Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jianguo Wang, Sidi Ma, Peijie Yu, Xionglei He
Summary: The human brain exhibits anatomical symmetry, but also possesses fine-scale structural asymmetries that contribute to distinct functional divisions. Previous studies suggested that these asymmetric structures are primate specific or unique to humans, indicating recent evolution of genes responsible for human brain asymmetry. In our study, we identified over 1,500 traits associated with human brain asymmetry and discovered approximately 200 genes that are predominantly upregulated in brain tissues. Surprisingly, these genes are evolutionarily ancient and show brain-specific upregulation in humans, indicating the role of ancient genes in shaping the structural asymmetry of the human brain over time.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Keiko Honda, Yuhki Saito, Haruka Saito, Megumi Toyoda, Ruriko Abe, Takashi Saito, Takaomi C. Saido, Makoto Michikawa, Hidenori Taru, Yuriko Sobu, Saori Hata, Tadashi Nakaya, Toshiharu Suzuki
Summary: This study investigated the effect of apoE4 on brain A,B42 accumulation in an AD mouse model. The results showed a linear increase in A,B42 levels in apoE4 mice and a rapid increase in A,B42 levels in 21-month-old apoE3 mice. Furthermore, the study identified genes that may regulate brain A,B burden and AD progression through their association with apoE gene expression.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sanjay Arora, Takahisa Kanekiyo, Jagdish Singh
Summary: BDNF delivered through lipid-based nanoparticles shows promising results in Alzheimer's Disease animal models.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Raghavan Pillai Raju, Lun Cai, Alpna Tyagi, Subbiah Pugazhenthi
Summary: In this study, using RNA-seq analysis, we found significant changes in gene expression related to pathways including oxidation-reduction, oxidative phosphorylation, innate immune response, ribosomal protein synthesis, and ubiquitin proteosome system in the brains of 5XFAD mice. The downregulation of genes related to oxidation-reduction and upregulation of immune response genes were the most striking features observed. Gene interaction analysis revealed at least three distinct interaction clusters, with the predominant one relating to cellular energetics.
MOLECULAR NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Hong-Dong Li, Cory C. Funk, Karen McFarland, Eric B. Dammer, Mariet Allen, Minerva M. Carrasquillo, Yona Levites, Paramita Chakrabarty, Jeremy D. Burgess, Xue Wang, Dennis Dickson, Nicholas T. Seyfried, Duc M. Duong, James J. Lah, Steven G. Younkin, Allan Levey, Gilbert S. Omenn, Nilufer Ertekin-Taner, Todd E. Golde, Nathan D. Price
Summary: In this study, intron retention (IR) was found to play a role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) through genome-wide analysis of genetic, transcriptomic, and proteomic data. Thousands of IR events were identified, along with differentially expressed genes associated with AD and splicing-related genes that may regulate IR. The findings provide a new resource for exploring new AD biomarkers and pathological mechanisms.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
William K. Gottschalk, Scott Mahon, Dellila Hodgson, Julio Barrera, Delaney Hill, Angela Wei, Manish Kumar, Kathy Dai, Lauren Anderson, Mirta Mihovilovic, Michael W. Lutz, Ornit Chiba-Falek
Summary: We developed a humanized mouse model with the entire TOMM40 and APOE genes and their intact regulatory sequences. Our study revealed tissue specific and shared effects of the '523' polyT genotype, sex, and age on the regulation of the human TOMM40 and APOE genes.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Hideomi Hamasaki, Masahiro Shijo, Ayaka Nakamura, Hiroyuki Honda, Yuichi Yamada, Masanao Oda, Tomoyuki Ohara, Toshiharu Ninomiya, Toru Iwaki
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between degenerative changes of the brain and heart, with reference to AD pathologies, ATTR deposition, and cardiac fibrosis in a Japanese population. It found that cardiac ATTR deposition correlated with AD brain pathology among older adults aged 90 or below.
Article
Neurosciences
Hoi Yan Gladys Lau, Alex Fornito, Ben D. Fulcher
Summary: The study of spatial embedding of transcription patterns in mouse brain development reveals that transcriptional similarity decreases exponentially with separation distance, following a power-law relationship with brain size. This indicates a balance between local molecular similarity and longer-range diversity in the developing mouse brain. Extrapolating this relationship to the human cortex yields a prediction consistent with actual data.
