Review
Neurosciences
Ricardo Martins-Ferreira, Barbara Leal, Joao Chaves, Tianlu Li, Laura Ciudad, Rui Rangel, Agostinho Santos, Antonio Martins da Silva, Paulo Pinho Costa, Esteban Ballestar
Summary: Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with hippocampal sclerosis (MTLE-HS) is a common focal epilepsy in adults, characterized by high rates of drug resistance. Epileptogenesis in MTLE-HS is associated with epigenetic alterations, with previous studies mainly focused on the hippocampus. This study examines DNA methylation profiles in both the hippocampus and anterior temporal neocortex of MTLE-HS patients, showing altered DNA methylation patterns in multiple pathways related to epileptogenesis. The neocortex, which has less histopathological damage, also shows significant DNA methylation changes, suggesting its involvement in epilepsy development. These findings suggest a progressive wave of epigenetic dysregulation associated with inflammation-related genes in MTLE-HS.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Tima Zeng, Alexa Tompary, Anna C. Schapiro, Sharon L. Thompson-Schill
Summary: The study found that memories can be divided into specific memories and gist memories, and over time, gist memories start to guide item memories, with the interaction between the two changing as time passes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Churilova, Tatiana Zachepilo, Ksenia Baranova, Elena Rybnikova
Summary: Autophagy is an important degradation mechanism in cells, especially in neurons. This study found that the autophagy activity in hippocampal neurons is higher than that in neocortical neurons. The content of autophagy markers decreased in hippocampal neurons after exposure to hypoxia, while no significant changes were observed in neocortical neurons. These differences may reflect the physiological and functional disparities between these brain regions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Tamara Stojanovic, David Velarde Gamez, Gabor Jorrid Schuld, Daniel Bormann, Maureen Cabatic, Pavel Uhrin, Gert Lubec, Francisco J. Monje
Summary: Nicotine addiction mainly develops during adolescence, with miRNA-132/212 playing a role in regulating the effects of nicotine on synaptic functions in the hippocampus of adolescent and adult mice.
Article
Cell Biology
Yue Zheng, Chen Zhao, Qiulin Song, Lichao Xu, Bo Zhang, Guangda Hu, Xiangfei Kong, Shaowen Li, Xiang Li, Yin Shen, Lenan Zhuang, Min Wu, Ying Liu, Yan Zhou
Summary: Appropriate histone modifications play a crucial role in regulating neuronal fate in neocortical areas and layers. NSD1 methyltransferase controls the area and layer identities of the neocortex. Nsd1 ablation leads to changes in the location of functional areas and aberrant cortico-thalamic-cortical projections.
Article
Neurosciences
Melissa A. Tapia, Xiao-Tao Jin, Brenton R. Tucker, Leanne N. Thomas, Noah B. Walker, Veronica J. Kim, Steven E. Albertson, Naresh Damuka, Ivan Krizan, Seby Edassery, Jeffrey N. Savas, Kiran Kumar Solingapuram Sai, Sara R. Jones, Ryan M. Drenan
Summary: This study investigated the behavior and neurobiological effects of intermittent nicotine intake in rats. The results suggest that intermittent nicotine intake may lead to increased craving and enhanced response to nicotine-associated cues. Additionally, intermittent nicotine intake also caused increased nicotine binding in the brain and specific changes in the proteome of certain neural structures.
