Prolonged survival and milder impairment of motor function in the SOD1 ALS mouse model devoid of fibroblast growth factor 2.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by selective motoneuron loss in brain and spinal cord. Mutations in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1 gene account for 10-20% of familial ALS patients. The ALS-mouse model over-expressing a mutant human SOD1 (G93A) gene closely mimics human ALS disease. The cause for the selective death of motoneurons is still unclear, but among several pathomechanisms discussed, loss of neurotrophic factors is one possibility. Basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) plays a prominent role in the motor system. In order to evaluate a role of FGF-2 in ALS pathogenesis, double mouse mutants transgenic for the human SOD1 mutation and lacking the endogenous FGF-2 gene were generated. Both heterozygous and homozygous FGF-2 deficient mutant SOD1 mice showed a significant delay in disease onset and less impaired motor performance in comparison to mutant SOD1 mice with normal FGF-2 levels. Survival of the double mouse mutants was significantly prolonged for two weeks. Motoneuron numbers were significantly higher in the double mutants and astrocytosis was diminished at disease endstage. While one would initially have expected that FGF-2 deficiency deteriorates the phenotype of mutant SOD1 animals, our results revealed a protective effect of FGF-2 reduction. In search of the underlying mechanisms, we could show up-regulation of other neurotrophic factors with proven protective effects in the ALS mouse model, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in muscle and spinal cord tissue of double mutant animals.

Polysialyltransferase overexpression in Schwann cells mediates different effects during peripheral nerve regeneration.

The polysialic acid (PSA) moiety of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) has been shown to support dynamic changes underlying peripheral nerve regeneration. Using transgenic mice expressing polysialyltransferase ST8SiaIV under control of a glial-specific (proteolipid protein, PLP) promoter (PLP-ST8SiaIV-transgenic mice), we tested the hypothesis that permanent synthesis of PSA in Schwann cells impairs functional recovery of lesioned peripheral nerves. After sciatic nerve crush, histomorphometric analyses demonstrated impaired remyelination of regenerated axons at the lesion site and in target tissue of PLP-ST8SiaIV-transgenic mice, though the number and size of regenerating unmyelinated axons were not changed. This was accompanied by slower mechanosensory recovery in PLP-ST8SiaIV-transgenic mice. However, the proportion of successfully mono-(re)innervated motor endplates in the foot pad muscle was significantly increased in PLP-ST8SiaIV-transgenic mice when compared with wild-type littermates, suggesting that long-term increase in PSA levels in regenerating nerves may favor selective motor target reinnervation. The combined negative and positive effects of a continuous polysialyltransferase overexpression observed during peripheral nerve regeneration suggest that an optimized time- and differentiation-dependent control of polysialyltransferase expression in Schwann cells may further improve recovery after peripheral nerves injury.

The colayer method as an efficient way to genetically modify mesencephalic progenitor cells transplanted into 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson's disease.

Exogenous cell replacement represents a potent treatment option for Parkinson's disease. However, the low survival rate of transplanted dopaminergic neurons (DA) calls for methodological improvements. Here we evaluated a method to combine transient genetic modification of neuronal progenitor cells with an optimized cell culture protocol prior to intrastriatal transplantation into 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) unilateral lesioned rats. Plasmid-based delivery of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) increases the number of DA neurons, identified by tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity (TH-ir), by 25% in vitro, compared to enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)-transfected controls. However, the nucleofection itself, especially the cell detachment and reseeding procedure, decreases the TH-ir neuron number to 40% compared with nontransfected control cultures. To circumvent this drawback we established the colayer method, which contains a mix of nucleofected cells reseeded on top of an adherent sister culture in a ratio 1:3. In this setup TH-ir neuron number remains high and could be further increased by 25% after BDNF transfection. Comparison of both cell culture procedures (standard and colayer) after intrastriatal transplantation revealed a similar DA neuron survival as seen in vitro. Two weeks after grafting TH-ir neuron number was strongly reduced in animals receiving the standard EGFP-transfected cells (271 ± 62) compared to 1,723 ± 199 TH-ir neurons in the colayer group. In contrast to the in vitro results, no differences in the number of grafted TH-ir neurons were observed between BDNF, EGFP, and nontransfected colayer groups, neither 2 nor 13 weeks after transplantation. Likewise, amphetamine and apomorphine-induced rotational behavior improved similarly over time in all groups. Nevertheless, the colayer protocol provides an efficient way for neurotrophic factor release by transplanted progenitor cells and will help to study the effects of candidate factors on survival and integration of transplanted DA neurons.

