Cholesterol homeostasis in the developing brain: a possible new target for ethanol

2007 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 355-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Guizzetti ◽  
LG Costa
Keyword(s):  
Cholesterol Synthesis ◽  
Ethanol Exposure ◽  
Developing Brain ◽  
Cholesterol Homeostasis ◽  
Fetal Alcohol ◽  
Inborn Errors ◽  
Primary Astrocyte ◽  
Glial Cell Proliferation ◽  
The Brain

Cholesterol is an essential component of cell membranes and plays an important role in signal transduction. This brief overview presents evidence from the literature that ethanol may affect cholesterol homeostasis and that, in the developing brain, this may be involved in its developmental neurotoxicity. The effects caused by inborn errors of cholesterol synthesis and by in utero ethanol exposure present several similarities in humans (eg, Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome), as well as in animal models. Ethanol has a cholesterol-reducing effect on the cardiovascular system, and a protective effect against Alzheimer's disease, whose pathogenesis has been linked to altered cholesterol homeostasis in the brain. In vitro, ethanol affects several functions that are mediated by cholesterol and important for brain development, such as glial cell proliferation, synaptogenesis, neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth. The brain contains high levels of cholesterol, mostly synthesized in situ. Astrocytes produce large amounts of cholesterol that can be released by these cells and utilized by neurons to form synapses. Ethanol up-regulates the cholesterol transporter ATP binding cassette A1 and cholesterol efflux from primary astrocyte cultures without affecting cholesterol synthesis. Human & Experimental Toxicology (2007) 26, 355-360

scholarly journals Preclinical characterization of [18F]T-008, a novel PET imaging radioligand for cholesterol 24-hydroxylase

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatsuki Koike ◽  
Cristian C. Constantinescu ◽  
Shuhei Ikeda ◽  
Toshiya Nishi ◽  
Eiji Sunahara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mouse Brain ◽  
Pet Imaging ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Cholesterol Homeostasis ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
In Vivo Evaluation ◽  
The Brain

Abstract Purpose Cholesterol 24-hydroxylase (CH24H) is a brain-specific enzyme that plays a major role in brain cholesterol homeostasis by converting cholesterol into 24S-hydroxycholesterol. The selective CH24H inhibitor soticlestat (TAK-935) is being pursued as a drug for treatment of seizures in developmental and epileptic encephalopathies. Herein, we describe the successful discovery and the preclinical validation of the novel radiolabeled CH24H ligand (3-[18F]fluoroazetidin-1-yl){1-[4-(4-fluorophenyl)pyrimidin-5-yl]piperidin-4-yl}methanone ([18F]T-008) and its tritiated analog, [3H]T-008. Methods In vitro autoradiography (ARG) studies in the CH24H wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) mouse brain sections were conducted using [3H]T-008. PET imaging was conducted in two adult rhesus macaques using [18F]T-008. Each macaque received two test–retest baseline scans and a series of two blocking doses of soticlestat administered prior to [18F]T-008 to determine the CH24H enzyme occupancy. PET data were analyzed with Logan graphical analysis using plasma input. A Lassen plot was applied to estimate CH24H enzyme occupancy by soticlestat. Results In ARG studies, binding of [3H]T-008 was specific to CH24H in the mouse brain sections, which was not observed in CH24H KO or in wild-type mice after pretreatment with soticlestat. In rhesus PET studies, the rank order of [18F]T-008 uptake was striatum > cortical regions > cerebellum, which was consistent with CH24H distribution in the brain. Pre-blocking with soticlestat reduced the maximum uptake and increased the washout in all brain regions in a dose-dependent manner. Calculated global occupancy values for soticlestat at a dose of 0.89 mg/kg were 97–98%, indicating maximum occupancy. Conclusion The preclinical in vitro and in vivo evaluation of labeled T-008 demonstrates that [18F]T-008 is suitable for imaging CH24H in the brain and warrants further studies in humans. Graphical abstract

Electron Microscopy of Fibroblasts from Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy Patients

1981 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 498-499
Author(s):  
S. E. Miller ◽  
G. B. Hartwig ◽  
R. A. Nielsen ◽  
A. P. Frost ◽  
A. D. Roses
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Genetic Diseases ◽  
Skin Fibroblasts ◽  
Inborn Errors ◽  
Cytoplasmic Inclusions ◽  
Cultured Skin ◽  
Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Glycosaminoglycan Metabolism