Article
Neurosciences
Paul F. Hill, Sarah E. Seger, Hye Bin Yoo, Danielle R. King, Bradley C. Lega, Michael D. Rugg, David X. Wang
Summary: The study found that the neurophysiological correlates of the BOLD signal differ between different brain regions, with a negative correlation between BOLD signal and high gamma SMEs in the hippocampus, and a positive correlation in the neocortex.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Talulla B. Palumbo, Julie. M. Miwa
Summary: Despite solid data supporting the involvement of nicotinic receptors in neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases, their potential as a therapeutic target has not been fully realized due to complex factors such as the widespread action of the cholinergic system and the biophysical mechanism of nicotinic receptors. Conventional drug development strategies focus on receptor subtype-specific action, while exploring the broad agonist nicotine in the clinic. Prototoxins, a little-explored avenue, show promise as nicotinic receptor drugs and have potential advantages over targeting specific receptor subtypes. Their allosteric effects and binding specificity provide possibilities for more effective and nuanced therapeutic approaches.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Yang Du, Kuan Yang, Zhifei Zhou, Lizheng Wu, Lulu Wang, Yujiang Chen, Xin Ge, Xiaojing Wang
Summary: Nicotine regulates autophagy of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) through alpha 7 nAChR, which further regulates the release of inflammatory factors IL-1 beta and IL-8 from hPDLCs.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Qiongling Li, Shahin Tavakol, Jessica Royer, Sara Lariviere, Reinder Vos De Wael, Bo-yong Park, Casey Paquola, Debin Zeng, Benoitu Caldairou, Danielle S. Bassett, Andrea Bernasconi, Neda Bernasconi, Birgit Frauscher, Jonathan Smallwood, Lorenzo Caciagli, Shuyu Li, Boris C. Bernhardt
Summary: This study suggests that a lack of pattern separation may lead to weakened episodic memory. In healthy participants, there is a gradient relationship between neural activity and pattern separation, while patients with temporal lobe epilepsy show a reduced concordance in this relationship. Connectivity gradients are closely associated with cognitive processes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hui-yi Yan, Xiao Wen, Lan-zhou Chen, Yi-ting Feng, Han-xiao Liu, Wen Qu, Wen-hao Zhao, Dong-qin Xu, Jie Ping
Summary: Our study revealed that nicotine suppressed the development pathway of CD4(+)SP cells by inducing autophagy, shedding light on the developmental origin mechanism of programmed immune diseases in PNE offspring.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
A. Alzu'bi, M. S. Al Zoubi, G. T. Abdelhady, B. Al-Trad, S. Omari, M. Abualarjah, W. El-Huneidi, D. R. Alzu'bi, J. M. Bani-Issa, G. J. Clowry
Summary: This study found that exposure to nicotine during pregnancy can lead to decreased fetal growth and weight, as well as reduced placental size. This is accompanied by increased apoptosis within the placenta, while the expression of angiogenic factors remains unchanged.
EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica Knoetzele, Dieter Riemann, Lukas Frase, Bernd Feige, Ludger Tebartz van Elst, Juergen Kornmeier
Summary: Improving our learning abilities is crucial for various aspects of life. Recent studies have shown that using cues such as odor during learning and sleep can enhance memory performance. This online study aimed to replicate these findings and determine the optimal conditions for odor cueing to improve memory. The results showed that the group with odor cueing during learning, sleep, and testing performed the best, indicating the beneficial effect of odor cueing. Additionally, at least 3 days and nights of odor cueing were suggested for maximum learning success.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Hashan S. M. Jayarathne, Lucas K. Debarba, Jacob J. Jaboro, Brett C. Ginsburg, Richard A. Miller, Marianna Sadagurski
Summary: The aging brain is characterized by increased neuroinflammation and central insulin resistance, which contribute to neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairment. The anti-diabetes drug Canagliflozin (Cana) has shown neuroprotective effects in aged male mice by improving central insulin sensitivity, reducing gliosis in the hypothalamus, and improving exploratory and locomotor activity.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Li Zhou, Xinrong Tao, Gang Pang, Min Mu, Qixian Sun, Fei Liu, Yuting Hu, Huihui Tao, Bing Li, Keyi Xu
Summary: Accumulating evidence suggests that maternal nicotine exposure affects hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive behaviors in offspring. In this study, developmental nicotine exposure was found to delay physical and neurobehavioral development, increase anxiety-like behavior, and alter gene expression related to inflammation, neurotransmitters, and synapses in the hippocampus. Furthermore, nicotine exposure skewed microglial polarity towards M2 phenotype, potentially contributing to abnormal cognitive and behavioral performance in offspring.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
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.