@article{6088, abstract = {P-Glycoprotein (ABCB1) and breast cancer resistance protein (ABCG2) are two efflux transporters at the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which effectively restrict brain distribution of diverse drugs, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors. There is a crucial need for pharmacological ABCB1 and ABCG2 inhibition protocols for a more effective treatment of brain diseases. In the present study, seven marketed drugs (osimertinib, erlotinib, nilotinib, imatinib, lapatinib, pazopanib, and cyclosporine A) and one nonmarketed drug (tariquidar), with known in vitro ABCB1/ABCG2 inhibitory properties, were screened for their inhibitory potency at the BBB in vivo. Positron emission tomography (PET) using the model ABCB1/ABCG2 substrate [11C]erlotinib was performed in mice. Tested inhibitors were administered as i.v. bolus injections at 30 min before the start of the PET scan, followed by a continuous i.v. infusion for the duration of the PET scan. Five of the tested drugs increased total distribution volume of [11C]erlotinib in the brain (VT,brain) compared to vehicle-treated animals (tariquidar, + 69%; erlotinib, + 19% and +23% for the 21.5 mg/kg and the 43 mg/kg dose, respectively; imatinib, + 22%; lapatinib, + 25%; and cyclosporine A, + 49%). For all drugs, increases in [11C]erlotinib brain distribution were lower than in Abcb1a/b(−/−)Abcg2(−/−) mice (+149%), which suggested that only partial ABCB1/ABCG2 inhibition was reached at the mouse BBB. The plasma concentrations of the tested drugs at the time of the PET scan were higher than clinically achievable plasma concentrations. Some of the tested drugs led to significant increases in blood radioactivity concentrations measured at the end of the PET scan (erlotinib, + 103% and +113% for the 21.5 mg/kg and the 43 mg/kg dose, respectively; imatinib, + 125%; and cyclosporine A, + 101%), which was most likely caused by decreased hepatobiliary excretion of radioactivity. Taken together, our data suggest that some marketed tyrosine kinase inhibitors may be repurposed to inhibit ABCB1 and ABCG2 at the BBB. From a clinical perspective, moderate increases in brain delivery despite the administration of high i.v. doses as well as peripheral drug–drug interactions due to transporter inhibition in clearance organs question the translatability of this concept.}, author = {Traxl, Alexander and Mairinger, Severin and Filip, Thomas and Sauberer, Michael and Stanek, Johann and Poschner, Stefan and Jäger, Walter and Zoufal, Viktoria and Novarino, Gaia and Tournier, Nicolas and Bauer, Martin and Wanek, Thomas and Langer, Oliver}, journal = {Molecular Pharmaceutics}, number = {3}, pages = {1282--1293}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Inhibition of ABCB1 and ABCG2 at the mouse blood-brain barrier with marketed drugs to improve brain delivery of the model ABCB1/ABCG2 substrate [11C]erlotinib}}, doi = {10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.8b01217}, volume = {16}, year = {2019}, } @article{6470, abstract = {Investigating neuronal activity using genetically encoded Ca2+ indicators in behaving animals is hampered by inaccuracies in spike inference from fluorescent tracers. Here we combine two‐photon [Ca2+] imaging with cell‐attached recordings, followed by post hoc determination of the expression level of GCaMP6f, to explore how it affects the amplitude, kinetics and temporal summation of somatic [Ca2+] transients in mouse hippocampal pyramidal cells (PCs). The amplitude of unitary [Ca2+] transients (evoked by a single action potential) negatively correlates with GCaMP6f expression, but displays large variability even among PCs with similarly low expression levels. The summation of fluorescence signals is frequency‐dependent, supralinear and also shows remarkable cell‐to‐cell variability. We performed experimental data‐based simulations and found that spike inference error rates using MLspike depend strongly on unitary peak amplitudes and GCaMP6f expression levels. We provide simple methods for estimating the unitary [Ca2+] transients in individual weakly GCaMP6f‐expressing PCs, with which we achieve spike inference error rates of ∼5%. }, author = {Éltes, Tímea and Szoboszlay, Miklos and Szigeti, Margit Katalin and Nusser, Zoltan}, issn = {14697793}, journal = {Journal of Physiology}, number = {11}, pages = {2925–2947}, publisher = {Wiley}, title = {{Improved spike inference accuracy by estimating the peak amplitude of unitary [Ca2+] transients in weakly GCaMP6f-expressing hippocampal pyramidal cells}}, doi = {10.1113/JP277681}, volume = {597}, year = {2019}, } @article{6896, abstract = {Until recently, a great