The efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis is known, but the specific mechanism has not been clarified. Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) has been shown to protect ne...The efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis is known, but the specific mechanism has not been clarified. Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) has been shown to protect neurons by binding to N-cadherin. Our previous results have shown that electroacupuncture could increase the expression of N-cadherin mRNA in facial neurons and promote facial nerve regeneration. In this study, the potential mechanisms by which electroacupuncture promotes nerve regeneration were elucidated through assessing the effects of electroacupuncture on GDNF and N-cadherin expression in facial motoneurons of rabbits with peripheral facial nerve crush injury. New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group(normal control, n = 21), injury group(n = 45) and electroacupuncture group(n = 45). Model rabbits underwent facial nerve crush injury only. Rabbits in the electroacupuncture group received facial nerve injury, and then underwent electroacupuncture at Yifeng(TE17), Jiache(ST6), Sibai(ST2), Dicang(ST4), Yangbai(GB14), Quanliao(SI18), and Hegu(LI4; only acupuncture, no electrical stimulation). The results showed that in behavioral assessments, the total scores of blink reflex, vibrissae movement, and position of apex nasi, were markedly lower in the EA group than those in the injury group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the right buccinator muscle of each group showed that the cross-sectional area of buccinator was larger in the electroacupuncture group than in the injury group on days 1, 14 and 21 post-surgery. Toluidine blue staining of the right facial nerve tissue of each group revealed that on day 14 post-surgery, there was less axonal demyelination and fewer inflammatory cells in the electroacupuncture group compared with the injury group. Quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction showed that compared with the injury group, N-cadherin mRNA levels on days 4, 7, 14 and 21 and GDNF mRNA levels on days 4, 7 and 14 were significantly higher in the electroacupuncture group. Western blot assay displayed that compared with the injury group, the expression of GDNF protein levels on days 7, 14 and 21 were significantly upregulated in the electroacupuncture group. The histology with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining of brainstem tissues containing facial neurons in the middle and lower part of the pons exhibited that on day 7 post-surgery, there were significantly fewer apoptotic neurons in the electroacupuncture group than in the injury group. By day 21, there was no significantly difference in the number of neurons between the electroacupuncture and normal groups. Taken together, these results have confirmed that electroacupuncture promotes regeneration of peripheral facial nerve injury in rabbits, inhibits neuronal apoptosis, and reduces peripheral inflammatory response, resulting in the recovery of facial muscle function. This is achieved by up-regulating the expression of GDNF and N-cadherin in central facial neurons.展开更多
BACKGROUND: Substantia nigra is deep in position and limited in range, the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) injection directly into substantia nigra has relatively greater damages with higher diff...BACKGROUND: Substantia nigra is deep in position and limited in range, the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) injection directly into substantia nigra has relatively greater damages with higher difficulty. GDNF injection into striatum, the target area of dopaminergic neuron, may protect the dopaminergic neurons in the compact part of substantia nigra through retrograde transport. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of intrastriatal GDNF on dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of mice with Parkinson disease (PD), and analyze the action pathway. DESIGN: A controlled observation. SETTING: Neurobiological Laboratory of Xuzhou Medical College. MATERIALS: Twenty-four male Kunming mice of 7 - 8 weeks old were used. GDNF, 1-methy1-4-pheny1-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) were purchased from Sigma Company (USA); LEICAQWin image processing and analytical system. METHODS: The experiments were carded out in the Neurobiological Laboratory of Xuzhou Medical College from September 2005 to October 2006. The PD models were established in adult KunMing mice by intraperitoneal injection of MPTP. The model mice were were randomly divided into four groups with 6 mice in each group: GDNF 4-day group, phosphate buffer solution (PSB) 4-day group, GDNF 6-day group and PSB 6-day group. Mice in the GDNF 4 and 6-day groups were administrated with 1 μ L GDNF solution (20 μ g/L, dispensed with 0.01 mol/L PBS) injected into right striatum at 4 and 6 days after model establishment. Mice