Article
Neurosciences
Anastasia Yendiki, Manisha Aggarwal, Markus Axer, Amy F. D. Howard, Anne-Marie van Cappellen van Walsum, Suzanne N. Haber
Summary: This review discusses methods for validating the features of connectional anatomy extracted from dMRI, including macro-scale trajectories of axon bundles and micro-scale axonal orientations. A range of validation tools, including anatomic tracer studies, Klingler's dissection, myelin stains, and label-free optical imaging techniques, are presented. The basic principles, limitations, and insights into the accuracy of different dMRI acquisition and analysis approaches are overviewed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucas Baena Carstens, Raissa Campos D'amico, Karen Fernandes de Moura, Eduardo Morais de Castro, Flavia Centenaro, Giovanna Silva Barbosa, Guilherme Vieira Cavalcante da Silva, Isadora Brenny, Julio Cesar Honorio D'Agostini, Elisa Carolina Hlatchuk, Sabrina Pissette de Lima, Ana Paula Camargo Martins, Marina De Castro Deus, Carolline Konzen Klein, Ana Paula Kubaski Benevides, Seigo Nagashima, Cleber Machado-Souza, Ricardo A. Pinho, Cristina Pellegrino Baena, Lucia de Noronha
Summary: The activation of the inflammasome complex is significantly increased in COVID-19 patients, indicating its involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease. Additionally, levels of cell pyroptosis and inflammasome-derived cytokines are greatly elevated.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Yanaika S. Hok-A-Hin, Anke A. Dijkstra, Alberto Rabano, Jeroen J. Hoozemans, Lucia Castillo, Harro Seelaar, John C. van Swieten, Yolande A. L. Pijnenburg, Charlotte E. Teunissen, Marta Del Campo
Summary: This study found increased levels of APOL1 in FTLD post-mortem brain tissue, regardless of the pathological subtypes. APOL1 was mainly expressed in neuronal and glial cells, but did not co-localize with pTau or pTDP-43. However, the levels of APOL1 in CSF were comparable between FTD patients and controls, and between pathological subtypes.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Di Maio, Arianna De Rosa, Silvia Pelucchi, Martina Garofalo, Benedetta Marciano, Tommaso Nuzzo, Fabrizio Gardoni, Andrea M. Isidori, Monica Di Luca, Francesco Errico, Andrea De Bartolomeis, Elena Marcello, Alessandro Usiello
Summary: This study examined mRNA and protein expression of key spine shaping proteins in the brains of schizophrenia patients and found altered expression of CAP2 and DLG1 genes in different brain regions, suggesting their potential involvement in synaptic dysfunction associated with psychiatric disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Zezhi Yang, Qingtai Shu, Liangshi Zhang, Xu Yang
Summary: By combining satellite-based LiDAR and optical remote sensing, the method proposed in this research improves the accuracy of monitoring forest tree species diversity while considering data cost. The findings demonstrate that the synergistic approach increased the prediction accuracy of tree species diversity compared to single remote sensing variation models.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Raphael Severino Bonadio, Larissa Barbosa Nunes, Patricia Natalia S. Moretti, Juliana Forte Mazzeu, Stefano Cagnin, Aline Pic-Taylor, Silviene Fabiana de Oliveira
Summary: The study analyzed the transcriptome of mouse brains after death in different environments and how these environments influenced post-mortem RNA abundance and biological processes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
L. A. Wilson, L. Heraty, B. A. Ashford, S. Coelho, A. F. Frangi, J. M. Pozo, P. G. Ince, J. R. Highley
Summary: The study explored the potential benefits of using TMAs in neuropathology, demonstrating the effectiveness for evaluating microglial pathology and TDP-43 proteinopathy with reduced tissue, time, and reagent usage. The results indicate that TMAs could be a valuable tool for improving data acquisition efficiency in neuropathological research.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Arianna De Rosa, Andrea Fontana, Tommaso Nuzzo, Martina Garofalo, Anna Di Maio, Daniela Punzo, Massimiliano Copetti, Alessandro Bertolino, Francesco Errico, Antonio Rampino, Andrea de Bartolomeis, Alessandro Usiello