Article
Neurosciences
Jinghang Li, Elizabeth J. Mountz, Akiko Mizuno, Ashti M. Shah, Andrea Weinstein, Ann D. Cohen, William E. Klunk, Beth E. Snitz, Howard J. Aizenstein, Helmet T. Karim
Summary: This study found that genetic risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and markers of AD are associated with neural asymmetry during working memory and executive function processing. Individuals with higher genetic risk of AD showed lower asymmetry in angular gyrus activation, while individuals with higher education showed lower asymmetry in mediodorsal thalamus activation.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hidehito Saito-Takatsuji, Yasuo Yoshitomi, Ryo Yamamoto, Takafumi Furuyama, Yasuhito Ishigaki, Nobuo Kato, Hideto Yonekura, Takayuki Ikeda
Summary: Chronic stress can modify gene expression in the hippocampus, leading to altered neural and cerebrovascular functions and contributing to the development of mental disorders. This study found that transthyretin (Ttr) was commonly upregulated in the hippocampus of two mouse models of depression, and its overexpression induced depression-like behavior and upregulated inflammation-related genes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiaojiao Tian, Miao Ren, Peilin Zhao, Shukang Luo, Yingying Chen, Xiaofeng Xu, Tao Jiang, Qingtao Sun, Anan Li, Hui Gong, Xiangning Li, Qingming Luo
Summary: Through synaptic connections, the brain forms functional motifs and executes specific functions. Researchers successfully mapped the whole-brain distribution and architecture of long projections of specific neurons, and found that synaptic degeneration was inconsistent with the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques but was preferred in memory-related circuits.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Daniel Felsky, Ismael Santa-Maria, Mehmet Ilyas Cosacak, Leon French, Julie A. Schneider, David A. Bennett, Philip L. De Jager, Caghan Kizil, Giuseppe Tosto
Summary: Identifying ancestry-specific molecular profiles of late-onset Alzheimer's Disease (LOAD) in brain tissue is crucial to understand novel mechanisms and develop effective interventions in non-European, high-risk populations. We performed gene differential expression (DE) and consensus network-based analyses in RNA-sequencing data of postmortem brain tissue from 39 Caribbean Hispanics (CH). Our findings provide insights into the shared and specific genetic factors associated with LOAD in different ancestral populations.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nelda Antonovaite, Lianne A. Hulshof, Christiaan F. M. Huffels, Elly M. Hol, Wytse J. Wadman, Davide Iannuzzi
Summary: Evidence of altered tissue mechanics in neurodegeneration is increasing, especially in Alzheimer's disease. Viscoelastic differences have been found in the brain tissue of APP/PS1 mice compared to wild-type mice, with regions in the hippocampus showing increased stiffness and viscous dissipation. Despite overall mechanical heterogeneity, local alterations in stiffness were not observed at the cellular scale around the plaques.
JOURNAL OF THE MECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Fuqing Jiang, Xin Zhou, Yingying Qian, Miao Zhu, Li Wang, Zhuxia Li, Qingmei Shen, Minhan Wang, Fangfang Qu, Guizhong Cui, Kai Chen, Guangdun Peng
Summary: The study describes a microfluidic indexing-based spatial assay (MISAR-seq) that combines spatial-ATAC-seq and RNA-seq to simultaneously profile chromatin accessibility and gene expression in the developing mouse brain. This method provides insights into tissue organization and spatiotemporal regulatory logics during brain development.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emily R. Mahoney, Logan Dumitrescu, Annah M. Moore, Francis E. Cambronero, Philip L. De Jager, Mary Ellen Koran, Vladislav A. Petyuk, Rena A. S. Robinson, Sandeep Goyal, Julie A. Schneider, David A. Bennett, Angela L. Jefferson, Timothy J. Hohman
Summary: The study revealed that the VEGF gene family plays a complex role in neuroprotection and is associated with cognitive performance, cognitive decline, and Alzheimer's disease pathology.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Yu Sun, Ling-Yun Fan, Chung-Te Huang, Chih-Ching Liu, Ta-Fu Chen, Chien-Jung Lu, Wan-Yuo Guo, Yang-Chyuan Chang, Ming-Jang Chiu
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the prognostic features of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and provide insights into its future therapy. The results showed that younger age and female gender were associated with better survival in CJD patients. Periodic sharp wave complexes (PSWCs) and epileptic seizures had a negative impact on survival.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Tsai-Chieh Ling, Chiung-Chih Chang, Chung-Yi Li, Junne-Ming Sung, Chien-Yao Sun, Kuen-Jer Tsai, Ya-Yun Cheng, Jia-Ling Wu, Yi-Ting Kuo, Yu-Tzu Chang
Summary: A simple dialysis dementia scoring system was developed and validated to identify individuals at high risk for dementia. The risk score included age and 10 comorbidities as predictors, with high-risk patients having a three-fold increased risk of dementia compared to low-risk patients. The system showed acceptable discrimination and calibration during validation, indicating its potential as a screening tool for high-risk groups in clinical practice.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Linguistics
