Article
Cell Biology
Mark Rigby, Federico W. Grillo, Benjamin Compans, Guilherme Neves, Julia Gallinaro, Sophie Nashashibi, Sally Horton, Pedro M. Pereira Machado, Maria Alejandra Carbajal, Gema Vizcay-Barrena, Florian Levet, Jean-Baptiste Sibarita, Angus Kirkland, Roland A. Fleck, Claudia Clopath, Juan Burrone
Summary: Using scanning electron microscopy, researchers found that excitatory synapses in the hippocampus CA1 region do not fully adhere to the traditional definition. Over half of the excitatory synapses are multi-synaptic boutons, where a single presynaptic bouton can connect to multiple postsynaptic spines on different dendrites. The proportion of multi-synaptic boutons changes during development and with distance from the cell body. These structures exhibit less variability in synaptic properties compared to single synaptic boutons, promoting synchronous activity.
Article
Immunology
Marco Antonio De Bastiani, Bruna Bellaver, Wagner S. Brum, Debora G. Souza, Pamela C. L. Ferreira, Andreia S. Rocha, Guilherme Povala, Joao Pedro Ferrari-Souza, Andrea L. Benedet, Nicholas J. Ashton, Thomas K. Karikari, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Pedro Rosa-Neto, Tharick A. Pascoal, Eduardo R. Zimmer
Summary: Our study investigated the association between plasma GFAP and Aβ and tau pathology, and conducted transcriptomic analysis on hippocampal GFAP-positive astrocytes in mouse models. The findings suggest unique signatures in GFAP-positive astrocytes associated with Aβ and tau pathologies.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Hang Liu, Han Zhang, Ying Ma
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia globally, and the progression of neurodegeneration in the adult hippocampus is affected in AD. However, the exact molecular mechanisms are still unclear and further research is needed.
MECHANISMS OF AGEING AND DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Hongchun Li, Wei Xu, Denian Wang, Liang Wang, Qiyao Fang, Xuemei Wan, Jiamei Zhang, Yiming Hu, Huifang Li, Jie Zhang, Zhen Yang, Chunqi Liu, Xiaocong Liu, Yonghai Wang, Bin Liu, Zhengtao Hu, Ying Zhao, Qian Bu, Hongbo Wang, Jingwei Tian, Yinglan Zhao, Xiaobo Cen
Summary: Research shows that overexpression of Tau in the hippocampus of mice can suppress the formation of addictive memory by disrupting the signaling pathways required for hippocampal neuron proliferation. This suggests a novel mechanism for cocaine memory formation and provides a new strategy for the treatment of cocaine addiction.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yi Zhou, Yijing Su, Shiying Li, Benjamin C. Kennedy, Daniel Y. Zhang, Allison M. Bond, Yusha Sun, Fadi Jacob, Lu Lu, Peng Hu, Angela N. Viaene, Ingo Helbig, Sudha K. Kessler, Timothy Lucas, Ryan D. Salinas, Xiaosong Gu, H. Isaac Chen, Hao Wu, Joel E. Kleinman, Thomas M. Hyde, David W. Nauen, Daniel R. Weinberger, Guo-li Ming, Hongjun Song
Summary: This study identified molecular characteristics of immature dentate granule cells (imGCs) in the adult human hippocampus using single-nucleus RNA sequencing, revealing common molecular hallmarks across the lifespan and age-dependent transcriptional dynamics. The study also showed a decreased number of imGCs in Alzheimer's disease and demonstrated neurogenesis in the adult human hippocampus.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Sarah Houben, Megane Homa, Zehra Yilmaz, Karelle Leroy, Jean-Pierre Brion, Kunie Ando
Summary: AHN plays a critical role in sustaining hippocampal functions such as learning and memory, and impaired AHN in AD patients may contribute to cognitive deficits. NFTs and amyloid plaques are key neuropathological hallmarks of AD, with abnormal tau protein accumulation impacting AHN. Further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between tau pathology and AHN.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Dong Sun, Leena Milibari, Jin-Xiu Pan, Xiao Ren, Ling-Ling Yao, Yang Zhao, Chen Shen, Wen-Bing Chen, Fu-Lei Tang, Daehoon Lee, Jun-Shi Zhang, Lin Mei, Wen-Cheng Xiong
Summary: The research identified the critical functions of Ocn-Cre(+) dDG neurons in suppressing anxiety-like behaviors and promoting adult DG neurogenesis, likely through the activation of BDNF.