Myelination in the absence of UDP-galactose:ceramide galactosyl-transferase and fatty acid 2 -hydroxylase.

BACKGROUND: The sphingolipids galactosylceramide (GalCer) and sulfatide are major myelin components and are thought to play important roles in myelin function. The importance of GalCer and sulfatide has been validated using UDP-galactose:ceramide galactosyltransferase-deficient (Cgt-/-) mice, which are impaired in myelin maintenance. These mice, however, are still able to form compact myelin. Loss of GalCer and sulfatide in these mice is accompanied by up-regulation of 2-hydroxylated fatty acid containing (HFA)-glucosylceramide in myelin. This was interpreted as a partial compensation of the loss of HFA-GalCer, which may prevent a more severe myelin phenotype. In order to test this hypothesis, we have generated Cgt-/- mice with an additional deletion of the fatty acid 2-hydroxylase (Fa2h) gene. RESULTS: Fa2h-/-/Cgt-/- double-deficient mice lack sulfatide, GalCer, and in addition HFA-GlcCer and sphingomyelin. Interestingly, compared to Cgt-/- mice the amount of GlcCer in CNS myelin was strongly reduced in Fa2h-/-/Cgt-/- mice by more than 80%. This was accompanied by a significant increase in sphingomyelin, which was the predominant sphingolipid in Fa2h-/-/Cgt-/- mice. Despite these significant changes in myelin sphingolipids, compact myelin was formed in Fa2h-/-/Cgt-/- mice, and g-ratios of myelinated axons in the spinal cord of 4-week-old Fa2h-/-/Cgt-/- mice did not differ significantly from that of Cgt-/- mice, and there was no obvious phenotypic difference between Fa2h-/-/Cgt-/- and Cgt-/- mice CONCLUSIONS: These data show that compact myelin can be formed with non-hydroxylated sphingomyelin as the predominant sphingolipid and suggest that the presence of HFA-GlcCer and HFA-sphingomyelin in Cgt-/- mice does not functionally compensate the loss of HFA-GalCer.

Topology of intrastriatal dopaminergic grafts determines functional and emotional outcome in neurotoxin-lesioned rats.

Many Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suffer from anxiety disorders, which often precede the onset of classical motor symptoms. So far, there is no evidence from randomized, placebo-controlled trials for successful treatment of anxiety in patients with PD. Grafts of fetal nigral neurons are currently explored as a restorative cell therapy for PD. In PD animal models, intrastriatal transplantations of embryonic dopaminergic neurons have been shown to ameliorate behavioral defects. In our previous study we showed that expanded and differentiated neural progenitors improved drug-induced rotation behavior and posture balance as a more complex motor task. However, it is not clear whether grafting of these cells affected spontaneous locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior in 6-OHDA lesioned rats. Therefore, we analyzed behavior of control, lesioned, sham-transplanted, and transplanted rats using open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM). After unilateral 6-OHDA lesion of the medial forebrain bundle, we observed reduced locomotor activity in the EPM (wall-rearing, entries in closed arms) in lesioned and sham-transplanted rats, which correlated with the loss of dopaminergic neurons and apomorphine-induced rotation behavior. Furthermore, anxiety-like behavior in the EPM (entries and time in open arms) was increased in lesioned and sham-transplanted rats. Although exogenous cell replacement improved apomorphine-induced rotation behavior, locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior was not reconstituted in transplanted rats. However, we provided evidence for an interaction of locomotor activity/anxiety-like behavior with graft localization in the host striatum. These results emphasize the crucial role of graft localization for benefit of restorative cell therapy for PD.