in the PSB 4 and 6-day groups were administrated with 0.01 mol/L PBS of the same volume to the same injection at corresponding time points. ② On the 12^th day after model establishment, the midbrain tissue section of each mice was divided into 3 areas from rostral to caudal sides. The positive neurons of tyroxine hydroxylase (TH) and calcium binding protein (CB) with obvious nucleolus and clear outline were randomly selected for the measurement, and the number of positive neurons in unit area was counted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of positive neurons of TH and CB in midbrain substantia nigra of mice in each group. RESULTS: All the 24 mice were involved in the analysis of results. The numbers of TH^+ and CB^+ neurons in the GDNF 4-day group (54.33±6.92, 46.33±5.54) were obviously more than those in the PBS 4-day group (27.67±5.01, 21.50±5.96, P 〈 0.01). The numbers of TH^+ and CB^+ neurons in the GDNF 6-day group (75.67±5.39, 69.67±8.69) were obviously more than those in the PBS 6-day group (27.17±4.50, 21.33 ±5.72, P 〈 0.01) and those in the GDNF 4-day group (P 〈 0.01 ). CONCLUSION: Intrastriatal GDNF can protect dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra of PD mice, and it may be related to the increase of CB expression.展开更多
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) plays a critical role in neuronal survival and function. GDNF has two major splice variants in the brain,α-pro-GDNF and β-pro-GDNF, and both isoforms have strong neu...Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) plays a critical role in neuronal survival and function. GDNF has two major splice variants in the brain,α-pro-GDNF and β-pro-GDNF, and both isoforms have strong neuroprotective effects on dopamine neurons. However, the expression of the GDNF splice variants in dopaminergic neurons in the brain remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the mRNA and protein expression of α-and β-pro-GDNF in the mouse brain by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, using splice variant-specific primers, and western blot analysis. At the mRNA level,β-pro-GDNF expression was significantly greater than that of α-pro-GDNF in the mouse brain. In contrast, at the protein level,α-pro-GDNF expression was markedly greater than that of β-pro-GDNF. To clarify the mechanism underlying this inverse relationship in mRNA and protein expression levels of the GDNF splice variants, we analyzed the expression of sorting protein-related receptor with A-type repeats(SorLA) by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. At the mRNA level, SorLA was positively associated with β-pro-GDNF expression, but not with α-pro-GDNF expression. This suggests that the differential expression of α-and β-pro-GDNF in the mouse brain is related to SorLA expression. As a sorting protein, SorLA could contribute to the inverse relationship among the mRNA and protein levels of the GDNF isoforms. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Xuzhou Medical University, China on July 14, 2016.展开更多
Aging is a physiological event dependent on multiple pathways that are linked to lifespan and processes leading to cognitive decline.This process represents the major risk factor for aging-related diseases such as Alz...Aging is a physiological event dependent on multiple pathways that are linked to lifespan and processes leading to cognitive decline.This process represents the major risk factor for aging-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,and ischemic stroke.The incidence of all these pathologies increases exponentially with age.Research on aging biology has currently focused on elucidating molecular mechanisms leading to the development of those pathologies.Cognitive deficit and neurodegeneration,common features of aging-related pathologies,are related to the alteration of the activity and levels of neurotrophic factors,such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor,nerve growth factor,and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor.For this reason,treatments that modulate neurotrophin levels have acquired a great deal of interest in preventing neurodegeneration and promoting neural regeneration in several neurological diseases.Those treatments include both the direct administration of neurotrophic factors and the induced expression with viral vectors,neurotrophins’binding with biomaterials or other molecules to increase their bioavailability but also cell-based therapies.Considering neurotrophins’crucial role in aging pathologies,here we discuss the involvement of several neurotrophic factors in the most common brain aging-related diseases and the most recent therapeutic approaches that provide direct and sustained neurotrophic support.展开更多
