Prostaglandin signaling suppresses beneficial microglial function in Alzheimer’s disease models

Microglia, the innate immune cells of the CNS, perform critical inflammatory and noninflammatory functions that maintain normal neural function. For example, microglia clear misfolded proteins, elaborate trophic factors, and regulate and terminate toxic inflammation. In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), however, beneficial microglial functions become impaired, accelerating synaptic and neuronal loss. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that contribute to microglial dysfunction is an important objective for identifying potential strategies to delay progression to AD. The inflammatory cyclooxygenase/prostaglandin E2 (COX/PGE₂) pathway has been implicated in preclinical AD development, both in human epidemiology studies and in transgenic rodent models of AD. Here, we evaluated murine models that recapitulate microglial responses to Aβ peptides and determined that microglia-specific deletion of the gene encoding the PGE₂ receptor EP2 restores microglial chemotaxis and Aβ clearance, suppresses toxic inflammation, increases cytoprotective insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling, and prevents synaptic injury and memory deficits. Our findings indicate that EP2 signaling suppresses beneficial microglia functions that falter during AD development and suggest that inhibition of the COX/PGE₂/EP2 immune pathway has potential as a strategy to restore healthy microglial function and prevent progression to AD.     

Low Molecular Weight Dextran Sulfate: A Strong Candidate Drug to Block IBMIR in Clinical Islet Transplantation

The instant blood-mediated inflammatory reaction (IBMIR) is triggered in clinical islet transplantation when human pancreatic islets come in contact with blood and may explain the initial tissue loss associated with this procedure. Low molecular weight dextran sulfate (LMW-DS; MM 5000), today available for clinical use, inhibits both complement and coagulation activation. In a tubing loop model, LMW-DS at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1 g/L showed a dose-dependent inhibition of IBMIR with an inhibition of coagulation and complement activation and less consumption of platelets and other blood cells. In blood or plasma APTT was demonstrated to be an excellent method for monitoring the LMW-DS concentration both in vitro and in vivo in a nonhuman primate model. The toxicity was assessed using a glucose challenge test and the pharmacokinetics was tested in the nonhuman primate model. Here, we present a tentative protocol for using LMW-DS in clinical islet transplantation.     

Laser-induced fluorescence studies of the biodistribution of carotenoporphyrins in mice.

The biodistribution of two recently developed tumour markers, trimethylated (CP(Me)3) and trimethoxylated (CP(OMe)3) carotenoporphyrin, was investigated by means of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) after i.v. injection into 38 tumour-bearing (MS-2 fibrosarcoma) female Balb/c mice. At 3, 24, 48 or 96 h after administration, the carotenoporphyrin fluorescence was measured in tumoral and peritumoral tissue, as well as in the abdominal, thoracic and cranial cavities. The fluorescence was induced by a nitrogen laser-pumped dye laser, emitting light at 425 nm, and analysed by a polychromator equipped with an image-intensified CCD camera. The fluorescence was evaluated at 490, 655 and 720 nm: the second and third wavelengths represent the carotenoporphyrin (CP)-related peaks, whereas the first one is close to the peak of the tissue autofluorescence. The tumour and the liver were the two tissue types showing the strongest carotenoporphyrin-related fluorescence, whereas the cerebral cortex and muscle consistently exhibited weak substance-related fluorescence. In most tissue types, the fluorescence intensities decreased over time. A few exceptions were observed, notably the liver, in which the intensity remained remarkably constant over the time period investigated.     

Inhibition and recovery of retrograde axoplasmic transport in rat optic nerve during and after elevated IOP in vivo

Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injected into one lateral geniculate nucleus of male inbred PVG/Mol hooded rats is taken up by terminals of the optic nerve and transported retrogradely towards the opposite retina. One hr after injection, the eyes were cannulated and set at an intraocular pressure (IOP) of either 35 mmHg or 15 mmHg. The IOP were set for 4 hr at which time the trial was terminated and retinal HRP content measured. It was found that in eyes set at 35 mmHg (18 eyes) the axoplasmic transport was partially blocked compared with that in eyes set at 15 mmHg (10 eyes), absorbances were 0.034 +/- 0.003 (S.E.) and 0.044 +/- 0.003 (S.E.), respectively, P less than 0.05. In a third group of eyes (nine eyes) set at 50 mmHg for 2 hr (beginning 1 hr after the intrageniculate injection), succeeded by another 2 hr of 15 mmHg IOP, there was no statistically significant difference in retinal HRP content compared to that in eyes set at 15 mmHg throughout, absorbances were 0.040 +/- 0.006 and 0.044 +/- 0.003, respectively. Two hr of 50 mmHg IOP blocks the axonal transport in the rat optic nerve (Johansson, 1986a). The result shows that also moderately increased IOP blocks axonal transport in the rat optic nerve. It also shows the presence of a rapid recovery when the pressure is normalized. A direct mechanical factor underlying axonal transport blockage is proposed.     

