Alfred Bach

The hematopoietic factor G-CSF is a neuronal ligand that counteracts programmed cell death and drives neurogenesis

G-CSF is a potent hematopoietic factor that enhances survival and drives differentiation of myeloid lineage cells, resulting in the generation of neutrophilic granulocytes. Here, we show that G-CSF passes the intact blood-brain barrier and reduces infarct volume in 2 different rat models of acute stroke. G-CSF displays strong anti-apoptotic activity in mature neurons and activates multiple cell survival pathways. Both G-CSF and its receptor are widely expressed by neurons in the CNS, and their expression is induced by ischemia, which suggests an autocrine protective signaling mechanism. Surprisingly, the G-CSF receptor was also expressed by adult neural stem cells, and G-CSF induced neuronal differentiation in vitro. G-CSF markedly improved long-term behavioral outcome after cortical ischemia, while stimulating neural progenitor response in vivo, providing a link to functional recovery. Thus, G-CSF is an endogenous ligand in the CNS that has a dual activity beneficial both in counteracting acute neuronal degeneration and contributing to long-term plasticity after cerebral ischemia. We therefore propose G-CSF as a potential new drug for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a rat brain cDNA encoding a 5-hydroxytryptamine1B receptor.

To date, there have been at least eight different receptors for the neurotransmitter serotonin (5‐HT) identified in the central nervous system. These receptors fall into four pharmacological classes: 5‐HT1, 5‐HT2, 5‐HT3 and 5‐HT4. The 5‐HT1 class has been shown to contain at least four pharmacologically distinct subtypes, 5‐HT1A‐D. Of these, cDNAs encoding the 5‐HT1A and 5‐HT1C receptors have been previously characterized. We now report the cloning and expression of a rat brain cDNA encoding another member of the 5‐HT1 receptor family. Transient expression of this clone demonstrated high‐affinity binding of [3H]5‐HT with a pharmacological profile corresponding to that of the 5‐HT1B subtype: 5‐CT, 5‐HT greater than propranolol greater than methysergide greater than rauwolscine greater than 8‐OH‐DPAT. In situ hybridization revealed expression of cognate mRNA within cells of the dorsal and median raphe nuclei, consistent with previous reports that the 5‐HT1B receptor acts as an autoreceptor on 5‐HT terminals in this species. mRNA expression was also detected in cells within the CA1 region of hippocampus, striatum, layer 4 of cortex and in the cerebellum, suggesting a previously unrecognized post‐synaptic role for the 5‐HT1B receptor.

Reduced oxidative damage in ALS by high‐dose enteral melatonin treatment

Abstract:  Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the collective term for a fatal motoneuron disease of different etiologies, with oxidative stress as a common molecular denominator of disease progression. Melatonin is an amphiphilic molecule with a unique spectrum of antioxidative effects not conveyed by classical antioxidants. In preparation of a possible future clinical trial, we explored the potential of melatonin as neuroprotective compound and antioxidant in: (1) cultured motoneuronal cells (NSC‐34), (2) a genetic mouse model of ALS (SOD1G93A‐transgenic mice), and (3) a group of 31 patients with sporadic ALS. We found that melatonin attenuates glutamate‐induced cell death of cultured motoneurons. In SOD1G93A‐transgenic mice, high‐dose oral melatonin delayed disease progression and extended survival. In a clinical safety study, chronic high‐dose (300 mg/day) rectal melatonin was well tolerated during an observation period of up to 2 yr. Importantly, circulating serum protein carbonyls, which provide a surrogate marker for oxidative stress, were elevated in ALS patients, but were normalized to control values by melatonin treatment. This combination of preclinical effectiveness and proven safety in humans suggests that high‐dose melatonin is suitable for clinical trials aimed at neuroprotection through antioxidation in ALS.

