Oxaloacetate treatment preserves motor function in SOD1G93A mice and normalizes select neuroinflammation-related parameters in the spinal cord

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains a devastating motor neuron disease with limited treatment options. Oxaloacetate treatment has a neuroprotective effect in rodent models of seizure and neurodegeneration. Therefore, we treated the ALS model superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) G93A mice with oxaloacetate and evaluated their neuromuscular function and lifespan. Treatment with oxaloacetate beginning in the presymptomatic stage significantly improved neuromuscular strength measured during the symptomatic stage in the injected mice compared to the non-treated group. Oxaloacetate treatment starting in the symptomatic stage significantly delayed limb paralysis compared with the non-treated group. For lifespan analysis, oxaloacetate treatment did not show a statistically significant positive effect, but the treatment did not shorten the lifespan. Mechanistically, SOD1G93A mice showed increased levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and peroxisome proliferative activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) mRNAs in the spinal cord. However, oxaloacetate treatment reverted these abnormal levels to that of wild-type mice. Similarly, the altered expression level of total NF-κB protein returned to that of wild-type mice with oxaloacetate treatment. These results suggest that the beneficial effects of oxaloacetate treatment in SOD1G93A mice may reflect the effects on neuroinflammation or bioenergetic stress.

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Functional and Structural Effects of Erythropoietin Subconjunctival Administration in Glaucomatous Animals

Biomedicine Hub ◽

10.1159/000488970 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ana Paula Resende ◽

Serge G. Rosolen ◽

Telmo Nunes ◽

Berta São Braz ◽

Esmeralda Delgado

Keyword(s):

Neuroprotective Effect ◽

Treated Group ◽

Retinal Function ◽

Function Evaluation ◽

Control Group ◽

Albino Rats ◽

Subconjunctival Injection ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Structural Evaluation ◽

Retinal Structure

Purpose: The present study aimed to assess functional and structural benefits of erythropoietin (EPO) when administered subconjunctivally in the retina of glaucomatous rats using electroretinography (ERG) and retinal thickness (RT) measurements. Methods: Glaucoma was experimentally induced in 26 Wistar Hannover albino rats. Animals were divided into 2 groups of 13 animals each: a treated group receiving a unique subconjunctival injection of 1,000 IU of EPO and a control group receiving a saline solution. In each group, 7 animals were used for retinal function evaluation (ERG) and 6 animals were used for retinal structural evaluation (histology). RT was measured, dorsally and ventrally, at 500 μm (RT1) and at 1,500 μm (RT2) from the optic nerve. Results: Retinal function evaluation: for both scotopic and photopic conditions, ERG wave amplitudes increased in the treated group. This increase was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in photopic conditions. Structural evaluation: for both locations RT1 and RT2, the retinas were significantly (p < 0.05) thicker in the treated group. Conclusion: Subconjunctival EPO administration showed beneficial effects both on retinal structure and on retinal function in induced glaucoma in albino rats. This neuroprotective effect should be applied in other animal species.

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Abstract 450: The Role of CD38 as a Therapeutic Target for Protection Against Doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity Through Nad+ Boosting

Circulation Research ◽

10.1161/res.127.suppl_1.450 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 127 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Thais R Peclat ◽

Guillermo Agorrody ◽

Lilian S Gomez ◽

Eduardo N Chini

Keyword(s):

