Huntington's disease (HD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe motor deficits, cognitive decline and psychiatric disturbances. An early and significant morphological hallmark of HD is the activation of astrocytes triggered by mutant huntingtin, leading to the release of inflammatory mediators. Fingolimod (FTY), an FDA-approved sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist is used to treat multiple sclerosis (MS), a neuroinflammatory disease, and has shown therapeutic promise in other neurological conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Surg Oncol
December 2024
Surgical and neuropathologists continuously search for new and disease-specific features, such as independent predictors of tumor prognosis or determinants of tumor entities and sub-entities. This is a task where artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) systems could significantly contribute to help with tumor outcome prediction and the search for new diagnostic or treatment stratification biomarkers. AI systems are increasingly integrated into routine pathology workflows to improve accuracy, reproducibility, productivity and to reveal difficult-to-see features in complicated histological slides, including the quantification of important markers for tumor grading and staging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe transcription factor ΔNp63 plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity of stratified epithelial tissues by regulating the expression of distinct target genes involved in lineage specification, cell stemness, cell proliferation and differentiation. Here, we identified the ABC transporter subfamily member as a novel ΔNp63 target gene. We found that in immortalized human keratinocytes and in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cells, ∆Np63 induces the expression of ABCC1 by physically occupying a p63-binding site (p63 BS) located in the first intron of the gene locus.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis
December 2024
Intracellular cholesterol metabolism is regulated by the SREBP-2 and LXR signaling pathways. The effects of inflammation on these molecular mechanisms remain poorly studied, especially at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) level. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) is a proinflammatory cytokine associated with BBB dysfunction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Mass spectrometry (MS)-based cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteomics is an important method for discovering biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases. CSF serves as a reservoir for interstitial fluid (ISF), and extensive communication between the two fluid compartments helps to remove waste products from the brain.
New Method: We performed proteomic analyses of both CSF and ISF fluid compartments using intracerebral microdialysis to validate and detect novel biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in APPtg and C57Bl/6J control mice.
ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters play a crucial role for the efflux of a wide range of substrates across different cellular membranes. In the central nervous system (CNS), ABC transporters have recently gathered significant attention due to their pivotal involvement in brain physiology and neurodegenerative disorders, such as (AD). Glial cells are fundamental for normal CNS function and engage with several ABC transporters in different ways.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: 6-Bromo-7-[C]methylpurine ([C]BMP) is a radiotracer for positron emission tomography (PET) to measure multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1) transport activity in different tissues. Previously reported radiosyntheses of [C]BMP afforded a mixture of 7- and 9-[C]methyl regioisomers. To prepare for clinical use, we here report an improved regioselective radiosynthesis of [C]BMP, the results of a non-clinical toxicity study as well as human dosimetry estimates based on mouse PET data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Aims: Statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) is a prevalent cause of statin discontinuation. It is challenging and time-consuming for clinicians to assess whether symptoms are caused by the statin or not, and diagnostic biomarkers are requested. Atorvastatin metabolites have been associated with SAMS.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF(St. John's wort) has been described to be beneficial for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Different extractions have demonstrated efficiency in mice and humans, esp.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFP-glycoprotein (P-gp, encoded in humans by the gene and in rodents by the genes) is a membrane transporter that can restrict the intestinal absorption and tissue distribution of many drugs and may also contribute to renal and hepatobiliary drug excretion. The aim of this study was to compare the performance and sensitivity of currently available radiolabeled P-gp substrates for positron emission tomography (PET) with the single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) radiotracer [Tc]Tc-sestamibi for measuring the P-gp function in the kidneys and liver. Wild-type, heterozygous (), and homozygous () knockout mice were used as models of different P-gp abundance in excretory organs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe discovery of both distinctive lead molecules and novel drug targets is a great challenge in drug discovery, which particularly accounts for orphan diseases. Huntington's disease (HD) is an orphan, neurodegenerative disease of which the pathology is well-described. However, its pathophysiological background and molecular mechanisms are poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe efflux transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) at the blood-brain barrier limits the cerebral uptake of various xenobiotics. To assess the sensitivity of [C]metoclopramide to measure decreased cerebral P-gp function, we performed [C]metoclopramide PET scans without (baseline) and with partial P-gp inhibition by tariquidar in wild-type, heterozygous and homozygous mice as models with controlled levels of cerebral P-gp expression. Brains were collected to quantify P-gp expression with immunohistochemistry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, is a growing health issue with very limited treatment options. To meet the need for novel therapeutics, existing drugs with additional preferred pharmacological profiles could be recruited. This strategy is known as 'drug repurposing'.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia in the world. The pathology of AD is affiliated with the elevation of both tau (τ) and β-amyloid (Aβ) pathologies. Yet, the direct link between natural τ expression on glia cell activity and Aβ remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuroinflammation and brain lipid imbalances are observed in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) and the liver X receptor () signaling pathways are involved in both processes. However, limited information is currently available regarding their relationships in human brain pericytes (HBP) of the neurovascular unit.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Transforming growth factor-beta receptor 3-like (TGFBR3L) is a pituitary enriched membrane protein selectively detected in gonadotroph cells. TGFBR3L is named after transforming growth factor-beta receptor 3 (TGFBR3), an inhibin A co-receptor in mice, due to sequence identity to the C-terminal region. We aimed to characterize TGFBR3L detection in a well-characterized, prospectively collected cohort of non-functioning pituitary neuroendocrine tumours (NF-PitNETs) and correlate it to clinical data.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Fingolimod has previously shown beneficial effects in different animal models of AD. However, it has shown contradictory effects when it has been applied at early disease stages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe solute carrier (SLC) monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1; SLC16A1) represents a promising target for the treatment of cancer; however, the MCT1 modulator landscape is underexplored with only roughly 100 reported compounds. To expand the knowledge about MCT1 modulation, we synthesized a library of 16 indole-based molecules and subjected these to a comprehensive biological assessment platform. All compounds showed functional inhibitory activities against MCT1 at low nanomolar concentrations and great antiproliferative activities against the MCT1-expressing cancer cell lines A-549 and MCF-7, while the compounds were selective over MCT4 (SLC16A4).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAutistic adults are often stressed and feel depressed or anxious. However, mental health programs that are suited for autistic adults are few. Acceptance and commitment therapy is a psychotherapy method that seems to help people feel better, although not thoroughly evaluated in autistic individuals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuntington's disease (HD) is a lethal neurodegenerative disorder without efficient therapeutic options. The inefficient translation from preclinical and clinical research into clinical use is mainly attributed to the lack of (i) understanding of disease initiation, progression, and involved molecular mechanisms; (ii) knowledge of the possible HD target space and general data awareness; (iii) detailed characterizations of available disease models; (iv) better suitable models; and (v) reliable and sensitive biomarkers. To generate robust HD-like symptoms in a mouse model, the neomycin resistance cassette was excised from zQ175 mice, generating a new line: zQ175.
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