An Interaction between Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Stress-Related Glucocorticoids in the Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease.

Both the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glucocorticoids (GCs) play multiple roles in various aspects of neurons, including cell survival and synaptic function. BDNF and its receptor TrkB are extensively expressed in neurons of the central nervous system (CNS), and the contribution of the BDNF/TrkB system to neuronal function is evident; thus, its downregulation has been considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). GCs, stress-related molecules, and glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) are also considered to be associated with AD in addition to mental disorders such as depression.

Neurotrophins and Other Growth Factors in the Pathogenesis of Alzheimer's Disease.

The involvement of the changed expression/function of neurotrophic factors in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), has been suggested. AD is one of the age-related dementias, and is characterized by cognitive impairment with decreased memory function. Developing evidence demonstrates that decreased cell survival, synaptic dysfunction, and reduced neurogenesis are involved in the pathogenesis of AD.

Enhanced social reward response and anxiety-like behavior with downregulation of nucleus accumbens glucocorticoid receptor in BALB/c mice.

Social anhedonia is a psychological state with difficulty in experiencing pleasure from social interactions and is observed in various diseases, such as depressive disorders. Although the relationships between social reward responses and anxiety- and depression-like behaviors have remained unclear, a social reward conditioned place preference (SCPP) test can be used to analyze the rewarding nature of social interactions. To elucidate these relationships, we used 5-week-old male mice of AKR, BALB/c, and C57BL/6J strains and conducted behavioral tests in the following order: elevated plus-maze test (EPM), open field test (OFT), SCPP, saccharin preference test (SPT), and passive avoidance test.

The Role of Neurotrophin Signaling in Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Cognitive Diseases.

Neurotrophins are a family of secreted proteins expressed in the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system that support neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and neurogenesis. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its high affinity receptor TrkB are highly expressed in the cortical and hippocampal areas and play an essential role in learning and memory. The decline of cognitive function with aging is a major risk factor for cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer's disease.

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Signaling in the Pathophysiology of Alzheimer's Disease: Beneficial Effects of Flavonoids for Neuroprotection.

The function of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) via activation through its high-affinity receptor Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) has a pivotal role in cell differentiation, cell survival, synaptic plasticity, and both embryonic and adult neurogenesis in central nervous system neurons. A number of studies have demonstrated the possible involvement of altered expression and action of the BDNF/TrkB signaling in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this review, we introduce an essential role of the BDNF and its downstream signaling in neural function.

Rapid and Simplified Induction of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells (NSCs/NPCs) and Neurons from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs).

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their progeny displaying tissue-specific characteristics have paved the way for regenerative medicine and research in various fields such as the elucidation of the pathological mechanism of diseases and the discovery of drug candidates. iPSC-derived neurons are particularly valuable as it is difficult to analyze neural cells obtained from the central nervous system in humans. For neuronal induction with iPSCs, one of the commonly used approaches is the isolation and expansion of neural rosettes, following the formation of embryonic bodies (EBs).

An iPSC-based neural model of sialidosis uncovers glycolytic impairment-causing presynaptic dysfunction and deregulation of Ca dynamics.

Sialidosis is a neuropathic lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency in the NEU1 gene-encoding lysosomal neuraminidase and characterized by abnormal accumulation of undigested sialyl-oligoconjugates in systemic organs including brain. Although patients exhibit neurological symptoms, the underlying neuropathological mechanism remains unclear. Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from skin fibroblasts with sialidosis and induced the differentiation into neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and neurons.

Small noncoding vault RNA modulates synapse formation by amplifying MAPK signaling.

The small noncoding vault RNA (vtRNA) is a component of the vault complex, a ribonucleoprotein complex found in most eukaryotes. Emerging evidence suggests that vtRNAs may be involved in the regulation of a variety of cellular functions when unassociated with the vault complex. Here, we demonstrate a novel role for vtRNA in synaptogenesis.

Novel Drug Candidates Improve Ganglioside Accumulation and Neural Dysfunction in GM1 Gangliosidosis Models with Autophagy Activation.

GM1 gangliosidosis is a lysosomal storage disease caused by loss of lysosomal β-galactosidase activity and characterized by progressive neurodegeneration due to massive accumulation of GM1 ganglioside in the brain. Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with GM1 gangliosidosis, and the resultant neurons showed impaired neurotransmitter release as a presynaptic function and accumulation of GM1 ganglioside. Treatment of normal neurons with GM1 ganglioside also disturbed presynaptic function.

Presynaptic Dysfunction in Neurons Derived from Tay-Sachs iPSCs.

Tay-Sachs disease (TSD) is a GM2 gangliosidosis lysosomal storage disease caused by a loss of lysosomal hexosaminidase-A (HEXA) activity and characterized by progressive neurodegeneration due to the massive accumulation of GM2 ganglioside in the brain. Here, we generated iPSCs derived from patients with TSD, and found similar potential for neural differentiation between TSD-iPSCs and normal iPSCs, although neural progenitor cells (NPCs) derived from the TSD-iPSCs exhibited enlarged lysosomes and upregulation of the lysosomal marker, LAMP1, caused by the accumulation of GM2 ganglioside. The NPCs derived from TSD-iPSCs also had an increased incidence of oxidative stress-induced cell death.