目的探讨GDNF基因多态性与精神分裂症临床特征的相关性。方法对符合纳入标准的精神分裂症病例组及健康对照组进行临床资料收集及血样的采集,采用聚合酶链式反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)方法检测GDNF基因多态性。选取GDNF基因2个...目的探讨GDNF基因多态性与精神分裂症临床特征的相关性。方法对符合纳入标准的精神分裂症病例组及健康对照组进行临床资料收集及血样的采集,采用聚合酶链式反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)方法检测GDNF基因多态性。选取GDNF基因2个SNP位点:rs2973050,rs2910702。所有数据应用SSPS13.0软件包处理。结果①哈迪温伯格平衡(Hardy-Weinberg s equilibrium)结果显示,GDNF基因rs2910702在病例组中偏离哈迪温伯格平衡(χ2=24.983,P=0.000);②GDNF等位基因频率在病例组与对照组中的分布无统计学差异(P>0.05),但基因型频率分布有统计学差异(P<0.05);③GDNF各基因型与精神分裂症的临床分型、PANSS量表各因子分无明显相关性。结论 rs2973050基因型C/C、rs2910702基因型G/G可能与精神分裂症的发生有关,为精神分裂症的危险基因型。展开更多
文摘The efficacy of electroacupuncture in the treatment of peripheral facial paralysis is known, but the specific mechanism has not been clarified. Glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) has been shown to protect neurons by binding to N-cadherin. Our previous results have shown that electroacupuncture could increase the expression of N-cadherin mRNA in facial neurons and promote facial nerve regeneration. In this study, the potential mechanisms by which electroacupuncture promotes nerve regeneration were elucidated through assessing the effects of electroacupuncture on GDNF and N-cadherin expression in facial motoneurons of rabbits with peripheral facial nerve crush injury. New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group(normal control, n = 21), injury group(n = 45) and electroacupuncture group(n = 45). Model rabbits underwent facial nerve crush injury only. Rabbits in the electroacupuncture group received facial nerve injury, and then underwent electroacupuncture at Yifeng(TE17), Jiache(ST6), Sibai(ST2), Dicang(ST4), Yangbai(GB14), Quanliao(SI18), and Hegu(LI4; only acupuncture, no electrical stimulation). The results showed that in behavioral assessments, the total scores of blink reflex, vibrissae movement, and position of apex nasi, were markedly lower in the EA group than those in the injury group. Hematoxylin-eosin staining of the right buccinator muscle of each group showed that the cross-sectional area of buccinator was larger in the electroacupuncture group than in the injury group on days 1, 14 and 21 post-surgery. Toluidine blue staining of the right facial nerve tissue of each group revealed that on day 14 post-surgery, there was less axonal demyelination and fewer inflammatory cells in the electroacupuncture group compared with the injury group. Quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction showed that compared with the injury group, N-cadherin mRNA levels on days 4, 7, 14 and 21 and GDNF mRNA levels on days 4, 7 and 14 were significantly higher in the electroacupuncture group. Western blot assay displayed that compared with the injury group, the expression of GDNF protein levels on days 7, 14 and 21 were significantly upregulated in the electroacupuncture group. The histology with hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining of brainstem tissues containing facial neurons in the middle and lower part of the pons exhibited that on day 7 post-surgery, there were significantly fewer apoptotic neurons in the electroacupuncture group than in the injury group. By day 21, there was no significantly difference in the number of neurons between the electroacupuncture and normal groups. Taken together, these results have confirmed that electroacupuncture promotes regeneration of peripheral facial nerve injury in rabbits, inhibits neuronal apoptosis, and reduces peripheral inflammatory response, resulting in the recovery of facial muscle function. This is achieved by up-regulating the expression of GDNF and N-cadherin in central facial neurons.
基金the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Department of Education, No. 02KJB310009
文摘BACKGROUND: Substantia nigra is deep in position and limited in range, the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) injection directly into substantia nigra has relatively greater damages with higher difficulty. GDNF injection into striatum, the target area of dopaminergic neuron, may protect the dopaminergic neurons in the compact part of substantia nigra through retrograde transport. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effect of intrastriatal GDNF on dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of mice with Parkinson disease (PD), and analyze the action pathway. DESIGN: A controlled observation. SETTING: Neurobiological Laboratory of Xuzhou Medical College. MATERIALS: Twenty-four male Kunming mice of 7 - 8 weeks old were used. GDNF, 1-methy1-4-pheny1-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) were purchased from Sigma Company (USA); LEICAQWin image processing and analytical system. METHODS: The experiments were carded out in the Neurobiological Laboratory of Xuzhou Medical College from September 2005 to October 2006. The PD models were established in adult KunMing mice by intraperitoneal injection of MPTP. The model mice were were randomly divided into four groups with 6 mice in each group: GDNF 4-day group, phosphate buffer solution (PSB) 4-day group, GDNF 6-day group and PSB 6-day group. Mice in the GDNF 4 and 6-day groups were administrated with 1 μ L GDNF solution (20 μ g/L, dispensed with 0.01 mol/L PBS) injected into right striatum at 4 and 6 days after model establishment. Mice in the PSB 4 and 6-day groups were administrated with 0.01 mol/L PBS of the same volume to the same injection at corresponding time points. ② On the 12^th day after model establishment, the midbrain tissue section of each mice was divided into 3 areas from rostral to caudal sides. The positive neurons of tyroxine hydroxylase (TH) and calcium binding protein (CB) with obvious nucleolus and clear outline were randomly selected for the measurement, and the number of positive neurons in unit area was counted. