scholarly journals Brief freezing steps lead to robust immunofluorescence in the Drosophila nervous system

BioTechniques ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 299-305
Author(s):  
Ada Thapa ◽  
Shea M Sullivan ◽  
Minh Q Nguyen ◽  
Dominic Buckley ◽  
Vy T Ngo ◽  
...  

Drosophila melanogaster possesses a complex nervous system, regulating sophisticated behavioral outputs, that serves as a powerful model for dissecting molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal function and neurodegenerative disease. Immunofluorescence techniques provide a way to visualize the spatiotemporal organization of these networks, permitting observation of their development, functional location, remodeling and, eventually, degradation. However, basic immunostaining techniques do not always result in efficient antibody penetration through the brain, and supplemental techniques to enhance permeability can compromise structural integrity, altering spatial organization. Here, slow freezing of brains is shown to facilitate antibody permeability without loss of antibody specificity or brain integrity. To demonstrate the advantages of this freezing technique, the results of two commonly used permeation methods – detergent-based and partial proteolytic digestion – are compared.

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Buckley ◽  
Ada Thapa ◽  
Minh Q. Nguyen ◽  
Essence Blankinship ◽  
Diana Williamson ◽  
...  

AbstractDrosophila melanogaster possess complex neuronal networks regulating sophisticated behavioral outputs that aid in studying the molecular mechanisms of neuronal function and neurodegenerative disease. Immunofluorescence (IF) techniques provide a way to visualize the spatiotemporal organization of these networks, permitting observation of their development, functional location, remodeling, and eventually - degradation. However, general immunostaining techniques do not always result in sufficient antibody penetration through the brain, and techniques used to enhance permeability can compromise structural integrity. We have found that freezing larval brains facilitates permeability with no apparent loss of antibody specificity or structural integrity. To demonstrate the advantage of this freezing technique, we compared results to two commonly used permeation methods: Detergent alone (Basic) and proteolytic degradation (Collagenase) techniques.SummaryHere we compare four different immunofluorescence techniques demonstrating that freezing Drosophila brains results in robust staining of small neurons in the larval brain without compromising structural integrity.


Psychiatry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 125-134
Author(s):  
E. F. Vasilyeva ◽  
O. S. Brusov

Background: at present, the important role of the monocyte-macrophage link of immunity in the pathogenesis of mental diseases has been determined. In the first and second parts of our review, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of activation of monocytes/macrophages, which secreting proinflammatory CD16 receptors, cytokines, chemokines and receptors to them, in the development of systemic immune inflammation in the pathogenesis of somatic diseases and mental disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder (BAD) and depression were analyzed. The association of high levels of proinflammatory activity of monocytes/macrophages in patients with mental disorders with somatic comorbidity, including immune system diseases, is shown. It is known that proinflammatory monocytes of peripheral blood, as a result of violation of the integrity of the hematoencephalic barrier can migrate to the central nervous system and activate the resident brain cells — microglia, causing its activation. Activation of microglia can lead to the development of neuroinammation and neurodegenerative processes in the brain and, as a result, to cognitive disorders. The aim of review: to analyze the results of the main scientific studies concerning the role of cellular and molecular mechanisms of peripheral blood monocytes interaction with microglial cells and platelets in the development of neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of mental disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Material and methods: keywords “mental disorders, AD, proinflammatory monocytes, microglia, neuroinflammation, cytokines, chemokines, cell adhesion molecules, platelets, microvesicles” were used to search for articles of domestic and foreign authors published over the past 30 years in the databases PubMed, eLibrary, Science Direct and EMBASE. Conclusion: this review analyzes the results of studies which show that monocytes/macrophages and microglia have similar gene expression profiles in schizophrenia, BAD, depression, and AD and also perform similar functions: phagocytosis and inflammatory responses. Monocytes recruited to the central nervous system stimulate the increased production of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), chemokines, for example, MCP-1 (Monocyte chemotactic protein-1) by microglial cells. This promotes the recruitment of microglial cells to the sites of neuronal damage, and also enhances the formation of the brain protein beta-amyloid (Aβ). The results of modern studies are presented, indicating that platelets are involved in systemic inflammatory reactions, where they interact with monocytes to form monocyte-platelet aggregates (MTA), which induce the activation of monocytes with a pro inflammatory phenotype. In the last decade, it has been established that activated platelets and other cells of the immune system, including monocytes, detached microvesicles (MV) from the membrane. It has been shown that MV are involved as messengers in the transport of biologically active lipids, cytokines, complement, and other molecules that can cause exacerbation of systemic inflammatory reactions. The presented review allows us to expand our knowledge about the cellular and molecular aspects of the interaction of monocytes/macrophages with microglial cells and platelets in the development of neuroinflammation and cognitive decline in the pathogenesis of mental diseases and in AD, and also helps in the search for specific biomarkers of the clinical severity of mental disorder in patients and the prospects for their response to treatment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 473 (16) ◽  
pp. 2453-2462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Bishop ◽  
Dan Rocca ◽  
Jeremy M. Henley

Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) is an extremely abundant protein in the brain where, remarkably, it is estimated to make up 1–5% of total neuronal protein. Although it comprises only 223 amino acids it has one of the most complicated 3D knotted structures yet discovered. Beyond its expression in neurons UCH-L1 has only very limited expression in other healthy tissues but it is highly expressed in several forms of cancer. Although UCH-L1 is classed as a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) the direct functions of UCH-L1 remain enigmatic and a wide array of alternative functions has been proposed. UCH-L1 is not essential for neuronal development but it is absolutely required for the maintenance of axonal integrity and UCH-L1 dysfunction is implicated in neurodegenerative disease. Here we review the properties of UCH-L1, and how understanding its complex structure can provide new insights into its roles in neuronal function and pathology.


