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Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease with still no cure available. The prominent feature of PD is the loss of dopaminergic neurons at the Substantia nigra (SN). Genetic and environmental insults affecting the SNCA gene encoding the alpha-Synuclein (alpha-Syn) protein result into an aberrant form of the protein with higher propensity towards oligomerization becoming part of insoluble inclusions called Lewy Bodies (LB). LB impart cytotoxicity leading to neurodegeneration, activate resident microglia and escape to the periphery where they get captured by dendritic cells and presented to naïve T cells. Proliferating effector T lymphocytes invade the brain releasing proinflammatory cytokines and performing a cytotoxic effect on neurons.
In this study, we examine the hypothesis that the expansion of regulatory T cells (Treg) could exert an anti-inflammatory effect that averts neurodegeneration in the AAV1/2-A53T-alpha-Syn mouse model for PD.
Mice brains were transfected by a unilateral stereotaxic injection at the SN region with a chimeric Adeno-Associated Viral vector of serotypes 1 and 2 (AAV1/2) carrying the A53T-mutated human SNCA gene encoding the readily aggregating aberrant alpha-Syn (AAV1/2-A53T-alpha-Syn). One week after injection, mice were treated with the CD28 superagonistic antibody (CD28SA), known to significantly expand the Treg population. Mice were then analyzed by behavioral analysis using the Rotarod performance test and the Cylinder test. The impact of CD28SA on the immune system was examined by flow cytometry. The integrity of the nigrostriatal system was assessed by stereological quantification of Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-stained dopaminergic neurons in SN and optical density measurements of TH-stained striatum. The mechanism of action of CD28SA was analyzed by treating PD mice alternatively with a Treg adoptive transfer, while CD28SA effect on levels of neurotrophic factors was quantified by ELISA.
We observed an expansion of Treg by FACS analyses three days after CD28SA treatment, demonstrating target engagement. CD28SA treatment of AAV1/2-A53T-alpha-Syn mice provided neuroprotection evident through elevated numbers of dopaminergic neurons in the SN and higher optical density of TH-staining in the striatum, in CD28SA-treated mice compared to PBS-treated control mice, and that was reflected in an enhanced performance in behavioral studies. Additionally, brain infiltration of proinflammatory activated T lymphocytes (CD4+CD69+ and CD8+CD69+ cells), that were obvious in PBS-treated AAV1/2-A53T-alpha-Syn control mice, was augmented in PD mice receiving CD28SA. The alternative treatment with Treg adoptive transfer did replicate the beneficial effects of CD28SA indicating that Treg expansion is the main effector mechanism by which it exerts its neuroprotective effect. CD28SA treatment of PD mice led to an increase of GDNF and BDNF in some brain structures that was not observed in untreated mice.
We conclude that in the AAV1/2-A53T-alpha-Syn PD mouse model, CD28SA suppresses proinflammation, reverses behavioral deficits and is neuroprotective on SN dopaminergic cells.
Neurodegeneration plays an essential role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Several crucial neuronal pro-and antidegeneration markers were described to be altered in disease models accompanied by neurodegeneration. In the AAV1/2-A53T-aSyn PD rat model progressive time-dependent motor impairment and neurodegeneration in the nigrostriatal tract starting from 2 weeks after PD model induction could be found. Downregulation of Nrf2 in SN and nigrostriatal axon localization, a trend of Tau downregulation in SN and upregulation in axon localization in the AAV1/2-A53T-aSyn PD rat model were observed, indicating potential therapeutic value of these two molecular targets in PD. No alterations of SARM1 and NMNAT2 could be detected, indicating little relevance of these two molecules with our AAV1/2-A53T-aSyn rat model.
Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is the most common motor neurodegenerative disorder has attracted a tremendous amount of research advancement amid the challenges of the lack of an appropriate model that summate all the features of the human disease. Nevertheless, an aspect of the disease that is yet to be fully elucidated is the role of the immune system particularly the adaptive arm in the pathogenesis of PD. The focus of this study therefore was to characterize the contribution of lymphocytes in PD using the AAV1/2-A53T-α-synuclein mouse model of the disease that encodes for human mutated A53T-α-synuclein. This model was suitable for this research because it reflects more faithfully the molecular pathology underlying the human disease by exhibition of insoluble α-synuclein containing Lewy-like protein aggregates as compared to the more classical toxin models used in PD research. The outcome of this study showed that stereotaxic delivery of pathogenic α-synuclein via a viral vector into the substantia nigra engender the invasion of activated CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in the brain. The invasion of activated T cells in the brain especially in the substantia nigra then results in enhanced microglial activation and the disintegration of dopaminergic neurons. In addition, it was also discovered that CD4+ T cells augmented dopaminergic cell death to a greater extent than CD8+ T cells although; axonal degeneration occurred relatively independent from T cells contribution. The ex vivo and in vitro, experiments also indicated that the T cells were not only activated but they were specific to the mutated human α-synuclein antigen. As a result, they demonstrated selectivity in inducing more cell death to primary hippocampal neurons transduced with AAV1/2-A53T-α-synuclein vector than neurons with empty viral vector infection. The mechanism of T cell induced neuronal cell loss could not be attributed to the presence of cytokines neither was it mediated through MHC I and II. On the whole, this research has established that the presence of pathogenic α-synuclein in the substantia nigra has the potential to trigger immune responses that involve the transmigration of adaptive immune cells into the brain. The infiltration of the T cells consequently has a detrimental effect on the survival of dopaminergic neurons and the progression of the disease
Effects of dopamine on BDNF / TrkB mediated signaling and plasticity on cortico-striatal synapses
(2021)
Progressive loss of voluntary movement control is the central symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD). Even today, we are not yet able to cure PD. This is mainly due to a lack of understanding the mechanisms of movement control, network activity and plasticity in motor circuits, in particular between the cerebral cortex and the striatum. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has emerged as one of the most important factors for the development and survival of neurons, as well as for synaptic plasticity. It is thus an important target for the development of new therapeutic strategies against neurodegenerative diseases. Together with its receptor, the Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), it is critically involved in development and function of the striatum. Nevertheless, little is known about the localization of BDNF within presynaptic terminals in the striatum, as well as the types of neurons that produce BDNF in the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, the influence of midbrain derived dopamine on the control of BDNF / TrkB interaction in striatal medium spiny neurons (MSNs) remains elusive so far. Dopamine, however, appears to play an important role, as its absence leads to drastic changes in striatal synaptic plasticity. This suggests that dopamine could regulate synaptic activity in the striatum via modulation of BDNF / TrkB function. To answer these questions, we have developed a sensitive and reliable protocol for the immunohistochemical detection of endogenous BDNF. We find that the majority of striatal BDNF is provided by glutamatergic, cortex derived afferents and not dopaminergic inputs from the midbrain. In fact, we found BDNF in cell bodies of neurons in layers II-III and V of the primary and secondary motor cortex as well as layer V of the somatosensory cortex. These are the brain areas that send dense projections to the dorsolateral striatum for control of voluntary movement. Furthermore, we could show that these projection neurons significantly downregulate the expression of BDNF during the juvenile development of mice between 3 and 12 weeks.
In parallel, we found a modulatory effect of dopamine on the translocation of TrkB to the cell surface in postsynaptic striatal Medium Spiny Neurons (MSNs). In MSNs of the direct pathway (dMSNs), which express dopamine receptor 1 (DRD1), we observed the formation of TrkB aggregates in the 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) model of PD. This suggests that DRD1 activity controls TrkB surface expression in these neurons. In contrast, we found that DRD2 activation has opposite effects in MSNs of the indirect pathway (iMSNs). Activation of DRD2 promotes a rapid decrease in TrkB surface expression which was reversible and depended on cAMP. In parallel, stimulation of DRD2 led to induction of phospho-TrkB (pTrkB). This effect was significantly slower than the effect on TrkB surface expression and indicates that TrkB is transactivated by DRD2. Together, our data provide evidence that dopamine triggers dual modes of plasticity on striatal MSNs by acting on TrkB surface expression in DRD1 and DRD2 expressing MSNs. This surface expression of the receptor is crucial for the binding of BDNF, which is released from corticostriatal afferents. This leads to the induction of TrkB-mediated downstream signal transduction cascades and long-term potentiation (LTP). Therefore, the dopamine-mediated translocation of TrkB could be a mediator that modulates the balance between dopaminergic and glutamatergic signaling to allow synaptic plasticity in a spatiotemporal manner. This information and the fact that TrkB is segregated to persistent aggregates in PD could help to improve our understanding of voluntary movement control and to develop new therapeutic strategies beyond those focusing on dopaminergic supply.
