Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joshua D. Rieskamp, Ileanexis Rosado-Burgos, Jacob E. Christofi, Eliza Ansar, Dalia Einstein, Ashley E. Walters, Valentina Valentini, John P. Bruno, Elizabeth D. Kirby
Summary: This study demonstrates that glutamate stimulates neural stem cells (NSCs) to self-renew and proliferate through excitatory amino acid transporter 1 (EAAT1), which also stimulates lipogenesis. Transcriptomics and pathway manipulation reveal the underlying mechanism of this process.
Article
Cell Biology
Jingsi Yang, Nan Ding, Dandan Zhao, Yunsheng Yu, Chunlai Shao, Xuan Ni, Zhen-Ao Zhao, Zhen Li, Jianquan Chen, Zheng Ying, Miao Yu, Wei Lei, Shijun Hu
Summary: The study developed a new strategy of using EBSS treatment to mimic in vivo starvation event, promoting the maturation of hESC-CMs. Intermittent starvation through EBSS significantly enhanced structural, metabolic, and electrophysiological maturity of hESC-CMs.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
James M. McCarthy, Jasmeet Virdee, Jessica Brown, Daniel Ursu, Zeshan Ahmed, Annalisa Cavallini, Hugh N. Nuthall
Summary: Intracellular tau inclusions are a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, and recent studies have shown that tau aggregates can propagate to neighboring cells, leading to further tau aggregation. The ex vivo system using organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHCs) provides a model for studying this phenomenon and assessing potential therapeutic approaches.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Isabelle Everlien, Ting-Yun Yen, Yu-Chao Liu, Barbara Di Marco, Javier Vazquez-Marin, Lazaro Centanin, Julieta Alfonso, Hannah Monyer
Summary: In this study, it is found that the endozepine diazepam binding inhibitor (DBI) regulates embryonic neurogenesis by negatively modulating GABA-induced currents on progenitor cells. DBI's mechanism is similar to GABAA-receptor-mediated signaling and exerts tight control on embryonic neurogenesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hong Zhou, Qun Zhang, Wen Huang, Shulan Zhou, Yanli Wang, Xiaoning Zeng, Hong Wang, Weiping Xie, Hui Kong
Summary: This study investigated the effects of the NLRP3 inflammasome on airway epithelial injury and regeneration. The activation of NLRP3 inflammasome by silica disrupted the epithelial architecture, impaired mucociliary clearance, induced cellular hyperplasia, and inhibited organoid development. The abnormal differentiation and dysfunction of the airway epithelium mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome involved the NF-kappa B, Shh-Gli, and Wnt/beta-catenin pathways.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Irene B. Maroto, Carlos Costas-Insua, Coralie Berthoux, Estefania Moreno, Andrea Ruiz-Calvo, Carlos Montero-Fernandez, Andrea Macias-Camero, Ricardo Martin, Nuria Garcia-Font, Jose Sanchez-Prieto, Giovanni Marsicano, Luigi Bellocchio, Enric I. Canela, Vicent Casado, Ismael Galve-Roperh, Angel Nunez, David Fernandez de Sevilla, Ignacio Rodriguez-Crespo, Pablo E. Castillo, Manuel Guzman
Summary: The interaction between CB1R and GAP43 affects the signaling of excitatory synapses in the brain, thereby inhibiting the anti-convulsant activity of cannabinoids.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Nevin Varghese, Nicolas E. Amelinez-Robles, Barclay Morrison III
Summary: In this study, the effects of blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) on the hippocampal network of rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHSCs) were investigated. The results showed reduced connectivity and clustering coefficients in the hippocampal network following bTBI, along with decreased expression of alpha 1 and alpha 5 GABAA receptor subunits. Treatment with the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberanilohydroxamic acid (SAHA) restored the alpha 1 subunit and attenuated deficits in network measures. These findings suggest that GABAA receptors may play a role in neuronal network changes and could be targeted for therapeutic intervention in bTBI-induced neurological symptoms.
EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Simone Nardin Weis, Jaques Miranda F. Souza, Juliana Bender Hoppe, Marina Firmino, Manfred Auer, Nassim N. Ataii, Leonardo Assis da Silva, Mariana Maier Gaelzer, Caroline Peres Klein, Alan R. Mol, Consuelo M. R. de Lima, Diogo Onofre Souza, Christianne G. Salbego, Carlos Andre O. Ricart, Wagner Fontes, Marcelo Valle de Sousa
Summary: Research has shown that there are fundamental sex-related differences in the proteome of organotypic hippocampal slice culture, with females exhibiting a greater prevalence of astrocytic metabolism and males showing significant neuronal metabolism. These differences manifest in preferences for glucose use, mitochondrial respiration subunits, and lipid metabolism between the sexes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Susanna Kemppainen, Nadine Huber, Roosa-Maria Willman, Ana Zamora, Petra Makinen, Henna Martiskainen, Mari Takalo, Annakaisa Haapasalo, Tomas Sobrino, Manuel Antonio Gonzalez Gomez, Yolanda Pineiro, Jose Rivas, Uwe Himmelreich, Mikko Hiltunen
Summary: Organotypic slice culture models, especially those derived from adult tissue, provide a valuable tool for studying neurodegenerative diseases such as tauopathies. In this study, hippocampal slice cultures from adult transgenic mice were used to investigate the effects of a novel antibody on hyperphosphorylated TAU. The adult-originating slices retained key cellular components and exhibited tau pathology, making them a suitable model for studying TAU pathology in the adult brain without the interference of the blood-brain barrier.
