Biology subjects

Castelhano, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Castelhano, J..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

AAV-mediated allele-specific silencing alleviates neuropathology in a novel non-human primate model of Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an abnormal expansion of the cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats in the ATXN3 gene. This mutation results in the production of an Ataxin-3 protein with an extended polyglutamine sequence, contributing to the diseases neuropathology. Currently, no treatment is available that can slow or halt the progression of SCA3. Gene-targeted therapies have gained significant attention for their potential to address the root cause of SCA3. Preliminary studies in transgenic mice using adeno-associated viral vector serotype 9 (AAV9) encoding artificial microRNAs targeting the mutant ATXN3 allele (AAV9-miR-ATXN3) have shown promising results. However, to advance this therapeutic approach toward clinical application, further studies in an animal model that more closely resembles human biology are essential. In this exploratory study, we assessed the biodistribution and target engagement of AAV9-miR-ATXN3 delivered via intracisterna magna (ICM) injection in non-human primates (NHPs). Using a lentiviral vector (LV) to introduce a mutant Ataxin-3 cDNA with 72 glutamines (LV-mutATXN3-Q72) into the NHP cerebellum, we successfully overexpressed SCA3 in the NHP brain. SCA3 NHP exhibited Ataxin-3 aggregation in the cerebellum, recruitment of inflammatory cells and reduced cerebellar volume. ICM administration of AAV9-miR-ATXN3 effectively directed transgene expression to key brain regions impacted by SCA3 pathology and enabled specific, dose-dependent silencing of mutant Ataxin-3. Furthermore, the therapeutic dose prevented the cerebellar morphological and biochemical alterations induced by the overexpression of mutant ATXN3. These proof-of-concept experiments are crucial, not only for advancing AAV9-miR-ATXN3 toward clinical use but also for establishing a valuable platform for validating future therapeutic interventions.

molecular biology↗

bioRxiv2022

Pilot MRI study of carbon monoxide (CO) against ischemic stroke in mice: blood brain barrier integrity and metabolic pattern

Although stroke is the main cause of brain damage worldwide, stroke therapies are based on blood reperfusion and do not target cerebral parenchyma. Ischemic stroke (representing 87% of all strokes) causes cerebral damage due to oxygen and tissue energy depletion, which lead to acidosis, inflammation, excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an endogenous gasotransmitter produced by heme oxygenase cleavage of the heme group. CO promotes cytoprotection by limiting inflammation and preventing cell death in several tissues including the brain. Previous studies have demonstrated the protective role of CO in the mouse ischemic stroke model, middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) by histological analysis when CO is when applied before ischemia. Herein, there are two main novelties. First CO is administrated following stroke, which better mimics its potential future use as therapeutic drug. Secondly, imaging techniques were used to elucidate the effect of this gasotransmitter at the metabolic, vascular and anatomic levels. The putative neuroprotective effects of CO following MCAo were assessed by 3 i.p. injections of the CO-releasing molecule CORM-A1 (3 mg/kg), administered 6, 24 and 48h after reperfusion. Magnetic Resonance Imaging was performed 1 day and 7 days after reperfusion using T2-weighted, diffusion weighted images, proton spectroscopy (1H-MRS) and perfusion (dynamic contrast enhanced images). 1H-MRS also allowed the comparison between metabolite signatures at day 1 versus 7 day following MCAo. Furthermore, CORM-A1 limited the loss of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity as it reduced the edema formation. Furthermore, the CO donor minimized the metabolite load loss at an early stage after MCAo, both in striatum and cortex. In conclusion and based on MRI analysis, CO has a protective role in the recovery from stroke injury, mainly by acting on BBB integrity and brain metabolism.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

Mitochondrial and redox modifications in early stages of Huntington disease

Defects in mitochondrial function and mitochondrial-related redox deregulation have been attributed to Huntingtons disease (HD), a genetic neurodegenerative disorder largely affecting the striatum. However, whether these changes occur in early stages of the disease and can be detected in vivo is still unclear. Thus, in the present study, we analyzed changes in mitochondrial function and overreduced states associated with production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at early stages and along disease progression. Studies were performed in vivo in human brain using positron emission tomography (PET) using [64Cu]-ATSM and ex vivo in human skin fibroblasts of premanifest and prodromal (Pre-M) and manifest HD patients; in vivo brain [64Cu]-ATSM PET and isolated mitochondria derived from striatum and cortex were also analyzed in YAC128 transgenic mouse at pre-symptomatic (3 month-old, mo) and symptomatic (6 to 12 mo) stages. Oxygen consumption rates were assessed by Seahorse analysis, hydrogen peroxide levels were determined using fluorescent probes and mitochondrial morphology by transmission electron microscopy in human skin fibroblasts and mouse striatal and cortical isolated mitochondria. Pre-M HD carriers exhibited enhanced whole-brain (with exception of caudate) [64Cu]-ATSM labelling, correlating with CAG repeat number. Fibroblasts from Pre-M showed enhanced basal and maximal respiration, proton (H+) leak and increased hydrogen peroxide levels, the later progressing to manifest HD; mitochondria from fibroblasts of Pre-M HD carriers also showed reduced roundness, while higher number of mitochondrial DNA copies correlated with maximal respiratory capacity. In vivo animal PET analysis showed increased accumulation of [64Cu]-ATSM in YAC128 mouse striatum. Pre-symptomatic YAC128 mouse striatal isolated mitochondria exhibited a rise in basal and maximal mitochondrial respiration and in ATP production, along with increased complex II and III activities; mouse HD mitochondria also showed enhanced mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide levels and roundness, as revealed by brain ultrastructure analysis, and defects in Ca2+ handling, supporting increased striatal susceptibility in YAC128 mouse brain. Data demonstrate both human and mouse mitochondrial overactivity and altered morphology at early HD stages, facilitating redox unbalance, the latter extending over manifest disease stages.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Modulation of early level EEG signatures by distributed facial emotion cues

Face perception plays an important role in our daily social interactions, as it is essential to recognize emotions. The N170 Event Related Potential (ERP) component has been widely identified as a major face-sensitive neuronal marker. However, despite extensive investigations conducted to examine this electroencephalographic pattern, there is yet no agreement regarding its sensitivity to the content of facial expressions. Here, we aim to clarify the EEG signatures of the recognition of facial expressions by investigating ERP components that we hypothesize to be associated with this cognitive process. We asked the question whether the recognition of facial expressions is encoded by the N170 as weel as at the level of P100 and P250. In order to test this hypothesis, we analysed differences in amplitudes and latencies for the three ERPs, in a sample of 20 participants. A visual paradigm requiring explicit recognition of happy, sad and neutral faces was used. The facial cues were explicitly controlled to vary only regarding mouth and eye components. We found that non neutral emotion expressions elicit a response difference in the amplitude of N170 and P250. In contrast with the P100, there by excluding a role for low level factors. Our study brings new light to the controversy whether emotional face expressions modulate early visual response components, which have been often analysed apart. The results support the tenet that neutral and emotional faces evoke distinct N170 patterns, but go further by revealing that this is also true for P250, unlike the P100.

neuroscience↗