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Biomedical subjects

Peter S Eriksson

Publications and source records attributed to Peter S Eriksson.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Less neurogenesis and inflammation in the immature than in the juvenile brain after cerebral hypoxia-ischemia.

The effects of hypoxia-ischemia (HI) on proliferation and differentiation in the immature (postnatal day 9) and juvenile (postnatal day 21) mouse hippocampus were investigated by injecting bromodeoxyuridine (50 mg/kg) daily for 7 days after the insult and evaluating the labeling 5 weeks after HI. Phenotypic differentiation was evaluated using NeuN, Iba1, APC, and S100beta as markers of neurons, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes, respectively. The basal proliferation, in particular neurogenesis, was higher in the immature than in the juvenile hippocampus. Hypoxia-ischemia did not increase neurogenesis significantly in the immature dentate gyrus (DG), but it increased several-fold in the juvenile brain, reaching the same level as in the normal, noninjured immature brain. This suggests that the immature hippocampus is already working at the top of its proliferative capacity and that even though basal neurogenesis decreased with age, the injury-induced generation of new neurons in the juvenile hippocampus could not increase beyond the basal level of the immature brain. Generation of glial cells of all three types after HI was significantly more pronounced in the cornu ammonis of the hippocampus region of the juvenile hippocampus. In the DG, only microglia production was greater in the juvenile brain. Increased microglia proliferation correlated with increased levels of the proinflammatory cytokines MCP-1 and IL-18 3 days after HI, indicating that the inflammatory response is stronger in the juvenile hippocampus. In summary, contrary to what has been generally assumed, our results indicate that the juvenile brain has a greater capacity for neurogenesis after injury than the immature brain.

Aging↗

Neocortical neurogenesis in humans is restricted to development.

Stem cells generate neurons in discrete regions in the postnatal mammalian brain. However, the extent of neurogenesis in the adult human brain has been difficult to establish. We have taken advantage of the integration of (14)C, generated by nuclear bomb tests during the Cold War, in DNA to establish the age of neurons in the major areas of the human cerebral neocortex. Together with the analysis of the neocortex from patients who received BrdU, which integrates in the DNA of dividing cells, our results demonstrate that, whereas nonneuronal cells turn over, neurons in the human cerebral neocortex are not generated in adulthood at detectable levels but are generated perinatally.

Aged↗

On neural plasticity, new neurons and the postischemic milieu: an integrated view on experimental rehabilitation.

This review discusses actual and potential contributors to functional improvement after stroke injuries. Topics that will be covered are neuronal re-organization and sprouting, neural stem/progenitor cell activation and neuronal replacement, as well as the neuronal milieu defined by glia, inflammatory cells and blood vessel supply. It is well established that different types of neuronal plasticity ultimately lead to post-stroke recovery. However, an untapped potential which only recently has started to be extensively explored is neuronal replacement through endogenous or exogenous resources. Major experimental efforts are needed to achieve progress in this burgeoning area. The review stresses the importance of applying neurodevelopmental principles as well as performing a characterization of the role of the postischemic milieu when studying adult brain neural stem/progenitor cells. Integrated and multifaceted experimentation, incorporating actual and possible poststroke function modulators, will be necessary in order to determine future strategies that will ultimately enable considerable progress in the field of neurorehabilitation.

Humans↗

Transplantation of human embryonic stem cell-derived cells to a rat model of Parkinson's disease: effect of in vitro differentiation on graft survival and teratoma formation.

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have been proposed as a source of dopamine (DA) neurons for transplantation in Parkinson's disease (PD). We have investigated the effect of in vitro predifferentiation on in vivo survival and differentiation of hESCs implanted into the 6-OHDA (6-hydroxydopamine)-lesion rat model of PD. The hESCs were cocultured with PA6 cells for 16, 20, or 23 days, leading to the in vitro differentiation into DA neurons. Grafted hESC-derived cells survived well and expressed neuronal markers. However, very few exhibited a DA neuron phenotype. Reversal of lesion-induced motor deficits was not observed. Rats grafted with hESCs predifferentiated in vitro for 16 days developed severe teratomas, whereas most rats grafted with hESCs predifferentiated for 20 and 23 days remained healthy until the end of the experiment. This indicates that prolonged in vitro differentiation of hESCs is essential for preventing formation of teratomas.

Animals↗

Enriched environment after focal cortical ischemia enhances the generation of astroglia and NG2 positive polydendrocytes in adult rat neocortex.

