A possible role of neuroglobin in the retina after optic nerve injury: A comparative study of zebrafish and mouse retina

Neuroglobin (Ngb) is a new member of the family of heme proteins and is specifically expressed in neurons of the central and peripheral nervous systems in all vertebrates. In particular, the retina has a 100-fold higher concentration of Ngb than do other nervous tissues. The role of Ngb in the retina is yet to be clarified. Therefore, to understand the functional role of Ngb in the retina after optic nerve injury (ONI), we used two types of retina, from zebrafish and mice, which have permissible and non-permissible capacity for nerve regeneration after ONI, respectively. After ONI, the Ngb protein in zebrafish was upregulated in the amacrine cells within 3 days, whereas in the mouse retina, Ngb was downregulated in the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) within 3 days. Zebrafish Ngb (z-Ngb) significantly enhanced neurite outgrowth in retinal explant culture. According to these results, we designed an overexpression experiment with the mouse Ngb (m-Ngb) gene in RGC-5 cells (retinal precursor cells). The excess of m-Ngb actually rescued RGC-5 cells under hypoxic conditions and significantly enhanced neurite outgrowth in cell culture. These data suggest that mammalian Ngb has positive neuroprotective and neuritogenic effects that induce nerve regeneration after ONI. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016.[Book Chapter

Cell fate of müller cells during photoreceptor regeneration in an N-methyl-N-nitrosourea- induced retinal degeneration model of zebrafish

Zebrafish can regenerate several organs such as the tail fin, heart, central nervous system, and photoreceptors. Very recently, a study has demonstrated the photoreceptor regeneration in the alkylating agent N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)- induced retinal degeneration (RD) zebrafish model, in which whole photoreceptors are lost within a week after MNU treatment and then regenerated within a month. The research has also shown massive proliferation of Müller cells within a week. To address the question of whether proliferating Müller cells are the source of regenerating photoreceptors, which remains unknown in the MNU-induced zebrafish RD model, we employed a BrdU pulse-chase technique to label the proliferating cells within a week after MNU treatment. As a result of the BrdU pulse-chase technique, a number of BrdU+ cells were observed in the outer nuclear layer as well as the inner nuclear layer. This implies that regenerating photoreceptors are derived from proliferating Müller cells in the zebrafish MNU-induced RD model. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016.[Book Chapter

Function of Sox2 in ependymal cells of lesioned spinal cords in adult zebrafish.

The sex-determining region Y-box 2 (Sox2) is related not only to pluripotency, but also to cell proliferation. Zebrafish can regain their motor function after spinal cord injury (SCI). Following SCI, new motor neurons are produced from proliferating ependymal cells. Here, we investigated the expression and function of Sox2 after SCI in zebrafish. Sox2 was upregulated as early as 1 day post-lesion (dpl) in ependymal cells, which was followed by cell proliferation. Sox2 knockdown significantly decreased the number of proliferating cells at 5 dpl. The results of this study suggest a role of Sox2 as one of the proliferation initiators in ependymal cells after SCI. © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society.12 months Embargo Perio

A distinct effect of transient and sustained upregulation of cellular factor XIII in the goldfish retina and optic nerve on optic nerve regeneration

Unlike in mammals, fish retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have a capacity to repair their axons even after optic nerve transection. In our previous study, we isolated a tissue type transglutaminase (TG) from axotomized goldfish retina. The levels of retinal TG (TG R) mRNA increased in RGCs 1-6 weeks after nerve injury to promote optic nerve regeneration both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we screened other types of TG using specific FITC-labeled substrate peptides to elucidate the implications for optic nerve regeneration. This screening showed that the activity of only cellular coagulation factor XIII (cFXIII) was increased in goldfish optic nerves just after nerve injury. We therefore cloned a full-length cDNA clone of FXIII A subunit (FXIII-A) and studied temporal changes of FXIII-A expression in goldfish optic nerve and retina during regeneration. FXIII-A mRNA was initially detected at the crush site of the optic nerve 1 h after injury; it was further observed in the optic nerve and achieved sustained long-term expression (1-40 days after nerve injury). The cells producing FXIII-A were astrocytes/microglial cells in the optic nerve. By contrast, the expression of FXIII-A mRNA and protein was upregulated in RGCs for a shorter time (3-10 days after nerve injury). Overexpression of FXIII-A in RGCs achieved by lipofection induced significant neurite outgrowth from unprimed retina, but not from primed retina with pretreatment of nerve injury. Addition of extracts of optic nerves with injury induced significant neurite outgrowth from primed retina, but not from unprimed retina without pretreatment of nerve injury. The transient increase of cFXIII in RGCs promotes neurite sprouting from injured RGCs, whereas the sustained increase of cFXIII in optic nerves facilitates neurite elongation from regrowing axons. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Anti-inflammatory effects of lipoic acid through inhibition of GSK-3β in lipopolysaccharide-induced BV-2 microglial cells