Hsin-Te Chang, Ming-Jang Chiu, Ta-Fu Chen, Meng-Ying Liu, Wan-Chun Fan, Ting-Wen Cheng, Ya-Mei Lai, Mau-Sun Hua
Summary: The study suggests that semantic memory deterioration may be the earliest cognitive changes in Alzheimer's disease. Patients with aMCI-sd and aMCI-md showed defective clustering in semantic fluency tasks, while those with naMCI-md preserved their ability to perform clustering on all categories. Poor clustering on specific items could be used to predict conversion from aMCI to DAT, demonstrating the potential of using semantic structures in memory assessment and prediction of disease progression.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLINGUISTICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ming-Chyi Pai, Chau-Chung Wu, Yi-Chou Hou, Jiann-Shing Jeng, Sung-Chun Tang, Wei-Che Lin, Cheng-Hsien Lu, Ming-Jang Chiu, Ta-Fu Chen, Sui-Hing Yan, Chaur-Jong Hu, Shieh-Yueh Yang
Summary: Patients with comorbidities are at risk for neurodegeneration. A study found significantly higher levels of plasma A beta(1-42) and T-Tau in patients with poststroke, family history of Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, end-stage renal disease, and obstructive sleep apnea.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chia-En Wong, Yuan-Ping Chu, Kuen-Jer Tsai
Summary: To overcome the limitations of Gaussian-based localization algorithms in STORM imaging, a novel structure-based analysis (SBA) method has been proposed, which combines structural functions and super-resolution localization algorithms. SBA is able to accurately estimate the size of biological structures and demonstrates comparable or superior performance to traditional FWHM parameters.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sheng-Han Lee, Ching-Yu Lin, Ta-Fu Chen, Charles C-K Chou, Ming-Jang Chiu, Boon Lead Tee, Hao-Jan Liang, Tsun-Jen Cheng
Summary: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) poses a significant risk to human health, and this study explores the molecular mechanisms underlying PM2.5-induced neurotoxicity and changes in lipid profiles in the brains of AD mice exposed to low levels of PM2.5. The findings suggest that these lipid changes may play a role in the development of AD.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Virology
Ming-Wei Jan, Chih-Yun Chiu, Jih-Jung Chen, Tsung-Hsien Chang, Kuen-Jer Tsai
Summary: This study found that the infection of Parechovirus type-A3 (PeV-A3) was reduced in human platelet lysate (hPL)-cultured cells compared to fetal bovine serum (FBS)-cultured cells. Mechanistic analysis revealed that hPL stimulates the type I interferon (IFN) antiviral pathway, resulting in the activation of related transcription factors and the expression of antiviral genes. Enhanced PeV-A3 replication was observed in hPL-cultured cells treated with STAT-1 inhibitor and STAT1 shRNA. These findings suggest that hPL may have potential antiviral effects.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
I-Fang Wang, Pei-Chuan Ho, Kuen-Jer Tsai
Summary: Learning and memory formation rely on precise regulation of gene expression, including miRNA-associated silencing. Manipulating miRNA expression in rodents has been shown to affect cognitive performance and is implicated in fear- and stress-related disorders. Extensive studies have also shown the correlation between miRNAs and pathogenic tau and amyloid-beta in Alzheimer's disease.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Yuan-Ping Chu, Pei-Chuan Ho, Kuen-Jer Tsai
Summary: TTR plays a neuroprotective role in preventing amyloid-beta deposition in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Dysregulation of TARDBP expression leads to cytoplasmic aggregation associated with neurological disorders such as FTLD-TDP and ALS. It was found that excessive TARDBP upregulates TTR, and both proteins co-accumulate in FTLD-TDP. TTR promotes autophagy activity and facilitates TARDBP degradation, functioning in bi-directional regulation.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yuan-Ping Chu, Lee-Way Jin, Liang-Chao Wang, Pei-Chuan Ho, Wei-Yen Wei, Kuen-Jer Tsai
Summary: Chu et al. found that transthyretin (TTR) co-aggregates with TDP-43 in the brains of FTLD-TDP patients and transgenic mice. TTR facilitates the degradation of soluble TDP-43 aggregates by potentiating autophagy activity via ATF4. Neuronal expression of TTR in FTLD-TDP mice restores autophagy function and improves neuropathology and behavioral deficits.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yao-Lin Kao, Yin-Chien Ou, Kuen-Jer Tsai, Hann-Chorng Kuo
Summary: Urethral sphincter BoNT-A injection is an effective treatment for refractory non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction, with a success rate of 64%, and has significant clinical implications.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ya-Ting Hsu, Li-Hsien Chen, Ya-Hui Liu, Shih-Kai Chu, Tsai-Yun Chen, Kuen-Jer Tsai, Meng-Ru Shen, Wentai Liu
