MED: Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Papers

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Spontaneously hypertensive rat substrains show differences in model traits for addiction risk and cocaine self-administration: implications for a novel rat reduced complexity cross
(Elsevier BV, 2021-08-06) Kantak, Kathleen M.; Stots, Carissa; Mathieson, Elon; Bryant, Camron D.
Forward genetic mapping of F2 crosses between closely related substrains of inbred rodents - referred to as a reduced complexity cross (RCC) - is a relatively new strategy for accelerating the pace of gene discovery for complex traits, such as drug addiction. RCCs to date were generated in mice, but rats are thought to be optimal for addiction genetic studies. Based on past literature, one inbred Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat substrain, SHR/NCrl, is predicted to exhibit a distinct behavioral profile as it relates to cocaine self-administration traits relative to another substrain, SHR/NHsd. Direct substrain comparisons are a necessary first step before implementing an RCC. We evaluated model traits for cocaine addiction risk and cocaine self-administration behaviors using a longitudinal within-subjects design. Impulsive-like and compulsive-like traits were greater in SHR/NCrl than SHR/NHsd, as were reactivity to sucrose reward, sensitivity to acute psychostimulant effects of cocaine, and cocaine use studied under fixed-ratio and tandem schedules of cocaine self-administration. Compulsive-like behavior correlated with the acute psychostimulant effects of cocaine, which in turn correlated with cocaine taking under the tandem schedule. Compulsive-like behavior also was the best predictor of cocaine seeking responses. Heritability estimates indicated that 22 %-40 % of the variances for the above phenotypes can be explained by additive genetic factors, providing sufficient genetic variance to conduct genetic mapping in F2 crosses of SHR/NCrl and SHR/NHsd. These results provide compelling support for using an RCC approach in SHR substrains to uncover candidate genes and variants that are of relevance to cocaine use disorders.
Assessment of binge-like eating of unsweetened vs. sweetened chow pellets in BALB/c substrains
(Frontiers Media SA, 2022) Sena, Katherine D.; Beierle, Jacob A.; Richardson, Kayla T.; Kantak, Kathleen M.; Bryant, Camron D.
Binge eating disorder (BED) is defined as chronic episodes of consuming large amounts of food in less than 2 h. Binge eating disorder poses a serious public health problem, as it increases the risk of obesity, type II diabetes, and heart disease. Binge eating is a highly heritable trait; however, its genetic basis remains largely unexplored. We employed a mouse model for binge eating that focused on identifying heritable differences between inbred substrains in acute and escalated intake of sucrose-sweetened palatable food vs. unsweetened chow pellets in a limited, intermittent access paradigm. In the present study, we examined two genetically similar substrains of BALB/c mice for escalation in food consumption, incubation of craving after a no-food training period, and compulsive-like food consumption in an aversive context. BALB/cJ and BALB/cByJ mice showed comparable levels of acute and escalated consumption of palatable food across training trials. Surprisingly, BALB/cByJ mice also showed binge-like eating of the unsweetened chow pellets similar to the escalation in palatable food intake of both substrains. Finally, we replicated the well-documented decrease in anxiety-like behavior in BALB/cByJ mice in the light-dark conflict test that likely contributed to greater palatable food intake than BALB/cJ in the light arena. To summarize, BALB/cByJ mice show binge-like eating in the presence and absence of sucrose. Possible explanations for the lack of selectivity in binge-like eating across diets (e.g., novelty preference, taste) are discussed.
