Project description:Scope: As a result of population ageing, the number of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients has rapidly increased. There are many hypothesises on the pathogenesis of AD, but its detailed molecular mechanism is still unknown, and so no effective preventive or therapeutic measures have been established. Some reports showed a decrease in levels of norepinephrine (NE) has been suspected to be involved in the decline of cognitive function in AD patients and NE concentrations were decreased in postmortem AD patient brains. Tyr-Trp was identified as being the most effective dipeptide in enhancing norepinephrine (NE) synthesis and metabolism. And Tyr-Trp treatment ameliorated the short-term memory dysfunction in AD model mice caused by amyloid beta (Aβ) 25-35. So, the purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive or/and protective effects of Tyr-Trp administration in AD model mice. Methods and results: ddY mice were fed normal diet. After 7 days of feeding, mice were divided into 3 groups (n=10 per group) as follows: the sham group, which received saline administration and distilled water injection; the Aβ group, which received saline administration and Aβ peptides 25–35 injection; and the Aβ+YW group, which received Tyr-Trp administration and Aβ peptides 25–35 injection. Tyr-Trp was orally administered Tyr-Trp (100 mg kg-1 day-1, twice a day), starting 7 days before Aβ peptides injection. The other groups received oral administration of saline (5 mL kg-1). After Aβ peptides injection or sham operation, each groups received every oral administration. DAN microarray showed that Tyrosine hydroxylase, dopa decarboxylase and dopamine receptor D2 mRNA expressions which were downregulated in Aβ group comparing with sham group were upregulated in Aβ+YW group comparing with Aβ group. In addition, quinoid dihydropteridine reductase mRNA expression which wasn’t changed in Aβ group comparing with sham group was upregulated in Aβ+YW group comparing with Aβ group. Conclusions: These results suggest that Tyr-Trp administration might ameliorate the short-term memory dysfunction in AD model mice because of enhancing norepinephrine (NE) synthesis and metabolism through metabolism of both Tyr and Trp.
Project description:Differential gene expression of cerebral cortex might be responsible for distinct neurovascular developments between different mouse strains We used Affymetrix microarray to explore the global gene expression patterns of mouse cerebral cortex of different mouse strains at two developmental stages Cerebral cortex from two mouse strains [C57BL/6J(B6) and C3H/J (C3H)] at post-natal day 1 (p1) and post-natal 11 weeks (11 wk) were harvested for microarray experiments
Project description:The cerebral cortex is a pivotal structure that is integral to advanced brain functions within the mammalian central nervous system. Patterns of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation play important roles in regulating cerebral cortex development. However, it remains unclear whether abnormal cerebral cortex development, such as microcephaly, could rescale the epigenetic landscape, potentially contributing to dysregulated gene expression during brain development. In this study, we characterize and compare the DNA methylome/hydroxymethylome and transcriptome profiles of the cerebral cortex across several developmental stages in wild-type (WT) mice and Mcph1 knockout (Mcph1-del) mice with severe microcephaly. Intriguingly, we discover a global reduction of 5'- hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) level, primarily in TET1-binding regions, in Mcph1-del mice compared to WT mice during juvenile and adult stages. Notably, genes exhibiting diminished 5hmC levels and concurrently decreased expression are essential for neurodevelopment and brain functions. Additionally, genes displaying a delayed accumulation of 5hmC in Mcph1-del mice are significantly associated with the establishment and maintenance of the nervous system during the adult stage. These findings reveal that aberrant cerebral cortex development in early stages can profoundly alter the epigenetic regulation program, which provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning diseases related to cerebral cortex development.