Article
Cell Biology
Francesca Natale, Matteo Spinelli, Saviana Antonella Barbati, Lucia Leone, Salvatore Fusco, Claudio Grassi
Summary: This study reveals that maternal high fat diet has multigenerational effects on hippocampal adult neurogenesis. The altered expression of genes regulating stem cell proliferation and neurodifferentiation in neural stem and progenitor cells (NSPCs) contribute to the depletion of neurogenic niche caused by maternal high fat diet. Furthermore, an epigenetic derangement induced by ancestor high fat diet is associated with the depletion of neurogenic niche.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Ruth Butler-Ryan, Ian C. Wood
Summary: The study presents an efficient method to infect organotypic cultures with adenovirus at the acute slice stage without injection. By introducing the transcription factor REST and a GFP marker using the adenoviral delivery system, a high cellular infection spread of around 41% was achieved, promoting transgene expression for weeks in vitro. This technique allows for successful manipulation of genetic factors within neurons and microglia in organotypic cultures.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Masahiro Otsu, Zubair Ahmed, Daniel Fulton
Summary: A simple method was developed to generate immature oligodendrocyte lineage cells from mouse ESC-derived neural stem cells, which showed potential for differentiation into mature OPC under specific conditions. Interestingly, these cells retained multipotentiality and could differentiate into neurons or astrocytes. However, their efficiency in myelinating axons was lower compared to primary OPC.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shunsuke Tanigawa, Etsuko Tanaka, Koichiro Miike, Tomoko Ohmori, Daisuke Inoue, Chen-Leng Cai, Atsuhiro Taguchi, Akio Kobayashi, Ryuichi Nishinakamura
Summary: Researchers have successfully induced renal stromal progenitors from mouse pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and generated completely PSC-derived organoids that reproduce complex kidney structure. By understanding the molecular features of the renal stromal lineage, they established an in vitro induction protocol for stromal progenitors (SPs) from mouse PSCs. Assembling induced SPs with differentially induced parenchymal progenitors resulted in organoids that replicated the complex kidney structure.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Ala Ahrari, Maurice Meseke, Eckart Foerster
Summary: Granule cell dispersion (GCD) is considered a pathological feature of temporal lobe epilepsy. Early epileptiform activity may be linked to the development of chronic epilepsy, and electrical activity during neuronal migration and differentiation is believed to contribute to GCD.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Jasmin Weninger, Maurice Meseke, Shaleen Rana, Eckart Forster
Summary: Granule cell dispersion (GCD) may not always be disease-related and could reflect normal morphological variation. Pathological GCD may be caused by genetic mutations, while heat-shock can induce GCD and partial granule cell degeneration.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Noemi Esteras, Olga Kopach, Marta Maiolino, Vincenzo Lariccia, Salvatore Amoroso, Seema Qamar, Selina Wray, Dmitri A. Rusakov, Morana Jaganjac, Andrey Y. Abramov
Summary: The study found that overproduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in 10+16 neurons alters the trafficking of specific glutamate receptor subunits, leading to impaired glutamatergic signaling, calcium overload, and excitotoxicity. Mitochondrial antioxidants can restore the altered response and prevent neuronal death. Additionally, extracellular 4R tau induces the same pathological response in healthy neurons, proposing a mechanism for disease propagation.