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Yilin Shen, Haixia Hu, Cui Fan, Quan Wang, Tianyuan Zou, Bin Ye, Mingliang Xiang
Summary: The study found that hearing loss leads to neuronal degeneration, inhibition of neurogenesis, increased phosphorylation of Tau protein, and increased neuroinflammation in the hippocampus. Additionally, a significant decline in cognitive function in mice with hearing loss was observed after 90 days.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Hesham Essa, Lee Peyton, Whidul Hasan, Brandon Emanuel Leon, Doo-Sup Choi
Summary: Alzheimer's disease, characterized by impaired neurogenesis, affects millions of people worldwide. A beta accumulation and neurofibrillary tangles are key factors leading to neuronal loss, while APP gene expression also plays a significant role in neurogenesis.
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Hyeon Soo Kim, Seong Min Shin, Sujin Kim, Yunkwon Nam, Anji Yoo, Minho Moon
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by irreversible cognitive declines. Impairment of adult subventricular zone neurogenesis has been identified as an important pathology in the disease. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding the alterations of adult subventricular zone neurogenesis in Alzheimer's disease animal models and patients, and discusses potential therapeutic approaches for restoring impaired neurogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Bokyung Song, Chong-Hyun Kim
Summary: The PLC81 null mouse model shows enhanced neurogenesis in the DG of the hippocampus, along with increased moving activity and seizures. The results suggest that PLC81 plays a cell-autonomous inhibitory role in the proliferation of adult neural stem/progenitor cells in vivo and the excitability of DG granule cells.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhang Zhenxia, Lin Min, Yang Peikui, Chen Zikai, Liu Yaqun, Wang Junli, Yang Fenlian, Zheng Yuzhong
Summary: In vitro study showed that calycosin, a phytoestrogen, exhibited anti-amyloidogenic effects by reducing the fibrillation of tau protein and inhibiting the formation of aggregate species and beta-sheet structures. Cellular assays demonstrated that calycosin mitigated tau amyloid fibril-induced cell mortality, LDH release, ROS level, and expression of certain proteins involved in apoptosis. Overall, calycosin may prevent tau amyloid fibrillation and associated cytotoxicity by influencing the formation of oligomeric and fibrillar aggregates with lower solvent-exposed hydrophobic patches.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Virendra Tiwari, Akanksha Mishra, Sonu Singh, Shubha Shukla
Summary: Neural stem cells (NSCs) are the functional and developmental unit of neurogenesis, and they have the ability to self-renew and generate new neurons in different neurogenic niches. Neurogenesis in adult brain is associated with synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory, particularly in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus and olfactory bulb. Impaired neurogenesis has been implicated as a culprit in age-associated neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). This review provides evidence for the association between impaired neurogenesis and AD, and discusses the molecular and cellular regulation of neurogenesis in the young and aging brain. The review also summarizes therapeutic strategies for targeting the manipulation of the neural stem cell pool and factors affecting this pool in AD.
ACS CHEMICAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Sang-Yoon Kim, Woochang Lim
Summary: Young immature granule cells (imGCs) appear in the hippocampal dentate gyrus through adult neurogenesis. These imGCs exhibit two competing properties: high excitability and low excitatory innervation.