Environmental enrichment (EE) alleviates sensorimotor deficits after brain infarcts but the cellular correlates are not well-known. This study aimed to test the effects of postischemic EE on neocortical cell genesis. A neocortical infarct was caused by distal ligation of the middle cerebral artery in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats, subsequently housed in standard environment or EE. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered during the first postischemic week to label proliferating cells and BrdU incorporation was quantified 4 weeks later in the periinfarct, ipsilateral medial and contralateral cortex. Immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy were used to analyze co-localization of BrdU with neuronal (calbindin D28k, calretinin, parvalbumin, glutamic acid decarboxylase, tyrosine hydroxylase), astrocytic (glial fibrillary acidic protein, glutamine synthetase, vimentin, nestin), microglia/macrophage (CD11b/Ox-42, CD68/ED-1), oligodendrocyte progenitor/polydendrocyte (NG2, platelet-derived growth factor alpha receptor) or mature oligodendrocyte (myelin basic protein) markers. BrdU positive cells were increased in all analyzed cortical regions in stroke EE rats compared with stroke standard environment rats. Newly born cells in the periinfarct cortex were mostly reactive astroglia. Occasionally, BrdU positive cells in the periinfarct cortex that were negative for glial or microglia/macrophage markers co-expressed markers typical for interneurons but did not express appropriate functional markers. The majority of BrdU positive cells in intact cortical regions, ipsi- and contralaterally, were identified as NG2 positive polydendrocytes. Perineuronally situated newly born cells and polydendrocytes were found to be brain-derived neurotrophic factor immunoreactive. In conclusion, EE enhanced newborn glial scar astroglia and NG2+ polydendrocytes in the postischemic neocortex which might be beneficial for brain repair and poststroke plasticity.

Animals↗

Requirement for Id1 in opioid-induced oligodendrogenesis in cultured adult rat hippocampal progenitors.

Growth factors and peptides playing important roles during early development of the central nervous system have also been shown to maintain their regulation of cell genesis in the adult brain. We have previously described that endogenous opioids, expressed in the developing hippocampus, regulate proliferation and differentiation in the adult rat hippocampus. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the opioid beta-endorphin on gene expression and glial differentiation in cultures of adult rat hippocampal progenitors (AHPs). Changes in gene expression after stimulation of AHPs with beta-endorphin for 48 h were investigated using cDNA arrays. Confirmation experiments verified that stimulation with beta-endorphin increased the mRNA levels of myelin basic protein, glutathione S-transferase pi, c-junD and rab16 (P < 0.05), genes that are associated with oligodendrogenesis. Furthermore, beta-endorphin increased the levels of Id1, but not Id3, mRNA on the arrays. Incubation of AHPs with beta-endorphin resulted in a threefold increase in oligodendrogenesis (P < 0.01) but no significant change in astrogliogenesis. No effect on oligodendrogenesis was observed in the presence of the opioid antagonist naloxone. Coincubation of beta-endorphin with Id1 antisense oligonucleotides for 10 days also entirely blocked the induced oligodendrogenesis in our AHP cultures. Moreover, a subpopulation of AHPs (25%) showed nuclear expression of the proneural transcriptional activator Mash1 that was reduced to approximately 5% of the cells when exposed to beta-endorphin. We suggest a requirement for Id1 in opioid-induced oligodendrogenesis in cultured AHPs possibly acting on opioid-responsive AHPs expressing the proneural transcriptional activator Mash1.

Animals↗

Enriched environment increases neural stem/progenitor cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the subventricular zone of stroke-lesioned adult rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The subventricular zone in the adult brain is identified as an endogenous resource of neuronal precursors that can be recruited to adjacent lesioned areas. The hypothesis was tested that postischemic environmental enrichment might enhance subventricular zone cell genesis. METHODS: A cortical infarct was induced in adult spontaneously hypertensive rats by ligating the middle cerebral artery distal to the striatal branches, after which animals were housed in either standard or enriched environment and allowed to survive for 5 weeks. The thymidine analogue bromodeoxyuridine was administered during the first postischemic week. The generation of neural stem/progenitor cells and neuronal precursors in the subventricular zone were studied with cell specific markers such as Ki67 and phosphorylated histone H3 (cell proliferation), Sox-2 (neural stem/progenitor cells), bromodeoxyuridine (slowly cycling, nonmigratory putative neural stem cells), and doublecortin (newborn immature neurons). RESULTS: Proliferating cells in the subventricular zone were identified as chiefly neural progenitors but also putative neural stem cells and neuronal precursors. Five weeks after stroke, proliferation in the subventricular zone was lower in stroke-lesioned rats housed in standard environment compared with nonlesioned rats. Postischemic environmental enrichment normalized cell proliferation levels, increased the numbers of putative neural stem cells as assessed with bromodeoxyuridine, and increased doublecortin-positive neuroblasts, which extended in migratory chains toward the infarct. CONCLUSIONS: Enriched environment increased the neural stem/progenitor cell pool and neurogenesis in the adult subventricular zone 5 weeks after a cortical stroke. This might be of potential importance for tissue regeneration.