ALZHEIMERS & DEMENTIA
(2022)
Article
Anesthesiology
Volodymyr Krotov, Kirill Agashkov, Marharyta Krasniakova, Boris Safronov, Pavel Belan, Nana Voitenko
Summary: This study reveals the input sources and regulation mechanisms of spinal lamina X neurons, demonstrating that primary afferent fibers are regulated by both spinal and supraspinal control through at least 5 distinct pathways.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Takahiro Tadokoro, Mariana Bravo-Hernandez, Kirill Agashkov, Yoshiomi Kobayashi, Oleksandr Platoshyn, Michael Navarro, Silvia Marsala, Atsushi Miyanohara, Tetsuya Yoshizumi, Michiko Shigyo, Volodymyr Krotov, Stefan Juhas, Jana Juhasova, Duong Nguyen, Helena Kupcova Skalnikova, Jan Motlik, Hana Studenovska, Vladimir Proks, Rajiv Reddy, Shawn P. Driscoll, Thomas D. Glenn, Taratorn Kemthong, Suchinda Malaivijitnond, Zoltan Tomori, Ivo Vanicky, Manabu Kakinohana, Samuel L. Pfaff, Joseph Ciacci, Pavel Belan, Martin Marsala
Summary: Changing the excitatory neurotransmitter phenotype of secondary spinal cord neurons to inhibitory can successfully treat neuropathic pain without causing detectable side effects.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Ian D. Coombs, Julie Ziobro, Volodymyr Krotov, Taryn-Leigh Surtees, Stuart G. Cull-Candy, Mark Farrant
Summary: In this study, a novel gain-of-function mutation in the GRIA2 gene was identified, leading to enhanced GluA2 A643V receptor activity. The results suggest that perampanel may have therapeutic efficacy for GRIA2 mutation-related disorders.
Article
Cell Biology
Olga Kopach, Dmitri A. Rusakov, Sergiy Sylantyev
Summary: The study found that beta-Alanine can protect key physiological functions of brain cells in acute stroke-like conditions, suggesting its potential importance in acute stroke treatment and recovery facilitation.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Oksana Rybachuk, Natalia Savytska, Eric Pinet, Yurii Yaminsky, Volodymyr Medvediev
Summary: Synthetic hydrogels, particularly poly-[N(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide] (pHPMA) derivatives, such as NeuroGel, are commonly used in medicine for drug delivery and bioengineering. This study showed that BMSCs can differentiate into neurons in a heterogeneous pHPMA hydrogel. The hydrogel can be used as an implant for spinal cord injury, promoting nerve cell regeneration and damaged segment restoration.
BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Olga Kopach, Yulia Dobropolska, Pavel Belan, Nana Voitenko
Summary: The dorsal horn (DH) neurons of the spinal cord play a critical role in processing nociceptive input in the central nervous system. The hyperexcitability of DH neurons has been linked to Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors (AMPARs) and contributes to nociceptive hypersensitivity. Inflammatory pain conditions result in changes in action potential (AP) parameters in DH neurons, and selective inhibition of Ca2+-permeable AMPARs can alleviate nociceptive hypersensitivity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Volodymyr Krotov, Kirill Agashkov, Sergii Romanenko, Oleh Halaidych, Yaroslav Andrianov, Boris V. V. Safronov, Pavel Belan, Nana Voitenko
Summary: Although our understanding of how afferent-driven presynaptic inhibition shapes peripheral input to nociceptive neurons is limited, this study examined this effect on primary afferent input to spinal neurons in two nociceptive-processing regions. The results showed that attenuation of presynaptic inhibition resulted in the appearance of new mono- and polysynaptic excitatory postsynaptic current components. These mechanisms are important for shaping primary afferent input to neurons in the spinal nociceptive-processing network.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arsentii Ivasiuk, Maksym Matvieienko, Nikolai I. Kononenko, Dmytro E. Duzhyy, Sergiy M. Korogod, Nana Voitenko, Pavel Belan
Summary: The upregulation of T-type Ca2+ channels in nociceptive DRG neurons in peripheral diabetic neuropathy is associated with the development of pain symptoms, and this mechanism may underlie abnormal nociception in diabetes.
Article
Neurosciences
Olga Kopach, Tetyana Pivneva, Nataliya Fedirko, Nana Voitenko
Summary: This study found that diabetic animals exhibit severe xerostomia characterized by reduced saliva flow rate, diminished total protein content, and decreased amylase activity. The impaired saliva production in diabetes is associated with reduced and delayed intracellular Ca2+ signals in submandibular acinar cells, caused by malfunctioning mitochondria. Targeting malfunctioning mitochondria may be a potential strategy for the treatment of diabetic xerostomia.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Volodymyr Krotov, Volodymyr Medvediev, Ibrahim Abdallah, Arseniy Bozhenko, Mykhailo Tatarchuk, Yevheniia Ishchenko, Leonid Pichkur, Serhii Savosko, Vitaliy Tsymbaliuk, Olga Kopach, Nana Voitenko
Summary: Motor disability is a common outcome of spinal cord injury (SCI), and the recovery of motor function depends on the severity of the injury. Pain is often comorbid with SCI, but its prediction remains poor. Our study found that in young rats with SCI, motor deficit can either improve or worsen over 4-5 weeks after injury, and all young rats showed changes in nociceptive sensitivity. The results suggest that motor dysfunction and pain syndromes following SCI can be predictable and can aid in long-term rehabilitation and recovery.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)