Article
Cell Biology
Joshua Abbott, Mitali Tambe, Ivan Pavlinov, Atena Farkhondeh, Ha Nam Nguyen, Miao Xu, Manisha Pradhan, Tate York, Matthew Might, Karsten Baumgaertel, Steven Rodems, Wei Zheng
Summary: NGLY1 deficiency is a rare genetic disease caused by mutations in the NGLY1 gene. Patients with NGLY1 deficiency exhibit complex symptoms and abnormal neuronal development. In this study, midbrain organoids derived from patient-specific iPSCs and NGLY1 knockout iPSCs were generated and characterized. The results showed altered neuronal development and reduced neuronal and astrocytic markers in NGLY1 patient-derived midbrain organoids. These findings provide a valuable model to investigate the disease mechanism and evaluate potential treatments for NGLY1 deficiency.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Gelareh Vakilzadeh, Carmen Falcone, Brett Dufour, Tiffany Hong, Stephen C. Noctor, Veronica Martinez-Cerdeno
Summary: The number of astrocytes is decreased and their activation state is increased in the cerebral cortex of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This suggests a potential connection between altered astrocytes, impaired synaptic function, and inflammatory processes in ASD.
Article
Cell Biology
Fei Liu, Yijie Zhang, Fuliang Chen, Jiacheng Yuan, Sanlan Li, Sue Han, Dengyu Lu, Junlan Geng, Zhiping Rao, Li Sun, Jianhua Xu, Yuhan Shi, Xiaojing Wang, Yueguang Liu
Summary: The study utilized the AAV(2/8) delivery system to overexpress Neurog2 into astrocytes, successfully converting them into neurons with mature electrophysiological properties, glutamatergic identity, and synapse-like configuration. Furthermore, evidence also proved that Neurog2-iNs in the intact spinal cord are capable of responding to diverse afferent inputs.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Luana Heimfarth, Leandro da Silva Nascimento, Marcia de Jesus Amazonas da Silva, Waldecy de Lucca Junior, Emerson Silva Lima, Lucindo Jose Quintans-Junior, Valdir Florencio da Veiga-Junior
Summary: PNG, an active flavonoid compound, has been found to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-metastatic properties. The study showed that PNG has significant biological effects in macrophage and astrocyte cultures, protecting astrocytes from LPS-induced inflammatory toxicity through the inhibition of inflammatory signaling pathways.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Siyi Liu, Ge Lin, Qiao Yang, Penghui Wang, Chao Ma, Xiaowei Qian, Xiaomei He, Zhangji Dong, Yan Liu, Mei Liu, Ronghua Wu, Liu Yang
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of SASH1 knockdown on functional recovery after SCI and investigate its mechanism in facilitating axonal growth. The results show that SASH1 downregulation improved hindlimb motor function and reduced glial activation. In cultured spinal astrocytes, SASH1 knockdown decreased interferon-gamma release and increased BDNF release, leading to increased axonal growth. Furthermore, SASH1 depletion maintained high levels of Nestin protein and increased BDNF release in differentiated NSCs.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhi-Hong Wen, Shi-Ying Huang, Hsiao-Mei Kuo, Chao-Ting Chen, Nan-Fu Chen, Wu-Fu Chen, Kuan-Hao Tsui, Hsin-Tzu Liu, Chun-Sung Sung
Summary: The study explores the impact of spinal angiogenesis on neuroinflammation in neuropathic pain, showing that angiogenesis inhibition can alleviate nociceptive sensitization, spinal angiogenesis, and astrocyte activation induced by chronic constriction injury.
