AIM: In 2005-2006, a chikungunya epidemic of unprecedented magnitude hit Reunion Island, which raised a public health concern through the substantial proportions of long-lasting manifestations. To understand the pathophysiology underlying chronic chikungunya (CC), we designed the CHIKGene cohort study and collected blood samples from 133 subjects diagnosed with CC and from 86 control individuals that had recovered within 3 months, 12-to-15 years after exposure. METHODS: We conducted bulk RNAseq analysis on peripheral blood mononuclear cells to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene ontologies to uncover top-level enriched terms associated with DEGs, and weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) to elucidate underlying cellular processes. RESULTS: Among 1549 DEGs, gene expression analysis identified 10 top genes including NR4A2 and TRIM58 (upregulated in CC), IGHG3 and IGHV3-49 (downregulated in CC) linked to immune regulation, OSBP2 (upregulated in CC) and SEMA6B (downregulated in CC) linked to neuronal homeostasis and axon guidance, respectively. GSEA and WGCNA unveiled cellular processes such as "Metabolism of RNA" and "Cell Cycle". CONCLUSIONS: This study uncovers a shift in gene expression of CC subjects. IGHG3 and IGHV3-49 gene shut-offs spotlight the importance of neutralizing antibodies against chikungunya virus in the progression to chronic disease. Human diseases associations highlight connections to rheumatoid arthritis, nervous and cardiac systems. GSEA and WGCNA bounce the hypotheses of a persistent viral reservoir or an increased susceptibility to RNA viral pathogens with new onset infections. Together, our findings might offer potential targets for therapeutic options aimed at alleviating chronic chikungunya.

• MeSH
• Chronic Disease MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Chikungunya Fever * genetics   epidemiology   virology   MeSH
• Cohort Studies MeSH
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Gene Expression Profiling MeSH
• Transcriptome * MeSH
• Chikungunya virus MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Reunion MeSH

Mammalian neurons lose the ability to regenerate their central nervous system axons as they mature during embryonic or early postnatal development. Neuronal maturation requires a transformation from a situation in which neuronal components grow and assemble to one in which these components are fixed and involved in the machinery for effective information transmission and computation. To regenerate after injury, neurons need to overcome this fixed state to reactivate their growth programme. A variety of intracellular processes involved in initiating or sustaining neuronal maturation, including the regulation of gene expression, cytoskeletal restructuring and shifts in intracellular trafficking, have been shown to prevent axon regeneration. Understanding these processes will contribute to the identification of targets to promote repair after injury or disease.

• MeSH
• Axons * physiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neurogenesis * physiology   MeSH
• Neurons physiology   MeSH
• Nerve Regeneration * physiology   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disease, affecting nearly 1%-2% of the world's population. Current pharmacological treatment and regimen adjustments are aimed at controlling seizures; however, they are ineffective in one-third of the patients. Although neuronal hyperexcitability was previously thought to be mainly due to ion channel alterations, current research has revealed other contributing molecular pathways, including processes involved in cellular signaling, energy metabolism, protein synthesis, axon guidance, inflammation, and others. Some forms of drug-resistant epilepsy are caused by genetic defects that constitute potential targets for precision therapy. Although such approaches are increasingly important, they are still in the early stages of development. This review aims to provide a summary of practical aspects of the employment of in vitro human cell culture models in epilepsy diagnosis, treatment, and research. First, we briefly summarize the genetic testing that may result in the detection of candidate pathogenic variants in genes involved in epilepsy pathogenesis. Consequently, we review existing in vitro cell models, including induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiated neuronal cells, providing their specific properties, validity, and employment in research pipelines. We cover two methodological approaches. The first approach involves the utilization of somatic cells directly obtained from individual patients, while the second approach entails the utilization of characterized cell lines. The models are evaluated in terms of their research and clinical benefits, relevance to the in vivo conditions, legal and ethical aspects, time and cost demands, and available published data. Despite the methodological, temporal, and financial demands of the reviewed models they possess high potential to be used as robust systems in routine testing of pathogenicity of detected variants in the near future and provide a solid experimental background for personalized therapy of genetic epilepsies. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Epilepsy affects millions worldwide, but current treatments fail for many patients. Beyond traditional ion channel alterations, various genetic factors contribute to the disorder's complexity. This review explores how in vitro human cell models, either from patients or from cell lines, can aid in understanding epilepsy's genetic roots and developing personalized therapies. While these models require further investigation, they offer hope for improved diagnosis and treatment of genetic forms of epilepsy.

