Mechanisms Of Neuronal Cell Death Research Articles

Comparing effects of CDK inhibition and E2F1/2 ablation on neuronal cell death pathways in vitro and after traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) activates multiple neuronal cell death mechanisms, leading to post-traumatic neuronal loss and neurological deficits. TBI-induced cell cycle activation (CCA) in post-mitotic neurons causes regulated cell death involving cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) activation and initiation of an E2F transcription factor-mediated pro-apoptotic program. Here we examine the mechanisms of CCA-dependent neuronal apoptosis in primary neurons in vitro and in mice exposed to controlled cortical impact (CCI). In contrast to our prior work demonstrating robust neuroprotective effects by CDK inhibitors after TBI, examination of neuronal apoptotic mechanisms in E2F1−/−/E2F2−/− or E2F2−/− transgenic mice following CCI suggests that E2F1 and/or E2F2 likely play only a modest role in neuronal cell loss after brain trauma. To elucidate more critical CCA molecular pathways involved in post-traumatic neuronal cell death, we investigated the neuroprotective effects and mechanisms of the potent CDK inhibitor CR8 in a DNA damage model of cell death in primary cortical neurons. CR8 treatment significantly reduced caspase activation and cleavage of caspase substrates, attenuating neuronal cell death. CR8 neuroprotective effects appeared to reflect inhibition of multiple pathways converging on the mitochondrion, including injury-induced elevation of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 homology region 3 (BH3)-only proteins Puma and Noxa, thereby attenuating mitochondrial permeabilization and release of cytochrome c and AIF, with reduction of both caspase-dependent and -independent apoptosis. CR8 administration also limited injury-induced deficits in mitochondrial respiration. These neuroprotective effects may be explained by CR8-mediated inhibition of key upstream injury responses, including attenuation of c-Jun phosphorylation/activation as well as inhibition of p53 transactivation of BH3-only targets.

Na+, K+-ATPase inhibition induces neuronal cell death in rat hippocampal slice cultures: Association with GLAST and glial cell abnormalities

Na+, K+-ATPase is a highly expressed membrane protein. Dysfunction of Na+, K+-ATPase has been implicated in the pathophysiology of several neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders, however, the underlying mechanism of neuronal cell death resulting from Na+, K+-ATPase dysfunction is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the mechanism of neurotoxicity due to Na+, K+-ATPase inhibition using rat organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. Treatment with ouabain, a Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitor, increased the ratio of propidium iodide-positive cells among NeuN-positive cells in the hippocampal CA1 region, which was prevented by MK-801 and d-AP5, specific blockers of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. EGTA, a Ca2+-chelating agent, also protected neurons from ouabain-induced injury. We observed that astrocytes expressed the glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST), and ouabain changed the immunoreactive area of GFAP-positive astrocytes as well as GLAST. We also observed that ouabain increased the number of Iba1-positive microglial cells in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, lithium carbonate, a mood-stabilizing drug, protected hippocampal neurons and reduced disturbances of astrocytes and microglia after ouabain treatment. Notably, lithium carbonate improved ouabain-induced decreases in GLAST intensity in astrocytes. These results suggest that glial cell abnormalities resulting in excessive extracellular concentrations of glutamate contribute to neurotoxicity due to Na+, K+-ATPase dysfunction in the hippocampal CA1 region.

TDP-43 Depletion: Mechanism of Neuronal Cell Death in ALS

Trans activation response DNA/RNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) regulates RNA splicing and stability. TDP-43 is a component of ubiquitin-positive inclusion bodies of motor neurons from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, suggesting a role in disease pathogenesis. Toxic intracellular TDP-43 aggregation may cause neuronal cell death. The loss of TDP-43 in animal models causes lethality in early development. Furthermore, TDP-43 knockdown in adult animals and cells increases aberrant splicing. Uridine-rich small nuclear RNA (U snRNA) regulation is disrupted in cultured neuroblastoma cells with TDP-43 knockdown and in motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Aberrant mRNA splicing and U snRNA expression are likely key processes in neuronal cell death. We review the research history and future perspectives of aberrant splicing by TDP-43 loss.