Article
Cell Biology
Benjamin M. Siemsen, Adam R. Denton, Jeffrey Parrila-Carrero, Kaylee N. Hooker, Eilish A. Carpenter, Meagan E. Prescot, Ashley G. Brock, Annaka M. Westphal, Mary-Nan Leath, John A. McFaddin, Thomas C. Jhou, Jacqueline F. McGinty, Michael D. Scofield
Summary: Clinical and preclinical studies have shown that adaptations in corticostriatal neurotransmission play an important role in heroin relapse vulnerability. Specifically, heroin self-administration and extinction lead to cellular adaptations in neurons and astrocytes within the nucleus accumbens core, contributing to cue-induced heroin seeking. Astrocyte glutamate homeostasis can be regulated by drugs like N-acetylcysteine (NAC), preventing cue-induced heroin seeking. Additionally, heroin self-administration and extinction result in changes in cortical dendritic spine morphology and the association of glutamate receptors in corticostriatal neurons, which can be reversed by NAC treatment.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Yuanjie Zou, Min Mu, Siyuan Zhang, Chuansuo Li, Kai Tian, Zhou Li, Bing Li, Wenyang Wang, Hangbing Cao, Qixian Sun, Haoming Chen, Deyong Ge, Huihui Tao, Xinrong Tao
Summary: The study found that exposure to coal dust can result in anxiety and depression, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. Treatment with vitamin D-3 was found to alleviate anxiety and depression-like behaviors, inhibit over-activation of astrocytes, and increase the expression of neuroprotective factors.
JOURNAL OF AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jingshan Lu, Lan Yang, Ying Xu, Lijing Ai, Jian Chen, Fangfang Xiong, Lihuan Hu, Huoshu Chen, Jiyuan Liu, Xiongbin Yan, Huihui Huang, Li Chen, Changxi Yu
Summary: The study found that selectively manipulating MCx astrocytes can reduce DNP pain, potentially through the release of cytokines to regulate neuronal activation. These results highlight the pivotal role of MCx astrocytes in DNP pathogenesis and offer new insights into DNP treatment strategies.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Meichen Liu, Weijia Yu, Fuqiang Zhang, Te Liu, Kai Li, Meng Lin, Ying Wang, Guoqing Zhao, Jinlan Jiang
Summary: This study established Fe3O4@polydopamine-labeled mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) guided to spinal cord segments showing pain-related responses through a magnetic field. The Fe3O4@PDA-labeled MSCs demonstrated better homing and therapeutic effects in neuropathic pain treatment, inhibiting microglial and astrocyte activation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Hassan Kotb, Abualauon M. Abedalmohsen, Ahmed F. Elgamal, Doaa M. Mokhtar, Rasha B. Abd-Ellatief
Summary: The study investigated the efficacy of intravenously injected mesenchymal stem cells in treating neuropathic pain either before or after its induction. Results showed that the stem cells had reached the cerebral cortex and exhibited anti-inflammatory effects. The injected group with MSCs before induction showed few stem cells expressing specific proteins, while the group injected after induction showed numerous proliferated stem cells expressing these proteins in the cerebral cortex.
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Tingting Fan, Ying Yu, Yong-long Chen, Pan Gu, Stanley Wong, Zheng-yuan Xia, Jessica Aijia Liu, Chi-wai Cheung
Summary: Diabetes patients with painful diabetic neuropathy (PDN) exhibit spinal atrophy and degeneration of astrocytes, leading to pain hypersensitivity. The impaired acetylation of STAT3 in astrocytes and aberrant activation of HDAC5 promote astrocyte deficiency, contributing to the development of PDN in a rat model of type 1 diabetes (T1D). Restoring STAT3 signaling or inhibiting HDAC5 rescues astrocyte deficiency and attenuates PDN, highlighting the therapeutic potential for targeting the HDAC5-STAT3 axis in diabetic spinal cord pathogenesis.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Robert S. Gardner, Donna L. Korol, Paul E. Gold
Summary: These experiments investigated the long-term effects of morphine and cocaine on the balance between hippocampal and striatal memory systems. The results showed that morphine exposure shifted the dominance of learning from the hippocampus towards the striatum, while cocaine produced similar effects.
PHARMACOLOGY BIOCHEMISTRY AND BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Anastasia A. Borodinova, Pavel M. Balaban, Ilya B. Bezprozvanny, Alla B. Salmina, Olga L. Vlasova
Summary: This review discusses the principles and perspectives of using genetic constructs based on AAV vectors to regulate astrocytes' activity, evaluating practical applications of optogenetic approaches utilizing different genetically encoded opsins. The diversity of astrocytic cell-types poses challenges in designing ideal viral vectors for specific experimental goals. Efficiently targeting astrocytes requires a combination of specific AAV serotypes and astrocyte-specific promoters in the AAV cassette to avoid off-target effects.