Project description:Differential gene expression of cerebral cortex might be responsible for distinct neurovascular developments between different mouse strains We used Affymetrix microarray to explore the global gene expression patterns of mouse cerebral cortex of different mouse strains at two developmental stages
Project description:<p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii infects and alters the neurotransmission in cerebral cortex and other brain regions, leading to neurobehavioral and neuropathologic changes in humans and animals. However, the molecules that contribute to these changes remain largely unknown.</p><p><strong>METHODS:</strong> We have investigated the impact of T. gondii infection on the overall metabolism of mouse cerebral cortex. Mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis were employed to discover metabolomic signatures that discriminate between cerebral cortex of T. gondii-infected and uninfected control mice.</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> Our results identified 73, 67 and 276 differentially abundant metabolites, which were involved in 25, 37 and 64 pathways at 7, 14 and 21 days post-infection (dpi), respectively. Metabolites in the unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis pathway were upregulated as the infection progressed, indicating that T. gondii induces the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids to promote its own growth and survival. Some of the downregulated metabolites were related to pathways, such as steroid hormone biosynthesis and arachidonic acid metabolism. Nine metabolites were identified as T. gondii responsive metabolites, namely galactosylsphingosine, arachidonic acid, LysoSM(d18:1), L-palmitoylcarnitine, calcitetrol, 27-Deoxy-5b-cyprinol, L-homophenylalanine, oleic acid and ceramide (d18:1/16:0).</p><p><strong>CONCLUSIONS:</strong> Our data provide novel insight into the dysregulation of the metabolism of the mouse cerebral cortex during T. gondii infection and have important implications for studies of T. gondii pathogenesis.</p>
Project description:The cerebral cortex is a pivotal structure that is integral to advanced brain functions within the mammalian central nervous system. Patterns of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation play important roles in regulating cerebral cortex development. However, it remains unclear whether abnormal cerebral cortex development, such as microcephaly, could rescale the epigenetic landscape, potentially contributing to dysregulated gene expression during brain development. In this study, we characterize and compare the DNA methylome/hydroxymethylome and transcriptome profiles of the cerebral cortex across several developmental stages in wild-type (WT) mice and Mcph1 knockout (Mcph1-del) mice with severe microcephaly. Intriguingly, we discover a global reduction of 5'- hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) level, primarily in TET1-binding regions, in Mcph1-del mice compared to WT mice during juvenile and adult stages. Notably, genes exhibiting diminished 5hmC levels and concurrently decreased expression are essential for neurodevelopment and brain functions. Additionally, genes displaying a delayed accumulation of 5hmC in Mcph1-del mice are significantly associated with the establishment and maintenance of the nervous system during the adult stage. These findings reveal that aberrant cerebral cortex development in early stages can profoundly alter the epigenetic regulation program, which provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning diseases related to cerebral cortex development.
Project description:The cerebral cortex is a pivotal structure that is integral to advanced brain functions within the mammalian central nervous system. Patterns of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation play important roles in regulating cerebral cortex development. However, it remains unclear whether abnormal cerebral cortex development, such as microcephaly, could rescale the epigenetic landscape, potentially contributing to dysregulated gene expression during brain development. In this study, we characterize and compare the DNA methylome/hydroxymethylome and transcriptome profiles of the cerebral cortex across several developmental stages in wild-type (WT) mice and Mcph1 knockout (Mcph1-del) mice with severe microcephaly. Intriguingly, we discover a global reduction of 5'- hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) level, primarily in TET1-binding regions, in Mcph1-del mice compared to WT mice during juvenile and adult stages. Notably, genes exhibiting diminished 5hmC levels and concurrently decreased expression are essential for neurodevelopment and brain functions. Additionally, genes displaying a delayed accumulation of 5hmC in Mcph1-del mice are significantly associated with the establishment and maintenance of the nervous system during the adult stage. These findings reveal that aberrant cerebral cortex development in early stages can profoundly alter the epigenetic regulation program, which provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms underpinning diseases related to cerebral cortex development.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE27459: Human cerebral cortex DNA methylation by MeDIP-Chip GSE27460: Rhesus macaque cerebral cortex DNA methylation profiling by MeDIP-Chip Refer to individual Series
Project description:In this study, we investigated the abnormal expression of miRNA and mRNA and the pathogenesis of AD at the epigenetic level. To this aim, we performed RNA sequencing and an integrative analysis of the cerebral cortex of the widely used amyloid precursor protein and presenilin-1 double transgenic mouse model of AD. Overall, 129 mRNAs and 68 miRNAs were aberrantly expressed. Among these, eight down-regulated miRNAs and seven up-regulated miRNAs appeared as promising noninvasive biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The main enriched signaling pathways involved mitogen-activated kinase protein, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B, mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase, forkhead box O, and autophagy. An miRNA-mRNA network between dysregulated miRNAs and corresponding target genes connected with AD progression was also constructed. These miRNAs and mRNAs are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for new treatment strategies, early diagnosis, and prevention of AD. The present results provide a novel perspective on the role of miRNAs and mRNAs in AD.