Project description:Neurodegeneration is characterized by protein aggregate deposits and mitochondrial malfunction. Reduction in Tom40 (translocase of outer membrane 40) expression, a key subunit of the translocase of the outer mitochondrial membrane complex, led to accumulation of ubiquitin (Ub)-positive protein aggregates engulfed by Atg8a-positive membranes. Other macroautophagy markers were also abnormally accumulated. Autophagy was induced but the majority of autophagosomes failed to fuse with lysosomes when Tom40 was downregulated. In Tom40 RNAi tissues, autophagosome-like (AL) structures, often not sealed, were 10 times larger than starvation induced autophagosomes. Atg5 downregulation abolished Tom40 RNAi induced AL structure formation, but the Ub-positive aggregates remained, whereas knock down of Syx17, a gene required for autophagosome-lysosome fusion, led to the disappearance of giant AL structures and accumulation of small autophagosomes and phagophores near the Ub-positive aggregates. The protein aggregates contained many mitochondrial preproteins, cytosolic proteins, and proteasome subunits. Proteasome activity and ATP levels were reduced and the ROS levels was increased in Tom40 RNAi tissues. The simultaneous inhibition of proteasome activity, reduction in ATP production, and increase in ROS, but none of these conditions alone, can mimic the imbalanced proteostasis phenotypes observed in Tom40 RNAi cells. Knockdown of ref(2)P or ectopic expression of Pink1 and park greatly reduced aggregate formation in Tom40 RNAi tissues. In nerve tissues, reduction in Tom40 activity leads to aggregate formation and neurodegeneration. Rather than diminishing the neurodegenerative phenotypes, overexpression of Pink1 enhanced them. We proposed that defects in mitochondrial protein import may be the key to linking imbalanced proteostasis and mitochondrial defects.AbbreviationsAL: autophagosome-like; Atg12: Autophagy-related 12; Atg14: Autophagy-related 14; Atg16: Autophagy-related 16; Atg5: Autophagy-related 5; Atg6: Autophagy-related 6; Atg8a: Autophagy-related 8a; Atg9: Autophagy-related 9; ATP: adenosine triphosphate; Cas9: CRISPR associated protein 9; cDNA: complementary DNA; COX4: Cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4; CRISPR: clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats; Cyt-c1: Cytochrome c1; DAPI: 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride; Dcr-2: Dicer-2; FLP: Flippase recombination enzyme; FRT: FLP recombination target; GFP: green fluorescent protein; GO: gene ontology; gRNA: guide RNA; Hsp60: Heat shock protein 60A; HDAC6: Histone deacetylase 6; htt: huntingtin; Idh: Isocitrate dehydrogenase; IFA: immunofluorescence assay; Irp-1A: Iron regulatory protein 1A; kdn: knockdown; Marf: Mitochondrial assembly regulatory factor; MitoGFP: Mitochondrial-GFP; MS: mass spectrometry; MTPAP: mitochondrial poly(A) polymerase; Nmnat: Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase; OE: overexpression; Pink1/PINK1: PTEN-induced putative kinase 1; polyQ: polyglutamine; PRKN: parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase; Pros?4: proteasome ?4 subunit; Pros?1: proteasome ?1 subunit; Pros?5: proteasome ?5 subunit; Pros?7: proteasome ?7 subunit; ref(2)P: refractory to sigma P; RFP: red fluorescent protein; RNAi: RNA interference; ROS: reactive oxygen species; Rpn11: Regulatory particle non-ATPase 11; Rpt2: Regulatory particle triple-A ATPase 2; scu: scully; sicily: severe impairment of CI with lengthened youth; sesB: stress-sensitive B; Syx17: Syntaxin17; TEM: transmission electron microscopy; ttm50: tiny tim 50; Tom: translocase of the outer membrane; Tom20: translocase of outer membrane 20; Tom40: translocase of outer membrane 40; Tom70: translocase of outer membrane 70; UAS: upstream active sequence; Ub: ubiquitin; VNC: ventral nerve cord; ZFYVE1: zinc finger FYVE-type containing 1.