Single Dose ◽

Therapeutic Target ◽

Potential Role ◽

Damage Mechanism ◽

Treated Group ◽

Wild Type ◽

Chemotherapeutic Treatment ◽

Positive Effect ◽

Dose Injection

Background: Doxorubicin is a chemotherapy medication used to treat several types of cancer. Its major adverse effect is cardiotoxicity, which may limit its use. Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC), once developed, carries a poor prognosis. Therefore strategies to prevent or treat DIC are of paramount importance but have not yet been fully developed. Being NAD + a critical nucleotide which is involved in oxy-reduction reactions and CD38 the main NAD + -consuming enzyme responsible for NAD levels regulation and homeostasis, we aim to investigate the link of CD38 and NAD + metabolism in DIC and its potential role as a therapeutic target. Methods: We compared Wild-type (WT) control mice with WT mice treated with a single dose injection of 15 mg/kg of doxorubicin who received vehicle or an antibody that blocksCD38 ecto-enzymatic activity. We also compared genetically CD38 catalytic inactive (CI) mice treated or not with the same single dose injection. Results: Doxorubicin caused a decrease in Ejection Fraction (EF) in WT mice. We also observed that CD38 CI mice treated with doxorubicin did not have changes in EF compared to their control. When compared to WT receiving just doxorubicin, WT mice treated also with the antibody had a trend to improve EF. As for exercise performance, our results show a decrease in exercise capacity induced by doxorubicin that was reversed in the antibody group and did not happen in the CD38 CI mice treated with doxorubicin. Doxorubicin caused a decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) which was improved in the antibody treated group. Moreover, our results show a survival rate that is similar to what has been previously shown, with 50% mortality associated with doxorubicin. Blockage of CD38 activity with antibody reduced mortality in this model to approximately 20%. Mechanistically, we did not observe decreases in NAD+ levels induced by Doxorubicin. However, boost of NAD induced by blocking CD38 was related to protection against DIC. Conclusion: Our results indicate that the damage mechanism of DIC may not be related directly with NAD decrease, but NAD boosting induced by CD38 blockage seems to have a positive effect in protection against cardiac dysfunction related to this chemotherapeutic treatment.

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Hyaluronic acid scaffold has a neuroprotective effect in hemisection spinal cord injury

Journal of Neurosurgery Spine ◽

10.3171/2015.9.spine15628 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 114-124 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Sergiy V. Kushchayev ◽

Morgan B. Giers ◽

Doris Hom Eng ◽

Nikolay L. Martirosyan ◽

Jennifer M. Eschbacher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Neuroprotective Effect ◽

Scar Tissue ◽

Treated Group ◽

Secondary Injury ◽

Sprague Dawley ◽

Sprague Dawley Rats ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Behavioral Assessments

OBJECTIVE Spinal cord injury occurs in 2 phases. The initial trauma is followed by inflammation that leads to fibrous scar tissue, glial scarring, and cavity formation. Scarring causes further axon death around and above the injury. A reduction in secondary injury could lead to functional improvement. In this study, hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogels were implanted into the gap formed in the hemisected spinal cord of Sprague-Dawley rats in an attempt to attenuate damage and regenerate tissue. METHODS A T-10 hemisection spinal cord injury was created in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats; the rats were assigned to a sham, control (phosphate-buffered saline), or HA hydrogel–treated group. One cohort of 23 animals was followed for 12 weeks and underwent weekly behavioral assessments. At 12 weeks, retrograde tracing was performed by injecting Fluoro-Gold in the left L-2 gray matter. At 14 weeks, the animals were killed. The volume of the lesion and the number of cells labeled from retrograde tracing were calculated. Animals in a separate cohort were killed at 8 or 16 weeks and perfused for immunohistochemical analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Samples were stained using H & E, neurofilament stain (neurons and axons), silver stain (disrupted axons), glial fibrillary acidic protein stain (astrocytes), and Iba1 stain (mononuclear cells). RESULTS The lesions were significantly smaller in size and there were more retrograde-labeled cells in the red nuclei of the HA hydrogel–treated rats than in those of the controls; however, the behavioral assessments revealed no differences between the groups. The immunohistochemical analyses revealed decreased fibrous scarring and increased retention of organized intact axonal tissue in the HA hydrogel–treated group. There was a decreased presence of inflammatory cells in the HA hydrogel–treated group. No axonal or neuronal regeneration was observed. CONCLUSIONS The results of these experiments show that HA hydrogel had a neuroprotective effect on the spinal cord by decreasing the magnitude of secondary injury after a lacerating spinal cord injury. Although regeneration and behavioral improvement were not observed, the reduction in disorganized scar tissue and the retention of neurons near and above the lesion are important for future regenerative efforts. In addition, this gel would be useful as the base substrate in the development of a more complex scaffold.