Probing the neural circuitry targets of neurotoxicants in vivo through high density silicon probe brain implants
(Frontiers, 2022-04-22) Ratner, Marcia; Farb, David
Adverse effects of drugs on the human nervous system are rarely possible to anticipate based on preclinical neurotoxicity data, thus propagating the centuries long single most important obstacle to drug discovery and development for disorders of the nervous system. An emerging body of evidence indicates that in vivo electrophysiology using chronically implanted high-density electrodes (ciHDE) in freely moving animals is a rigorous method with enhanced potential for use in translational research. In particular, the structure and function of the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit (HTC) is conserved from rodents to primates, including Homo sapiens, suggesting that the effects of therapeutic agents and other potential neurologically active agents, whether beneficial or adverse, are likely to translate across species when interrogated using a conserved neural circuitry platform. This review explores science advances in the rapidly moving field of in vivo ciHDE in animal models of learning and memory. For this reason we focus on the HTC, where substantial research has investigated neural circuitry level responses and specific behaviors that reflect memory permitting a test of the ground truth validity of the findings. Examples of changes in neural network activity induced by endogenous neurotoxicants associated with neurodegenerative diseases, as well as exogenous therapeutics, drugs, and neurotoxicants are presented. Several illustrative examples of relevant findings that involve longer range neural circuitry outside of the HTC are discussed. Lastly, the limitations of in vivo ciHDE as applied to preclinical neurotoxicology are discussed with a view toward leveraging circuitry level actions to enhance our ability to project the specificity of in vitro target engagement with the desired psychopharmacological or neurological outcome. At the same time, the goal of reducing or eliminating significant neurotoxic adverse events in human is the desired endpoint. We believe that this approach will lead to enhanced discovery of high value neuroactive therapeutics that target neural circuitry domains as their primary mechanism of action, thus enhancing their ultimate contribution toward discovery of precision therapeutics.
UFD1 contributes to MYC-mediated leukemia aggressiveness through suppression of the proapoptotic unfolded protein response
(Nature Publishing Group, 2018-04-25) Huiting, L.N.; Samaha, Y.; Zhang, Guanglan; Roderick, J.E.; Li, B.; Anderson, N.M.; Wang, Y.W.; Wang, L.; Laroche, F.J.F.; Choi, J.W.; Liu, C.T.; Kelliher, M.A.; Feng, Hui
Despite the pivotal role of MYC in tumorigenesis, the mechanisms by which it promotes cancer aggressiveness remain incompletely understood. Here, we show that MYC transcriptionally upregulates the ubiquitin fusion degradation 1 (UFD1) gene in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Allelic loss of ufd1 in zebrafish induces tumor cell apoptosis and impairs MYC-driven T-ALL progression but does not affect general health. As the E2 component of an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) complex, UFD1 facilitates the elimination of misfolded/unfolded proteins from the ER. We found that UFD1 inactivation in human T-ALL cells impairs ERAD, exacerbates ER stress, and induces apoptosis. Moreover, we show that UFD1 inactivation promotes the proapoptotic unfolded protein response (UPR) mediated by protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK). This effect is demonstrated by an upregulation of PERK and its downstream effector C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), as well as a downregulation of BCL2 and BCLxL. Indeed, CHOP inactivation or BCL2 overexpression is sufficient to rescue tumor cell apoptosis induced by UFD1 knockdown. Together, our studies identify UFD1 as a critical regulator of the ER stress response and a novel contributor to MYC-mediated leukemia aggressiveness, with implications for targeted therapy in T-ALL and likely other MYC-driven cancers.
Signaling Pathways Required for Macrophage Scavenger Receptor-Mediated Phagocytosis: Analysis by Scanning Cytometry
(BioMed Central, 2008-8-7) Sulahian, Timothy H; Imrich, Amy; DeLoid, Glen; Winkler, Aaron R; Kobzik, Lester
BACKGROUND. Scavenger receptors are important components of the innate immune system in the lung, allowing alveolar macrophages to bind and phagocytose numerous unopsonized targets. Mice with genetic deletions of scavenger receptors, such as SR-A and MARCO, are susceptible to infection or inflammation from inhaled pathogens or dusts. However, the signaling pathways required for scavenger receptor-mediated phagocytosis of unopsonized particles have not been characterized. METHODS. We developed a scanning cytometry-based high-throughput assay of macrophage phagocytosis that quantitates bound and internalized unopsonized latex beads. This assay allowed the testing of a panel of signaling inhibitors which have previously been shown to target opsonin-dependent phagocytosis for their effect on unopsonized bead uptake by human in vitro-derived alveolar macrophage-like cells. The non-selective scavenger receptor inhibitor poly(I) and the actin destabilizer cytochalasin D were used to validate the assay and caused near complete abrogation of bead binding and internalization, respectively. RESULTS. Microtubule destabilization using nocodazole dramatically inhibited bead internalization. Internalization was also significantly reduced by inhibitors of tyrosine kinases (genistein and herbimycin A), protein kinase C (staurosporine, chelerythrine chloride and Gö 6976), phosphoinositide-3 kinase (LY294002 and wortmannin), and the JNK and ERK pathways. In contrast, inhibition of phospholipase C by U-73122 had no effect. CONCLUSION. These data indicate the utility of scanning cytometry for the analysis of phagocytosis and that phagocytosis of unopsonized particles has both shared and distinct features when compared to opsonin-mediated phagocytosis.