Roles of Eph/ephrin bidirectional signaling during injury and recovery of the central nervous system.

Multiple cellular components, including neuronal, glial and endothelial cells, are involved in the sophisticated pathological processes following central nervous system injury. The pathological process cannot reduce damage or improve functional recovery by merely targeting the molecular mechanisms of neuronal cell death after central nerve system injuries. Eph receptors and ephrin ligands have drawn wide attention since the discovery of their extensive distribution and unique bidirectional signaling between astrocytes and neurons. The roles of Eph/ephrin bidirectional signaling in the developmental processes have been reported in previous research. Recent observations suggest that Eph/ephrin bidirectional signaling continues to be expressed in most regions and cell types in the adult central nervous system, playing diverse roles. The Eph/ephrin complex mediates neurogenesis and angiogenesis, promotes glial scar formation, regulates endocrine levels, inhibits myelin formation and aggravates inflammation and nerve pain caused by injury. The interaction between Eph and ephrin is also considered to be the key to angiogenesis. This review focuses on the roles of Eph/ephrin bidirectional signaling in the repair of central nervous system injuries.

AIM2 Inflammasome-Mediated Pyroptosis in Enterovirus A71-Infected Neuronal Cells Restricts Viral Replication

Encephalomyelitis is a well-known complication of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) due to Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection. Viral RNA/antigens could be detected in the central nervous system (CNS) neurons in fatal encephalomyelitis but the mechanisms of neuronal cell death is not clearly understood. We investigated the role of absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome in neuronal cell death, and its relationship to viral replication. Our transcriptomic analysis, RT-qPCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry studies consistently showed AIM2 gene up-regulation and protein expression in EV-A71-infected SK-N-SH cells. Downstream AIM2-induced genes, CARD16, caspase-1 and IL-1β were also up-regulated and caspase-1 was activated to form cleaved caspase-1 p20 subunits. As evidenced by 7-AAD positivity, pyroptosis was confirmed in infected cells. Overall, these findings have a strong correlation with decreases in viral titers, copy numbers and proteins, and reduced proportions of infected cells. AIM2 and viral antigens were detected by immunohistochemistry in infected neurons in inflamed areas of the CNS in EV-A71 encephalomyelitis. In infected AIM2-knockdown cells, AIM2 and related downstream gene expressions, and pyroptosis were suppressed, resulting in significantly increased virus infection. These results support the notion that AIM2 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis is an important mechanism of neuronal cell death and it could play an important role in limiting EV-A71 replication.

Mechanisms of Neuronal Cell Death in AGE-exposed Retinas - Research and Literature Review.

Accelerated formation of AGE due to increasing rise in blood glucose levels leads to developments of metabolic changes, further leading to such complications as diabetic retinopathy which is a major reason of leading to blindness and affecting working population worldwide. The results of recent investigations have demonstrated that the death of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons is the common pathological changes in AGE-exposed retina and the possible mechanisms that are responsible for the onset and progression of RGC death and axonal degeneration in patients with diseases associated with AGEs accumulation are represented in this review. Identifying the mechanisms of the onset and the progression of RGC neuropathy can help in discovering the pathogenetic orientated treatment. This review describes recently discovered possible mechanisms of diabetic retinopathy obtained by laboratory studies with the suggestion that AGEs play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinal neuropathy triggering different mechanisms that result in neuronal dysfunction. For searching therapeutic approach the regenerative effect of different neurotrophic factors has been studied such as neurotrophin-4, hepatocyte growth factor, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and Tauroursodeoxycholic acid. The findings for the establishment of neuroprotective and regenerative therapies for AGE-related diseases including diabetic retinopathy are represented in this review.