Activated microglial cells play an important role in immune and inflammatory responses in CNS and play a role in neurodegenerative diseases. We examined the effects of lipoic acid (LA) on inflammatory responses of BV-2 microglial cells activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and explored the underlying mechanisms of action of LA. BV-2 cells treated with LPS showed an up-regulation of mRNA of the pro-inflammatory molecules, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). LA suppressed the expression of iNOS and furthermore, LPS-induced production of nitrite. Moreover, LA suppressed the nuclear translocation of RelA, a component of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) that contains transcriptional activator domain for LPS. The mechanisms of LA-mediated anti-inflammatory effects on microglia remain unknown, and we suggested an involvement of Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) phosphorylation. The results showed that inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase prevented LA-mediated suppression of LPS induction of RelA and expression of iNOS. Furthermore, these inflammatory actions were prevented by GSK-3β inhibitors. These data demonstrate a role for LA as a chemical modulator of inflammatory responses by microglia, and thus may be a therapeutic strategy for treating neurodegenerative diseases with an inflammatory component. © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society

Protective action of nipradilol mediated through S-nitrosylation of Keap1 and HO-1 induction in retinal ganglion cells

Nipradilol (Nip), which has α1- and β-adrenoceptor antagonist and nitric oxide (NO)-donating properties, has clinically been used as an anti-glaucomatous agent in Japan. NO mediates cellular signaling pathways that regulate physiological functions. The major signaling mechanisms mediated by NO are cGMP-dependent signaling and protein S-nitrosylation-dependent signalings. Nip has been described as having neuroprotective effects through cGMP-dependent pathway in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). However, the effect seems to be partial. On the other hand, whether Nip can prevent cell death through S-nitrosylation is not yet clarified. In this study, we therefore focused on the neuroprotective mechanism of Nip through S-nitrosylation. Nip showed a dramatic neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress-induced death of RGC-5 cells. However, denitro-nipradilol, which does not have NO-donating properties, was not protective against oxidative stress. Furthermore, an NO scavenger significantly reversed the protective action of Nip against oxidative stress. In addition, we demonstrated that α1- or β-adrenoceptor antagonists (prazosin or timolol) did not show any neuroprotective effect against oxidative stress in RGC-5 cells. We also demonstrated that Nip induced the expression of the NO-dependent antioxidant enzyme, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). S-nitrosylation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein by Nip was shown to contribute to the translocation of NF-E2-related factor 2 to the nucleus, and triggered transcriptional activation of HO-1. Furthermore, RGC death and levels of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE) were increased after optic nerve injury in vivo. Pretreatment with Nip significantly suppressed RGC death and accumulation of 4HNE after injury through an HO-1 activity-dependent mechanism. These data demonstrate a novel neuroprotective action of Nip against oxidative stress-induced RGC death in vitro and in vivo. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Upregulation of anti-apoptotic factors in upper motor neurons after spinal cord injury in adult zebrafish

Unlike mammals, fish motor function can recover within 6-8 weeks after spinal cord injury (SCI). The motor function of zebrafish is regulated by dual control; the upper motor neurons of the brainstem and motor neurons of the spinal cord. In this study, we aimed to investigate the framework behind the regeneration of upper motor neurons in adult zebrafish after SCI. In particular, we investigated the cell survival of axotomized upper motor neurons and its molecular machinery in zebrafish brain. As representative nuclei of upper motor neurons, we retrogradely labeled neurons in the nucleus of medial longitudinal fasciculus (NMLF) and the intermediate reticular formation (IMRF) using a tracer injected into the lesion site of the spinal cord. Four to eight neurons in each thin sections of the area of NMLF and IMRF were successfully traced at least 1-15 days after SCI. TUNEL staining and BrdU labeling assay revealed that there was no apoptosis or cell proliferation in the axotomized neurons of the brainstem at various time points after SCI. In contrast, axotomized neurons labeled with a neurotracer showed increased expression of anti-apoptotic factors, such as Bcl-2 and phospho-Akt (p-Akt), at 1-6 days after SCI. Such a rapid increase of Bcl-2 and p-Akt protein levels after SCI was quantitatively confirmed by western blot analysis. These data strongly indicate that upper motor neurons in the NMLF and IMRF can survive and regrow their axons into the spinal cord through the rapid activation of anti-apoptotic molecules after SCI. The regrowing axons from upper motor neurons reached the lesion site at 10-15 days and then crossed at 4-6 weeks after SCI. These long-distance descending axons from originally axotomized neurons have a major role in restoration of motor function after SCI. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Thesis of Kazuhiro Ogai / 大貝 和裕 博士論文 金沢大学医薬保健学総合研究科（保健学専攻