A Neuroprotective Function for the Hematopoietic Protein Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF)

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a hematopoietic cytokine responsible for the proliferation, differentiation, and maturation of cells of the myeloid lineage, which was cloned more than 20 years ago. Here we uncovered a novel function of GM-CSF in the central nervous system (CNS). We identified the GM-CSF α-receptor as an upregulated gene in a screen for ischemia-induced genes in the cortex. This receptor is broadly expressed on neurons throughout the brain together with its ligand and induced by ischemic insults. In primary cortical neurons and human neuroblastoma cells, GM-CSF counteracts programmed cell death and induces BCL-2 and BCL-Xl expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Of the signaling pathways studied, GM-CSF most prominently induced the PI3K-Akt pathway, and inhibition of Akt strongly decreased antiapoptotic activity. Intravenously given GM-CSF passes the blood—brain barrier, and decreases infarct damage in two different experimental stroke models (middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and combined common carotid/distal MCA occlusion) concomitant with induction of BCL-Xl expression. Thus, GM-CSF acts as a neuroprotective protein in the CNS. This finding is remarkably reminiscent of the recently discovered functionality of two other hematopoietic factors, erythropoietin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in the CNS. The identification of a third hematopoietic factor acting as a neurotrophic factor in the CNS suggests a common principle in the functional evolution of these factors. Clinically, GM-CSF now broadens the repertoire of hematopoietic factors available as novel drug candidates for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor improves outcome in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that results in progressive loss of motoneurons, motor weakness and death within 1–5 years after disease onset. Therapeutic options remain limited despite a substantial number of approaches that have been tested clinically. In particular, various neurotrophic factors have been investigated. Failure in these trials has been largely ascribed to problems of insufficient dosing or inability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). We have recently uncovered the neurotrophic properties of the haematopoietic protein granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The protein is clinically well tolerated and crosses the intact BBB. This study examined the potential role of G-CSF in motoneuron diseases. We investigated the expression of the G-CSF receptor in motoneurons and studied effects of G-CSF in a motoneuron cell line and in the SOD1(G93A) transgenic mouse model. The neurotrophic growth factor was applied both by continuous subcutaneous delivery and CNS-targeted transgenic overexpression. This study shows that given at the stage of the disease where muscle denervation is already evident, G-CSF leads to significant improvement in motor performance, delays the onset of severe motor impairment and prolongs overall survival of SOD1(G93A)tg mice. The G-CSF receptor is expressed by motoneurons and G-CSF protects cultured motoneuronal cells from apoptosis. In ALS mice, G-CSF increased survival of motoneurons and decreased muscular denervation atrophy. We conclude that G-CSF is a novel neurotrophic factor for motoneurons that is an attractive and feasible drug candidate for the treatment of ALS.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor is neuroprotective in a model of Parkinson's disease

We have recently shown that the hematopoietic Granulocyte‐Colony Stimulating Factor (G‐CSF) is neuroprotective in rodent stroke models, and that this action appears to be mediated via a neuronal G‐CSF receptor. Here, we report that the G‐CSF receptor is expressed in rodent dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons, suggesting that G‐CSF might be neuroprotective for dopaminergic neurons and a candidate molecule for the treatment of Parkinsons disease. Thus, we investigated protective effects of G‐CSF in 1‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+)‐challenged PC12 cells and primary neuronal midbrain cultures, as well as in the mouse 1‐methyl‐4‐phenyl‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of Parkinsons disease. Substantial protection was found against MPP+‐induced dopaminergic cell death in vitro. Moreover, subcutaneous application of G‐CSF at a dose of 40 μg/Kg body weight daily over 13 days rescued dopaminergic substantia nigra neurons from MPTP‐induced death in aged mice, as shown by quantification of tyrosine hydroxylase‐positive substantia nigra cells. Using HPLC, a corresponding reduction in striatal dopamine depletion after MPTP application was observed in G‐CSF‐treated mice. Thus our data suggest that G‐CSF is a novel therapeutic opportunity for the treatment of Parkinsons disease, because it is well‐tolerated and already approved for the treatment of neutropenic conditions in humans.

Expression of Hemoglobin in Rodent Neurons

Hemoglobin is the major protein in red blood cells and transports oxygen from the lungs to oxygen-demanding tissues, like the brain. Mechanisms that facilitate the uptake of oxygen in the vertebrate brain are unknown. In invertebrates, neuronal hemoglobin serves as intracellular storage molecule for oxygen. Here, we show by immunohistochemistry that hemoglobin is specifically expressed in neurons of the cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of the rodent brain, but not in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The neuronal hemoglobin distribution is distinct from the neuroglobin expression pattern on both cellular and subcellular levels. Probing for low oxygen levels in the tissue, we provide evidence that hemoglobin α-positive cells in direct neighborhood with hemoglobin α-negative cells display a better oxygenation than their neighbors and can be sharply distinguished from those. Neuronal hemoglobin expression is upregulated by injection or transgenic overexpression of erythropoietin and is accompanied by enhanced brain oxygenation under physiologic and hypoxic conditions. Thus we provide a novel mechanism for the neuroprotective actions of erythropoietin under ischemic—hypoxic conditions. We propose that neuronal hemoglobin expression is connected to facilitated oxygen uptake in neurons, and hemoglobin might serve as oxygen capacitator molecule.

