Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the loss of function of ubiquitin-protein ligase E3A (UBE3A), resulting in marked changes in synaptic plasticity. In AS mice, a dysregulation of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II alpha (CaMKIIα) was previously described. This has been convincingly validated through genetic rescue of prominent phenotypes in mouse cross-breeding experiments. Selective ligands that specifically stabilize the CaMKIIα central association (hub) domain and affect different conformational states in vitro are now available. Two of these ligands, 3-hydroxycyclopent-1-enecarboxylic acid (HOCPCA) and (E)-2-(5-hydroxy-2-phenyl-5,7,8,9-tetrahydro-6H-benzo[7]annulen-6-ylidene)acetic acid (Ph-HTBA), confer neuroprotection after ischemic stroke in mice where CaMKIIα is known to be dysregulated. Here, we sought to investigate whether pharmacological modulation with these prototypical CaMKIIα hub ligands presents a viable approach to alleviate AS symptoms. We performed an in vivo functional evaluation of AS mice treated for a total of 14 days with either HOCPCA or Ph-HTBA (7 days pre-treatment and 7 days of behavioural assessment). Both compounds were well-tolerated but unable to revert robust phenotypes of motor performance, anxiety, repetitive behaviour or seizures in AS mice. Biochemical experiments subsequently assessed CaMKIIα autophosphorylation in AS mouse brain tissue. Taken together our results indicate that pharmacological modulation of CaMKIIα via the selective hub ligands used here is not a viable treatment strategy in AS.
- MeSH
- Angelmanův syndrom * farmakoterapie genetika MeSH
- chování zvířat účinky léků MeSH
- fenotyp * MeSH
- ligandy MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
- mozek účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši MeSH
- neuroprotektivní látky farmakologie MeSH
- proteinkinasa závislá na vápníku a kalmodulinu typ 2 * metabolismus MeSH
- ubikvitinligasy metabolismus genetika MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is associated with recurrent pregnancy morbidity, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We performed multifaceted characterization of the biological and transcriptomic signatures of mouse placenta and uterine natural killer (uNK) cells in APS. Histological analysis of APS placentas unveiled placental abnormalities, including disturbed angiogenesis, occasional necrotic areas, fibrin deposition, and nucleated red blood cell enrichment. Analyses of APS placentas showed a reduced cell proliferation, lower protein content and thinning of endothelial cells. Disturbances in APS trophoblast cells were linked to a cell cycle shift in cytotrophoblast cells, and a reduced number of spiral artery-associated trophoblast giant cells (SpA-TGC). Transcriptomic profiling of placental tissue highlighted disruptions in cell cycle regulation with notable downregulation of genes involved in developmental or signaling processes. Cellular senescence, metabolic and p53-related pathways were also enriched, suggesting potential mechanisms underlying placental dysfunction in APS. Thrombotic events, though occasionally detected, appeared to have no significant impact on the overall pathological changes. The increased number of dysfunctional uNK cells was not associated with enhanced cytotoxic capabilities. Transcriptomic data corroborated these findings, showing prominent suppression of NK cell secretory capacity and cytokine signaling pathways. Our study highlights the multifactorial nature of APS-associated placental pathologies, which involve disrupted angiogenesis, cell cycle regulation, and NK cell functionality.
- MeSH
- antifosfolipidový syndrom * imunologie patologie MeSH
- buňky NK * imunologie metabolismus MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
- myši MeSH
- placenta * metabolismus patologie MeSH
- proliferace buněk MeSH
- stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- transkriptom MeSH
- trofoblasty metabolismus patologie imunologie MeSH
- uterus * patologie metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- myši MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- MeSH
- inteligence MeSH
- kybernetika MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely neurologické MeSH
- mozek fyziologie MeSH
- nervová síť MeSH
- neuronové sítě (počítačové) MeSH
- pud MeSH
- robotika MeSH
- umělá inteligence * MeSH
- vědomí MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- přehledy MeSH
Patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who seek treatment show highly variable outcomes. A precision medicine approach with biomarkers responsive to new treatments is warranted to overcome this limitation. Promising biomarkers relate to prefrontal control mechanisms that are severely disturbed in AUD. This results in reduced inhibitory control of compulsive behavior and, eventually, relapse. We reasoned here that prefrontal dysfunction, which underlies vulnerability to relapse, is evidenced by altered neuroelectric signatures and should be restored by pharmacological interventions that specifically target prefrontal dysfunction. To test this, we applied our recently developed biocompatible neuroprosthesis to measure prefrontal neural function in a well-established rat model of alcohol addiction and relapse. We monitored neural oscillations and event-related potentials in awake alcohol-dependent rats during abstinence and following treatment with psilocybin or LY379268, agonists of the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR), and the metabotropic glutamate receptor 2 (mGluR2), that are known to reduce prefrontal dysfunction and relapse. Electrophysiological impairments in alcohol-dependent rats are reduced amplitudes of P1N1 and N1P2 components and attenuated event-related oscillatory activity. Psilocybin and LY379268 were able to restore these impairments. Furthermore, alcohol-dependent animals displayed a dominance in higher beta frequencies indicative of a state of hyperarousal that is prone to relapse, which particularly psilocybin was able to counteract. In summary, we provide prefrontal markers indicative of relapse and treatment response, especially for psychedelic drugs.