Mice lacking basic fibroblast growth factor showed faster sensory recovery.

Neurotrophic factors have been shown to stimulate and support peripheral nerve repair. One of these factors is basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), which is up-regulated after peripheral nerve injury and influences early sciatic nerve regeneration by regulating Schwann cell proliferation. Our previous study on FGF-2 deficient mice indicated that FGF-2 is important for axonal maturation and remyelination one week after sciatic nerve crush (Jungnickel, J., Claus, P., Gransalke, K., Timmer, M. and Grothe, C., 2004. Targeted disruption of the FGF-2 gene affects the response to peripheral nerve injury. Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 25, 444-452). However, the functional impact of these effects on sensory and motor fibers was not clear. After performing pinch test, walking track analysis and rotarod, we found faster recovery of mechanosensory but not of motor function in mutant mice. To elucidate the role of FGF-2 on structural recovery, we analyzed FGF-2 deficient mice and wild-type littermates 2 and 4 weeks after sciatic nerve crush. Two weeks after peripheral nerve injury, regenerating fibers of mutant mice showed both significantly increased axon and myelin size, but no difference in the number of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers. Molecular analysis indicated that the expression level of myelin protein zero was significantly enhanced in lesioned nerves in the absence of FGF-2. These results suggest that loss of FGF-2 could positively influence restoration of mechanosensory function by accelerating structural recovery transiently.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 regulates the stability of nuclear bodies.

Nuclear bodies are distinct subnuclear structures. The survival of motoneuron (SMN) gene is mutated or deleted in patients with the neurodegenerative disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The gene product SMN is a marker protein for one class of nuclear bodies denoted as nuclear gems. SMN has also been found in Cajal bodies, which co-localize with gems in many cell types. Interestingly, SMA patients display a reduced number of gems. Little is known about the regulation of nuclear body formation and stabilization. We have previously shown that a nuclear isoform of the fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2(23)) binds directly to SMN. In this study, we analyzed the consequences of FGF-2(23) binding to SMN with regard to nuclear body formation. On a molecular level, we showed that FGF-2(23) competed with Gemin2 (a component of the SMN complex that is necessary for gem stabilization) for binding to SMN. Down-regulation of Gemin2 by siRNA caused destabilization of SMN-positive nuclear bodies. This process is reflected in both cellular and in vivo systems by a negative regulatory function of FGF-2 in nuclear body formation: in HEK293 cells, FGF-2(23) decreased the number of SMN-positive nuclear bodies. The same effect could be observed in motoneurons of FGF-2 transgenic mice. This study demonstrates the functional role of a growth factor in the regulation of structural entities of the nucleus.

Level and localization of polysialic acid is critical for early peripheral nerve regeneration.

PolySia, the most striking post-translational modification of the neural cell adhesion molecule, is down-regulated during postnatal development. After peripheral nerve lesion, polySia is located on neuronal and glial cells normally not synthesizing polySia. However, structural consequences of reduced polySia content for peripheral nerve regeneration have not yet been clear. Furthermore, the contribution of sialyltransferases ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV for the up-regulation of polySia has not been studied so far. In order to investigate the impact of polySia on regeneration processes of myelinated axons, we examined mouse mutants retaining only one functional sialyltransferase allele. In the absence of ST8SiaII, quantification of myelinated axons revealed a significant decrease in number and size of regenerated fibers without impairment of remyelination. In contrast, St8SiaIV deficiency resulted in increased fiber outgrowth and axonal maturation. Western blot analysis demonstrated that both ST8SiaII and St8SiaIV direct up-regulation of polySia. Cell-specific induction of polySia in myelinating Schwann cells and on regenerated axons in the presence of ST8SiaIV, but not ST8SiaII, indicates that not only the amount of polySia but also its cellular localization has a high impact on the regeneration progress of peripheral nerves.

