Project description:Engrailed homeoproteins are expressed in adult dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. In Engrailed1 heterozygous mice, these neurons start dying at 6 weeks, are more sensitive to oxidative stress and progressively develop traits similar to those observed following an acute and strong oxidative stress inflected to wild-type neurons. These changes include DNA strand breaks and the modification (intensity and distribution) of several nuclear and nucleolar heterochromatin marks. Engrailed1 and Engrailed2 are biochemically equivalent transducing proteins previously used to antagonize dopaminergic neuron death in Engrailed heterozygous mice and in mouse models of Parkinson disease. Accordingly, we show that, following an acute oxidative stress, a single Engrailed2 injection restores all nuclear and nucleolar heterochromatin marks, decreases the number of DNA strand breaks and protects dopaminergic neurons against apoptosis. RNA-seq data for differentially expressed genes in the SNpc of En1+/- mice, En2 infused mice and 6-OHDA/En2 injection experiments.
Project description:Engrailed homeoproteins are expressed in adult dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. In Engrailed1 heterozygous mice, these neurons start dying at 6 weeks, are more sensitive to oxidative stress and progressively develop traits similar to those observed following an acute and strong oxidative stress inflected to wild-type neurons. These changes include DNA strand breaks and the modification (intensity and distribution) of several nuclear and nucleolar heterochromatin marks. Engrailed1 and Engrailed2 are biochemically equivalent transducing proteins previously used to antagonize dopaminergic neuron death in Engrailed heterozygous mice and in mouse models of Parkinson disease. Accordingly, we show that, following an acute oxidative stress, a single Engrailed2 injection restores all nuclear and nucleolar heterochromatin marks, decreases the number of DNA strand breaks and protects dopaminergic neurons against apoptosis.
Project description:Human iPSC derived dopaminergic neurons were characterized using unbiased single cell transcriptomics. Then study the genetic effect of the A-syn A53T mutation along with oxidative and ER stress induced by rotenone and tunicamycin respectively.
Project description:Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction for which there is an unmet need for better treatment options. Although oxidative stress is a common feature of neurodegenerative diseases, notably PD, there is currently no efficient therapeutic strategy able to tackle this system-wide pathophysiological process. Based on our previous observations of the potent antioxidant and neuroprotective activity of SELENOT, a vital thioredoxin-like selenoprotein, we designed the small peptide PSELT from its redox active site in order to determine its potential polyfunctional activity in PD models. PSELT proved to site in order to be protective for neurotoxin-treated dopaminergic neurons and fibers against oxidative stress determine its potential polyfunctional activity in PD models. PSELT proved to be protective for neurotoxin-treated dopaminergic neurons and fibers against oxidative stress and cell death. We demonstrate that PSELT is cell-permeable and acts in different subcellular compartments of dopaminergic neurons where oxidative stress exerts its deleterious effects. This protective activity prevented neurodegeneration and restored phosphorylated tyrosine hydroxylase levels, leading to improved motor skills in rodent models of PD
Project description:Global gene expression indicated that N27 neurons exposed to each nanoAg material (1.0 ppm, 18 hr) responded primarily to PVP coated nanoAg of both sizes with affected pathways largely associated with mitochondrial dysfunction (PVP 75 nm nanoAg) and Nrf-2 mediated oxidative stress (PVP 10 nm nanoAg) pathways. N27 rat dopaminergic neurons were exposed to non-cytoxic (0.5-5.0 ppm) concentrations of nanoAg of different sizes (10 nm, 75 nm) and “cappings” (PVP, citrate).