Quantitative Observations of Fever and Its Treatment before the Advent of Short Clinical Thermometers.
(1991-04) Estes, J. W.
Cell Density Plays a Critical Role in Ex Vivo Expansion of T Cells for Adoptive Immunotherapy
(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2010-6-30) Ma, Qiangzhong; Wang, Yawen; Lo, Agnes Shuk-Yee; Gomes, Erica M.; Junghans, Richard P.
The successful ex vivo expansion of a large numbers of T cells is a prerequisite for adoptive immunotherapy. In this study, we found that cell density had important effects on the process of expansion of T cells in vitro. Resting T cells were activated to expand at high cell density but failed to be activated at low cell density. Activated T cells (ATCs) expanded rapidly at high cell density but underwent apoptosis at low cell density. Our studies indicated that low-cell-density related ATC death is mediated by oxidative stress. Antioxidants N-acetylcysteine, catalase, and albumin suppressed elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in low-density cultures and protected ATCs from apoptosis. The viability of ATCs at low density was preserved by conditioned medium from high-density cultures of ATCs in which the autocrine survival factor was identified as catalase. We also found that costimulatory signal CD28 increases T cell activation at lower cell density, paralleled by an increase in catalase secretion. Our findings highlight the importance of cell density in T cell activation, proliferation, survival and apoptosis and support the importance of maintaining T cells at high density for their successful expansion in vitro.
Pharmacological Properties of DOV 315,090, an Ocinaplon Metabolite
(BioMed Central, 2008-6-13) Berezhnoy, Dmytro; Gravielle, Maria C.; Downing, Scott; Kostakis, Emmanuel; Basile, Anthony S.; Skolnick, Phil; Gibbs, Terrell T.; Farb, David H.
BACKGROUND. Compounds targeting the benzodiazepine binding site of the GABAA-R are widely prescribed for the treatment of anxiety disorders, epilepsy, and insomnia as well as for pre-anesthetic sedation and muscle relaxation. It has been hypothesized that these various pharmacological effects are mediated by different GABAA-R subtypes. If this hypothesis is correct, then it may be possible to develop compounds targeting particular GABAA-R subtypes as, for example, selective anxiolytics with a diminished side effect profile. The pyrazolo[1,5-a]-pyrimidine ocinaplon is anxioselective in both preclinical studies and in patients with generalized anxiety disorder, but does not exhibit the selectivity between α1/α2-containing receptors for an anxioselective that is predicted by studies using transgenic mice. RESULTS. We hypothesized that the pharmacological properties of ocinaplon in vivo might be influenced by an active biotransformation product with greater selectivity for the α2 subunit relative to α1. One hour after administration of ocinaplon, the plasma concentration of its primary biotransformation product, DOV 315,090, is 38% of the parent compound. The pharmacological properties of DOV 315,090 were assessed using radioligand binding studies and two-electrode voltage clamp electrophysiology. We report that DOV 315,090 possesses modulatory activity at GABAA-Rs, but that its selectivity profile is similar to that of ocinaplon. CONCLUSION. These findings imply that DOV 315,090 could contribute to the action of ocinaplon in vivo, but that the anxioselective properties of ocinaplon cannot be readily explained by a subtype selective effect/action of DOV 315,090. Further inquiry is required to identify the extent to which different subtypes are involved in the anxiolytic and other pharmacological effects of GABAA-R modulators.
Control of Activating Transcription Factor 4 (ATF4) Persistence by Multisite Phosphorylation Impacts Cell Cycle Progression and Neurogenesis*
(American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2010-8-19) Frank, Christopher L.; Ge, Xuecai; Xie, Zhigang; Zhou, Ying; Tsai, Li-Huei
Organogenesis is a highly integrated process with a fundamental requirement for precise cell cycle control. Mechanistically, the cell cycle is composed of transitions and thresholds that are controlled by coordinated post-translational modifications. In this study, we describe a novel mechanism controlling the persistence of the transcription factor ATF4 by multisite phosphorylation. Proline-directed phosphorylation acted additively to regulate multiple aspects of ATF4 degradation. Stabilized ATF4 mutants exhibit decreased β-TrCP degron phosphorylation, β-TrCP interaction, and ubiquitination, as well as elicit early G1 arrest. Expression of stabilized ATF4 also had significant consequences in the developing neocortex. Mutant ATF4 expressing cells exhibited positioning and differentiation defects that were attributed to early G1 arrest, suggesting that neurogenesis is sensitive to ATF4 dosage. We propose that precise regulation of the ATF4 dosage impacts cell cycle control and impinges on neurogenesis.
