Thomas J Stone, Jessica C Pickles, Olumide Ogunbiyi, Shireena A Yasin, Catherine A Taylor, Saira W Ahmed, Jane Chalker, Carryl Dryden, Iwona Slodkowska, Emily Pang, Mark Kristiansen, Rachel Williams, Helena Tutill, Charlotte A Williams, Gaganjit K Madhan, Leysa Forrest, Tony Brooks, Mike Hubank, Debbie Hughes, Paula Proszek, Grzegorz Pietka, Erin Peat, Darren Hargrave, Thomas S Jacques
{"title":"The tumour microenvironment of pilocytic astrocytoma evolves over time via enrichment for microglia.","authors":"Thomas J Stone, Jessica C Pickles, Olumide Ogunbiyi, Shireena A Yasin, Catherine A Taylor, Saira W Ahmed, Jane Chalker, Carryl Dryden, Iwona Slodkowska, Emily Pang, Mark Kristiansen, Rachel Williams, Helena Tutill, Charlotte A Williams, Gaganjit K Madhan, Leysa Forrest, Tony Brooks, Mike Hubank, Debbie Hughes, Paula Proszek, Grzegorz Pietka, Erin Peat, Darren Hargrave, Thomas S Jacques","doi":"10.1186/s40478-024-01922-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40478-024-01922-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is the commonest low-grade tumour affecting children and is frequently experienced as a chronic disease associated with extended treatment, periods of regrowth, and long-term disability. This contrasts with the view of PA as a benign tumour with positive clinical outcomes and raises the fundamental question of biologically driven change over time within these tumours, which will impact diagnosis, stratification, and management. To investigate the molecular, cellular, and pathological stability of PA we performed RNA sequencing, methylation array profiling, immunohistochemistry, and targeted panel DNA sequencing on a cohort of 15 PA patients with matched primary/longitudinal samples at a mean sampling interval of 2.7 years. Through pairwise analysis of primary versus longitudinal tumour samples we identified changes to immune-related pathways within the expression and methylation profiles of longitudinal PA. Further interrogation of these changes revealed an enrichment over time for microglial cell populations, which was validated by immunohistochemistry against common monocyte/microglial markers. Moreover, immunohistochemical characterisation revealed concurrent increases in the expression of M2-like and anti-inflammatory markers. Microglial enrichments were consistent across the cohort and were not adequately explained by a range of potential confounders, including receipt of adjuvant therapy. Taken together, these data challenge the idea of pilocytic astrocytoma as a static entity and indicate that they consistently accumulate microglia over time, potentially co-opting the immune microenvironment towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype that may affect the natural course and treatment response of the tumours.</p>","PeriodicalId":6914,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropathologica Communications","volume":"13 1","pages":"30"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11823165/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143412699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Michael Whitehead, Joshua P Harvey, Paul E Sladen, Giada Becchi, Kritarth Singh, Yujiao Jennifer Sun, Thomas Burgoyne, Michael R Duchen, Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, Michael E Cheetham
{"title":"Disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis and permeability transition pore opening in OPA1 iPSC-derived retinal ganglion cells.","authors":"Michael Whitehead, Joshua P Harvey, Paul E Sladen, Giada Becchi, Kritarth Singh, Yujiao Jennifer Sun, Thomas Burgoyne, Michael R Duchen, Patrick Yu-Wai-Man, Michael E Cheetham","doi":"10.1186/s40478-025-01942-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40478-025-01942-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dominant optic atrophy (DOA) is the most common inherited optic neuropathy, characterised by the selective loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Over 60% of DOA cases are caused by pathogenic variants in the OPA1 gene, which encodes a dynamin-related GTPase protein. OPA1 plays a key role in the maintenance of the mitochondrial network, mitochondrial DNA integrity and bioenergetic function. However, our current understanding of how OPA1 dysfunction contributes to vision loss in DOA patients has been limited by access to patient-derived RGCs. Here, we used induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-RGCs to study how OPA1 dysfunction affects cellular homeostasis in human RGCs. iPSCs derived from a DOA+ patient with the OPA1 R445H variant and isogenic CRISPR-Cas9-corrected iPSCs were differentiated to iPSC-RGCs. Defects in mitochondrial networks and increased