Reduction in Nesfatin-1 Levels in the Cerebrospinal Fluid and Increased Nigrostriatal Degeneration Following Ventricular Administration of Anti-nesfatin-1 Antibody in Mice

Abstract

Nesfatin-1 is one of several brain-gut peptides that have a close relationship with the central dopaminergic system. Our previous studies have shown that nesfatin-1 is capable of protecting nigral dopaminergic neurons against 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced neurotoxicity. A recent study also revealed a reduced blood level of nesfatin-1 in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The current study was designed to investigate whether reduced nesfatin-1 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) induces nigrostriatal system degeneration. An intra-cerebroventricular (ICV) injection technique was used to administer anti-nesfatin-1 antibody directly into the lateral ventricle of the brain. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results showed that ICV injection of anti-nesfatin-1 antibody into the lateral ventricle of the brain once daily for 2 weeks caused a significant reduction in nesfatin-1 levels in the CSF (93.1%). Treatment with anti-nesfatin-1 antibody resulted in a substantial loss (23%) of TH-positive (TH+) dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), as shown by immunofluorescence staining, a depletion in dopamine and its metabolites in the striatum detected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and obvious nuclear shrinkage and mitochondrial lesions in dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Furthermore, the results from our Western blot and ELISA experiments demonstrated that anti-nesfatin-1 antibody injection induced an upregulation of caspase-3 activation, increased the expression of p-ERK, and elevated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the SNpc. Taken together, these observations suggest that reduced nesfatin-1 in the brain may induce nigrostriatal dopaminergic system degeneration; this effect may be mediated via mitochondrial dysfunction-related apoptosis. Our data support a role of nesfatin-1 in maintaining the normal physiological function of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system.

Effects of subanesthetic intravenous ketamine infusion on neuroplasticity-related proteins in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats

“…Additionally, pERK levels were normalized with β-actin rather than total ERK levels. We chose this approach based on the prior studies that also used β-actin to normalize pERK levels in the spinal cord and brain tissue of rodents ( Chen et al, 2021 , Esmaili-Shahzade-Ali-Akbari et al, 2021 , Xu et al, 2019 , Zhang et al, 2019 ). However, because of a longer duration of IV ketamine infusion (2 h) employed in the current study, calculating the ratio of pERK/ERK would have provided more accurate information on functional changes of ERK proteins in these brain regions.…”

Role of the OTUB1/IRF7/NOX4 axis in oxidative stress injury and inflammatory responses in mice with Parkinson's disease

“…Before injection, mice were anaesthetised by an intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg pentobarbital sodium and fixed into a craniocerebral locator, with the drill used to locate the needle. Then, a cranial burr hole (1 mm) was drilled into the skull of the right hemisphere according to the coordinates: 0.3 mm posterior to bregma and 1.0 mm lateral to the midline 19 . A needle was inserted into the hole and retained for 10 min after injection (20 μL lentiviruses, 10 mg/kg MG132).…”

“…Then, a cranial burr hole (1 mm) was drilled into the skull of the right hemisphere according to the coordinates: 0.3 mm posterior to bregma and 1.0 mm lateral to the midline. 19 A needle was inserted into the hole and retained for 10 min after injection (20 μL lentiviruses, 10 mg/kg MG132). The state of mice was closely observed until they were awake, after which mice were sutured and disinfected.…”