Oxysterol-Binding Protein-1 (OSBP1) Modulates Processing and Trafficking of the Amyloid Precursor Protein
(BioMed Central, 2008-3-18) Zerbinatti, Celina V.; Cordy, Joanna M.; Chen, Ci-Di; Guillily, Maria; Suon, Sokreine; Ray, William J.; Seabrook, Guy R.; Abraham, Carmela R.; Wolozin, Benjamin
BACKGROUND Evidence from biochemical, epidemiological and genetic findings indicates that cholesterol levels are linked to amyloid-β (Aβ) production and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Oxysterols, which are cholesterol-derived ligands of the liver X receptors (LXRs) and oxysterol binding proteins, strongly regulate the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP). Although LXRs have been studied extensively, little is known about the biology of oxysterol binding proteins. Oxysterol-binding protein 1 (OSBP1) is a member of a family of sterol-binding proteins with roles in lipid metabolism, regulation of secretory vesicle generation and signal transduction, and it is thought that these proteins may act as sterol sensors to control a variety of sterol-dependent cellular processes. RESULTS We investigated whether OSBP1 was involved in regulating APP processing and found that overexpression of OSBP1 downregulated the amyloidogenic processing of APP, while OSBP1 knockdown had the opposite effect. In addition, we found that OSBP1 altered the trafficking of APP-Notch2 dimers by causing their accumulation in the Golgi, an effect that could be reversed by treating cells with OSBP1 ligand, 25-hydroxycholesterol. CONCLUSION These results suggest that OSBP1 could play a role in linking cholesterol metabolism with intracellular APP trafficking and Aβ production, and more importantly indicate that OSBP1 could provide an alternative target for Aβ-directed therapeutic.
The Parkinson's Disease Associated LRRK2 Exhibits Weaker In Vitro Phosphorylation of 4E-BP Compared to Autophosphorylation
(Public Library of Science, 2010-1-15) Kumar, Azad; Greggio, Elisa; Beilina, Alexandra; Kaganovich, Alice; Chan, Diane; Taymans, Jean-Marc; Wolozin, Benjamin; Cookson, Mark R.
Mutations in the gene encoding Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common cause of inherited Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 is a multi-domain protein kinase containing a central catalytic core and a number of protein-protein interaction domains. An important step forward in the understanding of both the biology and the pathology of LRRK2 would be achieved by identification of its authentic physiological substrates. In the present study we examined phosphorylation of 4E-BP (eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E)-binding protein), a recently proposed substrate for LRRKs. We found that LRRK2 is capable of phosphorylating 4E-BP in vitro. The PD related LRRK2-G2019S mutant was ~2 fold more active than wild type protein. However, LRRK2 autophosphorylation was stronger than 4E-BP phosphorylation under conditions of molar excess of 4E-BP to LRRK2. We also tested three other kinases (STK3, MAPK14/p38a and DAPK2) and found that MAPK14/p38a could efficiently phosphorylate 4E-BP at the same site as LRRK2 in vitro. Finally, we did not see changes in 4E-BP phosphorylation levels using inducible expression of LRRK2 in HEK cell lines. We also found that MAPK14/p38a phosphorylates 4E-BP in transient overexpression experiments whereas LRRK2 did not. We suggest that increased 4E-BP phosphorylation reported in some systems may be related to p38-mediated cell stress rather than direct LRRK2 activity. Overall, our results suggest that 4E-BP is a relatively poor direct substrate for LRRK2.