Actions of Brain-Derived Neurotrophin Factor in the Neurogenesis and Neuronal Function, and Its Involvement in the Pathophysiology of Brain Diseases.

It is well known that brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, has an important role in a variety of neuronal aspects, such as differentiation, maturation, and synaptic function in the central nervous system (CNS). BDNF stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK), phosphoinositide-3kinase (PI3K), and phospholipase C (PLC)-gamma pathways via activation of tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), a high affinity receptor for BDNF. Evidence has shown significant contributions of these signaling pathways in neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity in in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Basic fibroblast growth factor increased glucocorticoid receptors in cortical neurons through MAP kinase pathway.

Prolonged and intense stress chronically increases blood concentration of glucocorticoids, which in turn causes downregulation of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the central nervous system (CNS). This process has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Here, we found that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) increased the expression of GR in the rat cerebral cortex and cultured cortical neurons and restored the reduced GR expression caused by glucocorticoid exposure.

The promoter-driven CD63-GFP transgenic rat model allows tracking of neural stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can modulate microenvironments by transferring biomolecules, including RNAs and proteins derived from releasing cells, to target cells. To understand the molecular mechanisms maintaining the neural stem cell (NSC) niche through EVs, a new transgenic (Tg) rat strain that can release human CD63-GFP-expressing EVs from the NSCs was established. Human CD63-GFP expression was controlled under the rat promoter (Sox2/human CD63-GFP), and it was expressed in undifferentiated fetal brains.

Actions of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Glucocorticoid Stress in Neurogenesis.

Altered neurogenesis is suggested to be involved in the onset of brain diseases, including mental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Neurotrophic factors are well known for their positive effects on the proliferation/differentiation of both embryonic and adult neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs/NPCs). Especially, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been extensively investigated because of its roles in the differentiation/maturation of NSCs/NPCs.

Impact of glucocorticoid on neurogenesis.

Neurogenesis is currently an area of great interest in neuroscience. It is closely linked to brain diseases, including mental disorders and neurodevelopmental disease. Both embryonic and adult neurogeneses are influenced by glucocorticoids secreted from the adrenal glands in response to a variety of stressors.

Generation of a novel transgenic rat model for tracing extracellular vesicles in body fluids.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play an important role in the transfer of biomolecules between cells. To elucidate the intercellular transfer fate of EVs in vivo, we generated a new transgenic (Tg) rat model using green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged human CD63. CD63 protein is highly enriched on EV membranes via trafficking into late endosomes and is often used as an EV marker.

Negative regulation of microRNA-132 in expression of synaptic proteins in neuronal differentiation of embryonic neural stem cells.

MicroRNAs (miRs) play important roles in neuronal differentiation, maturation, and synaptic function in the central nervous system. They have also been suggested to be implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. Although miR-132 is one of the well-studied brain-specific miRs, which regulates synaptic structure and function in the postnatal brain, its function in the prenatal brain is still unclear.

The inactivation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase by glucagon-like peptide-1 contributes to neuroprotection against oxidative stress.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), an insulinotropic peptide secreted from enteroendocrine cells, has been known to have a neuroprotective effect. However, it is not fully understood the intracellular mediator of GLP-1 signaling in neuronal cells. In the present study, we examined the change in intracellular signaling of cortical neurons after GLP-1 application and luminal glucose stimulation in vitro and in vivo.

An in vitro reproduction of stress-induced memory defects: Effects of corticoids on dendritic spine dynamics.

Previously, in organotypic slice culture of rodent hippocampus we found that three repeated inductions of LTP, but not a single induction, led to a slow-developing long-lasting enhancement of synaptic strength coupled with synapse formation. Naming this structural plasticity RISE (repetitive LTP-induced synaptic enhancement) and assuming it to be a potential in vitro reproduction of repetition-dependent memory consolidation, we are analyzing its cellular mechanisms. Here, we applied a glucocorticoid to the culture to mimic acute excess stress and demonstrated its blockade of RISE.

Self-amplified BDNF transcription is a regulatory system for synaptic maturation in cultured cortical neurons.

Neuronal cell survival and synaptic plasticity are controlled through expression of various neurotrophic factors including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In the present study, we examined the mechanism behind BDNF-induced Bdnf mRNA production and the physiological role of its amplification system using cortical neurons. Exogenous BDNF was applied to the cultured cortical neurons at days in vitro (DIV) 3 and DIV 7 with or without inhibitors for intracellular signaling.

Possible role of the dopamine D1 receptor in the sensorimotor gating deficits induced by high-fat diet.

Rationale: High-fat diet (HFD) has been recently reported to induce sensorimotor gating deficits, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to determine whether HFD induces long-lasting deficits in sensorimotor gating and to examine the involvement of altered dopamine (DA) function.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed HFD for 10 weeks and then normal diet (ND) for 4 weeks.

Glucocorticoid affects dendritic transport of BDNF-containing vesicles.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is essential for neuronal survival, differentiation, and functions in the central nervous system (CNS). Because BDNF protein is sorted into secretory vesicles at the trans-Golgi network in the cell body after translation, transport of BDNF-containing vesicles to the secretion sites is an important process for its function. Here we examined the effect of dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid, on BDNF-containing vesicle transport and found that DEX decreased the proportion of stationary vesicles and increased velocity of the microtubule-based vesicle transport in dendrites of cortical neurons.