scholarly journals Inflammasome-derived cytokine IL18 suppresses amyloid-induced seizures in Alzheimer-prone mice

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (36) ◽  
pp. 9002-9007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Te-Chen Tzeng ◽  
Yuto Hasegawa ◽  
Risa Iguchi ◽  
Amy Cheung ◽  
Daniel R. Caffrey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Seizure Activity ◽  
Synaptic Proteins ◽  
Amyloid Peptide ◽  
Spine Density ◽  
Central Neurons ◽  
Chemically Induced ◽  
Neuronal Transmission ◽  
Selective Increase

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by the progressive destruction and dysfunction of central neurons. AD patients commonly have unprovoked seizures compared with age-matched controls. Amyloid peptide-related inflammation is thought to be an important aspect of AD pathogenesis. We previously reported that NLRP3 inflammasome KO mice, when bred into APPswe/PS1ΔE9 (APP/PS1) mice, are completely protected from amyloid-induced AD-like disease, presumably because they cannot produce mature IL1β or IL18. To test the role of IL18, we bred IL18KO mice with APP/PS1 mice. Surprisingly, IL18KO/APP/PS1 mice developed a lethal seizure disorder that was completely reversed by the anticonvulsant levetiracetam. IL18-deficient AD mice showed a lower threshold in chemically induced seizures and a selective increase in gene expression related to increased neuronal activity. IL18-deficient AD mice exhibited increased excitatory synaptic proteins, spine density, and basal excitatory synaptic transmission that contributed to seizure activity. This study identifies a role for IL18 in suppressing aberrant neuronal transmission in AD.

scholarly journals CREB-mediated synaptogenesis and neurogenesis is crucial for the role of 5-HT1a receptors in modulating anxiety behaviors

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Cheng-Yun Cai ◽  
Hai-Yin Wu ◽  
Li-Juan Zhu ◽  
Chun-Xia Luo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anxiolytic Effect ◽  
Camp Response Element Binding ◽  
Dominant Negative ◽  
Synaptic Proteins ◽  
Spine Density ◽  
Camp Response Element ◽  
Anxiogenic Effect ◽  
Element Binding Protein ◽  
Synapse Density

Abstract Serotonin 1a-receptor (5-HT1aR) has been specifically implicated in the pathogenesis of anxiety. However, the mechanism underlying the role of 5-HT1aR in anxiety remains poorly understood. Here we show in mice that the transcription factor cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the hippocampus functions as an effector of 5-HT1aR in modulating anxiety-related behaviors. We generated recombinant lentivirus LV-CREB133-GFP expressing a dominant negative CREB which could not be phosphorylated at Ser133 to specifically reduce CREB activity, and LV-VP16-CREB-GFP expressing a constitutively active fusion protein VP16-CREB which could be phosphorylated by itself to specifically enhance CREB activity. LV-CREB133-GFP neutralized 5-HT1aR agonist-induced up-regulation of synapse density, spine density, dendrite complexity, neurogenesis, and the expression of synapsin and spinophilin, two well-characterized synaptic proteins, and abolished the anxiolytic effect of 5-HT1aR agonist; whereas LV-VP16-CREB-GFP rescued the 5-HT1aR antagonist-induced down-regulation of synapse density, spine density, dendrite complexity, neurogenesis and synapsin and spinophilin expression, and reversed the anxiogenic effect of 5-HT1aR antagonist. The deletion of neurogenesis by irradiation or the diminution of synaptogenesis by knockdown of synapsin expression abolished the anxiolytic effects of both CREB and 5-HT1aR activation. These findings suggest that CREB-mediated hippoacampus structural plasticity is crucial for the role of 5-HT1aR in modulating anxiety-related behaviors.

scholarly journals Neuron-Derived Estrogen—A Key Neuromodulator in Synaptic Function and Memory

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (24) ◽  
pp. 13242
Author(s):  
Darrell W. Brann ◽  
Yujiao Lu ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Gangadhara R. Sareddy ◽  
Uday P. Pratap ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Plasticity ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Reference Memory ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Synaptic Proteins ◽  
Spine Density ◽  
And Function ◽  
The Brain

In addition to being a steroid hormone, 17β-estradiol (E2) is also a neurosteroid produced in neurons in various regions of the brain of many species, including humans. Neuron-derived E2 (NDE2) is synthesized from androgen precursors via the action of the biosynthetic enzyme aromatase, which is located at synapses and in presynaptic terminals in neurons in both the male and female brain. In this review, we discuss evidence supporting a key role for NDE2 as a neuromodulator that regulates synaptic plasticity and memory. Evidence supporting an important neuromodulatory role of NDE2 in the brain has come from studies using aromatase inhibitors, aromatase overexpression in neurons, global aromatase knockout mice, and the recent development of conditional forebrain neuron-specific knockout mice. Collectively, these studies demonstrate a key role of NDE2 in the regulation of synapse and spine density, efficacy of excitatory synaptic transmission and long-term potentiation, and regulation of hippocampal-dependent recognition memory, spatial reference memory, and contextual fear memory. NDE2 is suggested to achieve these effects through estrogen receptor-mediated regulation of rapid kinase signaling and CREB-BDNF signaling pathways, which regulate actin remodeling, as well as transcription, translation, and transport of synaptic proteins critical for synaptic plasticity and function.