Tar DNA binding Protein-43 (TDP-43) associates with stress granules: analysis of cultured cells and pathological brain tissue
(Public Library of Science, 2010-10-11) Liu-Yesucevitz, Liqun; Bilgutay, Aylin; Zhang, Yong-Jie; Vanderwyde, Tara; Citro, Allison; Mehta, Tapan; Zaarur, Nava; McKee, Ann; Bowser, Robert; Sherman, Michael; Petrucelli, Leonard; Wolozin, Benjamin
Tar DNA Binding Protein-43 (TDP-43) is a principle component of inclusions in many cases of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-U) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). TDP-43 resides predominantly in the nucleus, but in affected areas of ALS and FTLD-U central nervous system, TDP-43 is aberrantly processed and forms cytoplasmic inclusions. The mechanisms governing TDP-43 inclusion formation are poorly understood. Increasing evidence indicates that TDP-43 regulates mRNA metabolism by interacting with mRNA binding proteins that are known to associate with RNA granules. Here we show that TDP-43 can be induced to form inclusions in cell culture and that most TDP-43 inclusions co-localize with SGs. SGs are cytoplasmic RNA granules that consist of mixed protein - RNA complexes. Under stressful conditions SGs are generated by the reversible aggregation of prion-like proteins, such as TIA-1, to regulate mRNA metabolism and protein translation. We also show that disease-linked mutations in TDP-43 increased TDP-43 inclusion formation in response to stressful stimuli. Biochemical studies demonstrated that the increased TDP-43 inclusion formation is associated with accumulation of TDP-43 detergent insoluble complexes. TDP-43 associates with SG by interacting with SG proteins, such as TIA-1, via direct protein-protein interactions, as well as RNA-dependent interactions. The signaling pathway that regulates SGs formation also modulates TDP-43 inclusion formation. We observed that inclusion formation mediated by WT or mutant TDP-43 can be suppressed by treatment with translational inhibitors that suppress or reverse SG formation. Finally, using Sudan black to quench endogenous autofluorescence, we also demonstrate that TDP-43 positive-inclusions in pathological CNS tissue co-localize with multiple protein markers of stress granules, including TIA-1 and eIF3. These data provide support for accumulating evidence that TDP-43 participates in the SG pathway.
Use of angiotensin receptor blockers and risk of dementia in a predominantly male population: prospective cohort analysis
(BMJ Publishing Group Ltd., 2010-1-12) Li, Nien-Chen; Lee, Austin; Whitmer, Rachel A.; Kivipelto, Miia; Lawler, Elizabeth; Kazis, Lewis E.; Wolozin, Benjamin
Objective: To investigate whether angiotensin receptor blockers protect against Alzheimer's disease and dementia or reduce the progression of both diseases. Design Prospective cohort analysis. Setting Administrative database of the US Veteran Affairs, 2002-6. Population 819491 predominantly male participants (98%) aged 65 or more with cardiovascular disease. Main outcome measures Time to incident Alzheimer's disease or dementia in three cohorts (angiotensin receptor blockers, lisinopril, and other cardiovascular drugs, the "cardiovascular comparator") over a four year period (fiscal years 2003-6) using Cox proportional hazard models with adjustments for age, diabetes, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. Disease progression was the time to admission to a nursing home or death among participants with pre-existing Alzheimer's disease or dementia. Results Hazard rates for incident dementia in the angiotensin receptor blocker group were 0.76 (95% confidence interval 0.69 to 0.84) compared with the cardiovascular comparator and 0.81 (0.73 to 0.90) compared with the lisinopril group. Compared with the cardiovascular comparator, angiotensin receptor blockers in patients with pre-existing Alzheimer's disease were associated with a significantly lower risk of admission to a nursing home (0.51, 0.36 to 0.72) and death (0.83, 0.71 to 0.97). Angiotensin receptor blockers exhibited a dose-response as well as additive effects in combination with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. This combination compared with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors alone was associated with a reduced risk of incident dementia (0.54, 0.51 to 0.57) and admission to a nursing home (0.33, 0.22 to 0.49). Minor differences were shown in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures between the groups. Similar results were observed for Alzheimer's disease. Conclusions Angiotensin receptor blockers are associated with a significant reduction in the incidence and progression of Alzheimer's disease and dementia compared with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or other cardiovascular drugs in a predominantly male population.
Subspace Projection Approaches to Classification and Visualization of Neural Network-Level Encoding Patterns
(Public Library of Science, 2007-5-2) Oşan, Remus; Zhu, Liping; Shoham, Shy; Tsien, Joe Z.