levels of reactive oxygen species were observed in iPSC-RGCs carrying OPA1 R445H. Ultrastructural analyses also revealed changes in mitochondrial shape and cristae structure, with decreased endoplasmic reticulum (ER): mitochondrial contact length in DOA iPSC-RGCs. Mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced and its maintenance was also impaired following inhibition of the F1Fo-ATP synthase with oligomycin, suggesting that mitochondrial membrane potential is maintained in DOA iPSC-RGCs through reversal of the ATP synthase and ATP hydrolysis. These impairments in mitochondrial structure and function were associated with defects in cytosolic calcium buffering following ER calcium release and store-operated calcium entry, and following stimulation with the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate. In response to mitochondrial calcium overload, DOA iPSC-RGCs exhibited increased sensitivity to opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. These data reveal novel aspects of DOA pathogenesis in R445H patient-derived RGCs. The findings suggest a mechanism in which primary defects in mitochondrial network dynamics disrupt core mitochondrial functions, including bioenergetics, calcium homeostasis, and opening of the permeability transition pore, which may contribute to vision loss in DOA patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":6914,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropathologica Communications","volume":"13 1","pages":"28"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11823152/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143412698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dimitra Athanasiou, Tess A V Afanasyeva, Niuzheng Chai, Kalliopi Ziaka, Katarina Jovanovic, Rosellina Guarascio, Karsten Boldt, Julio C Corral-Serrano, Naheed Kanuga, Ronald Roepman, Rob W J Collin, Michael E Cheetham
{"title":"Small molecule treatment alleviates photoreceptor cilia defects in LCA5-deficient human retinal organoids.","authors":"Dimitra Athanasiou, Tess A V Afanasyeva, Niuzheng Chai, Kalliopi Ziaka, Katarina Jovanovic, Rosellina Guarascio, Karsten Boldt, Julio C Corral-Serrano, Naheed Kanuga, Ronald Roepman, Rob W J Collin, Michael E Cheetham","doi":"10.1186/s40478-025-01943-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40478-025-01943-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bialleleic pathogenic variants in LCA5 cause one of the most severe forms of Leber congenital amaurosis, an early-onset retinal disease that results in severe visual impairment. Here, we report the use of gene editing to generate isogenic LCA5 knock-out (LCA5 KO) induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and their differentiation to retinal organoids. The molecular and cellular phenotype of the LCA5 KO retinal organoids was studied in detail and compared to isogenic controls as well as patient-derived retinal organoids. The absence of LCA5 was confirmed in retinal organoids by immunohistochemistry and western blotting. There were no major changes in retinal organoid differentiation or ciliation, however, the localisation of CEP290 and IFT88 was significantly altered in LCA5 KO and patient photoreceptor cilia with extension along the axoneme. The LCA5-deficient organoids also had shorter outer segments and rhodopsin was mislocalised to the outer nuclear layer. We also identified transcriptomic and proteomic changes associated with the loss of LCA5. Importantly, treatment with the small molecules eupatilin, fasudil or a combination of both drugs reduced CEP290 and IFT88 accumulation along the cilia. The treatments also improved rhodopsin traffic to the outer segment and reduced mislocalisation of rhodopsin in the outer nuclear layer (ONL). The improvements in cilia-associated protein localisation and traffic were accompanied by significant changes in the transcriptome towards control gene expression levels in many of the differentially expressed genes. In summary, iPSC-derived retinal organoids are a powerful model for investigating the molecular and cellular changes associated with loss of LCA5 function and highlight the therapeutic potential of small molecules to treat retinal ciliopathies.</p>","PeriodicalId":6914,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropathologica Communications","volume":"13 1","pages":"26"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11817871/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Maria Otero-Jimenez, Marcelina J Wojewska, Lawrence P Binding, Simona Jogaudaite, Sandra Gray-Rodriguez, Alexandra L Young, Steve Gentleman, Javier Alegre-Abarrategui