Summary: This study investigates the role of glutamate signaling in schizophrenia by analyzing the levels of neuroactive amino acids and related molecules in the brains of schizophrenia patients and normal controls. The results reveal that variations in neuroactive amino acid levels and glutamate-related synaptic elements significantly affect the presence of schizophrenia. Furthermore, machine learning analysis identifies distinct clusters of molecules that can discriminate between schizophrenia patients and controls in different brain regions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruiye Bi, Qing Yin, Haohan Li, Xianni Yang, Yiru Wang, Qianli Li, Han Fang, Peiran Li, Ping Lyu, Yi Fan, Binbin Ying, Songsong Zhu
Summary: The biological characteristics of the temporomandibular joint disc involve a complex cellular network that regulates jaw function. However, the lack of detailed understanding about this network hinders the development of targeted therapies for temporomandibular joint-related diseases. In this study, the researchers profiled the transcriptomes of disc cells from mice at different stages and found distinct fibroblast populations and a resident progenitor population that contributes to disc repair. This study provides valuable insights into the development and injury repair mechanisms of the temporomandibular joint disc.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ahmed I. Al-Asmari, Hassan Alharbi, Torki A. Zughaibi
Summary: In this study, a method for the quantification of 6-monoacetylmorphine, 6-acetylcodeine, morphine, and codeine in postmortem stomach wall tissue was developed and validated. The method showed good linearity, precision, and accuracy. The results revealed the distribution of these substances in stomach wall tissue and suggested the usefulness of alternative matrices for investigating heroin-related fatalities.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Gholamreza Roshan, Mohammad Farrokhzad, Shady Attia
Summary: Accurately defining climatic zones is crucial for informing decision making in urban development. In Iran, a novel atlas for 19 climatic zones was developed based on clustering analysis, showing the need for specific strategies in each zone to provide indoor comfort.
INDOOR AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Legal
Miao Zhang, Ning Wang, Xiang-Shen Guo, Lin-Lin Wang, Peng-Fei Wang, Zhi-Peng Cao, Fu-Yuan Zhang, Zi-Wei Wang, Da-Wei Guan, Rui Zhao
Summary: The post-mortem diagnosis of fatal hypothermia (FHT) is challenging, but this study identifies specific proteins in brown adipose tissue (BAT) that can be used as biomarkers for FHT, providing a new strategy for forensic practice.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LEGAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
William Pinsky, Aaron Harris, Austyn D. Roseborough, Wenxuan Wang, Ali R. Khan, Kristina Jurcic, Ken K-C Yeung, Stephen H. Pasternak, Shawn N. Whitehead
Summary: Periventricular white matter hyperintensities (pvWMHs) detected by MRI are associated with increased risk of stroke and dementia. MALDI IMS was used to analyze lipid distribution in formalin-fixed human brain tissues, revealing lipid expression differences between pvWMHs and normal white matter.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Eva Lindholm Carlstrom, Adnan Niazi, Mitra Etemadikhah, Jonatan Halvardson, Stefan Enroth, Craig A. Stockmeier, Grazyna Rajkowska, Bo Nilsson, Lars Feuk
Summary: The study identified an up-regulation of multiple immune response genes, including genes from the complement system, in schizophrenia patients, indicating important differences in disease etiology within the patient group. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis highlighted networks associated with both synaptic transmission and immune response activation. These findings suggest the importance of immune-related pathways in schizophrenia pathology and provide evidence for elevated expression of the complement cascade in the disease.