Balance and gait improved in patients with MS after physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept

Background and Purpose . Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to have movement difficulties, and the effect of physiotherapy for this group of patients has been subjected to limited systematic research. In the present study physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept, applied to MS patients with balance and gait problems, was evaluated. The ability of different functional tests to demonstrate change was evaluated. Method . A single‐subject experimental study design with ABAA phases was used, and two patients with relapsing–remitting MS in stable phase were treated. Tests were performed 12 times, three at each phase: A (at baseline); B (during treatment); A (immediately after treatment); and A (after two months). The key feature of treatment was facilitation of postural activity and selective control of movement. Several performance and self‐report measures and interviews were used. Results . After intervention, improved balance was shown by the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) in both patients, and improved quality of gait was indicated by the Rivermead Visual Gait Assessment (RVGA). The patients also reported improved balance and gait function in the interviews and scored their condition as ‘much improved’. Gait parameters, recorded by an electronic walkway, changed, but differently in the two patients. Among the physical performance tests the BBS and the RVGA demonstrated the highest change, while no or minimal change was demonstrated by the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) and Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE). Conclusion . The findings indicate that balance and gait can be improved after physiotherapy based on the Bobath concept, but this should be further evaluated in larger controlled trials of patients with MS. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Discrimination of idiopathic pain syndromes from neurogenic pain syndromes and healthy volunteers by means of clinical rating,personality traits,monoamine metabolites in CSF,serum cortisol,platelet MAO and urinary melatonin

Summary The aim of the present study was to investigate the discriminative power of a series of variables (including determination of depressive symptomatology by means of a visual analogue scale, determination of personality traits by means of the Karolinska Scales of Personality, determination of monoamine metabolites in CSF, platelet MAO activities, serum cortisol before and after dexamethasone suppression and urinary melatonin) in differentiating (a) chronic pain patients from healthy subjects, and (b) patients with idiopathic pain syndromes from patients with neurogenic pain syndromes. Separately each of the measures gave a significant but often low contribution to the discrimination, while a combination of several measures gave a complete discrimination both between healthy subjects and patients with chronic pain syndromes and between patients with idiopathic and neurogenic pain syndromes, respectively.Supported in part by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (grants no. 3371, 4145 and 5740) and by a grant from Stiftelsen Söderström-Königska Sjukhemmet     

The ability of the SCORE high-risk model to predict 10-year cardiovascular disease mortality in Norway.

AIMS: To evaluate the predictive accuracy of the Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) project high-risk function in Norway. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 57 229 individuals screened in 1985-1992 from two population-based surveys in Norway (age groups 40-49, 50-59, and 60-69 years). The data have been linked to the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. The SCORE high-risk algorithm for the prediction of 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality was applied, and the risk factors entered into the model were age, sex, total cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and smoking (yes/no). The number of expected events estimated by the SCORE model (E) was compared with the observed numbers (O). The SCORE low-risk algorithm was studied for comparison. In men, the observed number of CVD deaths was 718, compared with 1464 estimated by the SCORE high-risk function (O/E ratios 0.53, 0.53 and 0.45, for age groups 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69, respectively). In women, the observed and expected numbers were 226 and 547. The O/E ratios decreased with age (ratios 0.60, 0.45 and 0.37, respectively), i.e. the overestimation increased with age. The low-risk function predicted reasonably well for men (ratios 0.85, 0.92 and 0.79, respectively), whereas an overestimation was found for women aged 50-59 and 60-69 years (ratios 0.69 and 0.56, respectively). CONCLUSION: The SCORE high-risk model overestimated the number of CVD deaths in Norway. Before implementation in clinical practice, proper adjustments to national levels are required.