{"title":"Neuropathological stages of neuronal, astrocytic and oligodendrocytic alpha-synuclein pathology in Parkinson's disease.","authors":"Maria Otero-Jimenez, Marcelina J Wojewska, Lawrence P Binding, Simona Jogaudaite, Sandra Gray-Rodriguez, Alexandra L Young, Steve Gentleman, Javier Alegre-Abarrategui","doi":"10.1186/s40478-025-01944-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40478-025-01944-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alpha-synucleinopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the spread of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) aggregates throughout the central nervous system in a stereotypical manner. These diseases include Lewy body disease (LBD), which encompass Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Parkinson's Disease (PD), and Parkinson's Disease Dementia (PDD), and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). LBD and MSA chiefly contain α-syn aggregates in neurons and oligodendrocytes, respectively, although glial α-syn pathology in LBD is increasingly being recognized. Semi-quantitative and machine learning-based quantifications of neuronal, oligodendrocytic and astrocytic α-syn pathology were implemented on a cohort of LBD and MSA post-mortem tissue samples. The neuroanatomical distribution of each cell-type specific α-syn pathology was evaluated using conditional probability matrices and Subtype and Stage Inference (SuStaIn) algorithm. We revealed extensive glial α-syn pathology in LBD, emphasizing the disease- and region-specific profile of astrocytic α-syn pathology, which was absent in MSA and minimal in the substantia nigra of LBD. Furthermore, we have described distinct morphologies of astrocytic α-syn pathology, which were found to correlate with the density of astrocytic α-syn inclusions. Astrocytic α-syn pathology was mainly centered in the amygdala and exhibited a unique stereotypical progression whilst oligodendrocytes displayed a distribution akin to the established neuronal progression pattern. SuStaIn modeling was further used to test for heterogeneity in the spatiotemporal progression, revealing that a subset of cases might follow an alternative pattern. Based on these findings, we introduce a novel multimodal progression framework that integrates, for the first time, the temporal and spatial progression of astrocytic and oligodendrocytic α-syn pathology alongside neuronal pathology in PD, providing further information regarding the role of neurons and glia in disease pathogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":6914,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropathologica Communications","volume":"13 1","pages":"25"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11816504/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ali Maisam Afzali, Oleksii Ulianov, Luise Eckardt, Ingrid Stas, Lea Seeholzer, Katja Steiger, Doron Merkler, Thomas Korn
{"title":"AQP4-specific T cells determine lesion localization in the CNS in a model of NMOSD.","authors":"Ali Maisam Afzali, Oleksii Ulianov, Luise Eckardt, Ingrid Stas, Lea Seeholzer, Katja Steiger, Doron Merkler, Thomas Korn","doi":"10.1186/s40478-025-01947-8","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40478-025-01947-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is a paradigmatic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS), in which the water channel protein Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is targeted by a self-reactive immune response. While the immunopathology of human NMOSD is largely dependent on antibodies to astrocytic AQP4, the role of AQP4-specific T cells for the localization and quality of NMOSD lesions in the CNS is not known. Only recently, we established that thymic B cells express and present AQP4 in the context of MHC class II molecules to purge the naive T cell receptor repertoire of AQP4-specific clones. Here, we exploited this finding to investigate the lesion localization in the CNS of B cell conditional AQP4-deficient (Aqp4<sup>ΔB</sup>) mice, which harbor AQP4-specific precursors in their naive T cell repertoire and can be sensitized to mount a strong AQP4(201-220)-specific CD4<sup>+</sup> T cell response. Sensitization of Aqp4<sup>ΔB</sup> mice with AQP4(201-220) was sufficient to induce clinical disease. The spatiotemporal lesion distribution and the glial cell response in AQP4(201-220)-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was compared to classical MOG(35-55)-induced EAE in Aqp4<sup>ΔB</sup> mice. In contrast to MOG-EAE, AQP4(201-220)-induced EAE was characterized by midline lesions in the brain, retinal pathology, and lesions at the grey matter/white matter border zone in the spinal cord. Therefore, we conclude that antigen-specific T cells dictate the localization of NMOSD-lesions in the CNS.</p>","PeriodicalId":6914,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropathologica Communications","volume":"13 1","pages":"27"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11817536/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143397547","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tao Zhang, Yanting Liu, Fang Liu, Kaiyu Guo, Runhua Tang, Jingwei Ye, Li Xue, Zhipeng Su, Zhe Bao Wu