Project description:ObjectiveAlthough blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment has been reported in HIV-infected individuals, characterization of this impairment has not been clearly defined.MethodsBBB integrity was measured by CSF/plasma albumin ratio in this cross-sectional study of 631 HIV-infected individuals and 71 controls. We also analyzed CSF and blood HIV RNA and neopterin, CSF leukocyte count, and neurofilament light chain protein (NFL) concentrations. The HIV-infected participants included untreated neuroasymptomatic patients, patients with untreated HIV-associated dementia (HAD), and participants on suppressive antiretroviral treatment (ART).ResultsThe albumin ratio was significantly increased in patients with HAD compared to all other groups. There were no significant differences between untreated neuroasymptomatic participants, treated participants, and controls. BBB integrity, however, correlated significantly with CSF leukocyte count, CSF HIV RNA, serum and CSF neopterin, and age in untreated neuroasymptomatic participants. In a multiple linear regression analysis, age, CSF neopterin, and CSF leukocyte count stood out as independent predictors of albumin ratio. A significant correlation was found between albumin ratio and CSF NFL in untreated neuroasymptomatic patients and in participants on ART. Albumin ratio, age, and CD4 cell count were confirmed as independent predictors of CSF NFL in multivariable analysis.ConclusionsBBB disruption was mainly found in patients with HAD, where BBB damage correlated with CNS immunoactivation. Albumin ratios also correlated with CSF inflammatory markers and NFL in untreated neuroasymptomatic participants. These findings give support to the association among BBB deterioration, intrathecal immunoactivation, and neuronal injury in untreated neuroasymptomatic HIV-infected individuals.
Project description:Mitochondria are essential for the activity, function and viability of eukaryotic cells and mitochondrial dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease, as well as in abnormal kidney repair after AKI. Multiple quality control mechanisms, including antioxidant defence, protein quality control, mitochondrial DNA repair, mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis, have evolved to preserve mitochondrial homeostasis under physiological and pathological conditions. Loss of these mechanisms may induce mitochondrial damage and dysfunction, leading to cell death, tissue injury and, potentially, organ failure. Accumulating evidence suggests a role of disturbances in mitochondrial quality control in the pathogenesis of AKI, incomplete or maladaptive kidney repair and chronic kidney disease. Moreover, specific interventions that target mitochondrial quality control mechanisms to preserve and restore mitochondrial function have emerged as promising therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat kidney injury and accelerate kidney repair. However, clinical translation of these findings is challenging owing to potential adverse effects, unclear mechanisms of action and a lack of knowledge of the specific roles and regulation of mitochondrial quality control mechanisms in kidney resident and circulating cell types during injury and repair of the kidney.
Project description:Background: Insufficient neuronal mitochondrial bioenergetics supply occurs after spinal cord injury (SCI), leading to neuronal apoptosis and impaired motor function. Previous reports have shown that photobiomodulation (PBM) could reduce neuronal apoptosis and promote functional recovery, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether PBM improved prognosis by promoting neuronal mitochondrial bioenergetics after SCI. Methods: Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: a Sham group, an SCI group, an SCI + PBM group and an SCI + PBM + Compound C group. After SCI model was established, PBM and Compound C (an AMPK inhibitor) injection were carried out. The level of neuron apoptosis, the recovery of motor function and mitochondrial function were observed at different times (7, 14, and 28 days). The AMPK/PGC-1α/TFAM pathway was hypothesized to be a potential target through which PBM could affect neuronal mitochondrial bioenergetics. In vitro, ventral spinal cord 4.1 (VSC4.1) cells were irradiated with PBM and cotreated with Compound C after oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). Results: PBM promoted the recovery of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex activity, increased ATP production, alleviated neuronal apoptosis and reversed motor dysfunction after SCI. The activation of the AMPK/PGC-1α/TFAM pathway after SCI were facilitated by PBM but inhibited by Compound C. Equally important, PBM could inhibit OGD-induced VSC4.1 cell apoptosis by increasing ATP production whereas these changes could be abolished by Compound C. Conclusion: PBM activated AMPK/PGC-1α/TFAM pathway to restore mitochondrial bioenergetics and exerted neuroprotective effects after SCI.
