Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a leading monogenic neurodegenerative disorder affecting premutation carriers of the fragile X (FMR1) gene. To investigate the underlying ...cellular neuropathology, we produced induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons from isogenic subclones of primary fibroblasts of a female premutation carrier, with each subclone bearing exclusively either the normal or the expanded (premutation) form of the FMR1 gene as the active allele. We show that neurons harboring the stably-active, expanded allele (EX-Xa) have reduced postsynaptic density protein 95 protein expression, reduced synaptic puncta density and reduced neurite length. Importantly, such neurons are also functionally abnormal, with calcium transients of higher amplitude and increased frequency than for neurons harboring the normal-active allele. Moreover, a sustained calcium elevation was found in the EX-Xa neurons after glutamate application. By excluding the individual genetic background variation, we have demonstrated neuronal phenotypes directly linked to the FMR1 premutation. Our approach represents a unique isogenic, X-chromosomal epigenetic model to aid the development of targeted therapeutics for FXTAS, and more broadly as a model for the study of common neurodevelopmental (e.g. autism) and neurodegenerative (e.g. Parkinsonism, dementias) disorders.
Background and Purpose
Cocamide monoethanolamide (CMEA) is commonly used as a surfactant‐foam booster in cosmetic formulations. Upon contact with the eye or other sensitive skin areas, CMEA elicits ...stinging and lasting irritation. We hypothesized a specific molecular interaction with TRPV1 channels by which CMEA caused eye irritation.
Experimental Approach
Eye irritancy was evaluated using eye‐wiping tests in rabbits and mice. Intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and action potentials were measured using Ca2+ imaging and current clamp respectively. Voltage clamp, site‐direct mutagenesis and molecular modelling were used to identify binding pockets for CMEA on TRPV1 channels.
Key Results
CMEA‐induced eye irritation is ameliorated by selective ablation of TRPV1 channels.Rodents exhibit much stronger responses to CMEA than rabbits. In trigeminal ganglion neurons, CMEA induced Ca2+ influx and neuronal excitability, effects mitigated by a TRPV1 channel inhibition and absent in TRPV1 knockout neurons. In HEK‐293 cells expressing TRPV1 channels, CMEA increased whole‐cell currents by increasing channel open probability (EC50 = 10.2 μM), without affecting TRPV2, TRPV3, TRPV4, and TRPA1 channel activities. Lauric acid monoethanolamide (LAMEA), the most abundant constituent of CMEA, was the most efficacious and potent TRPV1 channel activator, binding to the capsaicin‐binding pocket of the channel. The T550I mutants of rabbit and human TRPV1 channels exhibit much lower sensitivity to LAMEA.
Conclusions and Implication
CMEA directly activates TRPV1 channels to produce eye irritation. Rabbits, the standard animal used for eye irritancy tests are poor models for evaluating human eye irritants structurally related to CMEA. Our study identifies potential alternatives to CMEA as non‐irritating surfactants.
Triclosan (TCS), a high-production-volume chemical used as a bactericide in personal care products, is a priority pollutant of growing concern to human and environmental health. TCS is capable of ...altering the activity of type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1), but its potential to influence physiological excitation–contraction coupling (ECC) and muscle function has not been investigated. Here, we report that TCS impairs ECC of both cardiac and skeletal muscle in vitro and in vivo. TCS acutely depresses hemodynamics and grip strength in mice at doses ≥12.5 mg/kg i.p., and a concentration ≥0.52 μM in water compromises swimming performance in larval fathead minnow. In isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes, skeletal myotubes, and adult flexor digitorum brevis fibers TCS depresses electrically evoked ECC within ∼10–20 min. In myotubes, nanomolar to low micromolar TCS initially potentiates electrically evoked Ca ²⁺ transients followed by complete failure of ECC, independent of Ca ²⁺ store depletion or block of RyR1 channels. TCS also completely blocks excitation-coupled Ca ²⁺ entry. Voltage clamp experiments showed that TCS partially inhibits L-type Ca ²⁺ currents of cardiac and skeletal muscle, and ³HPN200 binding to skeletal membranes is noncompetitively inhibited by TCS in the same concentration range that enhances ³Hryanodine binding. TCS potently impairs orthograde and retrograde signaling between L-type Ca ²⁺ and RyR channels in skeletal muscle, and L-type Ca ²⁺ entry in cardiac muscle, revealing a mechanism by which TCS weakens cardiac and skeletal muscle contractility in a manner that may negatively impact muscle health, especially in susceptible populations.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pose significant risk to the developing human brain; however, mechanisms of PCB developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) remain controversial. Two widely posited mechanisms ...are tested here using PCBs identified in pregnant women in the MARBLES cohort who are at increased risk for having a child with a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD). As determined by gas chromatography-triple quadruple mass spectrometry, the mean PCB level in maternal serum was 2.22 ng/mL. The 12 most abundant PCBs were tested singly and as a mixture mimicking the congener profile in maternal serum for activity at the thyroid hormone receptor (THR) and ryanodine receptor (RyR). Neither the mixture nor the individual congeners (2 fM to 2 μM) exhibited agonistic or antagonistic activity in a THR reporter cell line. However, as determined by equilibrium binding of 3Hryanodine to RyR1-enriched microsomes, the mixture and the individual congeners (50 nM to 50 μM) increased RyR activity by 2.4–19.2-fold. 4-Hydroxy (OH) and 4-sulfate metabolites of PCBs 11 and 52 had no TH activity; but 4-OH PCB 52 had higher potency than the parent congener toward RyR. These data support evidence implicating RyRs as targets in environmentally triggered NDDs and suggest that PCB effects on the THR are not a predominant mechanism driving PCB DNT. These findings provide scientific rationale regarding a point of departure for quantitative risk assessment of PCB DNT, and identify in vitro assays for screening other environmental pollutants for DNT potential.
Nondioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL PCBs) activate ryanodine-sensitive Ca
channels (RyRs) and this activation has been associated with neurotoxicity in exposed animals. RyR-active congeners ...follow a distinct structure-activity relationship and a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) predicts that a large number of PCBs likely activate the receptor, which requires validation. Additionally, previous structural based conclusions have been established using receptor ligand binding assays but the impact of varying PCB structures on ion channel gating behavior is not understood. We used
HRyanodine (
HRy) binding to assess the RyR-activity of 14 previously untested PCB congeners evaluating the predictability of the QSAR. Congeners determined to display widely varying potency were then assayed with single channel voltage clamp analysis to assess direct influences on channel gating kinetics. The RyR-activity of individual PCBs assessed in in vitro assays followed the general pattern predicted by the QSAR but binding and lipid bilayer experiments demonstrated higher potency than predicted. Of the 49 congeners tested to date, tetra-ortho PCB 202 was found to be the most potent RyR-active congener increasing channel open probability at 200 pM. Shifting meta-substitutions to the para-position resulted in a > 100-fold reduction in potency as seen with PCB 197. Non-ortho PCB 11 was found to lack activity at the receptor supporting a minimum mono-ortho substitution for PCB RyR activity. These findings expand and support previous SAR assessments; where out of the 49 congeners tested to date 42 activate the receptor demonstrating that the RyR is a sensitive and common target of PCBs.
Abstract
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolite dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) are ubiquitous in the environment and detected in tissues of living organisms. Although DDT ...owes its insecticidal activity to impeding closure of voltage-gated sodium channels, it mediates toxicity in mammals by acting as an endocrine disruptor (ED). Numerous studies demonstrate DDT/DDE to be EDs, but studies examining muscle-specific effects mediated by nonhormonal receptors in mammals are lacking. Therefore, we investigated whether o,p′-DDT, p,p′-DDT, o,p′-DDE, and p,p′-DDE (DDx, collectively) alter the function of ryanodine receptor type 1 (RyR1), a protein critical for skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling and muscle health. DDx (0.01–10 µM) elicited concentration-dependent increases in 3Hryanodine (3HRy) binding to RyR1 with o,p′-DDE showing highest potency and efficacy. DDx also showed sex differences in 3HRy-binding efficacy toward RyR1, where 3HRy-binding in female muscle preparations was greater than male counterparts. Measurements of Ca2+ transport across sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane vesicles further confirmed DDx can selectively engage with RyR1 to cause Ca2+ efflux from SR stores. DDx also disrupts RyR1-signaling in HEK293T cells stably expressing RyR1 (HEK-RyR1). Pretreatment with DDx (0.1–10 µM) for 100 s, 12 h, or 24 h significantly sensitized Ca2+-efflux triggered by RyR agonist caffeine in a concentration-dependent manner. o,p′-DDE (24 h; 1 µM) significantly increased Ca2+-transient amplitude from electrically stimulated mouse myotubes compared with control and displayed abnormal fatigability. In conclusion, our study demonstrates DDx can directly interact and modulate RyR1 conformation, thereby altering SR Ca2+-dynamics and sensitize RyR1-expressing cells to RyR1 activators, which may ultimately contribute to long-term impairments in muscle health.