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Role of Fyn-mediated NMDA receptor function in prediabetic neuropathy in mice

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.00229.2016 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 116 (2) ◽

pp. 448-455 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Meng Suo ◽

Ping Wang ◽

Mengyuan Zhang

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Diabetic Neuropathy ◽

High Fat Diet ◽

Normal Diet ◽

Tactile Allodynia ◽

Nr2b Subunit ◽

Wild Type ◽

High Fat ◽

Altered Expression

Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes. This study evaluated the role of Fyn kinase and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) in the spinal cord in diabetic neuropathy using an animal model of high-fat diet-induced prediabetes. We found that prediabetic wild-type mice exhibited tactile allodynia and thermal hypoalgesia after a 16-wk high-fat diet, relative to normal diet-fed wild-type mice. Furthermore, prediabetic wild-type mice exhibited increased tactile allodynia and thermal hypoalgesia at 24 wk relative to 16 wk. Such phenomena were correlated with increased expression and activation of NR2B subunit of NMDARs, as well as Fyn-NR2B interaction in the spinal cord. Fyn−/− mice developed prediabetes after 16-wk high-fat diet treatment and exhibited thermal hypoalgesia, without showing tactile allodynia or altered expression and activation of NR2B subunit, relative to normal diet-fed Fyn−/− mice. Finally, intrathecal administrations of Ro 25-6981 (selective NR2B subunit-containing NMDAR antagonist) dose-dependently alleviated tactile allodynia, but not thermal hypoalgesia, at 16 and 24 wk in prediabetic wild-type mice. Our results suggested that Fyn-mediated NR2B signaling plays a critical role in regulation of prediabetic neuropathy and that the increased expression/function of NR2B subunit-containing NMDARs may contribute to the progression of neuropathy in type 2 diabetes.

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“Proximalization is Advancement”—Zone 3 Frozen Elephant Trunk vs Zone 2 Frozen Elephant Trunk: A Literature Review

Vascular and Endovascular Surgery ◽

10.1177/15385744211002493 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 153857442110024

Author(s):

Rozina Yasmin Choudhury ◽

Kamran Basharat ◽

Syeda Anum Zahra ◽

Tien Tran ◽

Lara Rimmer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Injury ◽

Surgical Treatment ◽

Literature Review ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Frozen Elephant Trunk ◽

Elephant Trunk ◽

Descending Aorta ◽

Cord Injury ◽

Aortic Pathologies

Over the decades, the Frozen Elephant Trunk (FET) technique has gained immense popularity allowing simplified treatment of complex aortic pathologies. FET is frequently used to treat aortic conditions involving the distal aortic arch and the proximal descending aorta in a single stage. Surgical preference has recently changed from FET procedures being performed at Zone 3 to Zone 2. There are several advantages of Zone 2 FET over Zone 3 FET including reduction in spinal cord injury, visceral ischemia, neurological and cardiovascular sequelae. In addition, Zone 2 FET is a technically less complicated procedure. Literature on the comparison between Zone 3 and Zone 2 FET is scarce and primarily observational and anecdotal. Therefore, further research is warranted in this paradigm to substantiate current surgical treatment options for complex aortic pathologies. In this review, we explore literature surrounding FET and the reasons for the shift in surgical preference from Zone 3 to Zone 2.

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Long-Term Caloric Restriction Attenuates β-Amyloid Neuropathology and Is Accompanied by Autophagy in APPswe/PS1delta9 Mice

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13030985 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 985

Author(s):

Luisa Müller ◽

Nicole Power Guerra ◽

Jan Stenzel ◽

Claire Rühlmann ◽

Tobias Lindner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Caloric Restriction ◽

Neuroprotective Effect ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Positron Emission ◽