DNA repair capacity after γ-irradiation and expression profiles of DNA repair genes in resting and proliferating human peripheral blood lymphocytes

DNA repair plays an important role in maintaining genomic integrity, and deficiencies in repair function are known to promote cancer development. Several studies have used the individual capacity to repair DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) as a cancer risk marker. As the cells ability to remove DNA damage may be correlated with proliferative activity, it is an important question whether quiescent or dividing cells should be used in such studies. The aim of our study was to compare DNA repair capacity and expression profiles of 70 known DNA repair genes, both in resting and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated human PBLs. Using the comet assay, gamma-radiation-induced DNA damage and repair in lymphocytes was analyzed. No difference, neither in the rate of radiation-induced DNA damage nor in DNA repair capacity between PHA-stimulated and non-stimulated PBLs was observed. Stimulated cells, however, showed significantly elevated values for background damage. Transcriptional profiles of repair genes were analyzed using cDNA arrays. Hybridization experiments were performed with mRNA isolated from both unstimulated and PHA-stimulated PBLs. More than 70% of all evaluated genes had constant expression levels. Twelve genes responded with a more than two-fold increase of transcripts to the mitogenic stimulus. Most of the up-regulated repair enzymes are also known to play a role in DNA replication. In conclusion, the data presented here suggest that all repair proteins needed for the repair of gamma-irradiation induced DNA-damage, that can be detected by the alkaline comet assay, are already present in G0 cells at sufficient amounts and do not need to be induced once lymphocytes are stimulated to start cycling. Our results thus do not support a general increase in DNA repair activity of PBLs by PHA stimulation, and the use of stimulated PBLs in molecular epidemiological studies on DNA repair of gamma-irradiation induced DNA damage seems not to be mandatory.

An extended window of opportunity for G-CSF treatment in cerebral ischemia

BackgroundGranulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known as a powerful regulator of white blood cell proliferation and differentiation in mammals. We, and others, have shown that G-CSF is effective in treating cerebral ischemia in rodents, both relating to infarct size as well as functional recovery. G-CSF and its receptor are expressed by neurons, and G-CSF regulates apoptosis and neurogenesis, providing a rational basis for its beneficial short- and long-term actions in ischemia. In addition, G-CSF may contribute to re-endothelialisation and arteriogenesis in the vasculature of the ischemic penumbra. In addition to these trophic effects, G-CSF is a potent neuroprotective factor reliably reducing infarct size in different stroke models.ResultsHere, we have further delayed treatment and studied effects of G-CSF on infarct volume in the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model and functional outcome in the cortical photothrombotic model. In the MCAO model, we applied a single dose of 60 μg/kg bodyweight G-CSF in rats 4 h after onset of ischemia. Infarct volume was determined 24 h after onset of ischemia. In the rat photothrombotic model, we applied 10 μg/kg bodyweight G-CSF daily for a period of 10 days starting either 24 or 72 h after induction of ischemia. G-CSF both decreased acute infarct volume in the MCAO model, and improved recovery in the photothrombotic model at delayed timepoints.ConclusionThese data further strengthen G-CSFs profile as a unique candidate stroke drug, and provide an experimental basis for application of G-CSF in the post-stroke recovery phase.

TorsinA protects against oxidative stress in COS-1 and PC12 cells

Dystonia is a highly frequent movement disorder, the pathogenesis of which remains unclear. The cloning of TorsinA, the gene responsible for early-onset dystonia, was a major breakthrough. However, the function of this protein remains unclear. By sequence homology, TorsinA belongs to the ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities-family, many of whose members are chaperones and/or proteases. We report here that in an in vitro model for oxidative stress, H2O2 treatment, overexpression of TorsinA was protective against cell death. COS-1 cells overexpressing TorsinA demonstrated drastically reduced terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick end labeling-staining following exposure to H2O2. Furthermore, transfection with TorsinA significantly increased survival of PC12 after H2O2 treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that TorsinA protects against oxidative stress. We speculate that a loss of this cellular function in mutant TorsinA may be linked to the pathogenesis of early-onset dystonia.