The photoreceptor cytoskeleton visualized

1992 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 480-481
Author(s):  
Beth Burnside
Keyword(s):  
Outer Segment ◽  
Pigment Epithelium ◽  
Retinal Pigment ◽  
Cell Polarization ◽  
Synaptic Proteins ◽  
Cell Functions ◽  
Vertebrate Photoreceptor ◽  
Numerous Cell ◽  
Turn Over

The vertebrate photoreceptor provides a drammatic example of cell polarization. Specialized to carry out phototransduction at its distal end and to synapse with retinal interneurons at its proximal end, this long slender cell has a uniquely polarized morphology which is reflected in a similarly polarized cytoskeleton. Membranes bearing photopigment are localized in the outer segment, a modified sensory cilium. Sodium pumps which maintain the dark current critical to photosensory transduction are anchored along the inner segment plasma membrane between the outer segment and the nucleus.Proximal to the nucleus is a slender axon terminating in specialized invaginating synapses with other neurons of the retina. Though photoreceptor diameter is only 3-8u, its length from the tip of the outer segment to the synapse may be as great as 200μ. This peculiar linear cell morphology poses special logistical problems and has evoked interesting solutions for numerous cell functions. For example, the outer segment membranes turn over by means of a unique mechanism in which new disks are continuously added at the proximal base of the outer segment, while effete disks are discarded at the tip and phagocytosed by the retinal pigment epithelium. Outer segment proteins are synthesized in the Golgi near the nucleus and must be transported north through the inner segment to their sites of assembly into the outer segment, while synaptic proteins must be transported south through the axon to the synapse.The role of the cytoskeleton in photoreceptor motile processes is being intensely investigated in several laboratories.

Role of small nuclear RNAs in eukaryotic gene expression

2013 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 79-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saba Valadkhan ◽  
Lalith S. Gunawardane
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Rna Stability ◽  
Splice Sites ◽  
Branch Site ◽  
Small Nuclear Rnas ◽  
Eukaryotic Gene Expression ◽  
Eukaryotic Gene ◽  
Rna Biogenesis

Eukaryotic cells contain small, highly abundant, nuclear-localized non-coding RNAs [snRNAs (small nuclear RNAs)] which play important roles in splicing of introns from primary genomic transcripts. Through a combination of RNA–RNA and RNA–protein interactions, two of the snRNPs, U1 and U2, recognize the splice sites and the branch site of introns. A complex remodelling of RNA–RNA and protein-based interactions follows, resulting in the assembly of catalytically competent spliceosomes, in which the snRNAs and their bound proteins play central roles. This process involves formation of extensive base-pairing interactions between U2 and U6, U6 and the 5′ splice site, and U5 and the exonic sequences immediately adjacent to the 5′ and 3′ splice sites. Thus RNA–RNA interactions involving U2, U5 and U6 help position the reacting groups of the first and second steps of splicing. In addition, U6 is also thought to participate in formation of the spliceosomal active site. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests additional roles for snRNAs in regulation of various aspects of RNA biogenesis, from transcription to polyadenylation and RNA stability. These snRNP-mediated regulatory roles probably serve to ensure the co-ordination of the different processes involved in biogenesis of RNAs and point to the central importance of snRNAs in eukaryotic gene expression.

Cell-specific regulation of IRS-1 gene expression: role of E box and C/EBP binding site in HepG2 cells and CHO cells

Diabetes ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 354-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Matsuda ◽  
E. Araki ◽  
R. Yoshimura ◽  
K. Tsuruzoe ◽  
N. Furukawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Binding Site ◽  
Cho Cells ◽  
Hepg2 Cells ◽  
E Box ◽  
Specific Regulation

Grape Seeds Extract as Brain Food: A Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Souad El Gengaihi ◽  
Doha H. Abou Baker
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activities ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Grape Seed Extract ◽  
Grape Seed ◽  
Seed Extract ◽  
Amyloid Peptide ◽  
Grape Seeds ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Reduced Risk

Interest in the biological role of bioactive compounds present in medicinal herbs has increased over the last years. Of particular interest are plants that have an anti-Alzheimer activities. Several plants can be useful for Alzheimer (AD) management. Such as these which have anti-inflammatory activity, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory action, antiapoptotic, slow the aggregation of amyloid peptide and antioxidant activities. Grape seed extract (GSE) is a complex mixture of several compounds, mostly represented by polyphenols and flavonoids. Their consumption is safe and is recognized to exert several health benefits. GS flavonoids have been associated with the reduced risk of chronic diseases, we present some findings on the potential benefits of GSE for the treatment of AD.

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