) is closely linked to 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT).To investigate this further,we administered 5-HT receptor antagonists to SOD1*...Previous studies have indicated that the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) is closely linked to 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT).To investigate this further,we administered 5-HT receptor antagonists to SOD1*G93A transgenic(ALS mouse model) and wide-type mice.This involved intraperitoneal injections of either granisetron,piboserod,or ritanserin,which inhibit the 5-HT3,5-HT4,and 5-HT2 receptors,respectively.The transgenic mice were found to have fewer5-HT-positive cells in the spinal cord compared with wide-type mice.We found that the administration of granisetron reduced the body weight of the transgenic mice,while piboserod and ritanserin worsened the motor functioning,as assessed using a hanging wire test.However,none of the 5-HT receptor antagonists affected the disease progression.We analyzed the distribution and/or expression of TAR DNA binding protein 43(TDP-43) and superoxide dismutase 1 G93A(SOD1-G93A),which fo rm abnormal aggregates in ALS.We found that the expression of these proteins increased following the administration of all three 5-HT receptor antagonists.In addition,the disease-related mislocalization of TD P-43 to the cytoplasm increased markedly for all three drugs.In ce rtain anatomical regions,the 5-HT receptor antagonists also led to a marked increase in the number of astrocytes and microglia and a decrease in the number of neurons.These results indicate that 5-HT deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by inducing the abnormal expression and/or distribution of TDP-43 and SOD1-G93A and by activating glial cells.5-HT co uld therefore be a potential therapeutic target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.展开更多
基金supported by a grant from the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China,No.81030019
文摘Alterations in embryonic neural stem cells play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We hypothesized that embryonic neural stem cells from SOD1G93A individuals might be more susceptible to oxidative injury, resulting in a propensity for neurodegeneration at later stages. In this study, embryonic neural stem cells obtained from human superoxide dis- mutase 1 mutant （SOD1G93A） and wild-type （SOD1wv） mouse models were exposed to H202. We assayed cell viability with mitochondrial succinic dehydrogenase colorimetric reagent, and measured cell apoptosis by flow cytometry. Moreover, we evaluated the expression of the adenos- ine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK） ct-subunit, paired box 3 （Pax3） protein, and p53 in western blot analyses. Compared with SOD1wr cells, SOD1~93A embryonic neural stem cells were more likely to undergo H202-induced apoptosis. Phosphorylation of AMPKct in SOD1G93A cells was higher than that in SOD1wr cells. Pax3 expression was inversely correlated with the phosphorylation levels of AMPKct. p53 protein levels were also correlated with AMPKct phosphorylation levels. Compound C, an inhibitor of AMPKa, attenuated the effects of H20~. These results suggest that embryonic neural stem cells from SOD1C93A mice are more susceptible to apoptosis in the presence of oxidative stress compared with those from wild-type controls, and the effects are mainly mediated by Pax3 and p53 in the AMPKa pathway.
基金supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82073835 and 81872855)National Key R&D Program of China(No.2019YFC1708901)+2 种基金CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(No.2021-I2M-1028)Beijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Mechanisms and Pharmacological Evaluation Study(BZ0150,China)Disciplines construction project(201920200802,China)。
文摘Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS)is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons(MNs)with large unmet medical needs.Multiple pathological mechanisms are considered to contribute to the progression of ALS,including neuronal oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.Honokiol(HNK)has been reported to exert therapeutic effects in several neurologic disease models including ischemia stroke,Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.Here we found that honokiol also exhibited protective effects in ALS disease models both in vitro and in vivo.Honokiol improved the viability of NSC-34 motor neuron-like cells that expressed the mutant G93A SOD1 proteins(SOD1-G93A cells for short).Mechanistical studies revealed that honokiol alleviated cellular oxidative stress by enhancing glutathione(GSH)synthesis and activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2(NRF2)-antioxidant response element(ARE)pathway.Also,honokiol improved both mitochondrial function and morphology via fine-tuning mitochondrial dynamics in SOD1-G93A cells.Importantly,honokiol extended the lifespan of the SOD1-G93A transgenic mice and improved the motor function.The improvement of antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial function was further confirmed in the spinal cord and gastrocnemius muscle in mice.Overall,honokiol showed promising preclinical potential as a multiple target drug for ALS treatment.
文摘The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder primarily involving motoneurons in the cerebral cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. SOD1-G93A mice, which express multiple copies of the mutant form of the human Cu/Zn SOD, are one of the most widely used animal models for ALS pathology. However, the onset of the disease can vary between animals of 1-2 weeks while the progression is quite fast. In order to evaluate the efficacy of any treatment, it is very important to treat all animals at the early onset of the disease, instead of at a fixed age-point. To this aim, we performed behavioral analysis and measured hSOD1 mRNA expression to identify the appearance of the first motor deficits. Rotarod and PaGE tests revealed to be the most sensitive approaches to detect the beginning of the symptomatic phase of the disease, while neurological score and weight monitoring showed significant differences only at later stages in ALS pathology. Furthermore, we found a better correlation between hSOD1 mRNA expression with disease onset than with a transgene copy number. Therefore, the association of behavioral tests and molecular analysis represents a sensible and accurate tool to early detect the murine symptoms.