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Johanna Perens, Casper Gravesen Salinas, Jacob Lercke Skytte, Urmas Roostalu, Anders Bjorholm Dahl, Tim B. Dyrby, Franziska Wichern, Pernille Barkholt, Niels Vrang, Jacob Jelsing, Jacob Hecksher-Sorensen
Summary: In recent years, advances in whole-brain immunolabelling and LSFM have led to the development of an optimized digital mouse brain atlas for more accurate and efficient registration of neuronal activity patterns. This atlas has shown to be beneficial in mapping changes in c-Fos expression and evaluating drug effects on whole-brain activity, providing a valuable tool for neuroscience research.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Alexa E. Horner, Rebecca H. Norris, Robbie McLaren-Jones, Liam Alexander, Noboru H. Komiyama, Seth G. N. Grant, Jess Nithianantharajah, Maksym Kopanitsa
Summary: The study reveals that mutations in genes encoding key members of the PSD-95 protein complex continue to play a role in neurodevelopmental disorders, affecting cognitive function and behavioral phenotypes. Mouse models suggest that different components of the PSD-95 protein complex have differential regulatory effects on learning, cognitive flexibility, and reaction times.
GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oksana Sorokina, Colin Mclean, Mike D. R. Croning, Katharina F. Heil, Emilia Wysocka, Xin He, David Sterratt, Seth G. N. Grant, Thomas Simpson, J. Douglas Armstrong
Summary: Genes encoding synaptic proteins are highly linked to neuronal disorders with clinical co-morbidities. By integrating 58 published synaptic proteomic datasets, we built a network resource containing over 8000 proteins, revealing shared and unique protein components underlying multiple disorders. The data are provided in a flexible and accessible format for custom use.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
David Ramos-Vicente, Seth G. N. Grant, Alex Bayes
Summary: Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in both vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems. The evolution of glutamate receptors is more complex than anticipated, with recent research proposing a new classification system for ionotropic glutamate receptors. Additionally, the evolution of animal metabotropic glutamate receptors has resulted in the formation of four classes instead of three previously recognized.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Felix Gorka, Sam Daly, Colin M. Pearson, Edita Bulovaite, Yu P. Zhang, Anoushka Handa, Seth G. N. Grant, Thomas N. Snaddon, Lisa-Maria Needham, Steven F. Lee
Summary: This study compares the use of a novel fluorescent probe, PAP_1, with the traditional Thioflavin T as a fluorescence lifetime imaging probe for imaging alpha-synuclein aggregates in brain tissue. Despite lower brightness, PAP_1 has a much stronger affinity for alpha-synuclein aggregates, leading to a significant decrease in fluorescence lifetime and improved contrast between background tissue and aggregates.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2021)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew J. Broadhead, Calum Bonthron, Lauren Arcinas, Sumi Bez, Fei Zhu, Frances Goff, Jonathan Nylk, Kishan Dholakia, Frank Gunn-Moore, Seth G. N. Grant, Gareth B. Miles
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Matthew J. Broadhead, Calum Bonthron, Julia Waddington, William Smith, Maite F. Lopez, Sarah Burley, Jessica Valli, Fei Zhu, Noboru H. Komiyama, Colin Smith, Seth G. N. Grant, Gareth B. Miles
Summary: Tripartite synaptopathy is a key hallmark of ALS, as revealed by extensive microscopy-based investigations in ALS model mice and post-mortem human tissue. This study demonstrates widespread synaptic changes and selective loss of tripartite synapses in ALS.
ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Jessica Griffiths, Seth G. N. Grant
Summary: Synapse loss and damage are key factors in the development of Alzheimer's disease, and this article reviews the literature on synapse pathology in AD, from its impact on synapse architecture to the role of A beta, tau, and glial cells. It also discusses the potential of new mapping methods to understand the molecular properties of vulnerable and resilient synapses and the importance of this knowledge for therapeutic approaches and clinical imaging.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Edita Bulovaite, Zhen Qiu, Maximilian Kratschke, Adrianna Zgraj, David G. Fricker, Eleanor J. Tuck, Ragini Gokhale, Babis Koniaris, Shekib A. Jami, Paula Merino-Serrais, Elodie Husi, Lorena Mendive-Tapia, Marc Vendrell, Thomas J. O'Dell, Javier DeFelipe, Noboru H. Komiyama, Anthony Holtmaat, Erik Fransen, Seth G. N. Grant
Summary: This study quantified the lifetime of endogenous PSD95 in synapses and generated the Protein Lifetime Synaptome Atlas. It found that protein lifetime in synapses varies with age, brain regions, and memory duration, and that it increases in mouse models of autism and schizophrenia.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fabio de Moliner, Zuzanna Konieczna, Lorena Mendive-Tapia, Rebecca S. Saleeb, Katie Morris, Juan Antonio Gonzalez-Vera, Takeshi Kaizuka, Seth G. N. Grant, Mathew H. Horrocks, Marc Vendrell
Summary: The multiple applications of super-resolution microscopy have led to the need for minimally invasive labeling strategies for peptide-guided fluorescence imaging. In this study, we have built a library of benzodiazole amino acids and examined their potential as background-free fluorescence microscopy probes. The results show that benzodiazole amino acids retain the binding capabilities of bioactive peptides and exhibit excellent signal-to-background ratios.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Tomas-Roca, Zhen Qiu, Erik Fransen, Ragini Gokhale, Edita Bulovaite, David J. Price, Noboru H. Komiyama, Seth G. N. Grant
Summary: Neurodevelopmental disorders of genetic origin delay the acquisition of normal abilities, but the brain possesses the capacity to overcome deficits arising from certain germline mutations. In a mouse model of Pax6 mutation, the molecular composition of excitatory synapses, the development of synapse diversity, and the acquisition of normal synaptome architecture are delayed, interfering with cognitive functions. However, these phenotypes are reversed within a few weeks, restoring synapse diversity and synaptome architecture to the normal developmental trajectory.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Valentina Mercaldo, Barbora Vidimova, Denise Gastaldo, Esperanza Fernandez, Adrian C. Lo, Giulia Cencelli, Giorgia Pedini, Silvia De Rubeis, Francesco Longo, Eric Klann, August B. Smit, Seth G. N. Grant, Tilmann Achsel, Claudia Bagni
Summary: This study investigates the diverse proteome of glutamatergic synapses and its involvement in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), specifically fragile X syndrome (FXS). The researchers demonstrate that the brain region-specific composition of postsynaptic density (PSD) contributes to the manifestation of FXS behavioral phenotypes. In the FXS mouse model, there is an altered association between PSD and actin cytoskeleton in the striatum, resulting in immature dendritic spine morphology and reduced synaptic actin dynamics. Enhancing actin turnover with constitutively active RAC1 improves these deficits and rescues the striatal-driven inflexibility observed in FXS individuals.
Article
Neurosciences
Matthew J. Broadhead, Ani Ayvazian-Hancock, Katherine Doucet, Owen Kantelberg, Lesley Motherwell, Fei Zhu, Seth G. N. Grant, Mathew H. Horrocks, Gareth B. Miles
Summary: This study characterises the synaptic expression of TDP-43 in the spinal cord of mice using high-resolution and super-resolution microscopy techniques. The findings show that TDP-43 is expressed as nanoscale clusters in approximately half of spinal cord synapses, particularly in synapses associated with VGLUT1-positive presynaptic terminals. Interestingly, there is no difference in the subsynaptic expression of pTDP-43 between the ALS mouse model and healthy controls, despite structural deficits in VGLUT1-associated synapses in the ALS model.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Aimun A. B. Jamjoom, Jonathan Rhodes, Peter J. D. Andrews, Seth G. N. Grant
Summary: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, with potential long-term consequences such as dementia. Recent research has shown that TBI has a significant impact on synapse structure and function, leading to synapse loss. This review highlights the role of synapses in TBI pathophysiology, including the impact of secondary injury processes such as excitotoxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Astrocytes are proposed to play a crucial role in mediating synapse loss and recovery after TBI.