amount of brain studies have been conducted in human post mortem tissues, cell lines and model organisms. These researches provided useful insights regarding cell-cell interactions occurring in the brain. However, such approaches suffer from technical limitations and inaccurate modeling of the tissue 3D cytoarchitecture. Importantly, they might lack a human genetic background essential for disease modeling. With the development of protocols to generate human cerebral organoids, we are now closer to reproducing the early stages of human brain development in vitro. As a result, more relevant cell-cell interaction studies can be conducted. In this review, we discuss the advantages of 3D cultures over 2D in modulating brain cell-cell interactions during physiological and pathological development, as well as the progress made in developing organoids in which neurons, macroglia, microglia and vascularization are present. Finally, we debate the limitations of those models and possible future directions.}, author = {Oliveira, Bárbara and Yahya, Aysan Çerağ and Novarino, Gaia}, issn = {18726240}, journal = {Brain Research}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Modeling cell-cell interactions in the brain using cerebral organoids}}, doi = {10.1016/j.brainres.2019.146458}, volume = {1724}, year = {2019}, } @article{7415, author = {Morandell, Jasmin and Nicolas, Armel and Schwarz, Lena A and Novarino, Gaia}, issn = {0924-977X}, journal = {European Neuropsychopharmacology}, number = {Supplement 6}, pages = {S11--S12}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{S.16.05 Illuminating the role of the e3 ubiquitin ligase cullin3 in brain development and autism}}, doi = {10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.09.040}, volume = {29}, year = {2019}, } @article{7414, author = {Knaus, Lisa and Tarlungeanu, Dora-Clara and Novarino, Gaia}, issn = {0924-977X}, journal = {European Neuropsychopharmacology}, number = {Supplement 6}, pages = {S11}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{S.16.03 A homozygous missense mutation in SLC7A5 leads to autism spectrum disorder and microcephaly}}, doi = {10.1016/j.euroneuro.2019.09.039}, volume = {29}, year = {2019}, } @article{456, abstract = {Inhibition of the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway may hold the key to Zika virus-associated microcephaly treatment. }, author = {Novarino, Gaia}, journal = {Science Translational Medicine}, number = {423}, publisher = {American Association for the Advancement of Science}, title = {{Zika-associated microcephaly: Reduce the stress and race for the treatment}}, doi = {10.1126/scitranslmed.aar7514}, volume = {10}, year = {2018}, } @article{5888, abstract = {Despite the remarkable number of scientific breakthroughs of the last 100 years, the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability) remains a great challenge. Recent advancements in genomics, such as whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing, have enabled scientists to identify numerous mutations underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. Given the few hundred risk genes that have been discovered, the etiological variability and the heterogeneous clinical presentation, the need for genotype — along with phenotype- based diagnosis of individual patients has become a requisite. In this review we look at recent advancements in genomic analysis and their translation into clinical practice.}, author = {Tarlungeanu, Dora-Clara and Novarino, Gaia}, issn = {2092-6413}, journal = {Experimental & Molecular Medicine}, number = {8}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Genomics in neurodevelopmental disorders: an avenue to personalized medicine}}, doi = {10.1038/s12276-018-0129-7}, volume = {50}, year = {2018}, } @article{546, abstract = {The precise control of neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and differentiation is crucial for the development and function of the human brain. Here, we review the emerging links between the alteration of embryonic and adult neurogenesis and the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) such as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and schizophrenia (SCZ), as well as the advances in stem cell-based modeling and the novel therapeutic targets derived from these studies.