Pet Ct ◽

Amyloid Aβ ◽

Β Amyloid

Caloric restriction (CR) slows the aging process, extends lifespan, and exerts neuroprotective effects. It is widely accepted that CR attenuates β-amyloid (Aβ) neuropathology in models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by so-far unknown mechanisms. One promising process induced by CR is autophagy, which is known to degrade aggregated proteins such as amyloids. In addition, autophagy positively regulates glucose uptake and may improve cerebral hypometabolism—a hallmark of AD—and, consequently, neural activity. To evaluate this hypothesis, APPswe/PS1delta9 (tg) mice and their littermates (wild-type, wt) underwent CR for either 16 or 68 weeks. Whereas short-term CR for 16 weeks revealed no noteworthy changes of AD phenotype in tg mice, long-term CR for 68 weeks showed beneficial effects. Thus, cerebral glucose metabolism and neuronal integrity were markedly increased upon 68 weeks CR in tg mice, indicated by an elevated hippocampal fluorodeoxyglucose [18F] ([18F]FDG) uptake and increased N-acetylaspartate-to-creatine ratio using positron emission tomography/computer tomography (PET/CT) imaging and magnet resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Improved neuronal activity and integrity resulted in a better cognitive performance within the Morris Water Maze. Moreover, CR for 68 weeks caused a significant increase of LC3BII and p62 protein expression, showing enhanced autophagy. Additionally, a significant decrease of Aβ plaques in tg mice in the hippocampus was observed, accompanied by reduced microgliosis as indicated by significantly decreased numbers of iba1-positive cells. In summary, long-term CR revealed an overall neuroprotective effect in tg mice. Further, this study shows, for the first time, that CR-induced autophagy in tg mice accompanies the observed attenuation of Aβ pathology.

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A32 EMPAGLIFOZIN IMPROVES GASTROINTESTINAL INFLAMMATION IN A MOUSE MODEL OF COLITIS

Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology ◽

10.1093/jcag/gwab002.031 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 213-215

Author(s):

K Madsen ◽

H Dang ◽

N Hotte ◽

V Mocanu ◽

M Ferdaoussi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Model ◽

Sglt2 Inhibitor ◽

Direct Effects ◽

Lipocalin 2 ◽

Wild Type ◽

Gut Inflammation ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Histological Score ◽

Cytokine Levels ◽

Gastrointestinal Inflammation

Abstract Background Empagliflozin (EMPA) is a highly selective sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor and is increasingly being utilized as an antihyperglycemic agent in the management of type 2 diabetes. Interestingly, it has been demonstrated in human trials that EMPA treatment exerts potent cardioprotective effects by reducing cardiac inflammation independently of glycemic control. Further, EMPA has also been shown to suppress LPS-induced renal and systemic inflammation in an animal model. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that EMPA treatment may also be effective in reducing gut inflammation. Aims The aim of this study was to examine the effects of treatment with EMPA on gastrointestinal inflammation in an animal model of inflammatory bowel disease and to determine mechanistic insights regarding its direct effects on gut cytokine secretion. Methods Adult male and female IL-10-/- mice with established colitis were treated with a daily gavage of EMPA (10mg/kg; n=10) or vehicle (n=10) for 14 days. Disease activity was assessed by measurement of mouse weight, colonic weight and length, histological score, cytokine levels in colonic homogenate and lipocalin-2 levels in stool. To examine for possible direct effects of EMPA, colonic explants from wild-type (n=8) and IL-10-/- (n=8) mice were incubated with increasing doses of EMPA (0.1–5 µM) ± LPS (10µg/ml) for 2 hours and tissue levels of IL-1β and TNFα protein measured by ELISA. Results After 14 days EMPA treated IL-10-/- mice had a significant improvement in colonic inflammation as evidenced by decreased colonic weight to length ratio (p=0.019), decreased fecal lipocalin-2 (p=0.03), as well as decreased enterocyte injury (p=0.01), decreased lamina propria neutrophils (p=0.01) and decreased total histological score (p=0.006). EMPA treated mice also maintained their weight over the 14 days while untreated mice continued to lose weight (p=0.04). There were no significant differences in colonic homogenate levels of TNFα, IL-1β, or IL-6 or in blood glucose levels between EMPA-treated mice and controls. In addition, EMPA did not suppress levels of basal or LPS-induced TNFα and IL-1β in colonic explants from either wild-type or IL-10-/- mice suggesting that the beneficial effects in IL-10-/- mice were not due to direct effects of EMPA on colonic TNFα or IL-1β cytokine levels. Conclusions EMPA treatment dramatically improved histologic and fecal inflammatory markers and maintained body weight in adult IL-10-/- mice with established colitis. These findings suggest further investigations into the effects of EMPA in treating gut inflammation are warranted. Funding Agencies CAG, CIHR