Article
Cell Biology
Jian Li, Mouli Tian, Tong Hua, Haowei Wang, Mei Yang, Wenqian Li, Xiaoping Zhang, Hongbin Yuan
Summary: The impaired autophagy flux mainly occurs in astrocytes during the maintenance of neuropathic pain. Activation of autophagy can relieve pain, while inhibition of autophagy can aggravate pain and alter levels of neuroinflammation and reactive oxygen species. Further study shows that inhibition of autophagy can slow the induction of neuroinflammatory responses but increase their maintenance.
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Rebekah A. Jenkin, Samuel A. Garrett, Kevin A. Keay
Summary: Health education, research, and training rely on body donation and organ donation. However, supply is limited due to restrictions and legal requirements. Research suggests that health workers are less likely to support self-body and/or organ donation. Exposure to gross anatomy teaching may affect support and willingness for donation.
ANATOMICAL SCIENCES EDUCATION
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Barbara Lee, Flavia Di Pietro, Luke A. Henderson, Paul J. Austin
Summary: This study investigated the changes in basal ganglia loop function in CRPS patients and found that altered basal ganglia activity may be associated with motor disturbances in CRPS.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Kangzhe Xie, Hala El Khoury, John Mitrofanis, Paul J. Austin
Summary: This systematic review examines the impact of photobiomodulation (PBM) on neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. The findings suggest that PBM can effectively reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, providing neuroprotection. This indicates that PBM can be developed as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for neurodegenerative diseases.
REVIEWS IN THE NEUROSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Fernando A. Tinoco Mendoza, Timothy E. S. Hughes, Rebecca Robertson, Lewis S. Crawford, Noemi Meylakh, Paul M. Macey, Vaughan G. Macefield, Kevin A. Keay, Luke A. Henderson
Summary: The PAG is a critical region for pain-related responses and shows a crude somatotopy for contextually appropriate behavioral responses. Different regions in the PAG are activated by cutaneous and muscle pain. Using ultra-high field functional magnetic resonance imaging, it was found that the PAG exhibits different signal intensity changes in response to noxious stimuli. This suggests a preserved somatotopic organization in the PAG between animals and humans.
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Anette Wu, Sean C. McWatt, Rachel Utomo, Austin Talis, Que Yun Xiao, Kerstin Saraci, Cecilia Brassett, Mandeep Gill Sagoo, Richard Wingate, Chung-Liang Chien, Hannes Traxler, Jens Waschke, Fransziska Vielmuth, Anna Sigmund, Yukari Yamada, Takeshi Sakurai, Mina Zeroual, Jorgen Olsen, Salma El-Batti, Suvi Viranta-Kovanen, Kevin Keay, William Stewart, Yinghui Mao, Ariella Lang, Carol Kunzel, Paulette Bernd, Heike Kielstein, Geoffroy P. J. C. Noeel
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of focus group discussions between peers with varying degrees of exposure to cadaveric material as an alternate approach to stimulate deep reflection on the topic of death. Results showed that students engaged in deep reflection and felt a sense of connectedness with their peers despite differences in exposure levels and physical distance. This suggests that focus groups with students from different laboratory contexts can help all students reflect on death and initiate thoughts about body donation among non-dissecting students.
ANATOMICAL SCIENCES EDUCATION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Paul J. Austin, Jackson F. Karrasch, Jayden A. O'Brien
Summary: In this commentary, the research by Enamorado et al. is discussed, where it is shown for the first time that immunity to the microbiota can enhance the repair of cutaneous sensory nerves and epithelial tissues following skin injury. Commensal-specific IL-17 producing CD4(+)T helper cells directly interact with injured sensory neurons, inducing the expression of multiple epithelial and neuronal repair genes. It is speculated that an imbalance of T cell populations in the skin of individuals with chronic neuropathic pain may contribute to reduced neuronal repair, leading to a decrease in intraepidermal nerve fiber density and persistent pain.
IMMUNOLOGY AND CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
James W. M. Kang, Kevin A. A. Keay, Michael D. D. Kendig, Laura H. H. Corbit, David Mor
Summary: The ability to adaptively guide behavior requires integration of external information with internal motivational factors. Acute stress and chronic pain can impair decision-making, including cognitive dysfunction. This study investigated the relationship between dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites in brain regions regulating motivated behavior and decision-making.
NEUROCHEMICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Psychology, Biological
Damien C. Boorman, Kevin A. Keay
Summary: This study used non-pharmacological, contextual conditioning approaches to elicit placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia in rats with chronic neuropathic pain. The results showed that stronger placebo analgesia and nocebo hyperalgesia were observed when rats were conditioned in a more complex environment, indicating the importance of context in these effects. The findings highlight the significance of context and learning in the development of placebo and nocebo responses in male rodents with a neuropathic injury.
PHYSIOLOGY & BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Michael Allwright, Hamish Mundell, Greg Sutherland, Paul Austin, Boris Guennewig
Summary: Parkinson's disease is a common movement disorder that is increasing rapidly with the ageing population. Using machine learning, this study identified several risk factors, including male gender, elevated IGF-1 levels, lymphocyte count, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, that are associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. These findings have implications for predicting Parkinson's disease risk and improving early diagnosis.
Article
Biology
Lewis S. Crawford, Noemi Meylakh, Paul M. Macey, Vaughan G. Macefield, Kevin A. Keay, Luke A. Henderson
Summary: An fMRI study with 47 participants has discovered that stimulus-independent and stimulus-dependent neural networks centered around the midbrain periaqueductal gray region are responsible for an individual's ability to experience placebo analgesia. The specific neural circuits that regulate placebo analgesic responsiveness are still unknown, but involvement of brainstem pain modulatory regions is considered crucial. This study demonstrates differences in neural circuit connectivity between placebo responders and non-responders, highlighting the importance of altered connections involving the hypothalamus, anterior cingulate cortex, and midbrain periaqueductal gray matter in the placebo analgesic response.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Maria K. S. Sosa, Damien C. Boorman, Kevin A. Keay
Summary: Acute pain leads to transiently elevated corticosterone, while chronic pain does not. In a chronic pain model, different behavioral outcomes are associated with adaptations to the HPA-axis. Persistent changes in social behaviors are related to increased CRF and GR expression in the paraventricular hypothalamus. The sensitivity of brainstem catecholaminergic pathways to glucocorticoids does not play a key role in rebalancing the HPA-axis triggered by chronic pain.
Article
Neurosciences
Lewis S. Crawford, Emily P. Mills, A. Peek, Vaughan G. Macefield, Kevin A. Keay, Luke A. Henderson
Summary: Prior experiences, conditioning cues, and expectations of improvement play important roles in placebo analgesia expression, which is mediated by the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). This study investigated the biochemistry and function of DLPFC in 38 healthy individuals during placebo analgesia. The results showed that the concentration of glutamate in DLPFC was inversely correlated with pain rating variability, and there was altered functional connectivity between DLPFC and the midbrain periaqueductal gray. These findings suggest that DLPFC is involved in formulating stimulus-response relationships during conditioning and translating them into altered cortico-brainstem functional relationships for placebo analgesia expression.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Michael Allwright, Jackson F. Karrasch, Jayden A. O'Brien, Boris Guennewig, Paul J. Austin
Summary: This study assessed the health data of 11,047 people with diabetes to determine the importance of 329 risk factors for diabetic polyneuropathy and DPN with chronic neuropathic pain. Machine learning algorithms were used to analyze the data and identify predictive biomarkers.
DIABETES RESEARCH AND CLINICAL PRACTICE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Anesthesiology
Marc A. Russo, Danielle M. Santarelli, Paul J. Austin, Brett A. Graham
Article
Education, Scientific Disciplines
Anette Wu, Que Yun Xiao, Sean McWatt, Rachel Utomo, Austin Talis, Kerstin Saraci, Cecilia Brassett, Mandeep Gill Sagoo, Richard Wingate, Chung-Liang Chien, Hannes Traxler, Jens Waschke, Franziska Vielmuth, Yukari Yamada, Takeshi Sakurai, Mina Zeroual, Jorgen Olsen, Salma El-Batti, Suvi Viranta-Kovanen, Kevin Keay, William Stewart, Carol Kunzel, Paulette Bernd, Heike Kielstein, Geoffroy P. J. C. Noel
Summary: This study investigated the impact of different anatomy course formats on students' reflections on death during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that anatomy dissection courses play a significant role in initiating students' thoughts about the topic of death.
MEDICAL SCIENCE EDUCATOR
(2022)
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.