Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chuan-Ming Li, Le Chen, Guanjie Chen, Jianhua Zhang, Howard J. Hoffman
Summary: This study found a significant association between the COMT gene and hearing loss, with the A allele of rs6480 being linked to increased hearing loss. Among young adults in the United States, a missense variant of the COMT gene, rs4680, was significantly associated with hearing loss, shedding light on the genetic mechanisms of hearing loss.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fang-Yuan Wang, Ping Wang, Dong-Fang Zhao, Frank J. Gonzalez, Yu-Fan Fan, Yang-Liu Xia, Guang-Bo Ge, Ling Yang
Summary: This review summarizes recent advances in analytical methodologies for sensing COMT activity and their applications, while highlighting challenges and future perspectives in the field. The practical assays for measuring COMT activities in complex biological samples are crucial for investigating the relevance of COMT to human diseases and promoting the discovery of COMT inhibitors via high-throughput screening.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL ANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Andrea Polli, Jolien Hendrix, Kelly Ickmans, Jelena Bakusic, Manosij Ghosh, Dora Monteyne, Brigitte Velkeniers, Bram Bekaert, Jo Nijs, Lode Godderis
Summary: The study found associations between COMT haplotypes and DNA methylation, cytokine expression, and symptoms in patients with CFS/FM, but not specific to one condition. Significant differences were observed in increased DNA methylation in the MB-COMT promoter and decreased IFN-gamma expression in patients.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Annalisa Tassone, Giuseppina Martella, Maria Meringolo, Valentina Vanni, Giuseppe Sciamanna, Giulia Ponterio, Paola Imbriani, Paola Bonsi, Antonio Pisani
Summary: The study characterized the cholinergic dysfunction in DYT1 dystonia by analyzing the cholinergic machinery in the dorsal striatum of a DYT1 mouse model. Results showed an increase in vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) protein level and compensatory enhancement of acetylcholinesterase enzymatic activity in DYT1 mice. Pharmacological activation of dopamine D2 receptors led to abnormal elevation in acetylcholine content, suggesting VAChT as a potential target for pharmacological intervention.
MOVEMENT DISORDERS
(2021)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Bing Leng, Hairong Sun, Mengfan Li, Junwu Zhao, Xiaoxiao Liu, Ran Yao, Tengqun Shen, Zhenguang Li, Jinbiao Zhang
Summary: This study found that Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) experience a greater decline in cognitive function. Blood neuroexosomal EAAT-2 levels are associated with cognitive decline in PD patients with RBD.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Letizia Zanetti, Maria Regoni, Elena Ratti, Flavia Valtorta, Jenny Sassone
Summary: AMPARs play essential roles in both postsynaptic plasticity and presynaptic neurotransmitter release modulation. Recent studies suggest that presynaptic AMPARs may contribute to axonal pathology, pain transmission regulation, and auditory system physiology. These findings highlight the potential of presynaptic AMPARs as novel pharmacological targets for various pathological conditions.
Article
Cell Biology
Carla Cristina Miranda Castro, Sayonara Pereira Silva, Livia Nascimento Rabelo, Jose Pablo Goncalves Queiroz, Laura Damasceno Campos, Larissa Camila Silva, Felipe Porto Fiuza
Summary: The study found that there are regional alterations of specific cellular subpopulations in the aging human hippocampus, which are influenced by factors such as age, sex, education years, and the concentration of neuropathological and inflammatory proteins. These findings provide insights into the distinct physiological changes that occur in hippocampal sub-regions and neurotransmitter systems during normal aging.