Increased 12/15-Lipoxygenase Leads to Widespread Brain Injury Following Global Cerebral Ischemia.

Global ischemia following cardiac arrest is characterized by high mortality and significant neurological deficits in long-term survivors. Its mechanisms of neuronal cell death have only partially been elucidated. 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LOX) is a major contributor to delayed neuronal cell death and vascular injury in experimental stroke, but a possible role in brain injury following global ischemia has to date not been investigated. Using a mouse bilateral occlusion model of transient global ischemia which produced surprisingly widespread injury to cortex, striatum, and hippocampus, we show here that 12/15-LOX is increased in a time-dependent manner in the vasculature and neurons of both cortex and hippocampus. Furthermore, 12/15-LOX co-localized with apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), a mediator of non-caspase-related apoptosis in the cortex. In contrast, caspase-3 activation was more prevalent in the hippocampus. 12/15-lipoxygenase knockout mice were protected against global cerebral ischemia compared to wild-type mice, accompanied by reduced neurologic impairment. The lipoxygenase inhibitor LOXBlock-1 similarly reduced neuronal cell death both when pre-administered and when given at a therapeutically relevant time point 1h after onset of ischemia. These findings suggest a pivotal role for 12/15-LOX in both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptotic pathways following global cerebral ischemia and suggest a novel therapeutic approach to reduce brain injury following cardiac arrest.

Patient fibroblasts-derived induced neurons demonstrate autonomous neuronal defects in adult-onset Krabbe disease.

Krabbe disease (KD) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by defective β-galactosylceramidase (GALC), a lysosomal enzyme responsible for cleavage of several key substrates including psychosine. Accumulation of psychosine to the cytotoxic levels in KD patients is thought to cause dysfunctions in myelinating glial cells based on a comprehensive study of demyelination in KD. However, recent evidence suggests myelin-independent neuronal death in the murine model of KD, thus indicating defective GALC in neurons as an autonomous mechanism for neuronal cell death in KD. These observations prompted us to generate induced neurons (iNeurons) from two adult-onset KD patients carrying compound heterozygous mutations (p.[K563*];[L634S]) and (p.[N228_S232delinsTP];[G286D]) to determine the direct contribution of autonomous neuronal toxicity to KD. Here we report that directly converted KD iNeurons showed not only diminished GALC activity and increased psychosine levels, as expected, but also neurite fragmentation and abnormal neuritic branching. The lysosomal-associated membrane proteins 1 (LAMP1) was expressed at higher levels than controls, LAMP1-positive vesicles were significantly enlarged and fragmented, and mitochondrial morphology and its function were altered in KD iNeurons. Strikingly, we demonstrated that psychosine was sufficient to induce neurite defects, mitochondrial fragmentation, and lysosomal alterations in iNeurons derived in healthy individuals, thus establishing the causal effect of the cytotoxic GALC substrate in KD and the autonomous neuronal toxicity in KD pathology.

A22 Genetic tools to validate and measure NRF2 in HD

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant inherited disease leading to significant neurodegeneration. The neuropathological characterisation of the disease is the loss of medium spiny neurons in the striatum. A hallmark of HD is the intracellular aggregation of huntingtin protein. Multiple mechanisms for neuronal cell death have been proposed including oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired proteostasis. The Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) pathway has the potential to modulate all of these pathologic processes. Nrf2 is a transcription factor that binds to the ARE (antioxidant response element) and controls a powerful array of endogenous cellular antioxidant systems. Genes regulated through Nrf2 activation code for proteins that are direct antioxidants, enzymes that inactivate ROS (reactive oxygen species), produce reductive co-factors such as glutathione, combat endoplasmic reticulum stress, and modulate protein degradation pathways which affect protein turnover and homeostasis. Thus, Nrf2 is an attractive target for therapeutic intervention for neurodegenerative diseases. Previously, our laboratory demonstrated that transgenic mice with astrocyte-specific overexpression of Nrf2 (GFAP-Nrf2 mice) reduces chemical-mediated neurotoxicity in PD and HD models, as well as genetically-induced motor neuron degeneration in models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. The GFAP-Nrf2 mice were crossed with R6/2 mice. Overexpression of Nrf2 in astrocytes did not extend lifespan of the R6/2 mice. There was however some protection by astrocytic Nrf2 activation in the early stages of pathogenesis based on the rotarod, open field testing, and multiplex mRNA analysis in the GFAP-Nrf2/R6/2 compared to the R6/2 mice. On going studies are evaluating Nrf2 overexpression in neurons using transgenic mice and AAV-mediated gene delivery to the brains of R6/2 mice. Funded by the CHDI Foundation.