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Molecular and Biochemical Pathways of Catalpol in Alleviating Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom11020323 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 323

Author(s):

Subrat Kumar Bhattamisra ◽

Hui Min Koh ◽

Shin Yean Lim ◽

Hira Choudhury ◽

Manisha Pandey

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Diabetic Complications ◽

Inflammatory Markers ◽

Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase ◽

Neuroprotective Effect ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Ppar Γ ◽

High Glucose Condition ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Catalpol isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa is a potent antioxidant and investigated against many disorders. This review appraises the key molecular pathways of catalpol against diabetes mellitus and its complications. Multiple search engines including Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct were used to retrieve publications containing the keywords “Catalpol”, “Type 1 diabetes mellitus”, “Type 2 diabetes mellitus”, and “diabetic complications”. Catalpol promotes IRS-1/PI3K/AKT/GLUT2 activity and suppresses Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and Glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) expression in the liver. Catalpol induces myogenesis by increasing MyoD/MyoG/MHC expression and improves mitochondria function through the AMPK/PGC-1α/PPAR-γ and TFAM signaling in skeletal muscles. Catalpol downregulates the pro-inflammatory markers and upregulates the anti-inflammatory markers in adipose tissues. Catalpol exerts antioxidant properties through increasing superoxide dismutase (sod), catalase (cat), and glutathione peroxidase (gsh-px) activity in the pancreas and liver. Catalpol has been shown to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptosis, and anti-fibrosis properties that in turn bring beneficial effects in diabetic complications. Its nephroprotective effect is related to the modulation of the AGE/RAGE/NF-κB and TGF-β/smad2/3 pathways. Catalpol produces a neuroprotective effect by increasing the expression of protein Kinase-C (PKC) and Cav-1. Furthermore, catalpol exhibits a cardioprotective effect through the apelin/APJ and ROS/NF-κB/Neat1 pathway. Catalpol stimulates proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast cells in high glucose condition. Lastly, catalpol shows its potential in preventing neurodegeneration in the retina with NF-κB downregulation. Overall, catalpol exhibits numerous beneficial effects on diabetes mellitus and diabetic complications.

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Treatment options and long-term outcomes in pediatric spinal cord vascular malformations: a case report and review of the literature

Child s Nervous System ◽

10.1007/s00381-020-04624-4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 36 (12) ◽

pp. 3147-3152

Author(s):

Helen J. Zhang ◽

Nicole Silva ◽

Elena Solli ◽

Amanda C. Ayala ◽

Luke Tomycz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Case Report ◽

Vascular Malformations ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Long Term Outcomes

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Nepetoidin B from Salvia plebeia R. Br. Inhibits Inflammation by Modulating the NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 Signaling Pathways in Macrophage Cells

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10081208 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1208

Author(s):

Mina Kim ◽

Ji Yeong Kim ◽

Hee Sun Yang ◽

Jeong-Sook Choe ◽

In Guk Hwang

Keyword(s):

Defense Mechanisms ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Cell Damage ◽

Treated Group ◽

Raw 264.7 Cells ◽

Resonance Spectroscopy ◽

Raw 264.7 ◽

Related Factor ◽

Anti Inflammatory ◽

Factor Α

Salvia plebeia has been used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases, as well as colds and bronchitis. Macrophages have antioxidant defense mechanisms to cope with the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced as part of the immune response. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase (HO)-1 pathway in inflamed macrophages is an appealing target due to its protective effect against ROS-induced cell damage. In this study, nepetoidin B (NeB) was first isolated from S. plebeia and identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. NeB reduced pro-inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2) and cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β) in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. In the NeB-treated group, catalase and superoxide dismutase levels were significantly higher, and ROS expression decreased. By activating Nrf2 signaling, NeB enhanced HO-1 expression. Furthermore, when the cells were pretreated with tin protoporphyrin (an HO-1 inhibitor), the anti-inflammatory effects of NeB were reduced. Therefore, NeB may activate the Nrf2/ HO-1 pathway. These results reveal the NeB isolated from S. plebeia exerts anti-inflammatory effects by modulating NF-κB signaling and activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

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