Article
Cell Biology
Silas A. Buck, Thomas Steinkellner, Despoina Aslanoglou, Michael Villeneuve, Sai H. Bhatte, Victoria C. Childers, Sophie A. Rubin, Briana R. De Miranda, Emma O'Leary, Elizabeth G. Neureiter, Keri J. Fogle, Michael J. Palladino, Ryan W. Logan, Jill R. Glausier, Kenneth N. Fish, David A. Lewis, J. Timothy Greenamyre, Brian D. McCabe, Claire E. J. Cheetham, Thomas S. Hnasko, Zachary Freyberg
Summary: The study revealed the impact of age and sex differences on dopamine neuron vulnerability, with males exhibiting greater decreases in neuron number and locomotion during aging, and dynamic changes in VGLUT expression in dopamine neurons possibly serving as a compensatory mechanism. Female fruit flies were found to possess higher levels of VGLUT expression in dopamine neurons compared to males, and diminishing VGLUT expression eliminated their greater resilience to neuron loss. Optimal control over VGLUT expression in dopamine neurons was identified as essential for neuron survival and a potential therapeutic target for age- and PD-related neurodegeneration.
Article
Neurosciences
Paola Cristofari, Mazarine Desplanque, Odile Poirel, Alison Hebert, Sylvie Dumas, Etienne Herzog, Lydia Danglot, David Geny, Jean-Francois Gilles, Audrey Geeverding, Susanne Bolte, Alexis Canette, Michael Trichet, Veronique Fabre, Stephanie Daumas, Nicolas Pietrancosta, Salah El Mestikawy, Veronique Bernard
Summary: This study used super-resolution microscopy to investigate the release mechanism of acetylcholine and glutamate in striatal cholinergic interneurons. The results showed that some neurons contain both acetylcholine and glutamate in their vesicles, while others only contain one of the two. These findings indicate that striatal cholinergic interneurons have a diverse and complex signaling mechanism.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Matthew Goulty, Gaelle Botton-Amiot, Ezio Rosato, Simon G. Sprecher, Roberto Feuda
Summary: This study investigates the origin of the monoaminergic system using a phylogenomic approach and finds that most of the genes involved in monoamine production, modulation, and reception originated in the bilaterian stem group. This suggests that the monoaminergic system is a bilaterian novelty and its evolution may have contributed to the Cambrian diversification.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Psychiatry
Lina Wang, Yu Chen, Miao Wang, Chaoben Zhao, Dongdong Qiao
Summary: This systematic review investigates the role of gene-environment interaction (G x E) in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The study examines the relationship between G x E and the susceptibility to OCD occurrence, disease progression, and treatment response. The findings suggest that G x E increases the susceptibility to OCD, plays a crucial role in clinical characteristics, and has an inconsistent impact on treatment response.
JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Lidia Bravo, Patricia Mariscal, Meritxell Llorca-Torralba, Jose Maria Lopez-Cepero, Juan Nacher, Esther Berrocoso
Summary: This study examined the effects of neuropathic pain on noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) and found that neuropathic pain leads to an increase in excitatory synapse markers and a decrease in mitochondrial and lysosomal densities. Long-term pain also activates apoptosis.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Itsumi Arakawa, Ikunobu Muramatsu, Junsuke Uwada, Kiyonao Sada, Noriyuki Matsukawa, Takayoshi Masuoka
Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms of acetylcholine release and found that it is regulated by external stimuli, with the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) playing an important role. The release of acetylcholine is adjusted by slow replenishment through VAChT and a reduction in release probability under high-frequency stimulation.
JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
L. Bonetti, S. E. P. Bruzzone, N. A. Sedghi, N. T. Haumann, T. Paunio, K. Kantojarvi, M. Kliuchko, P. Vuust, E. Brattico
Summary: This study explores the influence of different COMT gene variants on auditory prediction processes, demonstrating that catecholamine levels determined by genetics can affect the brain's mechanisms for detecting deviant events.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Veronica Corsetti, Carla Perrone-Capano, Michael Sebastian Salazar Intriago, Elisabetta Botticelli, Giancarlo Poiana, Gabriella Augusti-Tocco, Stefano Biagioni, Ada Maria Tata
Summary: The study revealed the expression of multiple ChAT and VAChT splice variants in rat DRG neurons, showing a progressive decrease during development. ChAT levels significantly increased during DRG ontogenesis, indicating an important role for ACh in neuronal differentiation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)