Project description:Phagocytosis of synaptic material by microglia is critical for central nervous system development. Less well understood is this microglial function in the injured adult brain. Assay of microglial phagocytosis is challenging, because peripheral myeloid cells engraft the site of injury, which could obscure interpretation of microglial roles. The model used here, optic nerve crush injury, results in degeneration of synapses in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), which stimulates rapid activation and engulfment of synaptic material by resident microglia without myeloid cell engraftment. Pharmacological depletion of microglia causes postinjury accumulation of synaptic debris, suggesting that microglia are the dominant postinjury phagocytes. Genetic or pharmacological manipulations revealed that neuronal activity does not trigger microglia phagocytosis after injury. RNA sequencing reveals C1q and CD11b/CR3 involvement in clearance of debris by dLGN-resident microglia. Indeed, C1qa-/- and Itgam-/- mice exhibit impaired postinjury debris clearance. Our results show how neurodegenerative debris is cleared by microglia and offers a model for studying its mechanisms and physiological roles.
Project description:Bone repair is a specialized type of wound repair controlled by complex multi-factorial events. The nervous system is recognized as one of the key regulators of bone mass, thereby suggesting a role for neuronal pathways in bone homeostasis. However, in the context of bone injury and repair, little is known on the interplay between the nervous system and bone. Here, we addressed the neuropeptide Y (NPY) neuronal arm during the initial stages of bone repair encompassing the inflammatory response and ossification phases in femoral-defect mouse model. Spatial and temporal analysis of transcriptional and protein levels of NPY and its receptors, Y1R and Y2R, reported to be involved in bone homeostasis, was performed in bone, dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and hypothalamus after femoral injury. The results showed that NPY system activity is increased in a time- and space-dependent manner during bone repair. Y1R expression was trigged in both bone and DRG throughout the inflammatory phase, while a Y2R response was restricted to the hypothalamus and at a later stage, during the ossification step. Our results provide new insights into the involvement of NPY neuronal pathways in bone repair.
Project description:Mitochondria play a crucial role in neuronal survival through efficient energy metabolism. In pathological conditions, mitochondrial stress leads to neuronal death, which is regulated by the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 family of proteins. MCL-1 is an anti-apoptotic BCL-2 protein localized to mitochondria either in the outer membrane (OM) or inner membrane (Matrix), which have distinct roles in inhibiting apoptosis and promoting bioenergetics, respectively. While the anti-apoptotic role for Mcl1 is well characterized, the protective function of MCL-1 Matrix remains poorly understood. Here, we show MCL-1OM and MCL-1Matrix prevent neuronal death through distinct mechanisms. We report that MCL-1Matrix functions to preserve mitochondrial energy transduction and improves respiratory chain capacity by modulating mitochondrial oxygen consumption in response to mitochondrial stress. We show that MCL-1Matrix protects neurons from stress by enhancing respiratory function, and by inhibiting mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. Taken together, our results provide novel insight into how MCL-1Matrix may confer neuroprotection under stress conditions involving loss of mitochondrial function.