Die kausalen Ursachen, die zur Auslösung der neurodegenerativen Erkrankung Morbus Parkinson führen, sind noch immer unklar. Man nimmt heute an, daß das Absterben dopaminerger Neurone im Mittelhirn von Parkinsonpatienten multifaktoriell ausgelöst wird. Genetische Prädisposition sowie endogene und exogene Umweltgifte wie etwa Substanzen, die strukturelle Ähnlichkeit mit dem bekanntesten dopaminergen Neurotoxin MPTP (1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,5-tetrahydropyridin) besitzen, werden als Hauptursachen für die Entstehung des Parkinsonsyndroms diskutiert. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit einer neuen Klasse von neurotoxisch wirksamen Tetrahydro-b-carbolinen, die sich von Trichloracetaldehyd (Chloral) ableiten. Die wohl prominenteste Verbindung in dieser Reihe ist TaClo (1-Trichlormethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-b-carbolin), das im menschlichen Körper nach Aufnahme des Schlafmittels Chloralhydrat durch Pictet-Spengler-Kondensation mit dem endogen vorhandenen Tryptamin gebildet wird. Zusätzlich scheint die Bildung von TaClo aus dem Industrielösungsmittel TRI (Trichlorethylen), das im Organismus zu Chloral metabolisiert wird, möglich. Die über Chloral eingeführte große CCl3-Gruppe erhöht die Lipophilie von TaClo, die Passage der Blut-Hirn-Schranke ist erleichtert. In der Tat haben zahlreiche Untersuchungen in vitro und in vivo gezeigt, daß TaClo toxische Prozesse in dopaminergen und serotonergen Systemen zu induzieren vermag. Ein wesentliches Ziel dieser Arbeit bestand darin, die in-vivo-Entstehung und Metabolisierung von TaClo im Menschen sowie den Einfluß dieses Neurotoxins auf die DNA herauszuarbeiten und näher zu untersuchen. Im einzelnen wurden folgende Ergebnisse erzielt: TaClo schädigt die DNA, wie Versuche an zellfreier DNA und in-vitro-Experimente an PC12-Zellen belegen. Die endogene Bildung von TaClo in Chloralhydrat-behandelten Patienten und die in-vitro-Entstehung von TaClo aus Trichlorethylen wurde mittels HPLC-ESI-MS-MS-Analytik eindeutig bewiesen. Außerdem wurden erste Hinweise auf eine Anreicherung des Neurotoxins im menschlichen Körper erhalten. Stereostrukturelle Aspekte der Bildung und Verstoffwechslung von TaClo wurden aufgeklärt und TaClo-Metabolite in in-vitro- und in-vivo-Proben identifiziert. Das Tetrahydro-b-carbolin entsteht in racemischer Form, wird also nicht enzymatisch sondern spontan durch Pictet-Spengler-Reaktion gebildet. Zusätzlich wurden Hinweise auf eine enzymatische Metabolisierung von TaClo gefunden. Außerdem gelang es, eine etablierte Methode des oxidativen Abbaus zur Aufklärung der absoluten Konfiguration von Tetrahydropyridin-Heterocyclen [z.B. Eleagnin] auf Substanzen mit benzylischer Hydroxy- oder Metylether-Gruppe zu erweitern. Geringe Mengen (1-2 mg) an Substanzen, die in benzylischer Position eine chirale Sauerstoffunktion besitzen, wurden durch Ruthenium-katalysierte Oxidation zu GC-gängigen Säuren abgebaut, deren absolute Konfiguration nach Trennung an chiraler Phase durch Vergleich mit enantiomerenreinem Referenzmaterial bestimmt wurde. Diese Zuordnung erlaubte den Rückschluß auf die absolute Konfiguration einer Reihe Ausgangsverbindungen.