Summary: This study demonstrates that electrical sympathetic neuromodulation (ESN) of the bone marrow can protect it from chemotherapy-induced injury and promote hematopoietic regeneration. ESN can mediate the production of several hematopoietic stem cell maintenance factors, reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and reduce the severity of chemotherapy-related leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, and mortality.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yi-Hsien Fang, Saprina P. H. Wang, I-Chuang Liao, Kuen-Jer Tsai, Po-Hsien Huang, Pei-Jung Yang, Chia-Jui Yen, Ping-Yen Liu, Yan-Shen Shan, Yen-Wen Liu
Summary: This study demonstrates the immune privilege of HLA-E-high/HLA-G(high)/HLA-IIlow hiPSC-CMs and their potential for improving post-infarct cardiac function and reducing infarct size. These cells activate the SHP-1 signaling pathway to evade attack from immune cells and show promising results in regenerative medicine.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ayodeji Abijo, Chun-Yuan Lee, Chien-Ying Huang, Pei-Chuan Ho, Kuen-Jer Tsai
Summary: Photobiomodulation (PBM) or Low-level Laser Therapy (LLLT) using light from a laser or LED has gained interest as a treatment for various disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases. Current therapeutic drugs only provide symptomatic relief and may have side effects, limiting their use. PBM has shown beneficial effects on neural activity in animal studies and could potentially serve as an alternative therapy for neurodegenerative diseases due to its biological side-effect profile.
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Yin-Chien Ou, Chi-Chen Huang, Yao-Lin Kao, Pei-Chuan Ho, Kuen-Jer Tsai
Summary: Spinal cord injury (SCI) has a significant impact on an individual's health and quality of life, with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) being one of the important sequelae. Current therapeutic methods targeting the urinary bladder have limited success, leading to increased interest in stem cell therapy for rescuing the injured spinal cord. Animal studies have shown promising results using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and neural stem cells (NSCs) in improving bladder function, while human clinical trials have demonstrated positive outcomes in urodynamic parameters with MSC therapy. However, further research is needed to determine the optimal treatment window and application protocol for stem cell therapy, as well as the therapeutic effects of NSCs and stem cell-derived exosomes in SCI-related NLUTD.
STEM CELL REVIEWS AND REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Yang He, Jun Tang, Meng Zhang, Junjie Ying, Dezhi Mu
Summary: This study investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of human placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells (hPMSCs) transplantation in a rat model of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The results showed that hPMSCs transplantation reduced apoptosis and improved long-term neurological prognosis. Furthermore, the downregulation of Sema 3A/NRP-1 expression and activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway played a key role in the protective effects of hPMSCs.
Article
Neurosciences
Emily L. Isenstein, Edward G. Freedman, Jiayi Xu, Ian A. DeAndrea-Lazarus, John J. Foxe
Summary: This study evaluated electrophysiological discrimination of parametric somatosensory stimuli in healthy young adults to understand how the brain processes the duration of tactile information. The results showed that participants did not electrophysiologically discriminate between 100 and 115 ms, but they exhibited distinct electrophysiological responses when the deviant stimuli were 130, 145, and 160 ms. These findings contribute to a better understanding of tactile sensitivity in different clinical conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Juliana R. Souza, Ludmila Lima-Silveira, Daniela Accorsi-Mendonca, Benedito H. Machado
Summary: This study demonstrates that A2A receptors play a crucial role in modulating synaptic transmission in the NTS neurons and are required for the enhancement of glutamatergic transmission observed under short-term sustained hypoxia conditions.
Article
Neurosciences
Miki Hashizume, Rina Ito, Rie Suge, Yasushi Hojo, Gen Murakami, Takayuki Murakoshi
Summary: The basolateral amygdaloid complex (BLA) is closely involved in the formation of emotional memories, including both aversive memory and contextual fear memory. Acute sleep deprivation (SD) disrupts the acquisition of tone-associated fear memory in juvenile rats, but has no significant effect on contextual fear memory. Slow network oscillation in the amygdala contributes to the formation of amygdala-dependent fear memory in relation to sleep.
Article
Neurosciences
Qunxian Wang, Shipeng Guo, Dongjie Hu, Xiangjun Dong, Zijun Meng, Yanshuang Jiang, Zijuan Feng, Weihui Zhou, Weihong Song
Summary: GSDME plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease by regulating the switch from apoptosis to pyroptosis and participating in neuroinflammatory response. Knockdown of GSDME has been shown to improve cognitive impairments, indicating that GSDME could be a therapeutic target for Alzheimer's disease.