COGNITIVE NEURODYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Shiliang Ji, Yijie Wu, Ruifang Zhu, Dongkai Guo, Yiguo Jiang, Lifeng Huang, Xinwei Ma, Liqiang Yu
Summary: This study investigated the role and mechanisms of Savatiside A (SA) and Torenoside B (TB) in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) using an APP/PS1 mouse model. The results showed that SA and TB significantly reduced cognitive impairment, improved synaptic plasticity and learning and memory deficits, and increased BDNF and NGF expression through activation of the cAMP/CREB/BDNF pathway. SA and TB are promising candidates for AD treatment.
Review
Neurosciences
Felix Hernandez, Isidro Ferrer, Mar Perez, Juan Carlos Zabala, Jose Antonio del Rio, Jesus Avila
Summary: This article reexamines the aggregation of tau protein at primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structures. Additionally, the presence of non-aggregated tau protein, which has been recently discovered, is also discussed.
Article
Neurosciences
Sarah Hunt, Yoni Leibner, Eline J. Mertens, Natali Barros-Zulaica, Lida Kanari, Tim S. Heistek, Mahesh M. Karnani, Romy Aardse, Rene Wilbers, Djai B. Heyer, Natalia A. Goriounova, Matthijs B. Verhoog, Guilherme Testa-Silva, Joshua Obermayer, Tamara Versluis, Ruth Benavides-Piccione, Philip De Witt-Hamer, Sander Idema, David P. Noske, Johannes C. Baayen, Ed S. Lein, Javier DeFelipe, Henry Markram, Huibert D. Mansvelder, Felix Schurmann, Idan Segev, Christiaan P. J. de Kock
Summary: This study investigates synaptic transmission between pyramidal neurons in human cortex and finds that human synaptic connections are stronger and more reliable compared to mouse connections, leading to significant NMDA receptor activation. These findings have important implications for understanding the mechanism of language processing in the human brain.
Review
Neurosciences
Alejandro Anton-Fernandez, Laura Valles-Saiz, Jesus Avila, Felix Hernandez
Summary: Tau protein is mainly localized in the cytoplasm of neuronal cells but can also be found in the cell nucleus, where it binds to nucleic acids. The increase in nuclear tau during aging may contribute to the activation of transposons and accelerate aging.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Rocio Alfaro-Ruiz, Carolina Aguado, Alejandro Martin-Belmonte, Ana Esther Moreno-Martinez, Jesus Merchan-Rubira, Felix Hernandez, Jesus Avila, Yugo Fukazawa, Rafael Lujan
Summary: N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors are important in Alzheimer's disease, and their expression and localization differ at synaptic and extrasynaptic sites, which is associated with accumulation of phospho-tau.
Review
Neurosciences
Julia Terreros-Roncal, Miguel Flor-Garcia, Elena P. Moreno-Jimenez, Carla B. Rodriguez-Moreno, Berenice Marquez-Valadez, Marta Gallardo-Caballero, Alberto Rabano, Maria Llorens-Martin
Summary: This article reviews the phenomenon of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) in humans and over 110 mammalian species, discussing the validation of data through techniques like single-cell RNAseq. By developing a tightly controlled methodology, researchers were able to reveal the presence of AHN in the adult human dentate gyrus (DG), emphasizing the importance of methodology in studying AHN across different species.
Article
Neurosciences
Lidia Alonso-Nanclares, J. Rodrigo Rodriguez, Angel Merchan-Perez, Juncal Gonzalez-Soriano, Sergio Plaza-Alonso, Nicolas Cano-Astorga, Robert K. K. Naumann, Michael Brecht, Javier DeFelipe
Summary: The study aimed to compare the synaptic characteristics between the small brain of Etruscan shrew and the larger human brain. The findings showed that while some synaptic characteristics are similar, there are significant differences in the number and size of synapses, suggesting adaptations of synaptic circuits to specific functions.