Recent advances in large-scale ensemble recordings allow monitoring of activity patterns of several hundreds of neurons in freely behaving animals. The emergence of such high-dimensional datasets poses challenges for the identification and analysis of dynamical network patterns. While several types of multivariate statistical methods have been used for integrating responses from multiple neurons, their effectiveness in pattern classification and predictive power has not been compared in a direct and systematic manner. Here we systematically employed a series of projection methods, such as Multiple Discriminant Analysis (MDA), Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and compared them with non-projection multivariate statistical methods such as Multivariate Gaussian Distributions (MGD). Our analyses of hippocampal data recorded during episodic memory events and cortical data simulated during face perception or arm movements illustrate how low-dimensional encoding subspaces can reveal the existence of network-level ensemble representations. We show how the use of regularization methods can prevent these statistical methods from over-fitting of training data sets when the trial numbers are much smaller than the number of recorded units. Moreover, we investigated the extent to which the computations implemented by the projection methods reflect the underlying hierarchical properties of the neural populations. Based on their ability to extract the essential features for pattern classification, we conclude that the typical performance ranking of these methods on under-sampled neural data of large dimension is MDA>PCA>ANN>MGD.
Positional Clustering Improves Computational Binding Site Detection and Identifies Novel Cis-Regulatory Sites in Mammalian GABAA Receptor Subunit Genes
(Oxford University Press, 2007-01-03) Reddy, Timothy E.; Shakhnovich, Boris E.; Roberts, Daniel S.; Russek, Shelley J.; DeLisi, Charles
Understanding transcription factor (TF) mediated control of gene expression remains a major challenge at the interface of computational and experimental biology. Computational techniques predicting TF-binding site specificity are frequently unreliable. On the other hand, comprehensive experimental validation is difficult and time consuming. We introduce a simple strategy that dramatically improves robustness and accuracy of computational binding site prediction. First, we evaluate the rate of recurrence of computational TFBS predictions by commonly used sampling procedures. We find that the vast majority of results are biologically meaningless. However clustering results based on nucleotide position improves predictive power. Additionally, we find that positional clustering increases robustness to long or imperfectly selected input sequences. Positional clustering can also be used as a mechanism to integrate results from multiple sampling approaches for improvements in accuracy over each one alone. Finally, we predict and validate regulatory sequences partially responsible for transcriptional control of the mammalian type A γ-aminobutyric acid receptor (GABAAR) subunit genes. Positional clustering is useful for improving computational binding site predictions, with potential application to improving our understanding of mammalian gene expression. In particular, predicted regulatory mechanisms in the mammalian GABAAR subunit gene family may open new avenues of research towards understanding this pharmacologically important neurotransmitter receptor system.
Forebrain Overexpression of CaMKII Abolishes Cingulate Long Term Depression and Reduces Mechanical Allodynia and Thermal Hyperalgesia
(BioMed Central, 2006-6-15) Wei, Feng; Wang, Guo-Du; Zhang, Chao; Shokat, Kevan M.; Wang, Huimin; Tsien, Joe Z.; Liauw, Jason; Zhuo, Min
Activity-dependent synaptic plasticity is known to be important in learning and memory, persistent pain and drug addiction. Glutamate NMDA receptor activation stimulates several protein kinases, which then trigger biochemical cascades that lead to modifications in synaptic efficacy. Genetic and pharmacological techniques have been used to show a role for Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) in synaptic plasticity and memory formation. However, it is not known if increasing CaMKII activity in forebrain areas affects behavioral responses to tissue injury. Using genetic and pharmacological techniques, we were able to temporally and spatially restrict the over expression of CaMKII in forebrain areas. Here we show that genetic overexpression of CaMKII in the mouse forebrain selectively inhibits tissue injury-induced behavioral sensitization, including allodynia and hyperalgesia, while behavioral responses to acute noxious stimuli remain intact. CaMKII overexpression also inhibited synaptic depression induced by a prolonged repetitive stimulation in the ACC, suggesting an important role for CaMKII in the regulation of cingulate neurons. Our results suggest that neuronal CaMKII activity in the forebrain plays a role in persistent pain.
Survey of Human Mitochondrial Diseases Using New Genomic/Proteomic Tools
(BioMed Central, 2001-06-01) Plasterer, Thomas N.; Smith, Temple F.; Mohr, Scott C.
