Reg-1α Promotes Differentiation of Cortical Progenitors via Its N-Terminal Active Domain.

Reg-1α belongs to the Reg family of small, secreted proteins expressed in both pancreas and nervous system. Reg-1α is composed of two domains, an insoluble C-type lectin domain and a short soluble N-terminal peptide, which is released from the molecule upon proteolytic N-terminal processing, although the biological significance of this proteolysis remains unclear. We have previously shown that binding of Reg-1α to its receptor Extl3 stimulates axonal outgrowth. Reg-1α and Extl3 genes are expressed in the developing cortex but their expression decreases in adulthood, pointing to a possible function of this signaling system at the early developmental stages. Here, we demonstrate that recombinant Reg-1α increases migration and differentiation of cultured embryonic rat telencephalic progenitors via the activation of GSK-3ß activity. In vivo overexpression of Reg-1α by in utero electroporation, has a similar effect, favoring premature differentiation of cortical progenitors. Notably, the N-terminal soluble domain, but not the C-type lectin domain, is largely responsible for Reg-1α effects on cortical neuronal differentiation. We thus conclude that Reg-1α via its proteolytically generated N-terminal domain is required for basic development processes.

Neuroprotective brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling in the TAU-P301L tauopathy zebrafish model.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) dysregulations contribute to the neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative pathologies and could be efficiently targeted by therapies. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), although the relationship between BDNF and amyloid load has been extensively studied, how Tau pathology affects BDNF signaling remains unclear. Using the TAU-P301L transgenic zebrafish line, we investigated how early Tau-induced neurotoxicity modifies BDNF signaling. Alterations in BDNF expression levels were observed as early as 48 h post fertilization in TAU-P301L zebrafish embryos while TrkB receptor expression was not affected. Decreasing BDNF expression, using a knockdown strategy in wild-type embryos to mimic Tau-associated decrease, did not modify TrkB expression but promoted neurotoxicity as demonstrated by axonal outgrowth shortening and neuronal cell death. Moreover, the TrkB antagonist ANA-12 reduced the length of axonal projections. Rescue experiments with exogenous BDNF partially corrected neuronal alterations in TAU-P301L by counteracting primary axonal growth impairment but without effect on apoptosis. Importantly, the axonal rescue was proved functionally effective in a behavioral test, at a similar level as obtained with the GSK3ß inhibitor LiCl, known to decrease TAU phosphorylation. Finally, treatment with a TrkB agonist, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, led to comparable results and allowed full rescue of locomotor response. We provided here strong evidence that Tau neurotoxicity provoked alterations in BDNF system and that BDNF pathway might represent an efficient therapeutic target.

Zebrafish prion protein PrP2 controls collective migration process during lateral line sensory system development.

Prion protein is involved in severe neurodegenerative disorders but its physiological role is still in debate due to an absence of major developmental defects in knockout mice. Previous reports in zebrafish indicate that the two prion genes, PrP1 and PrP2, are both involved in several steps of embryonic development thus providing a unique route to discover prion protein function. Here we investigate the role of PrP2 during development of a mechano-sensory system, the posterior lateral line, using morpholino knockdown and PrP2 targeted inactivation. We confirm the efficiency of the translation blocking morpholino at the protein level. Development of the posterior lateral line is altered in PrP2 morphants, including nerve axonal outgrowth and primordium migration defects. Reduced neuromast deposition was observed in PrP2 morphants as well as in PrP2-/- mutants. Rosette formation defects were observed in PrP2 morphants, strongly suggesting an abnormal primordium organization and reflecting loss of cell cohesion during migration of the primordium. In addition, the adherens junction proteins, E-cadherin and ß-catenin, were mis-localized after reduction of PrP2 expression and thus contribute to the primordium disorganization. Consequently, hair cell differentiation and number were affected and this resulted in reduced functional neuromasts. At later developmental stages, myelination of the posterior lateral line nerve was altered. Altogether, our study reports an essential role of PrP2 in collective migration process of the primordium and in neuromast formation, further implicating a role for prion protein in cell adhesion.