基金supported by NIH Grants R01NS092651 and R21NS111275-01the Department of Veterans Affairs,BX001148 and BX005899(to PHK)。
文摘Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal multisystemic neurodegenerative disease with motor neurons being a primary target.Although progressive weakness is a hallmark feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,there is considerable heterogeneity,including clinical presentation,progression,and the underlying triggers for disease initiation.Based on longitudinal studies with families harboring amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated gene mutations,it has become apparent that overt disease is preceded by a prodromal phase,possibly in years,where compensatory mechanisms delay symptom onset.Since 85-90%of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is sporadic,there is a strong need for identifying biomarkers that can detect this prodromal phase as motor neurons have limited capacity for regeneration.Current Food and Drug Administration-approved therapies work by slowing the degenerative process and are most effective early in the disease.Skeletal muscle,including the neuromuscular junction,manifests abnormalities at the earliest stages of the disease,before motor neuron loss,making it a promising source for identifying biomarkers of the prodromal phase.The accessibility of muscle through biopsy provides a lens into the distal motor system at earlier stages and in real time.The advent of“omics”technology has led to the identification of numerous dysregulated molecules in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis muscle,ranging from coding and non-coding RNAs to proteins and metabolites.This technology has opened the door for identifying biomarkers of disease activity and providing insight into disease mechanisms.A major challenge is correlating the myriad of dysregulated molecules with clinical or histological progression and understanding their relevance to presymptomatic phases of disease.There are two major goals of this review.The first is to summarize some of the biomarkers identified in human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis muscle that have a clinicopathological correlation with disease activity,evidence of a similar dysregulation in the SOD1G93A mouse during presymptomatic stages,and evidence of progressive change during disease progression.The second goal is to review the molecular pathways these biomarkers reflect and their potential role in mitigating or promoting disease progression,and as such,their potential as therapeutic targets in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
基金FENG Xin-hong and YUAN Wei contributed equally to the work. The study was supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China （No. 30971002 and No. 30911120496）.
文摘Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis （ALS） is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive death of the upper and lower motor neurons. Transgenic mice over-expressing a mutant form of the human SOD1 gene develop an ALS-like phenotype. Currently, there is no effective treatment or drug for the fatal disease. Previous studies reported potent efficacy of dl-3-n-butylphthalide （DL-NBP） for several neurodegenerative disorders and cerebral ischemia. SOD1-G93A mice are a mouse model of ALS. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of DL-NBP on this ALS mouse model. Methods Sixty SOD1-G93A female mice were divided into four groups. The vehicle control group received 0 mg.kg-1.d-~ DL-NBP. The experimental groups received DL-NBP with doses of 30, 60 or 120 mg.kgl.d1, respectively. For measurement of motor activity, the hanging wire test and rotarod test were performed. Survival statistics were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The body weight of each mouse was recorded twice per week. The statistical motor unit number estimation （MUNE） technique was used to estimate the number of functioning motor units in gastrocnemius muscle. Muscle morphology was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Motor neuron quantJtation was performed by Nissl staining and microglia activation was observed by immunohistochemistry. Results Oral administration of 60 mg.kg-l-d-1 DL-NBP significantly prolonged survival （（164.78±16.67） days） of SOD1-G93A mice compared with vehicle control （（140.00＋16.89） days）. Treating mice with DL-NBP （60 mg.kg-1.d-1） significantly decreased the progression rate of motor deficits and suppressed body weight reduction. Furthermore, we found that treating SOD1-G93A mice with DL-NBP （60 mg.kgl.d1） slowed the rate of MUNE reduction （P 〈0.01）. Motor neurons were remarkably preserved in the anterior horns in mice treated with DL-NBP （60 mg.kg-1d-1） at the stage of 19 weeks （P 〈0.01）. Treating mice with DL-NBP （60 mg.kg1.d1） significantly reduced CD11b immunoreactivity compared with vehicle control mice （P 〈0.05）. No significant effect was observed in mice treated with DL-NBP of 30 or 120 mg.kg-1.d-1. Conclusions The post-disease-onset administration of DL-NBP significantly prolonged survival and improved motor performance in SOD1-G93A mice. DL-NBP mav be a Dotential theraDeutic aaent for ALS.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,Nos.30560042,81160161,8136019882160255+2 种基金Education Department of Jiangxi Province,Nos.GJJ13198 and GJJ170021Jiangxi Provincial Department of Science and Technology,Nos.20142BBG70062,20171 BAB215022,20192BAB205043Health and Family Planning Commission of Jiangxi Province,No.20181019 (all to RSX)。
文摘Previous studies have indicated that the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) is closely linked to 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT).To investigate this further,we administered 5-HT receptor antagonists to SOD1*G93A transgenic(ALS mouse model) and wide-type mice.This involved intraperitoneal injections of either granisetron,piboserod,or ritanserin,which inhibit the 5-HT3,5-HT4,and 5-HT2 receptors,respectively.The transgenic mice were found to have fewer5-HT-positive cells in the spinal cord compared with wide-type mice.We found that the administration of granisetron reduced the body weight of the transgenic mice,while piboserod and ritanserin worsened the motor functioning,as assessed using a hanging wire test.However,none of the 5-HT receptor antagonists affected the disease progression.We analyzed the distribution and/or expression of TAR DNA binding protein 43(TDP-43) and superoxide dismutase 1 G93A(SOD1-G93A),which fo rm abnormal aggregates in ALS.We found that the expression of these proteins increased following the administration of all three 5-HT receptor antagonists.In addition,the disease-related mislocalization of TD P-43 to the cytoplasm increased markedly for all three drugs.In ce rtain anatomical regions,the 5-HT receptor antagonists also led to a marked increase in the number of astrocytes and microglia and a decrease in the number of neurons.These results indicate that 5-HT deficiency may play a role in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by inducing the abnormal expression and/or distribution of TDP-43 and SOD1-G93A and by activating glial cells.5-HT co uld therefore be a potential therapeutic target for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
