Recent evidence has shown that Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) is dysregulated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. However, it is still unclear whether Rheb activation contributes to the survival and protection of hippocampal neurons in the adult brain. To assess the effects of active Rheb in hippocampal neurons in vivo, we transfected neurons in the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) region in normal adult rats with an adeno-associated virus containing the constitutively active human Rheb (hRheb(S16H)) and evaluated the effects on thrombin-induced neurotoxicity. Transduction with hRheb(S16H) significantly induced neurotrophic effects in hippocampal neurons through activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) without side effects such as long-term potentiation impairment and seizures from the alteration of cytoarchitecture, and the expression of hRheb(S16H) prevented thrombin-induced neurodegeneration in vivo, an effect that was diminished by treatment with specific neutralizing antibodies against brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In addition, our results showed that the basal mTORC1 activity might be insufficient to mediate the level of BDNF expression, but hRheb(S16H)-activated mTORC1 stimulated BDNF production in hippocampal neurons. These results suggest that viral vector transduction with hRheb(S16H) may have therapeutic value in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4351465 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/mt.2014.241 | DOI Listing |
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Department of Neurophysiology, Medical Faculty, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany.
The novelty, saliency, and valency of ongoing experiences potently influence the firing rate of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the locus coeruleus (LC). Associative experience, in turn, is recorded into memory by means of hippocampal synaptic plasticity that is regulated by noradrenaline sourced from the LC, and dopamine, sourced from both the VTA and LC. Two persistent forms of synaptic plasticity, long-term potentiation (LTP), and long-term depression (LTD) support the encoding of different kinds of spatial experience.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExp Physiol
January 2025
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland.
Absence of the structural protein, dystrophin, results in the neuromuscular disorder Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). In addition to progressive skeletal muscle dysfunction, this multisystemic disorder can also result in cognitive deficits and behavioural changes that are likely to be consequences of dystrophin loss from central neurons and astrocytes. Dystrophin-deficient mdx mice exhibit decreases in grey matter volume in the hippocampus, the brain region that encodes and consolidates memories, and this is exacerbated with ageing.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Biophotonics
January 2025
Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LIPhy, Grenoble, France.
A challenge in neuroimaging is acquiring frame sequences at high temporal resolution from the largest possible number of pixels. Measuring 1%-10% fluorescence changes normally requires 12-bit or higher bit depth, constraining the frame size allowing imaging in the kHz range. We resolved Ca or membrane potential signals from cell populations or single neurons in brain slices by acquiring fluorescence at 8-bit depth and by binning pixels offline, achieving unprecedented frame sizes at kHz rates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Med
January 2025
Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550004, China.
Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a global health issue, with some patients experiencing anxiety and depression-like symptoms. This study investigates the role of HMGB1 in anxiety and depression-like behaviors associated with the microglial Notch1/Hes-1 pathway in CRS mice.
Methods: A CRS mouse model was developed, and behavioral assessments were conducted to evaluate anxiety and depression-like behaviors.
Sci Rep
January 2025
Center on Translational Neuroscience, Institute of National Security, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
Postpartum depression (PPD) profoundly impacts the mental and physical health of women globally and is an incurable psychological disorder. Traditional pharmacological treatments often have strong side effects and may adversely affect infant health through breastfeeding, underscoring the critical need for natural and gentle treatment strategies. Sugemule-7, a traditional Chinese medicine comprising multiple natural plant ingredients, represents a potentially safer and more effective alternative.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!