}, author = {Sacco, Roberto and Cacci, Emanuele and Novarino, Gaia}, journal = {Current Opinion in Neurobiology}, number = {2}, pages = {131 -- 138}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Neural stem cells in neuropsychiatric disorders}}, doi = {10.1016/j.conb.2017.12.005}, volume = {48}, year = {2018}, } @article{691, abstract = {Background: Transport protein particle (TRAPP) is a multisubunit complex that regulates membrane trafficking through the Golgi apparatus. The clinical phenotype associated with mutations in various TRAPP subunits has allowed elucidation of their functions in specific tissues. The role of some subunits in human disease, however, has not been fully established, and their functions remain uncertain. Objective: We aimed to expand the range of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with mutations in TRAPP subunits by exome sequencing of consanguineous families. Methods: Linkage and homozygosity mapping and candidate gene analysis were used to identify homozygous mutations in families. Patient fibroblasts were used to study splicing defect and zebrafish to model the disease. Results: We identified six individuals from three unrelated families with a founder homozygous splice mutation in TRAPPC6B, encoding a core subunit of the complex TRAPP I. Patients manifested a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by microcephaly, epilepsy and autistic features, and showed splicing defect. Zebrafish trappc6b morphants replicated the human phenotype, displaying decreased head size and neuronal hyperexcitability, leading to a lower seizure threshold. Conclusion: This study provides clinical and functional evidence of the role of TRAPPC6B in brain development and function.}, author = {Marin Valencia, Isaac and Novarino, Gaia and Johansen, Anide and Rosti, Başak and Issa, Mahmoud and Musaev, Damir and Bhat, Gifty and Scott, Eric and Silhavy, Jennifer and Stanley, Valentina and Rosti, Rasim and Gleeson, Jeremy and Imam, Farhad and Zaki, Maha and Gleeson, Joseph}, issn = {0022-2593}, journal = {Journal of Medical Genetics}, number = {1}, pages = {48 -- 54}, publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group}, title = {{A homozygous founder mutation in TRAPPC6B associates with a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by microcephaly epilepsy and autistic features}}, doi = {10.1136/jmedgenet-2017-104627}, volume = {55}, year = {2018}, } @phdthesis{395, abstract = {Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of genetic disorders often overlapping with other neurological conditions. Despite the remarkable number of scientific breakthroughs of the last 100 years, the treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g. autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, epilepsy) remains a great challenge. Recent advancements in geno mics, like whole-exome or whole-genome sequencing, have enabled scientists to identify numerous mutations underlying neurodevelopmental disorders. Given the few hundred risk genes that were discovered, the etiological variability and the heterogeneous phenotypic outcomes, the need for genotype -along with phenotype- based diagnosis of individual patients becomes a requisite. Driven by this rationale, in a previous study our group described mutations, identified via whole - exome sequencing, in the gene BCKDK – encoding for a key regulator of branched chain amin o acid (BCAA) catabolism - as a cause of ASD. Following up on the role of BCAAs, in the study described here we show that the solute carrier transporter 7a5 (SLC7A5), a large neutral amino acid transporter localized mainly at the blood brain barrier (BBB), has an essential role in maintaining normal levels of brain BCAAs. In mice, deletion of Slc7a5 from the endothelial cells of the BBB leads to atypical brain amino acid profile, abnormal mRNA translation and severe neurolo gical abnormalities. Additionally, deletion of Slc7a5 from the neural progenitor cell population leads to microcephaly. Interestingly, we demonstrate that BCAA intracerebroventricular administration ameliorates abnormal behaviors in adult mutant mice. Furthermore, whole - exome sequencing of patients diagnosed with neurological dis o r ders helped us identify several patients with autistic traits, microcephaly and motor delay carrying deleterious homozygous mutations in the SLC7A5 gene. In conclusion, our data elucidate a neurological syndrome defined by SLC7A5 mutations and support an essential role for t he BCAA s in human bra in function. Together with r ecent studies (described in chapter two) that have successfully made the transition into clinical practice, our findings on the role of B CAAs might have a crucial impact on the development of novel individualized therapeutic strategies for ASD. }, author = {Tarlungeanu, Dora-Clara}, issn = {2663-337X}, pages = {88}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{The branched chain amino acids in autism spectrum disorders }}, doi = {10.15479/AT:ISTA:th_992}, year = {2018}, }