Project description:Evidences of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have been recognized in most of clinical and experimental liver diseases. SIRT3, a member of NAD+-dependent deacetylases, is mainly localized in mitochondria. So far, the role of SIRT3 in protecting hepatocytes against oxidative stress remains elusive. Herein, we found SIRT3 protein expression is decreased in tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-treated AML12 cells in vitro and primary hepatocytes from CCl4-injured mice in vivo. To further verify the role of SIRT3 in protecting hepatocytes from t-BHP-induced injury, SIRT3 overexpressed AML12 cell line and primary hepatocytes were generated. SIRT3 overexpressed hepatocytes showed improved cell viability upon t-BHP challenge, with less intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. SIRT3 overexpression reduced superoxide dismutase 2 acetylation level and stimulated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 nuclear translocation to enhance anti-oxidative capacity. Moreover, SIRT3 deacetylated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α to promote mitochondrial biogenesis, and 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 to orchestrate DNA repair, resulting in improved mitochondrial function. Through deacetylating Ku70, SIRT3 also abated mitochondrial translocation of dynamin-related protein 1, to attenuate mitochondrial fragmentation in t-BHP-injured hepatocytes. These results suggested that SIRT3 protected hepatocytes against oxidative stress by enhancing ROS scavenging and maintaining mitochondrial integrity.
Project description:[18F]AV-1451 (aka 18F-Flortaucipir, [18F]T807) was developed for positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging of paired helical filaments of hyperphosphorylated tau, which are of interest in a range of neuropathologies, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques like diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and resting state functional connectivity assess structural and functional characteristics of the brain, complementing the molecular information that can be obtained by PET. The goal herein was to explore the utility of such multi-modal imaging in a case series based on a population of TBI subjects. This study probes the interrelationship between tau deposition, white matter integrity, and gray matter functional connectivity across the spectrum of TBI. Nineteen subjects (11 controls, five former contact sports athletes, one automotive accident, and two with military-related injury) underwent [18F]AV-1451 PET and magnetic resonance scanning procedures. [18F]AV-1451 distribution volume ratio (DVR) was estimated using the Logan method and the cerebellum as a reference region. Diffusion tractography images and fractional anisotropy (FA) images were generated using diffusion toolkit and FSL. Resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) analysis was based on a graph theory metric, namely weighted degree centrality. TBI subjects showed greater heterogeneity in [18F]AV-1451 DVR when compared with control subjects. In a subset of TBI subjects, areas with high [18F]AV-1451 binding corresponded with increased FA and diminished white matter tract density in DTI. Functional MRI results exhibited an increase in functional connectivity, particularly among local connections, in the areas where tau aggregates were more prevalent. In a case series of a diverse group of TBI subjects, brain regions with elevated tau burden exhibited increased functional connectivity as well as decreased white matter integrity. These findings portray molecular, microstructural, and functional corollaries of TBI that spatially coincide and can be measured in the living human brain using noninvasive neuroimaging techniques.
Project description:Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key mechanism of cell death in hypoxic-ischemic brain injury. Neuronal pentraxin 1 (NP1) has been shown to play crucial roles in mitochondria-mediated neuronal death. However, the underlying mechanism(s) of NP1-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in hypoxia-ischemia (HI) remains obscure. Here, we report that NP1 induction following HI and its subsequent localization to mitochondria, leads to disruption of key regulatory proteins for mitochondrial biogenesis. Brain mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) content and mtDNA-encoded subunit I of complex IV (mtCOX-1) expression was increased post-HI, but not the nuclear DNA-encoded subunit of complex II (nSDH-A). Up-regulation of mitochondrial proteins COXIV and HSP60 further supported enhanced mtDNA function. NP1 interaction with active Bax (Bax6A7) was increased in the brain after HI and in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD)-induced neuronal cultures. Importantly, NP1 colocalized with mitochondrial hexokinase II (mtHKII) following OGD leading to HKII dissociation from mitochondria. Knockdown of NP1 or SB216763, a GSK-3 inhibitor, prevented OGD-induced mtHKII dissociation and cellular ATP decrease. NP1 also modulated the expression of mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis, following HI. Together, we reveal crucial roles of NP1 in mitochondrial biogenesis involving interactions with Bax[6A7] and mtHKII in HI brain injury.