Animals↗

Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide is expressed in adult hippocampus and induces progenitor cell proliferation.

The hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) is an area of active proliferation and neurogenesis within the adult brain. The molecular events controlling adult cell genesis in the hippocampus essentially remain unknown. It has been reported previously that adult male and female rats from the strains Sprague Dawley (SD) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) have a marked difference in proliferation rates of cells in the hippocampal DG. To exploit this natural variability and identify potential regulators of cell genesis in the hippocampus, hippocampal gene expression from male SHR as well as male and female SD rats was analyzed using a cDNA array strategy. Hippocampal expression of the gene-encoding glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) varied strongly in parallel with cell-proliferation rates in the adult rat DG. Moreover, robust GIP immunoreactivity could be detected in the DG. The GIP receptor is expressed by cultured adult hippocampal progenitors and throughout the granule cell layer of the DG, including progenitor cells. Thus, these cells have the ability to respond to GIP. Indeed, exogenously delivered GIP induced proliferation of adult-derived hippocampal progenitors in vivo as well as in vitro, and adult GIP receptor knock-out mice exhibit a significantly lower number of newborn cells in the hippocampal DG compared with wild-type mice. This investigation demonstrates the presence of GIP in the brain for the first time and provides evidence for a regulatory function for GIP in progenitor cell proliferation.

Animals↗

Comparison of immunoblotted delta opioid receptor proteins expressed in the adult rat brain and their regulation by growth hormone.

It has previously been suggested that exogenous growth hormone (GH) affect quality of life and higher brain functions through the endogenous opioid system. Recently, we showed that GH down-regulate 72 and 48 kDa delta opioid receptor (DOR) proteins in the adult rat cerebral cortex and cerebellum. In the present study, we found that an antiserum raised against the N-terminus of the DOR also recognizes a 36 kDa protein, not recognized by a C-terminus-directed antiserum. We aimed to investigate the identity of the 72, 48 and 36 kDa proteins and to further study the effects of GH on their expression in different brain regions. The expression was studied in hypophysectomized (Hx) and untreated normal female rats. One subgroup of Hx rats received GH as a daily subcutaneous injection for 19 days. Our data show that treatment with GH in Hx rats normalized the expression of the 72 kDa protein in the cerebral cortex, whereas no significant effect were observed for the 48 or 36 kDa proteins. However, GH significantly reduced the ratio between the 72 and 36 kDa proteins in different brain regions of Hx rats. Our data suggest that GH reduces the levels of a 72 kDa DOR that likely represents a dimeric form of a 36 kDa DOR post-translationally truncated at the C-terminus, and that altered receptor dimerization may be involved in GH induced effects in the central nervous system.

Animals↗

Large-scale propagation of four undifferentiated human embryonic stem cell lines in a feeder-free culture system.

We describe an improved and more robust protocol for transfer and subsequent propagation of human embryonic stem cells under feeder-free conditions. The results show that mechanical dissociation for transfer of the human embryonic stem cells to Matrigel resulted in highest survival rates. For passage of the cultures on the other hand, enzymatic dissociation was found to be most efficient. In addition, this method reduces the time, work, and skills needed for propagation of the human embryonic stem cells. With the present protocol, the human embryonic stem cells have been cultured under feeder-free conditions for up to 35 passages while maintaining a normal karyotype, stable proliferation rate, and high telomerase activity. Furthermore, the feeder-free human embryonic stem cell cultures express the transcription factor Oct-4, alkaline phosphatase, and cell surface markers SSEA-3, SSEA-4, Tra 1-60, Tra 1-81, and formed teratomas in severe combined immunodeficient mice. This method provides distinct advantages compared with previous protocols and make propagation of human embryonic stem cells less laborious and more efficient.