Upregulation of IGF-I in the goldfish retinal ganglion cells during the early stage of optic nerve regeneration

金沢大学医薬保健研究域　医学系Goldfish retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) can regrow their axons after optic nerve injury. However, the reason why goldfish RGCs can regenerate after nerve injury is largely unknown at the molecular level. To investigate regenerative properties of goldfish RGCs, we divided the RGC regeneration process into two components: (1) RGC survival, and (2) axonal elongation processes. To characterize the RGC survival signaling pathway after optic nerve injury, we investigated cell survival/death signals such as Bcl-2 family members in the goldfish retina. Amounts of phospho-Akt (p-Akt) and phospho-Bad (p-Bad) in the goldfish retina rapidly increased four- to five-fold at the protein level by 3-5 days after nerve injury. Subsequently, Bcl-2 levels increased 1.7-fold, accompanied by a slight reduction in caspase-3 activity 10-20 days after injury. Furthermore, level of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), which activates the phosphatidyl inositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt system, increased 2-3 days earlier than that of p-Akt in the goldfish retina. The cellular localization of these molecular changes was limited to RGCs. IGF-I treatment significantly induced phosphorylation of Akt, and strikingly induced neurite outgrowth in the goldfish retina in vitro. On the contrary, addition of the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin, and IGF-I antibody inhibited Akt phosphorylation and neurite outgrowth in an explant culture. Thus, we demonstrated, for the first time, the signal cascade for early upregulation of IGF-I, leading to RGC survival and axonal regeneration in adult goldfish retinas through PI3K/Akt system after optic nerve injury. The present data strongly indicate that IGF-I is one of the most important molecules for controlling regeneration of RGCs after optic nerve injury. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Requirement of Retinoic Acid Receptor β for Genipin Derivative-Induced Optic Nerve Regeneration in Adult Rat Retina

Like other CNS neurons, mature retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are unable to regenerate their axons after nerve injury due to a diminished intrinsic regenerative capacity. One of the reasons why they lose the capacity for axon regeneration seems to be associated with a dramatic shift in RGCs\u27 program of gene expression by epigenetic modulation. We recently reported that (1R)-isoPropyloxygenipin (IPRG001), a genipin derivative, has both neuroprotective and neurite outgrowth activities in murine RGC-5 retinal precursor cells. These effects were both mediated by nitric oxide (NO)/S-nitrosylation signaling. Neuritogenic activity was mediated by S-nitrosylation of histone deacetylase-2 (HDAC2), which subsequently induced retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) expression via chromatin remodeling in vitro. RARβ plays important roles of neural growth and differentiation in development. However, the role of RARβ expression during adult rat optic nerve regeneration is not clear. In the present study, we extended this hypothesis to examine optic nerve regeneration by IPRG001 in adult rat RGCs in vivo. We found a correlation between RARβ expression and neurite outgrowth with age in the developing rat retina. Moreover, we found that IPRG001 significantly induced RARβ expression in adult rat RGCs through the S-nitrosylation of HDAC2 processing mechanism. Concomitant with RARβ expression, adult rat RGCs displayed a regenerative capacity for optic axons in vivo by IPRG001 treatment. These neuritogenic effects of IPRG001 were specifically suppressed by siRNA for RARβ. Thus, the dual neuroprotective and neuritogenic actions of genipin via S-nitrosylation might offer a powerful therapeutic tool for the treatment of RGC degenerative disorders. © 2013 Koriyama et al

Nitric oxide-cGMP signaling regulates axonal elongation during optic nerve regeneration in the goldfish in vitro and in vivo

金沢大学医薬保健研究域　医学系Nitric oxide (NO) signaling results in both neurotoxic and neuroprotective effects in CNS and PNS neurons, respectively, after nerve lesioning. We investigated the role of NO signaling on optic nerve regeneration in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). NADPH diaphorase staining revealed that nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was up-regulated primarily in the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) 5-40 days after axotomy. Levels of neuronal NOS (nNOS) mRNA and protein also increased in the RGCs alone during this period. This period (5-40 days) overlapped with the process of axonal elongation during regeneration of the goldfish optic nerve. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of NO signaling molecules upon neurite outgrowth from adult goldfish axotomized RGCs in culture. NO donors and dibutyryl cGMP increased neurite outgrowth dose-dependently. In contrast, a nNOS inhibitor and small interfering RNA, specific for the nNOS gene, suppressed neurite outgrowth from the injured RGCs. Intra-ocular dibutyryl cGMP promoted the axonal regeneration from injured RGCs in vivo. None of these molecules had an effect on cell death/survival in this culture system. This is the first report showing that NO-cGMP signaling pathway through nNOS activation is involved in neuroregeneration in fish CNS neurons after nerve lesioning. © 2009 International Society for Neurochemistry.出版社許諾要件により、2010年9月より全文公開