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and FGF receptor 3 are required for the development of the substantia nigra, and FGF-2 plays a crucial role for the rescue of dopaminergic neurons after 6-hydroxydopamine lesion.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is involved in the development and maintenance of the nervous system. Exogenous administration of FGF-2 increased dopaminergic (DA) graft survival in different animal models of Parkinson's disease. To study the physiological function of the endogenous FGF-2 system, we analyzed the nigrostriatal system of mice lacking FGF-2, mice overexpressing FGF-2, and FGF-receptor-3 (FGFR3)-deficient mice both after development and after 6-hydroxydopamine lesion. FGFR3-deficient mice (+/-) displayed a reduced number of DA neurons compared with the respective wild type. Whereas absence of FGF-2 led to significantly increased numbers of DA neurons, enhanced amount of the growth factor in mice overexpressing FGF-2 resulted in less tyrosine hydroxylase expression and a reduced DA cell density. The volumes of the substantia nigra were enlarged in both FGF-2(-/-) and in FGF-2 transgenic mice, suggesting an important role of FGF-2 for the establishment of the proper number of DA neurons and a normal sized substantia nigra during development. In a second set of experiments, the putative relevance of endogenous FGF-2 after neurotoxin application was investigated regarding the number of rescued DA neurons after partial 6-OHDA lesion. Interestingly, the results after lesion were directly opposed to the results after development: significantly less DA neurons survived in FGF-2(-/-) mice compared with wild-type mice. Together, the results indicate that FGFR3 is crucially involved in regulating the number of DA neurons. The lack of FGF-2 seems to be (over)compensated during development, but, after lesion, compensation mechanisms fail. The transgenic mice showed that endogenous FGF-2 protects DA neurons from 6-OHDA neurotoxicity.

Faster nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injury in mice over-expressing basic fibroblast growth factor.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is expressed in the peripheral nervous system and is up-regulated after nerve lesion. It has been demonstrated that administration of FGF-2 protects neurons from injury-induced cell death and promotes axonal regrowth. Using transgenic mice over-expressing FGF-2 (TgFGF-2), we addressed the importance of endogenously generated FGF-2 on sensory neuron loss and sciatic nerve regeneration. After sciatic nerve transection, wild-type and transgenic mice showed the same degree of cell death in L5 spinal ganglia. Also, the number of chromatolytic, eccentric, and pyknotic sensory neurons was not changed under elevated levels of FGF-2. Morphometric evaluation of intact nerves from TgFGF-2 mice revealed no difference in number and size of myelinated fibers compared to wild-type mice. One week after crush injury, the number of regenerated axons was doubled and the myelin thickness was significantly smaller in transgenic mice. After 2 and 4 weeks, morphometric analysis and functional tests revealed no differences in recovery of sensory and motor nerve fibers. To study the role of FGF-2 over-expression on Schwann cell proliferation during the early regeneration process, we used BrdU-labeling to mark dividing cells. In transgenic mice, the number of proliferating cells was significantly increased distal to the crush site compared to wild-types. We propose that endogenously synthesized FGF-2 influences early peripheral nerve regeneration by regulating Schwann cell proliferation, axonal regrowth, and remyelination.

Physiological function and putative therapeutic impact of the FGF-2 system in peripheral nerve regeneration--lessons from in vivo studies in mice and rats.