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of positive neurons of TH and CB in midbrain substantia nigra of mice in each group. RESULTS: All the 24 mice were involved in the analysis of results. The numbers of TH^+ and CB^+ neurons in the GDNF 4-day group (54.33±6.92, 46.33±5.54) were obviously more than those in the PBS 4-day group (27.67±5.01, 21.50±5.96, P 〈 0.01). The numbers of TH^+ and CB^+ neurons in the GDNF 6-day group (75.67±5.39, 69.67±8.69) were obviously more than those in the PBS 6-day group (27.17±4.50, 21.33 ±5.72, P 〈 0.01) and those in the GDNF 4-day group (P 〈 0.01 ). CONCLUSION: Intrastriatal GDNF can protect dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra of PD mice, and it may be related to the increase of CB expression.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81772688(to DSG)the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province of China,No.1202119C(to HL)
文摘Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor(GDNF) plays a critical role in neuronal survival and function. GDNF has two major splice variants in the brain,α-pro-GDNF and β-pro-GDNF, and both isoforms have strong neuroprotective effects on dopamine neurons. However, the expression of the GDNF splice variants in dopaminergic neurons in the brain remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the mRNA and protein expression of α-and β-pro-GDNF in the mouse brain by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, using splice variant-specific primers, and western blot analysis. At the mRNA level,β-pro-GDNF expression was significantly greater than that of α-pro-GDNF in the mouse brain. In contrast, at the protein level,α-pro-GDNF expression was markedly greater than that of β-pro-GDNF. To clarify the mechanism underlying this inverse relationship in mRNA and protein expression levels of the GDNF splice variants, we analyzed the expression of sorting protein-related receptor with A-type repeats(SorLA) by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. At the mRNA level, SorLA was positively associated with β-pro-GDNF expression, but not with α-pro-GDNF expression. This suggests that the differential expression of α-and β-pro-GDNF in the mouse brain is related to SorLA expression. As a sorting protein, SorLA could contribute to the inverse relationship among the mRNA and protein levels of the GDNF isoforms. This study was approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Xuzhou Medical University, China on July 14, 2016.
文摘Aging is a physiological event dependent on multiple pathways that are linked to lifespan and processes leading to cognitive decline.This process represents the major risk factor for aging-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,and ischemic stroke.The incidence of all these pathologies increases exponentially with age.Research on aging biology has currently focused on elucidating molecular mechanisms leading to the development of those pathologies.Cognitive deficit and neurodegeneration,common features of aging-related pathologies,are related to the alteration of the activity and levels of neurotrophic factors,such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor,nerve growth factor,and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor.For this reason,treatments that modulate neurotrophin levels have acquired a great deal of interest in preventing neurodegeneration and promoting neural regeneration in several neurological diseases.Those treatments include both the direct administration of neurotrophic factors and the induced expression with viral vectors,neurotrophins’binding with biomaterials or other molecules to increase their bioavailability but also cell-based therapies.Considering neurotrophins’crucial role in aging pathologies,here we discuss the involvement of several neurotrophic factors in the most common brain aging-related diseases and the most recent therapeutic approaches that provide direct and sustained neurotrophic support.
文摘目的探讨GDNF基因多态性与精神分裂症临床特征的相关性。方法对符合纳入标准的精神分裂症病例组及健康对照组进行临床资料收集及血样的采集,采用聚合酶链式反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)方法检测GDNF基因多态性。选取GDNF基因2个SNP位点:rs2973050,rs2910702。所有数据应用SSPS13.0软件包处理。结果①哈迪温伯格平衡(Hardy-Weinberg s equilibrium)结果显示,GDNF基因rs2910702在病例组中偏离哈迪温伯格平衡(χ2=24.983,P=0.000);②GDNF等位基因频率在病例组与对照组中的分布无统计学差异(P>0.05),但基因型频率分布有统计学差异(P<0.05);③GDNF各基因型与精神分裂症的临床分型、PANSS量表各因子分无明显相关性。结论 rs2973050基因型C/C、rs2910702基因型G/G可能与精神分裂症的发生有关,为精神分裂症的危险基因型。