Hippocampal distribution of IL-1β and IL-1RI following lithium-pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus in the developing rat.

The contribution of Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) to neuronal injury induced by status epilepticus (SE) in the immature brain remains unclear. The goal of this study was to determine the hippocampal expression of IL-1β and its type 1 receptor (IL-1RI) following SE induced by the lithium-pilocarpine model in fourteen-days-old rat pups; control animals were given an equal volume of saline instead of the convulsant. IL-1β and IL-1RI mRNA hippocampal levels were assessed by qRT-PCR 6 and 24 h after SE or control conditions. IL-1β and IL-1RI expression was detected in the dorsal hippocampus by immunohistochemical procedures; Fluoro-Jade B staining was carried out in parallel sections in order to detect neuronal cell death. IL-1β mRNA expression was increased 6 h following SE, but not at 24 h; however IL-1RI mRNA expression was unaffected when comparing with the control group. IL-1β and IL-1RI immunoreactivity was not detected in control animals. IL-1β and IL-1RI were expressed in the CA1 pyramidal layer, the dentate gyrus granular layer and the hilus 6 h after SE, whereas injured cells were detected 24 h following seizures. Early expression of IL-1β and IL-1RI in the hippocampus could be associated with SE-induced neuronal cell death mechanisms in the developing rat.

E2F1-CDK1 pathway activation in kanamycin-induced spiral ganglion cell apoptosis and the protective effect of CR8

Cochlear hair cell loss results in the secondary loss of spiral ganglion cells (SGCs). The death of these SGCs is due to apoptosis. The E2F1-cyclin dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) pathway is believed to represent an important mechanism of neuronal cell death. However, the role of this pathway in spiral ganglion neuronal apoptosis has not yet been reported. In this study, we deafened guinea pigs with a subcutaneous injection of kanamycin followed by an intravenous infusion of furosemide and then assayed the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3, E2F1, CDK1 and cleaved caspase-9 during the induced SGC apoptosis. Our results revealed that co-administration of kanamycin and furosemide rapidly induced hair cell loss in the guinea pigs and then resulted in a progressive loss of SGCs. Expression levels of E2F1 and CDK1 were obviously up-regulated at 1 and 3 days after deafening. Cleaved caspase-9 also increased robustly 1 or 2 weeks after the deafening procedure. The up-regulation of E2F1, CDK1 and cleaved caspase-9 was significantly attenuated by the systemic injection of CR8 (1mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally) starting at 5min after deafening. These findings indicate that the activation of the E2F1-CDK1 pathway and cell cycle re-entry contributes to the apoptosis of SGCs and that the selective inhibition of this signaling cascade may represent an attractive therapeutic strategy. CR8 has the potential to protect SGCs from apoptosis.

