Lymphocyte-Activation Gene 3 Facilitates Pathological Tau Neuron-to-Neuron Transmission.

The spread of prion-like protein aggregates is a common driver of pathogenesis in various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related Tauopathies. Tau pathologies exhibit a clear progressive spreading pattern that correlates with disease severity. Clinical observation combined with complementary experimental studies has shown that Tau preformed fibrils (PFF) are prion-like seeds that propagate pathology by entering cells and templating misfolding and aggregation of endogenous Tau.

Pathological Tau transmission initiated by binding lymphocyte-activation gene 3.

The spread of prion-like protein aggregates is believed to be a common driver of pathogenesis in many neurodegenerative diseases. Accumulated tangles of filamentous Tau protein are considered pathogenic lesions of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related Tauopathies, including progressive supranuclear palsy, and corticobasal degeneration. Tau pathologies in these illnesses exhibits a clear progressive and hierarchical spreading pattern that correlates with disease severity.

Single-cell multiomic analysis reveals the involvement of Type I interferon-responsive CD8+ T cells in amyloid beta-associated memory loss.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia worldwide, but there are limited therapeutic options and no current cure. While the involvement of microglia in AD has been highly appreciated, the role of other innate and adaptive immune cells remains largely unknown, partly due to their scarcity and heterogeneity. This study aimed to study non-microglial immune cells in wild type and AD-transgenic mouse brains across different ages.

Identification of the Potential Key Long Non-coding RNAs in Aged Mice With Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a significant complication of surgery, particularly in elderly patients. Emerging researches showed that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) may play a vital role in the pathogenesis of POCD. Here we aimed to identify potential key lncRNAs involved in the development of POCD.

Activation of Sigma Receptors With Afobazole Modulates Microglial, but Not Neuronal, Apoptotic Gene Expression in Response to Long-Term Ischemia Exposure.

Stroke continues to be a leading cause of death and serious long-term disability. The lack of therapeutic options for treating stroke at delayed time points (≥6 h post-stroke) remains a challenge. The sigma receptor agonist, afobazole, an anxiolytic used clinically in Russia, has been shown to reduce neuronal and glial cell injury following ischemia and acidosis; both of which have been shown to play important roles following an ischemic stroke.

Extracellular RNAs-TLR3 signaling contributes to cognitive decline in a mouse model of postoperative cognitive dysfunction.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is considered a severe complication after surgery among elderly patients. Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) has recently been reported to play an important role in hippocampus-dependent working memory. However, the role of TLR3 in the development of POCD remains unclear.

Thorase variants are associated with defects in glutamatergic neurotransmission that can be rescued by Perampanel.

The AAA+ adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) Thorase plays a critical role in controlling synaptic plasticity by regulating the expression of surface α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs). Bidirectional sequencing of exons of , the gene encoding Thorase, in a cohort of patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls revealed rare Thorase variants. These variants caused defects in glutamatergic signaling by impairing AMPAR internalization and recycling in mouse primary cortical neurons.

Activation of σ1 and σ2 receptors by afobazole increases glial cell survival and prevents glial cell activation and nitrosative stress after ischemic stroke.

Activation of sigma receptors at delayed time points has been shown to decrease injury following ischemic stroke. The mixed σ1/σ2 receptor agonist, 5-ethoxy-2-[2-(morpholino)-ethylthio]benzimidazole (afobazole), provides superior long-term outcomes compared to other σ ligands in the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) stroke model. Experiments using the MCAO model were carried out to determine the molecular mechanism involved in the beneficial effects of afobazole.

Afobazole activation of σ-1 receptors modulates neuronal responses to amyloid-β25-35.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a continual decline of cognitive function. No therapy has been identified that can effectively halt or reverse its progression. One hallmark of AD is accumulation of the amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), which alone induces neuronal injury via various mechanisms.

Stimulation of sigma receptors with afobazole blocks activation of microglia and reduces toxicity caused by amyloid-β25-35.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease and the leading cause of senile dementia in the United States. Accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) and the effects of this peptide on microglial cells contribute greatly to the etiology of AD. Experiments were carried out to determine whether the pan-selective σ-receptor agonist afobazole can modulate microglial response to the cytotoxic Aβ fragment, Aβ25-35.

A modular approach to create a neurovascular unit-on-a-chip.

In this work, we describe the fabrication and working of a modular microsystem that recapitulates the functions of the "Neurovascular Unit". The microdevice comprised a vertical stack of a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) neural parenchymal chamber separated by a vascular channel via a microporous polycarbonate (PC) membrane. The neural chamber housed a mixture of neurons (~4%), astrocytes (~95%), and microglia (~1%).

In vitro evaluation of guanidine analogs as sigma receptor ligands for potential anti-stroke therapeutics.

Currently, the only Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment of acute stroke is recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, which must be administered within 6 hours after stroke onset. The pan-selective σ-receptor agonist N,N'-di-o-tolyl-guanidine (o-DTG) has been shown to reduce infarct volume in rats after middle cerebral artery occlusion, even when administered 24 hours after stroke. DTG derivatives were synthesized to develop novel compounds with greater potency than o-DTG.

Afobazole modulates neuronal response to ischemia and acidosis via activation of sigma-1 receptors.

Afobazole is an anxiolytic medication that has been previously shown to be neuroprotective both in vitro and in vivo. However, the mechanism(s) by which afobazole can enhance neuronal survival remain poorly understood. Experiments were carried out to determine whether afobazole can decrease intracellular calcium overload associated with ischemia and acidosis and whether the effects of afobazole are mediated via interaction of the compound with σ receptors.

Afobazole modulates microglial function via activation of both sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptors.

Microglial cells play a critical role in the neuroinflammatory response that accompanies various diseases of the central nervous system, such as ischemic stroke, and ATP is a major signaling molecule regulating the response of these cells to these pathophysiological conditions. Experiments were carried out to determine the effects of afobazole on microglial function and to identify the molecular mechanisms by which afobazole affects microglial cells. Afobazole was found to inhibit migration of microglial cells in response to ATP and UTP chemoattraction in a concentration-dependent manner.