BIOspektrum ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 588-590
Author(s):  
Zeeshan Mushtaq ◽  
Jan Pielage

AbstractThe precise regulation of synaptic connectivity is essential for the processing of information in the brain. Any aberrant loss of synaptic connectivity due to genetic mutations will disrupt information flow in the nervous system and may represent the underlying cause of psychiatric or neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, identification of the molecular mechanisms controlling synaptic plasticity and maintenance is essential for our understanding of neuronal circuits in development and disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (21) ◽  
pp. 11313
Author(s):  
Sana Javaid ◽  
Talha Farooq ◽  
Zohabia Rehman ◽  
Ammara Afzal ◽  
Waseem Ashraf ◽  
...  

The incidences of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are increasing globally because of expanding population and increased dependencies on motorized vehicles and machines. This has resulted in increased socio-economic burden on the healthcare system, as TBIs are often associated with mental and physical morbidities with lifelong dependencies, and have severely limited therapeutic options. There is an emerging need to identify the molecular mechanisms orchestrating these injuries to life-long neurodegenerative disease and a therapeutic strategy to counter them. This review highlights the dynamics and role of choline-containing phospholipids during TBIs and how they can be used to evaluate the severity of injuries and later targeted to mitigate neuro-degradation, based on clinical and preclinical studies. Choline-based phospholipids are involved in maintaining the structural integrity of the neuronal/glial cell membranes and are simultaneously the essential component of various biochemical pathways, such as cholinergic neuronal transmission in the brain. Choline or its metabolite levels increase during acute and chronic phases of TBI because of excitotoxicity, ischemia and oxidative stress; this can serve as useful biomarker to predict the severity and prognosis of TBIs. Moreover, the effect of choline-replenishing agents as a post-TBI management strategy has been reviewed in clinical and preclinical studies. Overall, this review determines the theranostic potential of choline phospholipids and provides new insights in the management of TBI.


Author(s):  
Peggy Mason

The nervous system is made up of neurons and glia that derive from neuroectoderm. Since neurons are terminally differentiated and do not divide, primary intracranial tumors do not arise from mature neurons. Tumors outside the nervous system may metastasize inside the brain or may release a substance that negatively affects brain function, termed paraneoplastic disease. Neurons receive information through synaptic inputs onto dendrites and soma and send information to other cells via a synaptic terminal. Most neurons send information to faraway locations and for this, an axon that connects the soma to synaptic terminals is required. Glial cells wrap axons in myelin, which speeds up information transfer. Axonal transport is necessary to maintain neuronal function and health across the long distances separating synaptic terminals and somata. A common mechanism of neurodegeneration arises from impairments in axonal transport that lead to protein aggregation and neuronal death.


2019 ◽  
Vol 476 (22) ◽  
pp. 3493-3504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Sidoryk-Węgrzynowicz ◽  
Lidia Strużyńska

Astrocytes, by maintaining an optimal environment for neuronal function, play a critical role in proper function of mammalian nervous system. They regulate synaptic transmission and plasticity and protect neurons against toxic insults. Astrocytes and neurons interact actively via glutamine-glutamate cycle (GGC) that supports neuronal metabolic demands and neurotransmission. GGC deficiency may be involved in different diseases of the brain, where impaired astrocytic control of glutamate homeostasis contributes to neuronal dysfunction. This includes tau-dependent neurodegeneration, where astrocytes lose key molecules involved in regulation of glutamate/glutamine homeostasis, neuronal survival and synaptogenesis. Astrocytic dysfunction in tauopathy appears to precede neurodegeneration and overt tau neuropathology such as phosphorylation, aggregation and formation of neurofibrillary tangles. In this review, we summarize recent studies demonstrating that activation of astrocytes is strictly associated with neurodegenerative processes including those involved in tau related pathology. We propose that astrocytic dysfunction, by disrupting the proper neuron-glia signalling early in the disease, significantly contributes to tauopathy pathogenesis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 523-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy R. Hammond ◽  
Daisy Robinton ◽  
Beth Stevens

An explosion of findings driven by powerful new technologies has expanded our understanding of microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS). This wave of discoveries has fueled a growing interest in the roles that these cells play in the development of the CNS and in the neuropathology of a diverse array of disorders. In this review, we discuss the crucial roles that microglia play in shaping the brain—from their influence on neurons and glia within the developing CNS to their roles in synaptic maturation and brain wiring—as well as some of the obstacles to overcome when assessing their contributions to normal brain development. Furthermore, we examine how normal developmental functions of microglia are perturbed or remerge in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease.


2017 ◽  
Vol 216 (5) ◽  
pp. 1215-1218
Author(s):  
Clara Sidor ◽  
Katja Röper

Neural stem cells or neuroblasts in the Drosophila melanogaster embryo delaminate as single cells from the embryonic epidermis to give rise to the nervous system. Using this accessible system to examine the molecular mechanisms of cell ingression at a high temporal and spatial resolution, in this issue, Simões et al. (2017. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201608038) reveal that myosin-driven anisotropic junction loss and apical constriction are the main drivers of this process.


2009 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 1061-1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Brown

Microglia play a curious role in the nervous system. Their role is intrinsically protective and supportive, but during neurodegenerative disease, it is well established that microglia play a significant role in the initiation of neuronal death. Microglia, like neurons, show age-related changes that could potentially alter their behavior. While extreme changes to a large population of microglia cause dramatic neuronal loss in neurodegeneration, during normal aging, subtle changes not unlike those seen in the disease state could potentially contribute to a more gradual neuronal loss that could contribute to the cognitive decline seen in the aging population. This review provides illustrations of what is known about the role of microglia in neurodegeneration and makes suggestions about the role of microglia in age-related changes to the brain.


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