- MeSH
- alkoholismus * farmakoterapie patofyziologie MeSH
- aminokyseliny MeSH
- bicyklické sloučeniny heterocyklické * farmakologie MeSH
- biologické markery MeSH
- evokované potenciály účinky léků MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
- prefrontální mozková kůra * účinky léků patofyziologie metabolismus MeSH
- psilocybin * farmakologie MeSH
- receptory metabotropního glutamátu MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Understanding the mechanics of the respiratory system is crucial for optimizing ventilator settings and ensuring patient safety. While simple models of the respiratory system typically consider only flow resistance and lung compliance, lung tissue resistance is usually neglected. This study investigated the effect of lung tissue viscoelasticity on delivered mechanical power in a physical model of the respiratory system and the possibility of distinguishing tissue resistance from airway resistance using proximal pressure measured at the airway opening. Three different configurations of a passive physical model of the respiratory system representing different mechanical properties (Tissue resistance model, Airway resistance model, and No-resistance model) were tested. The same volume-controlled ventilation and parameters were set for each configuration, with only the inspiratory flow rates being adjusted. Pressure and flow were measured with a Datex-Ohmeda S/5 vital signs monitor (Datex-Ohmeda, Madison, WI, USA). Tissue resistance was intentionally tuned so that peak pressures and delivered mechanical energy measured at airway opening were similar in Tissue and Airway Resistance models. However, measurements inside the artificial lung revealed significant differences, with Tissue resistance model yielding up to 20% higher values for delivered mechanical energy. The results indicate the need to revise current methods of calculating mechanical power delivery, which do not distinguish between tissue resistance and airway flow resistance, making it difficult to evaluate and interpret the significance of mechanical power delivery in terms of lung ventilation protectivity.
Single-photon optogenetics enables precise, cell-type-specific modulation of neuronal circuits, making it a crucial tool in neuroscience. Its miniaturization in the form of fully implantable wide-field stimulator arrays enables long-term interrogation of cortical circuits and bears promise for brain-machine interfaces for sensory and motor function restoration. However, achieving selective activation of functional cortical representations poses a challenge, as studies show that targeted optogenetic stimulation results in activity spread beyond one functional domain. While recurrent network mechanisms contribute to activity spread, here we demonstrate with detailed simulations of isolated pyramidal neurons from cats of unknown sex that already neuron morphology causes a complex spread of optogenetic activity at the scale of one cortical column. Since the shape of a neuron impacts its optogenetic response, we find that a single stimulator at the cortical surface recruits a complex spatial distribution of neurons that can be inhomogeneous and vary with stimulation intensity and neuronal morphology across layers. We explore strategies to enhance stimulation precision, finding that optimizing stimulator optics may offer more significant improvements than the preferentially somatic expression of the opsin through genetic targeting. Our results indicate that, with the right optical setup, single-photon optogenetics can precisely activate isolated neurons at the scale of functional cortical domains spanning several hundred micrometers.
- MeSH
- kočky MeSH
- modely neurologické MeSH
- mozková kůra fyziologie cytologie MeSH
- neurony fyziologie MeSH
- optogenetika * metody MeSH
- pyramidové buňky fyziologie MeSH
- světelná stimulace metody MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- kočky MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF-2) is a dominantly inherited genetic disorder that results from variants in the tumor suppressor gene, neurofibromin 2 (NF2). Here, we report the generation of a conditional zebrafish model of neurofibromatosis established by inducible genetic knockout of nf2a/b, the zebrafish homologs of human NF2. Analysis of nf2a and nf2b expression revealed ubiquitous expression of nf2b in the early embryo, with overlapping expression in the neural crest and its derivatives and in the cranial mesenchyme. In contrast, nf2a displayed lower expression levels. Induction of nf2a/b knockout at early stages increased the proliferation of larval Schwann cells and meningeal fibroblasts. Subsequently, in adult zebrafish, nf2a/b knockout triggered the development of a spectrum of tumors, including vestibular Schwannomas, spinal Schwannomas, meningiomas and retinal hamartomas, mirroring the tumor manifestations observed in patients with NF-2. Collectively, these findings highlight the generation of a novel zebrafish model that mimics the complexities of the human NF-2 disorder. Consequently, this model holds significant potential for facilitating therapeutic screening and elucidating key driver genes implicated in NF-2 onset.