{"title":"X-linked ubiquitin-specific peptidase 11 (USP11) increases susceptibility to Cushing's disease in women.","authors":"Tao Zhang, Yanting Liu, Fang Liu, Kaiyu Guo, Runhua Tang, Jingwei Ye, Li Xue, Zhipeng Su, Zhe Bao Wu","doi":"10.1186/s40478-025-01938-9","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40478-025-01938-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The incidence of pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-secreting PitNETs, commonly known as ACTH PitNETs, is significantly higher in females; however, the underlying causes for this gender disparity remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the expression of deubiquitinating enzymes in functioning ACTH PitNETs from both male and female subjects using RNA sequencing and identified USP11 as a potential susceptibility factor contributing to the higher prevalence of these PitNETs in females. Further investigation revealed that USP11 expression is markedly elevated in female functioning ACTH PitNETs, with levels significantly higher than those observed in male PitNETs and normal pituitary tissue. Experimental data indicate that USP11 promotes the transcription of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and the secretion of ACTH. In contrast, knockdown of USP11 leads to a substantial reduction in both POMC transcription and ACTH secretion, as demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo models. Mechanistically, we found that USP11 facilitates the deubiquitination of the key transcription factor TPIT in functioning ACTH PitNETs, enhancing its protein stability and thereby promoting POMC transcription and ACTH secretion. Additionally, virtual screening identified Lomitapide and Nicergoline as potential inhibitors of USP11, reducing POMC expression and ACTH secretion. Thus, USP11 emerges as a potential therapeutic target, and drugs aimed at inhibiting its function could benefit women with Cushing's disease.</p>","PeriodicalId":6914,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropathologica Communications","volume":"13 1","pages":"22"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11796047/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143254521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Current molecular understanding of central nervous system schwannomas.","authors":"Takahiro Tsuchiya, Satoru Miyawaki, Yu Teranishi, Kenta Ohara, Yudai Hirano, Shotaro Ogawa, Seiei Torazawa, Yu Sakai, Hiroki Hongo, Hideaki Ono, Nobuhito Saito","doi":"10.1186/s40478-025-01937-w","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40478-025-01937-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Schwannomas are tumors that originate from myelinating Schwann cells and can occur in cranial, spinal, and peripheral nerves. Although our understanding of the molecular biology underlying schwannomas remains incomplete, numerous studies have identified various molecular findings and biomarkers associated with schwannomas of the central nervous system (CNS). The development of these tumors is primarily linked to mutations in the NF2 gene. Merlin, the protein encoded by NF2, is integral to several signaling pathways, including Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK, PI3K/Akt/mTORC1, Wnt/β-catenin, and the Hippo pathway.</p><p><strong>Main body: </strong>Recent research has also uncovered novel genetic alterations, such as the SH3PXD2A::HTRA1 fusion gene, VGLL-fusions in intraparenchymal CNS schwannomas, and the SOX10 mutation particularly in non-vestibular cranial nerve schwannomas. In addition to genetic alterations, research is also being conducted on gene expression and epigenetic regulation, with a focus on NF2 methylation and post-transcriptional silencing by micro RNA. Furthermore, the advent of advanced techniques like single-cell sequencing and multi-omics analysis has facilitated rapid discoveries related to the tumor microenvironment and tumor heterogeneity in schwannomas.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A deeper exploration of these molecular findings could clarify the mechanisms of schwannoma tumorigenesis and progression, ultimately guiding the development of new therapeutic targets. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the current molecular understanding of CNS schwannomas, emphasizing the insights gained from previous research, while addressing existing controversies and outlining future research and treatment perspectives.</p>","PeriodicalId":6914,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropathologica Communications","volume":"13 1","pages":"24"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11796276/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143254518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jian Ren, Daochao Wang, Leiming Wang, Chendan Jiang, An Tian, Ziwei Cui, Yeqing Ren, Lisong Bian, Gao Zeng, Guolu Meng, Yongzhi Shan, Jiantao Liang, Xinru Xiao, Jie Tang, Yukui Wei, Chuan He, Liyong Sun, Yongjie Ma, Jiaxing Yu, Guilin Li, Ming Ye, Peng Hu, Jingwei Li, Ye Li, Lijian Niu, Qianwen Li, Feng Ling, Jan-Karl Burkhardt, Hongqi Zhang, Tao Hong
{"title":"Clinical, genomic, and histopathologic diversity in cerebral cavernous malformations.","authors":"Jian Ren, Daochao Wang, Leiming Wang, Chendan Jiang, An Tian, Ziwei Cui, Yeqing Ren, Lisong Bian, Gao Zeng, Guolu Meng, Yongzhi Shan, Jiantao Liang, Xinru Xiao, Jie Tang, Yukui Wei, Chuan He, Liyong Sun, Yongjie Ma, Jiaxing Yu, Guilin Li, Ming Ye, Peng Hu, Jingwei Li, Ye Li, Lijian Niu, Qianwen Li, Feng Ling, Jan-Karl Burkhardt, Hongqi Zhang, Tao Hong","doi":"10.1186/s40478-025-01940-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40478-025-01940-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are hemorrhagic vascular disorders with varied clinical and radiological presentations, occurring sporadically due to MAP3K3 or PIK3CA mutations or through inherited germline mutations of CCM genes. This study aimed to clarify the clinical, genetic, and pathological features of CCMs using a multicenter cohort across three Chinese centers. We analyzed 290 surgical specimens from symptomatic CCM patients, utilizing whole-exome sequencing, droplet digital PCR, and targeted panel sequencing, alongside immunohistology to examine genotypic and phenotypic differences. Among 290 cases, 201 had somatic MAP3K3, PIK3CA, or germline CCM mutations, each associated with distinct clinical parameters: hemorrhage risk (P < 0.001), lesion size (P = 0.019), non-hemorrhagic epilepsy (P < 0.001), Zabramski classifications (P < 0.001), developmental venous anomaly presence (P < 0.001), and MRI-detected edema (P < 0.001). PIK3CA mutations showed a higher hemorrhage risk than MAP3K3 and combined MAP3K3 & PIK3CA mutations (P < 0.001). Within PIK3CA mutations, the p.H1047R variant correlated with higher bleeding risk than p.E545K (P = 0.007). For non-hemorrhagic epilepsy, patients with single MAP3K3 mutations or combined MAP3K3 & PIK3CA mutations were at greater risk than those with PIK3CA mutations alone. Histopathologically, lesions with PIK3CA mutations displayed cyst walls, pS6-positive dilated capillaries, and fresh blood cells, while MAP3K3 and double mutation lesions exhibited classic CCM pathology with SMA-positive and KLF4-positive vessels, collagen, and calcification. PIK3CA lesions had fewer KLF4-positive cells than double mutations lesions (P < 0.001), and EndMT (SMA-positive) cells compared to double mutation lesions (P < 0.05) and MAP3K3 mutations (P < 0.001), with more pS6 compared to MAP3K3 mutations (P < 0.05). This study underscores the diverse clinical, genomic, and histopathological characteristics in CCMs, suggesting potential predictive markers based on mutation subtypes and MRI features.</p>","PeriodicalId":6914,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropathologica Communications","volume":"13 1","pages":"23"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11795996/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143254445","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Federica Pilotto, Paulien Hermine Smeele, Olivier Scheidegger, Rim Diab, Martina Schobesberger, Julieth Andrea Sierra-Delgado, Smita Saxena
{"title":"Kaempferol enhances ER-mitochondria coupling and protects motor neurons from mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress in C9ORF72-ALS.","authors":"Federica Pilotto, Paulien Hermine Smeele, Olivier Scheidegger, Rim Diab, Martina Schobesberger, Julieth Andrea Sierra-Delgado, Smita Saxena","doi":"10.1186/s40478-025-01927-y","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40478-025-01927-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Repeat expansions in the C9ORF72 gene are a frequent cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. Considerable progress has been made in identifying C9ORF72-mediated disease and resolving its underlying etiopathogenesis. The contributions of intrinsic mitochondrial