Many genetic diseases can be demonstrated in skin cells cultured in vitro from patients with inborn errors of metabolism. Since myotonic muscular dystrophy (MMD) affects many organs other than muscle, it seems likely that this defect also might be expressed in fibroblasts. Detection of an alteration in cultured skin fibroblasts from patients would provide a valuable tool in the study of the disease as it would present a readily accessible and controllable system for examination. Furthermore, fibroblast expression would allow diagnosis of fetal and presumptomatic cases. An unusual staining pattern of MMD cultured skin fibroblasts as seen by light microscopy, namely, an increase in alcianophilia and metachromasia, has been reported; both these techniques suggest an altered glycosaminoglycan metabolism An altered growth pattern has also been described. One reference on cultured skin fibroblasts from a different dystrophy (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) reports increased cytoplasmic inclusions seen by electron microscopy. Also, ultrastructural alterations have been reported in muscle and thalamus biopsies from MMD patients, but no electron microscopical data is available on MMD cultured skin fibroblasts.

Reversal of cardiomyopathy resulting from prenatal exposure to ethanol

1984 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 716-717
Author(s):  
C. Uphoff ◽  
C. Nyquist-Battie
Keyword(s):  
Prenatal Exposure ◽  
Heart Development ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Ethanol Exposure ◽  
Prenatal Ethanol Exposure ◽  
Pathological Changes ◽  
Prenatally Exposed ◽  
Inner Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Fetal Alcohol ◽  
Newborn Mice

Fetal Alcohol Syndrone (FAS) is a syndrome with characteristic abnormalities resulting from prenatal exposure to ethanol. In many children with FAS syndrome gross pathological changes in the heart are seen with septal defects the most prevalent abnormality recorded. Few studies in animal models have been performed on the effects of ethanol on heart development. In our laboratory, it has been observed that prenatal ethanol exposure of Swiss albino mice results in abnormal cardiac muscle ultrastructure when mice were examined at birth and compared to pairfed and normal controls. Fig. 1 is an example of the changes that are seen in the ethanol-exposed animals. These changes include enlarged mitochondria with loss of inner mitochondrial membrane integrity and loss of myofibrils. Morphometric analysis substantiated the presence of these alterations from normal cardiac ultrastructure. The present work was undertaken to determine if the pathological changes seen in the newborn mice prenatally exposed to ethanol could be reversed with age and abstinence.

Effect of pH and inhibitors on beta-amyloid fibril assembly

1996 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 752-753
Author(s):  
Beverly E. Maleeff ◽  
Timothy K. Hart ◽  
Stephen J. Wood ◽  
Ronald Wetzel
Keyword(s):  
Amyloid Fibril ◽  
Peptide Fragment ◽  
Hydrophobic Peptides ◽  
Amyloid Fibril Formation ◽  
Effects Of Ph ◽  
Severity Of The Disease ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
The Brain

Alzheimer's disease is characterized post-mortem in part by abnormal extracellular neuritic plaques found in brain tissue. There appears to be a correlation between the severity of Alzheimer's dementia in vivo and the number of plaques found in particular areas of the brain. These plaques are known to be the deposition sites of fibrils of the protein β-amyloid. It is thought that if the assembly of these plaques could be inhibited, the severity of the disease would be decreased. The peptide fragment Aβ, a precursor of the p-amyloid protein, has a 40 amino acid sequence, and has been shown to be toxic to neuronal cells in culture after an aging process of several days. This toxicity corresponds to the kinetics of in vitro amyloid fibril formation. In this study, we report the biochemical and ultrastructural effects of pH and the inhibitory agent hexadecyl-N-methylpiperidinium (HMP) bromide, one of a class of ionic micellar detergents known to be capable of solubilizing hydrophobic peptides, on the in vitro assembly of the peptide fragment Aβ.

Targeting Matrix Metalloproteinases in Atherosclerosis and Cardiovascular Dysfunction

2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 718-720
Author(s):  
Lucia Corina Dima-Cozma ◽  
Sebastian Cozma ◽  
Delia Hinganu ◽  
Cristina Mihaela Ghiciuc ◽  
Florin Mitu
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinases ◽  
Cholesterol Synthesis ◽  
Balloon Dilation ◽  
Aortic Aneurysms ◽  
Arterial Lesions ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cell Migration ◽  
And Migration

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the primary mediators of extracellular remodeling and their properties are useful in diagnostic evaluation and treatment. They are zinc-dependent proteases. MMPs have been involved in the mechanisms of atherosclerosis in various arterial areas, ischemic heart disease and myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation and aortic aneurysms. Recently, MMP9 has been implicated in dyslipidemia and cholesterol synthesis by the liver. Increased MMP expression and activity has been associated with neointimal arterial lesions and migration of smooth muscle cells after arterial balloon dilation, while MMP inhibition decreases smooth muscle cell migration in vivo and in vitro.