• MeSH
• Cell Culture Techniques * MeSH
• Epilepsy * genetics   therapy   MeSH
• Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Neurons metabolism   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

sou shrnuty biologické hypotézy Alzheimerovy nemoci (AD) založené na poznatcích o patofyziologii AD, které slouží jako východiska pro farmakoterapeutické strategie. Pokroky v poznání úlohy rizikových faktorů a biomarkerů AD v neurodegenerativních procesech umožňují jednak upřesnění stávajících hypotéz nebo tvorbu nových, jednak zlepšení diagnostiky onemocnění, sledování progrese onemocnění a nalezení molekulárních cílů nových léčiv. Kromě amyloidové a tau hypotézy, resp. patologie amyloidu beta a tau proteinu, se při vývoji nových léčiv a studiu mechanismů jejich účinků vychází především z hypotézy mitochondriální, metabolické, neurozánětlivé, oxidačního stresu, synaptoplastické a neurotransmiterové. Významné pro pochopení patofyziologie AD se jeví poznatky o vzájemném propojení, interakcích a synergiích buněčných patologických procesů považovaných za klíčové v hypotézách AD.

Biological hypotheses of Alzheimer ́s disease (AD) based on knowledge about the pathophysiology of AD are summarized, which serve as starting points for pharmacotherapeutic strategies. Advances in the knowledge of the role of risk factors and biomarkers of AD in neurodegenerative processes allow the refinement of existing hypotheses or the generation of new ones, as well as the improvement of disease diagnostics, the monitoring of disease progression, and the discovery of molecular targets for new drugs. In addition to the amyloid and tau hypothesis, respectively the pathology of amyloid beta and tau protein, the mitochondrial, metabolic, neuroinflammatory, oxidative stress, synaptoplastic, and neurotransmitter hypotheses are being used to develop new drugs and to study the mechanisms of their action. Important for the understanding of the pathophysiology of AD is the knowledge about the interrelationships, interactions, and synergies of the cellular pathological processes that are considered to be key in the various AD hypotheses.

• MeSH
• Alzheimer Disease * diagnosis   etiology   physiopathology   MeSH
• Amyloid beta-Peptides metabolism   toxicity   MeSH
• Biomarkers analysis   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Mitochondria metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Synaptic Transmission physiology   MeSH
• Neuronal Plasticity physiology   MeSH
• tau Proteins metabolism   toxicity   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Signal Transduction physiology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition causing a range of social and communication impairments. Although the role of multiple genes and environmental factors has been reported, the effects of the interplay between genes and environment on the onset and progression of the disease remains elusive. We housed wild-type (Tsc2+/+) and tuberous sclerosis 2 deficient (Tsc2+/-) Eker rats (ASD model) in individually ventilated cages or enriched conditions and conducted a series of behavioural tests followed by the histochemical analysis of dendritic spines and plasticity in three age groups (days 45, 90 and 365). The elevated plus-maze test revealed a reduction of anxiety by enrichment, whereas the mobility of young and adult Eker rats in the open field was lower compared to the wild type. In the social interaction test, an enriched environment reduced social contact in the youngest group and increased anogenital exploration in 90- and 365-day-old rats. Self-grooming was increased by environmental enrichment in young and adult rats and decreased in aged Eker rats. Dendritic spine counts revealed an increased spine density in the cingulate gyrus in adult Ekers irrespective of housing conditions, whereas spine density in hippocampal pyramidal neurons was comparable across all genotypes and groups. Morphometric analysis of dendritic spines revealed age-related changes in spine morphology and density, which were responsive to animal genotype and environment. Taken together, our findings suggest that under TSC2 haploinsufficiency and mTORC1 hyperactivity, the expression of behavioural signs and neuroplasticity in Eker rats can be differentially influenced by the developmental stage and environment.