deficits as well as chronic endoplasmic reticulum stress to the development of the C9ORF72-linked pathology are well established. Nevertheless, to date, no cure or effective therapy is available, and thus attempts to find a potential drug target, have received increasing attention. Here, we investigated the mode of action and therapeutic effect of a naturally occurring dietary flavanol, kaempferol in preclinical rodent and human models of C9ORF72-ALS. Notably, kaempferol treatment of C9ORF72-ALS human patient-derived motor neurons/neurons, resolved mitochondrial deficits, promoted resiliency against severe ER stress, and conferred neuroprotection. Treatment of symptomatic C9ORF72 mice with kaempferol, normalized mitochondrial calcium uptake, restored mitochondria function, and diminished ER stress. Importantly, in vivo, chronic kaempferol administration ameliorated pathological motor dysfunction and inhibited motor neuron degeneration, highlighting the translational potential of kaempferol. Lastly, in silico modelling identified a novel kaempferol target and mechanistically the neuroprotective mechanism of kaempferol is through the iP3R-VDAC1 pathway via the modulation of GRP75 expression. Thus, kaempferol holds great promise for treating neurodegenerative diseases where both mitochondrial and ER dysfunction are causally linked to the pathophysiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":6914,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropathologica Communications","volume":"13 1","pages":"21"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11787762/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143073453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ane Murueta-Goyena, Sara Teijeira-Portas, Elisa Blanco Martín, Raquel Vázquez-Picón, Blanca Ruiz Bajo, Jone Bocos, Jorge Sánchez-Molina, Patricia Alves Dias, Ioana Croitoru, Iñaki Rodríguez Agirretxe, Rocío Del Pino, Marian Acera, Beatriz Tijero, Oihane Sáez-Atxukarro, David Romero-Bascones, Juan Carlos Gómez-Esteban, Javier Aritz Urcola, Javier Ruiz Martínez, Iñigo Gabilondo
{"title":"Dynamics of retinal changes in early-stage Parkinson's disease.","authors":"Ane Murueta-Goyena, Sara Teijeira-Portas, Elisa Blanco Martín, Raquel Vázquez-Picón, Blanca Ruiz Bajo, Jone Bocos, Jorge Sánchez-Molina, Patricia Alves Dias, Ioana Croitoru, Iñaki Rodríguez Agirretxe, Rocío Del Pino, Marian Acera, Beatriz Tijero, Oihane Sáez-Atxukarro, David Romero-Bascones, Juan Carlos Gómez-Esteban, Javier Aritz Urcola, Javier Ruiz Martínez, Iñigo Gabilondo","doi":"10.1186/s40478-025-01936-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40478-025-01936-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily characterized by motor symptoms, with emerging evidence suggesting retinal pathology, particularly in the ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL), detectable via optical coherence tomography (OCT). This study aimed to characterize early retinal dynamics in PD using OCT. We conducted a prospective one-year longitudinal multicenter study involving 53 early-stage PD patients with a disease duration of 5 years or less and 52 controls. The participants underwent retinal spectral-domain OCT, primary visual function and cognitive examinations. We examined baseline retinal measures and short-term longitudinal differences between groups via linear mixed effects models. In PD patients, the baseline GCIPL thickness in central regions was increased by up to 4 μm, and the rate of thinning in the parafoveal GCIPL was - 0.61 [0.29] µm/year faster over a one-year follow-up period than in controls in the 2- to 3-mm ring (p = 0.039). In PD patients, greater central GCIPL thickness was associated with poorer contrast sensitivity and reduced performance on the Farnsworth D15 color vision test. It also predicted subsequent thinning in both the GCIPL (2- to 3-mm ring) and the inner nuclear layer (2- to 5-mm rings). However, this increased thickness was not linked to prevalent or progressive motor or cognitive manifestations. In conclusion, this study provides the first detailed topographical description of early retinal dynamics in PD patients, revealing increased central GCIPL thickness and accelerated parafoveal GCIPL thinning in PD. However, the macular region shows complex and variable dynamics among PD patients, but these changes precede detectable progression in clinical scales.</p>","PeriodicalId":6914,"journal":{"name":"Acta Neuropathologica Communications","volume":"13 1","pages":"20"},"PeriodicalIF":6.2,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11784094/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143073438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}