Novel Phospholipid-Based Labrasol Nanomicelles Loaded Flavonoids for Oral Delivery with Enhanced Penetration and Anti-Brain Tumor Efficiency

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-245
Author(s):  
Gang Wang ◽  
Junjie Wang ◽  
Rui Guan
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Brain Tumor ◽  
Oral Delivery ◽  
Safe Delivery ◽  
Drug Delivery Vehicles ◽  
Therapeutic Benefits ◽  
Delivery Vehicles ◽  
The Brain

Background: Owing to the rich anticancer properties of flavonoids, there is a need for their incorporation into drug delivery vehicles like nanomicelles for safe delivery of the drug into the brain tumor microenvironment. Objective: This study, therefore, aimed to prepare the phospholipid-based Labrasol/Pluronic F68 modified nano micelles loaded with flavonoids (Nano-flavonoids) for the delivery of the drug to the target brain tumor. Methods: Myricetin, quercetin and fisetin were selected as the initial drugs to evaluate the biodistribution and acute toxicity of the drug delivery vehicles in rats with implanted C6 glioma tumors after oral administration, while the uptake, retention, release in human intestinal Caco-2 cells and the effect on the brain endothelial barrier were investigated in Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HBMECs). Results: The results demonstrated that nano-flavonoids loaded with myricetin showed more evenly distributed targeting tissues and enhanced anti-tumor efficiency in vivo without significant cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells and alteration in the Trans Epithelial Electric Resistance (TEER). There was no pathological evidence of renal, hepatic or other organs dysfunction after the administration of nanoflavonoids, which showed no significant influence on cytotoxicity to Caco-2 cells. Conclusion: In conclusion, Labrasol/F68-NMs loaded with MYR and quercetin could enhance antiglioma effect in vitro and in vivo, which may be better tools for medical therapy, while the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of nano-flavonoids may ensure optimal therapeutic benefits.

Electromagnetic field in Alzheimer’s disease: a literature review of recent preclinical and clinical studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reem Habib Mohamad Ali Ahmad ◽  
Marc Fakhoury ◽  
Nada Lawand
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies ◽  
The Brain

: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of neurons leading to cognitive and memory decay. The main signs of AD include the irregular extracellular accumulation of amyloidbeta (Aβ) protein in the brain and the hyper-phosphorylation of tau protein inside neurons. Changes in Aβ expression or aggregation are considered key factors in the pathophysiology of sporadic and early-onset AD and correlate with the cognitive decline seen in patients with AD. Despite decades of research, current approaches in the treatment of AD are only symptomatic in nature and are not effective in slowing or reversing the course of the disease. Encouragingly, recent evidence revealed that exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF) can delay the development of AD and improve memory. This review paper discusses findings from in vitro and in vivo studies that investigate the link between EMF and AD at the cellular and behavioural level, and highlights the potential benefits of EMF as an innovative approach for the treatment of AD.

Serotonin elicits long-lasting enhancement of rhythmic respiratory activity in turtle brain stems in vitro

2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 2703-2712 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen M. Johnson ◽  
Julia E. R. Wilkerson ◽  
Daniel R. Henderson ◽  
Michael R. Wenninger ◽  
Gordon S. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Brain Stem ◽  
Respiratory Activity ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Frequency Increase ◽  
Burst Frequency ◽  
Bath Application ◽  
Burst Amplitude ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
The Brain

Brain stem preparations from adult turtles were used to determine how bath-applied serotonin (5-HT) alters respiration-related hypoglossal activity in a mature vertebrate. 5-HT (5–20 μM) reversibly decreased integrated burst amplitude by ∼45% ( P < 0.05); burst frequency decreased in a dose-dependent manner with 20 μM abolishing bursts in 9 of 13 preparations ( P < 0.05). These 5-HT-dependent effects were mimicked by application of a 5-HT1A agonist, but not a 5-HT1B agonist, and were abolished by the broad-spectrum 5-HT antagonist, methiothepin. During 5-HT (20 μM) washout, frequency rebounded to levels above the original baseline for 40 min ( P < 0.05) and remained above baseline for 2 h. A 5-HT3 antagonist (tropesitron) blocked the post-5-HT rebound and persistent frequency increase. A 5-HT3 agonist (phenylbiguanide) increased frequency during and after bath application ( P < 0.05). When phenylbiguanide was applied to the brain stem of brain stem/spinal cord preparations, there was a persistent frequency increase ( P < 0.05), but neither spinal-expiratory nor -inspiratory burst amplitude were altered. The 5-HT3receptor-dependent persistent frequency increase represents a unique model of plasticity in vertebrate rhythm generation.

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