BACKGROUND. We have constructed Bayesian prior-based, amino-acid sequence profiles for the complete yeast mitochondrial proteome and used them to develop methods for identifying and characterizing the context of protein mutations that give rise to human mitochondrial diseases. (Bayesian priors are conditional probabilities that allow the estimation of the likelihood of an event - such as an amino-acid substitution - on the basis of prior occurrences of similar events.) Because these profiles can assemble sets of taxonomically very diverse homologs, they enable identification of the structurally and/or functionally most critical sites in the proteins on the basis of the degree of sequence conservation. These profiles can also find distant homologs with determined three-dimensional structures that aid in the interpretation of effects of missense mutations. RESULTS. This survey reports such an analysis for 15 missense mutations one insertion and three deletions involved in Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, Leigh syndrome, mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy, Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome, iron-storage disorders related to Friedreich's ataxia, and hereditary spastic paraplegia. We present structural correlations for seven of the mutations. CONCLUSIONS. Of the 19 mutations analyzed, 14 involved changes in very highly conserved parts of the affected proteins. Five out of seven structural correlations provided reasonable explanations for the malfunctions. As additional genetic and structural data become available, this methodology can be extended. It has the potential for assisting in identifying new disease-related genes. Furthermore, profiles with structural homologs can generate mechanistic hypotheses concerning the underlying biochemical processes - and why they break down as a result of the mutations.
Simvastatin is associated with a reduced incidence of dementia and Parkinson's disease
(BioMed Central, 2007-7-19) Wolozin, Benjamin; Wang, Stanley W.; Li, Nien-Chen; Lee, Austin; Lee, Todd A.; Kazis, Lewis E.
BACKGROUND: Statins are a class of medications that reduce cholesterol by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase. Whether statins can benefit patients with dementia remains unclear because of conflicting results. We hypothesized that some of the confusion in the literature might arise from differences in efficacy of different statins. We used a large database to compare the action of several different statins to investigate whether some statins might be differentially associated with a reduction in the incidence of dementia and Parkinson's disease. METHODS: We analyzed data from the decision support system of the US Veterans Affairs database, which contains diagnostic, medication and demographic information on 4.5 million subjects. The association of lovastatin, simvastatin and atorvastatin with dementia was examined with Cox proportional hazard models for subjects taking statins compared with subjects taking cardiovascular medications other than statins, after adjusting for covariates associated with dementia or Parkinson's disease. RESULTS: We observed that simvastatin is associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of dementia in subjects ≥65 years, using any of three models. The first model incorporated adjustment for age, the second model included adjusted for three known risk factors for dementia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease or diabetes, and the third model incorporated adjustment for the Charlson index, which is an index that provides a broad assessment of chronic disease. Data were obtained for over 700000 subjects taking simvastatin and over 50000 subjects taking atorvastatin who were aged >64 years. Using model 3, the hazard ratio for incident dementia for simvastatin and atorvastatin are 0.46 (CI 0.44–0.48, p < 0.0001) and 0.91 (CI 0.80–1.02, p = 0.11), respectively. Lovastatin was not associated with a reduction in the incidence of dementia. Simvastatin also exhibited a reduced hazard ratio for newly acquired Parkinson's disease (HR 0.51, CI 0.4–0.55, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Simvastatin is associated with a strong reduction in the incidence of dementia and Parkinson's disease, whereas atorvastatin is associated with a modest reduction in incident dementia and Parkinson's disease, which shows only a trend towards significance.
Zinc: Health Effects and Research Priorities for the 1990s.
(Environmental Health Perspectives, 2011-12-29) Walsh, C. T.; Sandstead, H. H.; Prasad, A. S.; Newberne, P. M.; Fraker, P. J.
This review critically summarizes the literature on the spectrum of health effects of zinc status, ranging from symptoms of zinc deficiency to excess exposure. Studies on zinc intake are reviewed in relation to optimum requirements as a function of age and sex. Current knowledge on the biochemical properties of zinc which are critical to the essential role of this metal in biological systems is summarized. Dietary and physiological factors influencing the bioavailability and utilization of zinc are considered with special attention to interactions with iron and copper status. The effects of zinc deficiency and toxicity are reviewed with respect to specific organs, immunological and reproductive function, and genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Finally, key questions are identified where research is needed, such as the risks to human health of altered environmental distribution of zinc, assessment of zinc status in humans, effects of zinc status in relation to other essential metals on immune function, reproduction, neurological function, and the cardiovascular system, and mechanistic studies to further elucidate the biological effects of zinc at the molecular level.

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