scholarly journals Clinically approved IVIg delivered to the hippocampus with focused ultrasound promotes neurogenesis in a model of Alzheimer’s disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 117 (51) ◽  
pp. 32691-32700
Author(s):  
Sonam Dubey ◽  
Stefan Heinen ◽  
Slavica Krantic ◽  
JoAnne McLaurin ◽  
Donald R. Branch ◽  
...  

Preclinical and clinical data support the use of focused ultrasound (FUS), in the presence of intravenously injected microbubbles, to safely and transiently increase the permeability of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). FUS-induced BBB permeability has been shown to enhance the bioavailability of administered intravenous therapeutics to the brain. Ideal therapeutics candidates for this mode of delivery are those capable of inducing benefits peripherally following intravenous injection and in the brain at FUS-targeted areas. In Alzheimer’s disease, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), a fractionated human blood product containing polyclonal antibodies, act as immunomodulator peripherally and centrally, and it can reduce amyloid pathology in the brain. Using the TgCRND8 mouse model of amyloidosis, we tested whether FUS can improve the delivery of IVIg, administered intravenously (0.4 g/kg), to the hippocampus and reach an effective dose to reduce amyloid plaque pathology and promote neurogenesis. Our results show that FUS-induced BBB permeability is required to deliver a significant amount of IVIg (489 ng/mg) to the targeted hippocampus of TgCRN8 mice. Two IVIg-FUS treatments, administered at days 1 and 8, significantly increased hippocampal neurogenesis by 4-, 3-, and 1.5-fold in comparison to saline, IVIg alone, and FUS alone, respectively. Amyloid plaque pathology was significantly reduced in all treatment groups: IVIg alone, FUS alone, and IVIg-FUS. Putative factors promoting neurogenesis in response to IVIg-FUS include the down-regulation of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α in the hippocampus. In summary, FUS was required to deliver an effective dose of IVIg to promote hippocampal neurogenesis and modulate the inflammatory milieu.

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 676-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roma Ghai ◽  
Kandasamy Nagarajan ◽  
Meenakshi Arora ◽  
Parul Grover ◽  
Nazakat Ali ◽  
...  

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a chronic, devastating dysfunction of neurons in the brain leading to dementia. It mainly arises due to neuronal injury in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus area of the brain and is clinically manifested as a progressive mental failure, disordered cognitive functions, personality changes, reduced verbal fluency and impairment of speech. The pathology behind AD is the formation of intraneuronal fibrillary tangles, deposition of amyloid plaque and decline in choline acetyltransferase and loss of cholinergic neurons. Tragically, the disease cannot be cured, but its progression can be halted. Various cholinesterase inhibitors available in the market like Tacrine, Donepezil, Galantamine, Rivastigmine, etc. are being used to manage the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. The paper’s objective is to throw light not only on the cellular/genetic basis of the disease, but also on the current trends and various strategies of treatment including the use of phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Enormous literature survey was conducted and published articles of PubMed, Scifinder, Google Scholar, Clinical Trials.org and Alzheimer Association reports were studied intensively to consolidate the information on the strategies available to combat Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, several strategies are being investigated for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Immunotherapies targeting amyloid-beta plaques, tau protein and neural pathways are undergoing clinical trials. Moreover, antisense oligonucleotide methodologies are being approached as therapies for its management. Phytopharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals are also gaining attention in overcoming the symptoms related to AD. The present review article concludes that novel and traditional therapies simultaneously promise future hope for AD treatment.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e53480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiuju Yuan ◽  
Huanxing Su ◽  
Wing Hin Chau ◽  
Cheung Toa Ng ◽  
Jian-Dong Huang ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Yegnanarayanan Venkatraman ◽  
◽  
Narayanaa Y Krithicaa ◽  
Valentina E. Balas ◽  
Marius M. Balas ◽  
...  

Notice that the synapsis of brain is a form of communication. As communication demands connectivity, it is not a surprise that "graph theory" is a fastest growing area of research in the life sciences. It attempts to explain the connections and communication between networks of neurons. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression in brain is due to a deposition and development of amyloid plaque and the loss of communication between nerve cells. Graph/network theory can provide incredible insights into the incorrect wiring leading to memory loss in a progressive manner. Network in AD is slanted towards investigating the intricate patterns of interconnections found in the pathogenesis of brain. Here, we see how the notions of graph/network theory can be prudently exploited to comprehend the Alzheimer’s disease. We begin with introducing concepts of graph/network theory as a model for specific genetic hubs of the brain regions and cellular signalling. We begin with a brief introduction of prevalence and causes of AD followed by outlining its genetic and signalling pathogenesis. We then present some of the network-applied outcome in assessing the disease-signalling interactions, signal transduction of protein-protein interaction, disturbed genetics and signalling pathways as compelling targets of pathogenesis of the disease.


2019 ◽  
pp. S445-S451 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Svobodová ◽  
D. Kosnáč ◽  
Z. Balázsiová ◽  
H. Tanila ◽  
P.O. Miettinen ◽  
...  

Iron is very important element for functioning of the brain. Its concentration changes with aging the brain or during disease. The aim of our work was the histological examination of content of ferritin and free iron (unbound) in brain cortex in association with Aβ plaques from their earliest stages of accumulation in amyloid plaque forming APP/PS1 transgenic mice. Light microscopy revealed the onset of plaques formation at 8-monthage. Detectable traces of free iron and no ferritin were found around plaques at this age, while the rate of their accumulation in and around Aβ plaques was elevated at 13 months of age. Ferritin accumulated mainly on the edge of Aβ plaques, while the smaller amount of free iron was observed in the plaque-free tissue, as well as in and around Aβ plaques. We conclude that free iron and ferritin accumulation follows the amyloid plaques formation. Quantification of cortical iron and ferritin content can be an important marker in the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.


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