Lewy Bodies and the Mechanisms of Neuronal Cell Death inParkinson's Disease and Dementia withLewy Bodies

Neuronal loss in specific brain regions and neurons with intracellular inclusions termed Lewy bodies are the pathologic hallmark in both Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Lewy bodies comprise of aggregated intracellular vesicles and proteins and α-synuclein is reported to be a major protein component. Using human brain tissue from control, PD and DLB and light and confocal immunohistochemistry with antibodies to superoxide dismutase 2 as a marker for mitochondria, α-synuclein for Lewy bodies and βIII Tubulin for microtubules we have examined the relationship between Lewy bodies and mitochondrial loss. We have shown microtubule regression and mitochondrial and nuclear degradation in neurons with developing Lewy bodies. In PD, multiple Lewy bodies were often observed with α-synuclein interacting with DNA to cause marked nuclear degradation. In DLB, the mitochondria are drawn into the Lewy body and the mitochondrial integrity is lost. This work suggests that Lewy bodies are cytotoxic. In DLB, we suggest that microtubule regression and mitochondrial loss results in decreased cellular energy and axonal transport that leads to cell death. In PD, α-synuclein aggregations are associated with intact mitochondria but interacts with and causes nuclear degradation which may be the major cause of cell death.

Organotypic retinal explant cultures as in vitro alternative for diabetic retinopathy studies.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of vision loss and one of the most common and debilitating complications of diabetes. Research to prevent DR is hindered by a lack of experimental model systems that faithfully reproduce the disease pathology, in particular for type 2 diabetes, which requires prolonged disease progression in animals to develop some hallmarks of DR. Here, we introduce an alternative in vitro model system for DR, based on serum-free, organotypic rodent retinal explant cultures, which allow physiological and pharmacological manipulation of the retina for up to two weeks under tightly controlled conditions. Retinal explant cultures have the advantage of isolating direct neuronal consequences of diabetic conditions from indirect systemic effects mediated via the retinal vasculature or the immune system. Exposed to conditions emulating type 1 or type 2 diabetes, retinal explants displayed elevated cell death rates among inner retinal neurons as well as photoreceptors, with a particularly strong loss of cone photoreceptors. Our results support a direct impact of diabetic conditions on retinal neurons and may help explain color vision defects observed in DR patients. This serum-free in vitro DR model avoids the animal suffering of established DR models and reduces the overall number of animals needed for such research. It should prove useful to study the mechanisms of neuronal cell death caused by DR and to screen for potential future DR treatments.

Zinc Modulates Nanosilver-Induced Toxicity in Primary Neuronal Cultures.

Silver nanoparticles (NAg) have recently become one of the most commonly used nanomaterials. Since the ability of nanosilver to enter the brain has been confirmed, there has been a need to investigate mechanisms of its neurotoxicity. We previously showed that primary neuronal cultures treated with nanosilver undergo destabilization of calcium homeostasis via a mechanism involving glutamatergic NMDA receptors. Considering the fact that zinc interacts with these receptors, the aim of the present study was to examine the role of zinc in mechanisms of neuronal cell death in primary cultures. In cells treated with nanosilver, we noted an imbalance between extracellular and intracellular zinc levels. Thus, the influence of zinc deficiency and supplementation on nanosilver-evoked cytotoxicity was investigated by treatment with TPEN (a chelator of zinc ions), or ZnCl2, respectively. Elimination of zinc leads to complete death of nanosilver-treated CGCs. In contrast, supplementation with ZnCl2 increases viability of CGCs in a dose-dependent manner. Addition of zinc provided protection against the extra/intracellular calcium imbalance in a manner similar to MK-801, an antagonist of NMDA receptors. Zinc chelation by TPEN decreases the mitochondrial potential and dramatically increases the rate of production of reactive oxygen species. Our results indicate that zinc supplementation positively influences nanosilver-evoked changes in CGCs. This is presumed to be due to an inhibitory effect on NMDA-sensitive calcium channels.

Overexpression of α-synuclein in oligodendrocytes does not increase susceptibility to focal striatal excitotoxicity.