Triclosan (TCS), a high volume chemical widely used in consumer products, is a known aquatic contaminant found in fish inhabiting polluted watersheds. Mammalian studies have recently demonstrated ...that TCS disrupts signaling between the ryanodine receptor (RyR) and the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR), two proteins essential for excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in striated muscle. We investigated the swimming behavior and expression of EC coupling proteins in larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) exposed to TCS for up to 7 days. Concentrations as low as 75 μg L–1 significantly altered fish swimming activity after 1 day; which was consistent after 7 days of exposure. The mRNA transcription and protein levels of RyR and DHPR (subunit CaV1.1) isoforms changed in a dose and time dependent manner. Crude muscle homogenates from exposed larvae did not display any apparent changes in receptor affinity toward known radioligands. In nonexposed crude muscle homogenates, TCS decreased the binding of 3HPN20-110 to the DHPR and decreased the binding of 3H-ryanodine to the RyR, demonstrating a direct impact at the receptor level. These results support TCS’s impact on muscle function in vertebrates further exemplifying the need to re-evaluate the risks this pollutant poses to aquatic environments.
Nineteen ortho-substituted PCBs are chiral and found enantioselectively enriched in ecosystems. Their differential actions on biological targets are not understood. PCB 95 ...(2,2′,3,5′,6-pentachlorobiphenyl), a chiral PCB of current environmental relevance, is among the most potent toward modifying ryanodine receptors (RyR) function and Ca2+ signaling. PCB 95 enantiomers are separated and assigned aR- and aS-PCB 95 using three chiral-column HPLC and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Studies of RyR1-enriched microsomes show aR-PCB 95 with >4× greater potency (EC50 = 0.20 ± 0.05 μM), ∼ 1.3× higher efficacy (B max = 3.74 ± 0.07 μM) in 3HRyanodine-binding and >3× greater rates (R = 7.72 ± 0.31 nmol/sec/mg) of Ca2+ efflux compared with aS-PCB 95, whereas racemate has intermediate activity. aR-PCB 95 has modest selectivity for RyR2, and lower potency than racemate toward the RyR isoform mixture in brain membranes. Chronic exposure of hippocampal neuronal networks to nanomolar PCB 95 during a critical developmental period shows divergent influences on synchronous Ca2+ oscillation (SCO): rac-PCB 95 increasing and aR-PCB 95 decreasing SCO frequency at 50 nM, although the latter’s effects are nonmonotonic at higher concentration. aS-PCB95 shows the greatest influence on inhibiting responses to 20 Hz electrical pulse trains. Considering persistence of PCB 95 in the environment, stereoselectivity toward RyRs and developing neuronal networks may clarify health risks associated with enantioisomeric enrichment of PCBs.
The gut microbiota is important for maintaining homeostasis of the host. Gut microbes represent the initial site for toxicant processing following dietary exposures to environmental contaminants. The ...diet is the primary route of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are absorbed via the gut, and subsequently interfere with neurodevelopment and behavior. Developmental exposures to PCBs have been linked to increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which are also associated with a high prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) distress and intestinal dysbiosis. We hypothesized that developmental PCB exposure impacts colonization of the gut microbiota, resulting in GI pathophysiology, in a genetically susceptible host. Mouse dams expressing two heritable human mutations (double mutants DM) that result in abnormal Ca2+ dynamics and produce behavioral deficits (gain of function mutation in the ryanodine receptor 1 T4826I-RYR1 and a human CGG repeat expansion 170–200 CGG repeats in the fragile X mental retardation gene 1 FMR1 premutation). DM and congenic wild type (WT) controls were exposed to PCBs (0–6 mg/kg/d) in the diet starting 2 weeks before gestation and continuing through postnatal day 21 (P21). Intestinal physiology (Ussing chambers), inflammation (qPCR) and gut microbiome (16S sequencing) studies were performed in offspring mice (P28–P30). Developmental exposure to PCBs in the maternal diet caused significant mucosal barrier defects in ileum and colon (increased secretory state and tight junction permeability) of juvenile DM mice. Furthermore, PCB exposure increased the intestinal inflammatory profile (Il6, Il1β, and Il22), and resulted in dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, including altered β-diversity, in juvenile DM mice developmentally exposed to 1 mg/kg/d PCBs when compared to WT controls. Collectively, these findings demonstrate a novel interaction between PCB exposure and the gut microbiota in a genetically susceptible host that provide novel insight into environmental risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders.
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•Developmental PCBs cause intestinal pathophysiology and dysbiosis in juvenile mice with mutations affecting Ca2+ signaling.•Cytokine expression in both the ileum and colon is altered in a tissue, dose, and genotype specific manner.•Intestinal dysbiosis is characterized by altered diversity and colonization of specific taxa.
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