JOURNAL OF COMPARATIVE NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Javier DeFelipe, Jesus DeFelipe-Oroquieta, Diana Furcila, Mar Munoz-Alegre, Fernando Maestu, Rafael G. Sola, Lidia Blazquez-Llorca, Ruben Armananzas, Asta Kastanaskaute, Lidia Alonso-Nanclares, Kathleen S. Rockland, Jon Arellano
Summary: Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of focal epilepsy, and it is associated with structural and psychological alterations. When using resected brain tissue for research, it is important to consider the clinical, anatomical, and psychological characteristics of the patients. Unfortunately, this information is often incomplete or not fully understood by the neuroscientists analyzing the brain samples.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Maria Llorens-Martin
NATURE REVIEWS NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Neurosciences
Natalia Molinero, Alejandro Anton-Fernandez, Falix Hernandez, Jesus Avila, Begona Bartolome, M. Victoria Moreno-Arribas
Summary: Gut microbiota is a diverse population of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract that influences host health and disease. Age is a conditioning factor for the vitality of the gut microbiota, and aging is a primary risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). This paper summarizes the emerging evidence on the link between the oral and gut microbiome and neurodegeneration, with a focus on AD.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Lidia Blazquez-Llorca, Lubna Morales de Paz, Rosario Martin-Orti, Inmaculada Santos-Alvarez, Maria E. Fernandez-Valle, David Castejon, Maria I. Garcia-Real, Raquel Salguero-Fernandez, Pilar Perez-Lloret, Nerea Moreno, Sara Jimenez, Maria J. Herrero-Fernandez, Juncal Gonzalez-Soriano
Summary: Anatomy is crucial in medical and veterinary education, but neuroanatomy poses particular challenges. A new teaching tool has been developed using 3D reconstructions of magnetic resonance images to aid in the understanding of clinical neurology and practice. This tool combines neuroanatomy and neuropathology, providing valuable insights for anatomists and clinicians.
Article
Neurosciences
Nicolas Cano-Astorga, Sergio Plaza-Alonso, Javier DeFelipe, Lidia Alonso-Nanclares
Summary: The synaptic organization of the human anterior cingulate and temporopolar cortices was studied using FIB/SEM and revealed that Brodmann areas 24, 21, and ventral area 38 have similar synaptic density and size, whereas dorsal area 38 has the highest density and smallest size. However, the proportion and shapes of excitatory and inhibitory synapses were similar across all regions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura Valles-Saiz, Jesus avila, Felix Hernandez
Summary: The dysregulation of transposable elements is involved in neurodegenerative disorders. This study investigated the protective effects of the reverse transcriptase inhibitor lamivudine in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. The results showed that lamivudine treatment reduced histopathological markers of tauopathies and improved motor and cognitive functions. Additional experiments revealed that tau promotes the insertion of transposable elements, and lamivudine inhibits this insertion. These findings suggest that early administration of lamivudine may attenuate the progression of tauopathies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biology
M. Gallardo-Caballero, C. B. Rodriguez-Moreno, L. Alvarez-Mendez, J. Terreros-Roncal, M. Flor-Garcia, E. P. Moreno-Jimenez, A. Rabano, M. Llorens-Martin
Summary: This article investigates the effects of fixation time and post-mortem delay on the visualization of markers of adult hippocampal neurogenesis. The results show that fixation time is the most important factor impeding the study of this process, and prolonged post-mortem delay further prevents the visualization of other sensitive epitopes. These findings are crucial for clarifying the controversies surrounding the occurrence of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in humans and other mammalian species.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Indalo Domene-Serrano, Raquel Cuadros, Felix Hernandez, Jesus Avila, Ismael Santa-Maria
Summary: This study accurately predicted, analyzed, and understood tau protein structure and the conformational basis for the neuroprotective role of W-tau using a tridimensional deep learning-based approach and in vitro polymerization assay. The findings demonstrate the importance of the structure-function relationship on the neuroprotective behavior of W-tau inhibiting tau fibrillization in vitro.
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE REPORTS
(2023)