BackgroundMultiple system atrophy (MSA) is a fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by α-synuclein (α-syn) positive oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions. The latter are associated with a neuronal multisystem neurodegeneration targeting central autonomic, olivopontocerebellar and striatonigral pathways, however the underlying mechanisms of neuronal cell death are poorly understood. Previous experiments have shown that oligodendroglial α-syn pathology increases the susceptibility to mitochondrial stress and proteasomal dysfunction leading to enhanced MSA-like neurodegeneration. Here we analyzed whether oligodendroglial α-syn overexpression in a transgenic mouse model of MSA synergistically interacts with focal neuronal excitotoxic damage generated by a striatal injection of quinolinic acid (QA) to affect the degree of striatal neuronal loss.ResultsQA injury led to comparable striatal neuronal loss and optical density of astro- and microgliosis in the striatum of transgenic and control mice. Respectively, no differences were identified in drug-induced rotation behavior or open field behavior between the groups.ConclusionsThe failure of oligodendroglial α-syn pathology to exacerbate striatal neuronal loss resulting from QA excitotoxicity contrasts with enhanced striatal neurodegeneration due to oxidative or proteolytic stress, suggesting that enhanced vulnerability to excitotoxicity does not occur in oligodendroglial α-synucleinopathy like MSA.

Oxidative stress and mitochondria-mediated cell death mechanisms triggered by the familial Danish dementia ADan amyloid

Familial Danish Dementia (FDD), an early-onset non-amyloid-β (Aβ) cerebral amyloidosis, is neuropathologically characterized by widespread cerebral amyloid angiopathy, parenchymal amyloid and preamyloid deposits, as well as neurofibrillary degeneration indistinguishable to that seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The main amyloid subunit composing FDD lesions, a 34-amino acid de-novo generated peptide ADan, is the direct result of a genetic defect at the 3′-end of the BRI2 gene and the physiologic action of furin-like proteolytic processing at the C-terminal region of the ADan precursor protein. We aimed to study the impact of the FDD mutation, the additional formation of the pyroglutamate (pE) posttranslational modification as well as the relevance of C-terminal truncations —all major components of the heterogeneous FDD deposits— on the structural and neurotoxic properties of the molecule. Our data indicates that whereas the mutation generated a β-sheet-rich hydrophobic ADan subunit of high oligomerization/fibrillization propensity and the pE modification further enhanced these properties, C-terminal truncations had the opposite effect mostly abolishing these features. The potentiation of pro-amyloidogenic properties correlated with the initiation of neuronal cell death mechanisms involving oxidative stress, perturbation of mitochondrial membrane potential, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, and downstream activation of caspase-mediated apoptotic pathways. The amyloid-induced toxicity was inhibited by targeting specific components of these detrimental cellular pathways, using reactive oxygen scavengers and monoclonal antibodies recognizing the pathological amyloid subunit. Taken together, the data indicate that the FDD mutation and the pE posttranslational modification are both primary elements driving intact ADan into an amyloidogenic/neurotoxic pathway while truncations at the C-terminus eliminate the pro-amyloidogenic characteristics of the molecule, likely reflecting effect of physiologic clearance mechanisms.

Cell Cycle Proteins and Retinal Degeneration: Evidences of New Potential Therapeutic Targets.

During different forms of neurodegenerative diseases, including the retinal degeneration, several cell cycle proteins are expressed in the dying neurons from Drosophila to human revealing that these proteins are a hallmark of neuronal degeneration. This is true for animal models of Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and for Retinitis Pigmentosa as well as for acute injuries such as stroke and light damage. Longitudinal investigation and loss-of-function studies attest that cell cycle proteins participate to the process of cell death although with different impacts, depending on the disease. In the retina, inhibition of cell cycle protein action can result to massive protection. Nonetheless, the dissection of the molecular mechanisms of neuronal cell death is necessary to develop adapted therapeutic tools to efficiently protect photoreceptors as well as other neuron types.

Lewy Bodies: A Spectator or Salient Killer?