New insights into brain BDNF function in normal aging and Alzheimer disease.

The decline observed during aging involves multiple factors that influence several systems. It is the case for learning and memory processes which are severely reduced with aging. It is admitted that these cognitive effects result from impaired neuronal plasticity, which is altered in normal aging but mainly in Alzheimer disease. Neurotrophins and their receptors, notably BDNF, are expressed in brain areas exhibiting a high degree of plasticity (i.e. the hippocampus, cerebral cortex) and are considered as genuine molecular mediators of functional and morphological synaptic plasticity. Modification of BDNF and/or the expression of its receptors (TrkB.FL, TrkB.T1 and TrkB.T2) have been described during normal aging and Alzheimer disease. Interestingly, recent findings show that some physiologic or pathologic age-associated changes in the central nervous system could be offset by administration of exogenous BDNF and/or by stimulating its receptor expression. These molecules may thus represent a physiological reserve which could determine physiological or pathological aging. These data suggest that boosting the expression or activity of these endogenous protective systems may be a promising therapeutic alternative to enhance healthy aging.

IL-1beta regulation of BDNF expression in rat cultured hypothalamic neurons depends on the presence of glial cells.

In the present study, we have shown that IL-1beta increased BDNF mRNA expression in hypothalamic neuron-enriched cultures whereas it reduced this expression in mixed cultures, i.e. containing astrocytes and neurons. Because functional relationships between stress and immunity signals are well documented we investigated the possible interaction between BDNF and IL-1beta in hypothalamic neurons. Notably, we investigated whether IL-1beta affected BDNF expression in vitro either on hypothalamic mixed cultures or on neuron-enriched cultures. We found that the response to IL-1beta was stimulatory when directly examined in neurons but was inhibitory when astrocytes were present in the cultures. Since it has been documented that astrocytes release PGE2 in response to IL-1beta, we examined the effect of indomethacin (a PGE2 synthesis inhibitor) on mixed or neuron-enriched cultures treated with IL-1beta. Indomethacin blocked both stimulatory and inhibitory IL-1beta effects on BDNF mRNA expression whereas picrotoxin (a GABA(A) blocker) or MK-801 (a NMDA receptor blocker) had no effect on BDNF mRNA levels. About 3 and 6h treatments of cells with exogenous PGE2 reproduced the effects of IL-1beta on neuron-enriched or on mixed cultures suggesting that PGE2 was involved in BDNF mRNA regulation. Analysis of PGE2 receptors mRNA expression revealed that the PGE2 receptor pattern was changed when neuron-enriched cultures were treated with conditioned medium produced by astrocytes treated with IL-1beta. Thus, EP3 mRNA levels were increased while EP1 and EP4 messengers were unchanged. This increased expression of the inhibitory prostaglandin receptor under astrocyte influence can explain the inhibition of BDNF mRNA levels observed in mixed cultures following IL-1beta or PGE2 treatment. Finally, we demonstrated by immunocytochemistry that EP3 receptors had a neuronal localization in the hypothalamic cultures. Taken together, these data contribute to underline an emerging physiological concept postulating that a same molecule may have opposite effects as a function of the cellular context.

Different mechanisms for cellular internalization of the HIV-1 Tat-derived cell penetrating peptide and recombinant proteins fused to Tat.

Translocation through the plasma membrane is a major limiting step for the cellular delivery of macromolecules. A promising strategy to overcome this problem consists in the chemical conjugation (or fusion) to cell penetrating peptides (CPP) derived from proteins able to cross the plasma membrane. A large number of different cargo molecules such as oligonucleotides, peptides, peptide nucleic acids, proteins or even nanoparticles have been internalized in cells by this strategy. One of these translocating peptides was derived from the HIV-1 Tat protein. The mechanisms by which CPP enter cells remain unknown. Recently, convincing biochemical and genetic findings has established that the full-length Tat protein was internalized in cells via the ubiquitous heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans. We demonstrate here that the short Tat CPP is taken up by a route that does not involve the HS proteoglycans.