- MeSH
- dánio pruhované * genetika embryologie MeSH
- geneticky modifikovaná zvířata MeSH
- genový knockout * MeSH
- larva metabolismus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
- neurofibromatóza 2 genetika patologie metabolismus MeSH
- neurofibromatózy genetika patologie metabolismus MeSH
- neurofibromin 2 * genetika metabolismus nedostatek MeSH
- proliferace buněk MeSH
- proteiny dánia pruhovaného * genetika metabolismus nedostatek MeSH
- Schwannovy buňky metabolismus patologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Achondroplasia is the most common form of human dwarfism caused by mutations in the FGFR3 receptor tyrosine kinase. Current therapy begins at 2 years of age and improves longitudinal growth but does not address the cranial malformations including midface hypoplasia and foramen magnum stenosis, which lead to significant otolaryngeal and neurologic compromise. A recent clinical trial found partial restoration of cranial defects with therapy starting at 3 months of age, but results are still inconclusive. The benefits of achondroplasia therapy are therefore controversial, increasing skepticism among the medical community and patients. We used a mouse model of achondroplasia to test treatment protocols aligned with human studies. Early postnatal treatment (from day 1) was compared with late postnatal treatment (from day 4, equivalent to ~5 months in humans). Animals were treated with the FGFR3 inhibitor infigratinib and the effect on skeleton was thoroughly examined. We show that premature fusion of the skull base synchondroses occurs immediately after birth and leads to defective cranial development and foramen magnum stenosis in the mouse model to achondroplasia. This phenotype appears significantly restored by early infigratinib administration when compared with late treatment, which provides weak to no rescue. In contrast, the long bone growth is similarly improved by both early and late protocols. We provide clear evidence that immediate postnatal therapy is critical for normalization of skeletal growth in both the cranial base and long bones and the prevention of sequelae associated with achondroplasia. We also describe the limitations of early postnatal therapy, providing a paradigm-shifting argument for the development of prenatal therapy for achondroplasia.
- MeSH
- achondroplazie * patologie farmakoterapie MeSH
- lebka patologie účinky léků MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech * MeSH
- myši MeSH
- receptor fibroblastových růstových faktorů, typ 3 * genetika metabolismus MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signalling is key in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, a certain level of NF-κB activity is necessary to enable tissue repair. METHODS: The relationship between activated and inactivated NF-κB signaling and the pathogenesis of CKD was investigated using mouse models of NF-κB partial inactivation (mutating cysteine at position 59 of the sixth exon on the NF-κB gene into alanine) and activation (mutating cysteine at position 59 of the sixth exon on the NF-κB gene into serine). RESULTS: The density of CD3, CD8, CD68 positive cells, as well as the expression of interleukin 6, Tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 1 and Nef-associated factor 1 in the kidney tissues of NF-κBC59A mice were reduced, whereas an opposing pattern was observed in the NF-κBC59S mice. Blood pressure, kidney fibrosis (analyzed by periodic acid-Schiff, Masson trichrome and Sirius Red staining, as well as α-SMA immunofluorescence), serum creatinine and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio are markedly increased in NF-κB-activated and -inactivated mice compared with controls. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that the glomerular basement membrane was thicker in both NF-κBC59A and NF-κBC59S mice compared with wild-type mice. CONCLUSIONS: Using mice models with partially activated and inactivated NF-κB pathways suggests that there is an apparently U-shaped relationship between blood pressure, kidney function as well as morphology and the activation of the NF-κB pathway. A certain optimal activity of the NF-κB pathway seems to be important to maintain optimal kidney function and morphology.
- MeSH
- chronická renální insuficience metabolismus patologie etiologie MeSH
- fibróza MeSH
- hypertenze * metabolismus etiologie MeSH
- kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši MeSH
- NF-kappa B * metabolismus MeSH
- signální transdukce * MeSH
- western blotting MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative condition characterised by a progressive loss of motor neurons controlling voluntary muscle activity. The disease manifests through a variety of motor dysfunctions related to the extent of damage and loss of neurons at different anatomical locations. Despite extensive research, it remains unclear why some motor neurons are especially susceptible to the disease, while others are affected less or even spared. In this article, we review the neurobiological mechanisms, neurochemical profiles, and morpho-functional characteristics of various motor neuron groups and types of motor units implicated in their differential exposure to degeneration. We discuss specific cell-autonomous (intrinsic) and extrinsic factors influencing the vulnerability gradient of motor units and motor neuron types to ALS, with their impact on disease manifestation, course, and prognosis, as revealed in preclinical and clinical studies. We consider the outstanding challenges and emerging opportunities for interpreting the phenotypic and mechanistic variability of the disease to identify targets for clinical interventions.
- MeSH
- amyotrofická laterální skleróza * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- motorické neurony MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