Lewy bodies (LBs) are characteristic hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, their role in the pathology of PD is not established yet. Are they primary events in the neurodegenerative process or only secondary phenomena? Are they signs of protecting neurons from toxicity or are they toxic per se? How are they are formed? Are LBs targets for therapeutic strategies? Addressing these questions may be of pivotal importance to unravel the basic mechanisms of neurodegeneration in PD. On the basis of current evidence, we intend to elucidate the possible role of LBs as triggers and/or markers of disease progression in PD. We present evidence for the morphogenesis of brain stem and cortical LBs, the role in neuronal cell death mechanisms, which seem to be correlated with the adhesion of LBs to and finally disruption of their inner neuronal membrane. Taken as such, LBs would be salient killers of nerve cells. However, they may also play a neuroprotective role in the early phases of neuronal pathology (LBs as a spectator), yet harmful to neuronal stability in later stages of LB development. Generation of LB pathology in the periphery (early subclinical Braak stage) might be due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to (chronic) bacteria-induced and/or otherwise intestinal inflammation, both leading to alpha-synuclein structural changes, oligomerization, seeding and propagation in a prion-like mechanism. If so, LB generation is a secondary process following ROS/inflammation pathology. Therapeutic implication based on LB pathology include drug development to inhibit protein misfolding, templating and transmission or vaccination against LBs, neuron regeneration strategies, anti-inflammatory and anti-biotic drugs as well as nutritional specialities to prevent intestine intoxications. In conclusion, evidence suggests LBs to be secondary hallmarks of PD pathology, induced by ROS/inflammation or other pathological triggers able to modify protein (alpha-synuclein) steric/chemical properties. Therapeutic strategies based on LB pathologies are devoted to reduce neuron cell death mechanisms in their time course and severity.

The neuroprotective potential of endoplasmic reticulum chaperones

Diseases of the nervous system are characterized by axon dysfunction, axon degeneration, and neuronal cell death. The roster of neurodegenerative diseases is striking in the selective vulnerability of the affected neuronal populations and the timing of the onset of disease manifestation and functional deficits. We are particularly fascinated by the extreme long term progression of many of these diseases prior to onset of significant functional loss and believe this reveals essential qualities of these diseases and offers considerable therapeutic opportunity. Though a complete mechanistic understanding of axon maintenance and neurodegeneration remains elusive, the primary process of neurodegeneration appears similar (e.g., Wallerian degeneration) across neuronal populations, as does caspase-dependent or -independent apoptotic cell death and likewise other forms of cell death (e.g., necrosis and necroptosis). Thus, it seems probable that the basic mechanisms of neuronal cell death and degeneration can be selectively manipulated through core cell processes, thereby preventing and/or halting the disease onset and progression.

PFTAA: a high affinity oligothiophene probe that detects filamentous tau in vivo and in cultured neurons.

Tauopathies describe a group of neurodegenerative diseases in which the protein tau, encoded by the gene MAPT, is aberrantly misfolded, leading to tau aggregation, neural dysfunction, and cell death (Spillantini and Goedert, 2013). In Alzheimer's disease (AD), tau forms the characteristic intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which are thought to be the major cause of neurodegeneration (Bloom, 2014). In other tauopathies, including frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17T), corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy, there are specific forms of tau aggregates and filaments without any amyloid pathology, demonstrating tau's potent disease-causing potential (Spillantini and Goedert, 2013). Tau is a microtubule (MT) binding protein, which becomes abnormally hyperphosphorylated on several residues prior/during the process of aggregation, thereby causing loss of its MT binding activity (Mandelkow and Mandelkow, 2012). The importance of tau as a single cause of disease is reinforced by the identification of numerous (> 55) mutations in autosomal-dominant forms of familial tauopathies, many of which occur in the MT binding domain. Indeed, more and more diseases are being uncovered in which aberrant phosphorylation and folding of tau is implicated, not least in Huntington's disease (HD), while MAPT is a genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), so it is of major interest to understand how it leads to cell dysfunction and death.