• MeSH
• Hippocampus metabolism   MeSH
• Rats MeSH
• Disease Models, Animal MeSH
• Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Complex 1 metabolism   MeSH
• Neuronal Plasticity MeSH
• Autism Spectrum Disorder * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Pyramidal Cells metabolism   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Rats MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

There are no known drugs or drug combinations that promote substantial central nervous system axonal regeneration after injury. We used systems pharmacology approaches to model pathways underlying axonal growth and identify a four-drug combination that regulates multiple subcellular processes in the cell body and axons using the optic nerve crush model in rats. We intravitreally injected agonists HU-210 (cannabinoid receptor-1) and IL-6 (interleukin 6 receptor) to stimulate retinal ganglion cells for axonal growth. We applied, in gel foam at the site of nerve injury, Taxol to stabilize growing microtubules, and activated protein C to clear the debris field since computational models predicted that this drug combination regulating two subcellular processes at the growth cone produces synergistic growth. Physiologically, drug treatment restored or preserved pattern electroretinograms and some of the animals had detectable visual evoked potentials in the brain and behavioral optokinetic responses. Morphology experiments show that the four-drug combination protects axons or promotes axonal regrowth to the optic chiasm and beyond. We conclude that spatially targeted drug treatment is therapeutically relevant and can restore limited functional recovery.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

In the central nervous system (CNS), cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) is preferentially expressed in axons where it has a unique property, namely resistance to agonist-driven endocytosis. This review aims to summarize what we know about molecular mechanisms of CB1R cell surface stability in axonal compartments, how these impact CB1R signaling, and to consider their physiological consequences. This review then focuses on a potential candidate for maintaining axonal CB1R at the cell surface, Src homology 3-domain growth factor receptor-bound 2-like endophilin interacting protein 1 (SGIP1). SGIP1 may contribute to the polarized distribution of CB1R and modify its signaling in axons. In addition, deletion of SGIP1 results in discrete behavioral changes in modalities controlled by the endocannabinoid system in vivo. Several drugs acting directly via CB1R have important therapeutic potential, however their adverse effects limit their clinical use. Future studies might reveal chemical approaches to target the SGIP1-CB1R interaction, with the aim to exploit the endocannabinoid system pharmaceutically in a discrete way, with minimized undesired consequences.

• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Review MeSH

Salivary glands are vital to tick feeding success and also play a crucial role in tick-borne pathogen transmission. In previous studies of Ixodes scapularis salivary glands, we demonstrated that saliva-producing type II and III acini are innervated by neuropeptidergic axons which release different classes of neuropeptides via their terminals (Šimo et al., 2009b, 2013). Among these, the neuropeptide SIFamide-along with its cognate receptor-were postulated to control the basally located acinar valve via basal epithelial and myoepithelial cells (Vancová et al., 2019). Here, we functionally characterized a second SIFamide receptor (SIFa_R2) from the I. scapularis genome and proved that it senses a low nanomolar level of its corresponding ligand. Insect SIFamide paralogs, SMYamides, also activated the receptor but less effectively compared to SIFamide. Bioinformatic and molecular dynamic analyses suggested that I. scapularis SIFamide receptors are class A GPCRs where the peptide amidated carboxy-terminus is oriented within the receptor binding cavity. The receptor was found to be expressed in Ixodes ricinus salivary glands, synganglia, midguts, trachea, and ovaries, but not in Malpighian tubules. Investigation of the temporal expression patterns suggests that the receptor transcript is highly expressed in unfed I. ricinus female salivary glands and then decreases during feeding. In synganglia, a significant transcript increase was detected in replete ticks. In salivary gland acini, an antibody targeting the SIFa_R2 recognized basal epithelial cells, myoepithelial cells, and basal granular cells in close proximity to the SIFamide-releasing axon terminals. Immunoreactivity was also detected in specific neurons distributed throughout various I. ricinus synganglion locations. The current findings, alongside previous reports from our group, indicate that the neuropeptide SIFamide acts via two different receptors that regulate distinct or common cell types in the basal region of type II and III acini in I. ricinus salivary glands. Our study investigates the peptidergic regulation of the I. ricinus salivary gland in detail, emphasizing the complexity of this system.