Cell Culture Techniques↗

Extended voluntary running inhibits exercise-induced adult hippocampal progenitor proliferation in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Previous work has shown that voluntary running increases cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the adult hippocampus. Here we report that long-term running for 24 days results in a down-regulation of hippocampal progenitor proliferation to one-half the level of nonrunning controls compared with a fivefold increase in progenitor proliferation seen after 9 days of voluntary running (short-term running). The negative effects seen on proliferation after 24 days of running were prevented by restricting daily running distances (by 30-50%) during 24 days. Long-term running for 24 days increases the response of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, with an increase in adrenal gland weight and increased plasma corticosterone levels, as well as decreased thymus weight, indicating a stress response as a possible mediator of decreased progenitor proliferation. Furthermore, the negative effects seen on the observed stress response after 24 days of running were prevented by restricting daily running distance. Short-term running did not alter these stress parameters compared with nonrunning controls. However, it increased phosphorylated cyclic AMP response element binding protein (pCREB) in the dentate gyrus, an increase that was not seen in nonrunning controls or after 24 days of running. Taken together, these data suggest that voluntary running does not always enhance proliferation and that the decrease in progenitor proliferation seen in long-term running is possibly mediated by mechanisms involving a stress response in the animal. However, a moderate level of long-term running was able to prevent the negative stress-related changes seen in unrestricted long-term running.

Adrenal Glands↗

Sox-2 is expressed by neural progenitors and astroglia in the adult rat brain.

Sox-2 is a transcription factor that is expressed by self-renewing and multipotent stem cells of the embryonic neuroepithelium. Very little is however known about Sox-2 expression in the adult brain and therefore we used immunohistochemistry to examine its distribution and co-localization with specific cell markers. We found that Sox-2 was expressed by actively dividing neural progenitor cells in the neurogenic regions in the adult rat brain, the subventricular zone of the forebrain and the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus. Cells expressing immature neuronal markers were essentially Sox-2 immunonegative. Sox-2 was also found to be expressed by glial fibrillary acidic protein immunopositive astroglia, widely distributed in the brain parenchyma. Given the fact that several studies have established the neurogenic capacity of a specialized type of astroglia in the adult brain, the findings of Sox-2 expression in parenchymal astroglia are of potential interest. We conclude that Sox-2 might, in combination with appropriate cell-specific markers, constitute a useful marker to study the in vivo dynamics of the neural progenitor cell compartment also in the adult brain.

Animals↗

Glutathione monoethyl ester provides neuroprotection in a rat model of stroke.

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of tissue damage following transient focal cerebral ischaemia. Glutathione is a central component in the antioxidant defence of cells. We have previously shown a close association between mitochondrial glutathione loss and cell death following middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Glutathione monoethyl ester increases cellular glutathione and is particularly effective in increasing the mitochondrial pool. In the present investigation, we infused glutathione monoethyl ester into the third ventricle during 2 h of MCA occlusion and 48 h of reperfusion. Infarct size was reduced from 46% of the total ischaemic hemisphere in saline-treated animals to 16% following ester treatment. Thus, glutathione monoethyl ester provides neuroprotection following transient focal cerebral ischaemia.

Animals↗

Differential regulation of hippocampal progenitor proliferation by opioid receptor antagonists in running and non-running spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Voluntary running in mice and forced treadmill running in rats have been shown to increase the amount of proliferating cells in the hippocampus. Little is known as yet about the mechanisms involved in these processes. It is well known that the endogenous opioid system is affected during running and other forms of physical exercise. In this study, we evaluated the involvement of the endogenous opioids in the regulation of hippocampal proliferation in non-running and voluntary running rats. Nine days of wheel running was compared with non-running in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), a rat strain known to run voluntarily. On the last 2 days of the experimental period all rats received two daily injections of the opioid receptor antagonists naltrexone or naltrindole together with injections of bromodeoxyuridine to label dividing cells. Brain sections from the running rats showed approximately a five-fold increase in newly generated cells in the hippocampus, and this increase was partly reduced by naltrexone but not by naltrindole. By contrast, both naltrexone and naltrindole increased hippocampal proliferation in non-running rats. In non-running rats the administration of naltrexone decreased corticosterone levels and adrenal gland weights, whereas no significant effects on these parameters could be detected for naltrindole. However, adrenal gland weights were increased in naltrexone- but not in naltrindole-administered running rats. In addition, in voluntary running rats there was a three-fold increase in the hippocampal levels of Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe compared with non-runners, indicating an increase in opioid activity in the hippocampus during running. These data suggest an involvement of endogenous opioids in the regulation of hippocampal proliferation in non-running rats, probably through hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis modulation. During voluntary running in SHR naltrexone altered hippocampal proliferation via as yet unknown mechanisms.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

Interaction of scavenger receptor class B type I with peroxisomal targeting receptor Pex5p.

Scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) is an HDL receptor that mediates selective HDL lipid uptake. Peroxisomes play an important role in lipid metabolism and peroxisomal targeting signal type 1 (PTS1)-containing proteins are translocated to peroxisomes by the peroxisomal targeting import receptor, Pex5p. We have previously identified a PTS1 motif in the intracellular domain of rat SR-BI. Here, we examine the possible interaction between Pex5p and SR-BI. Expression of a Flag-tagged intracellular domain of SR-BI resulted in translocation to the peroxisome as demonstrated by double labeling with anti-Flag IgG and anti-catalase IgG analyzed by confocal microscopy. Immunoprecipitation experiments with anti-SR-BI antibody showed that Pex5p co-precipitated with SR-BI. However, when an antibody against Pex5p was used for immunoprecipitation, only the 57kDa, non-glycosylated form, of SR-BI co-precipitated. We conclude that the PTS1 domain of SR-BI is functional and can mediate peroxisomal interaction via Pex5p, in vitro.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Insulin-like growth factor-I increases astrocyte intercellular gap junctional communication and connexin43 expression in vitro.

Connexin43 (cx43) forms gap junctions in astrocytes, and these gap junctions mediate intercellular communication by providing transport of low-molecular-weight metabolites and ions. We have recently shown that systemic growth hormone increases cx43 in the brain. One possibility was that local brain insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) could mediate the effect by acting directly on astrocytes. In the present study, we examined the effects of direct application of recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) on astrocytes in primary culture concerning cx43 protein expression and gap junctional communication (GJC). After 24 hr of stimulation with rhIGF-I under serum-free conditions, the GJC and cx43 protein were analyzed. Administration of 30 ng/ml rhIGF-I increased the GJC and the abundance of cx43 protein. Cell proliferation of the astrocytes was not significantly increased by rhIGF-I at this concentration. However, a higher concentration of rhIGF-I (150 ng/ml) had no effect on GJC/cx43 but increased cell proliferation. Because of the important modulatory role of IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) on IGF-I action, we analyzed IGFBPs in conditioned media. In cultures with a low abundance of IGFBPs (especially IGFBP-2), the GJC response to 30 ng/ml rhIGF-I was 81%, compared with the average of 25%. Finally, as a control, insulin was given in equimolar concentrations. However, GJC was not affected, which suggests that rhIGF-I acted via IGF-I receptors. In summary, the data show that rhIGF-I may increase GJC/cx43, whereas a higher concentration of rhIGF-I--at which stimulation of proliferation occurred--did not affect GJC/cx43. Furthermore, IGFBP-2 appeared to modulate the action of rhIGF-I on GJC in astrocytes by a paracrine mechanism.

Animals↗

Comparative genome- and proteome analysis of cerebral cortex from MK-801-treated rats.

cDNA microarrays and two-dimensional gel-electrophoresis in combination with mass spectrometry, were used to screen alterations in mRNA and protein levels, respectively, in cerebral cortex of MK-801-treated rats. The rats were divided in two groups; group 1 (short-term treated) and group 2 (long-term treated). In group 1, four genes were up-regulated and five down-regulated. In group 2, seven genes were up-regulated and six down-regulated. In group 1, the levels of one protein was increased and eight proteins reduced. In group 2, the levels of two proteins were increased and four proteins reduced. Several of the altered genes (casein kinase 2, glutamic acid decarboxylase, synaptotagmin, gamma aminobutyric acid [GABA] transporter, creatine kinase, and cytochrome c oxidase) and proteins (superoxide dismutase, hsp 60, hsp 72 and gamma-enolase) have previously been connected to schizophrenia. Alterations of the genes (microglobulin, c-jun proto-oncogene, 40S ribosomal protein S19, adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribosylation factors, platelet-derived growth factor, fructose-bisphophate aldolase A, and myelin proteolipid) and the proteins (stathmin, H+-transp. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, beta-actin and alpha-enolase), have not, to our knowledge, earlier been implicated in schizophrenia pathology. Overall, these results with a combined approach of genomics and proteomics add to the validity of subchronic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-receptor antagonist treatment as an animal model of schizophrenia.

Animals↗