Diffusible and substratum-bound molecules regulate development and regeneration of the peripheral nervous system. The understanding of physiological function of these factors could have an impact on the development of new therapeutic strategies to stimulate nerve regeneration across long gaps. Within the group of trophic factors, basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) and its high-affinity receptors are expressed in the intact peripheral nervous system and regulated following nerve injury. After exogenous application, FGF-2 promotes neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth in vitro and in vivo. In this review, animal studies on the physiological role of the endogenous FGF-2 system and the regenerative capacity after exogenous FGF-2 administration are summarized. The concept of FGF-2 function is discussed in context with other growth factors that are also physiologically relevant in the peripheral nervous system. Studies of sciatic nerve axotomy in FGF-2- and FGF receptor (R) 3-deleted mice, respectively, strongly suggested that FGF-2 binding to FGFR3 is involved in injury-induced neuronal apoptosis. At the lesion site, inhibition of myelination and stimulation of Schwann cell proliferation by FGF-2 via FGFR1/2 is suggested from rat and mouse studies, whereas neurite formation is very likely enhanced via FGFR3 activation. Additionally to these demonstrated physiological functions of endogenous FGF-2, administration of FGF-2 isoforms in the rat model of nerve regeneration across long gaps revealed a role of the high molecular weight isoforms of FGF-2 on sensory recovery. Within the group of physiologically relevant trophic factors, the FGF-2 system seems to be crucially involved in the scenario of peripheral nerve development and regeneration.

Impact of sleep deprivation and subsequent recovery sleep on cortisol in unmedicated depressed patients.

OBJECTIVE: One night of sleep deprivation induces a transient improvement in about 60% of depressed patients. Since depression is associated with abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, the authors measured cortisol secretion before, during, and after therapeutic sleep deprivation for 1 night. METHOD: Fifteen unmedicated depressed inpatients participated in a combined polysomnographic and endocrine study. Blood was sampled at 30-minute intervals during 3 consecutive nights before, during, and after sleep deprivation. Saliva samples were collected at 30-minute intervals during the daytime before and after the sleep deprivation night. RESULTS: During the night of sleep deprivation, cortisol levels were significantly higher than at baseline. During the daytime, cortisol levels during the first half of the day were higher than at baseline in the patients who responded to sleep deprivation but not in the nonresponders. During recovery sleep, cortisol secretion returned to baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated a significant stimulatory effect of 1 night of sleep deprivation on the HPA axis in unmedicated depressed patients. The results suggest that the short-term effects of antidepressant treatments on the HPA axis may differ from their long-term effects. A higher cortisol level after sleep deprivation might transiently improve negative feedback to the hypothalamus or interact with other neurotransmitter systems, thus mediating or contributing to the clinical response. The fast return to baseline values coincides with the short clinical effect.

Targeted disruption of the FGF-2 gene affects the response to peripheral nerve injury.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) is involved in the development, maintenance, and survival of the nervous system. To study the physiological role of endogenous FGF-2 during peripheral nerve regeneration, we analyzed sciatic nerves of FGF-2-deleted mice by using morphometric, morphological, and immunocytochemical methods. Quantification of number and size of myelinated axons in intact sciatic nerves revealed no difference between wild-type and FGF-2 knock-out (ko) animals. One week after nerve crush, FGF-2 ko mice showed about five times more regenerated myelinated axons with increased myelin and axon diameter in comparison to wild-types close to the injury site. In addition, quantitative distribution of macrophages and collapsed myelin profiles suggested faster Wallerian degeneration in FGF-2-deleted mice close to the lesion site. Our results suggest that endogenous FGF-2 is crucially involved in the early phase of peripheral nerve regeneration possibly by regulation of Schwann cell differentiation.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 signaling regulates injury-related effects in the peripheral nervous system.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling is crucial for neural development and regeneration. Here we investigated the L5 spinal ganglion and the sciatic nerve of intact Fgfr3-deficient mice after nerve injury. Quantification of sensory neurons in the L5 spinal ganglion revealed no significant differences between wild-type and Fgfr3-deficient mice. Seven days after nerve lesion, the normally occurring neuron loss in wild-type mice was not found in Fgfr3-deficient animals, suggesting that FGFR3 signaling is involved in the cell death process. Morphometric analysis of the sciatic nerve showed similar numbers of myelinated axons, but the axonal and myelin diameter was significantly smaller in Fgfr3-deficient mice compared to the wild types. Evaluation of regenerating myelinated axons of the sciatic nerve revealed no differences between both mouse strains 7 days after crush injury. Our results suggest that FGFR3 signaling seems to be involved in processes of damage-induced neuron death and axonal development.