• MeSH
• Ixodes * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Neurons metabolism   MeSH
• Neuropeptides * genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Salivary Glands metabolism   MeSH
• Saliva MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• Female MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

BACKGROUND: Promotion of myelin repair in the context of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) still represents a clinical unmet need, given that this disease is not only characterized by autoimmune activities but also by impaired regeneration processes. Hence, this relates to replacement of lost oligodendrocytes and myelin sheaths-the primary targets of autoimmune attacks. Endogenous remyelination is mainly mediated via activation and differentiation of resident oligodendroglial precursor cells (OPCs), whereas its efficiency remains limited and declines with disease progression and aging. Teriflunomide has been approved as a first-line treatment for relapsing remitting MS. Beyond its role in acting via inhibition of de novo pyrimidine synthesis leading to a cytostatic effect on proliferating lymphocyte subsets, this study aims to uncover its potential to foster myelin repair. METHODS: Within the cuprizone mediated de-/remyelination model teriflunomide dependent effects on oligodendroglial homeostasis and maturation, related to cellular processes important for myelin repair were analyzed in vivo. Teriflunomide administration was performed either as pulse or continuously and markers specific for oligodendroglial maturation and mitochondrial integrity were examined by means of gene expression and immunohistochemical analyses. In addition, axon myelination was determined using electron microscopy. RESULTS: Both pulse and constant teriflunomide treatment efficiently boosted myelin repair activities in this model, leading to accelerated generation of oligodendrocytes and restoration of myelin sheaths. Moreover, teriflunomide restored mitochondrial integrity within oligodendroglial cells. CONCLUSIONS: The link between de novo pyrimidine synthesis inhibition, oligodendroglial rescue, and maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis appears as a key for successful myelin repair and hence for protection of axons from degeneration.

• MeSH
• Cell Differentiation MeSH
• Hydroxybutyrates metabolism   pharmacology   MeSH
• Crotonates pharmacology   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Myelin Sheath * metabolism   MeSH
• Oligodendroglia * metabolism   MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH

Spasticita je jedním z hlavních následků ischemické cévní mozkové příhody. Důsledkem ischemické léze descendentních motorických drah je syndrom horního motoneuronu, který zahrnuje jako negativní (slabost, ztráta jemné motoriky), tak pozitivní příznaky (zvláště spasticita). Těžká postiktální spasticita má za následek snížení kvality života, manuální dexterity, mobility, zhoršení chůze a pády a omezení činností denního života (ADL). Komplexní léčba postiktální spasticity obvykle zahrnuje fyzioterapeutické postupy a aplikaci botulotoxinu A, avšak mechanismy působení terapie spasticity nejsou zcela objasněny. Dostupná data, včetně námi získaných, nabízejí průkaz modulace centrálních senzorimotorických sítí během terapie postiktální spasticity, studie jsou však omezeny malou velikostí souborů, různým stupněm motorického deficitu a rozdílnou metodologií. V tomto projektu navrhujeme komplexní protokol studia centrálních senzorimotorických sítí u pacientů s postiktální spasticitou během cílené terapie. Nálezy mohou přispět k budoucí optimalizaci terapie spasticity.; Post-stroke spasticity (PSS) is one of the major sequelae following ischemic stroke. Ischemic lesions of descending motor tracts result in upper motor neuron syndrome comprising both negative signs (weakness and loss of dexterity) and positive signs (especially spasticity). Disabling PSS affects patient quality of life; causes significant reductions in manual dexterity, mobility, walking/falling, and performance of activities of daily living (ADL) have been reported among patients with PSS. Comprehensive treatment of PSS usually includes physiotherapy procedures and botulinum toxin A application, however, the therapeutic mechanisms are only incompletely understood. Available data, including our own, provide evidence of modulation in central sensorimotor networks during PSS therapy, however, the studies are limited by small samples, different degree of motor deficits and different methodology. We propose a new comprehensive protocol to study central sensorimotor networks in patients with PSS during focused therapy. The findings may inform future optimization of PSS therapy.

• MeSH
• Stroke complications   MeSH
• Molecular Targeted Therapy MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging MeSH
• Neuronal Plasticity MeSH
• Stroke Rehabilitation MeSH
• Muscle Spasticity etiology   therapy   MeSH

• Conspectus
• Patologie. Klinická medicína
• NML Fields
• neurologie
• rehabilitační a fyzikální medicína
• NML Publication type
• závěrečné zprávy o řešení grantu AZV MZ ČR