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Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: New Insights into Neuroproteins
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Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: New Insights into Neuroproteins

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Neurobiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2024 | Viewed by 4385

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Barbara Mroczko

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Guest Editor
Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland
Interests: neurodegeneration; neuroinflammation; neurodegenerative diseases; neurodevelopmental disorders; tumor markers; specific proteins
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Fabrizio Michetti

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Guest Editor
Department of Neuroscience, Università Cattolica S. Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
Interests: neurodegeneration; neuroinflammation; multiple sclerosis; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; animal models of neural diseases; neural biomarkers; calcium-binding neuroproteins; S100B protein
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Owing to their complex structure, proteins are natural candidates for fulfilling key roles in cells and organs.

In particular, regardless of the often-unsuccessful outcomes in attempts to individuate proteins specific to the nervous system, which are specifically responsible for neural functions, these proteins (neuroproteins) have been shown to play roles which are especially relevant to this system.

Proteins such as S100B, Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein, and Neuron-Specific Enolase have been shown to be useful cell markers. In addition, their levels in biological fluids are currently used to monitor neural disorders. Other molecules, such as alpha-synuclein and amyloid proteins, are regarded as hallmarks of several neurodegenerative disorders. Damage/Danger-Associated Molecular Pattern proteins and protein complex inflammasomes are also known to play a key role in neuroinflammatory processes, which is especially important in this system for their pathological implications. In this respect, specific receptors for these molecules are also obviously proteins in nature, such as the Receptor for Advanced Glycation-End Product and Toll-like Receptors in general.

This Special Issue will highlight novel findings in the form of original research articles or reviews dealing with different aspects of neuroprotein biology (in general and with reference to specific neuroproteins), including mechanistic insights and neuroproteins’ role in cells at the molecular level (e.g., gene expression and epigenetic studies, post-translational modifications, regulation of cell processes). Articles dealing with alterations in neuroproteins’ structure and function in human diseases, including their putative role(s) as pathological biomarkers and/or therapeutic targets, are especially welcome.

Prof. Dr. Barbara Mroczko
Prof. Dr. Fabrizio Michetti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neuroproteins
  • S100B
  • glial fibrillary acidic protein
  • neuron-specific enolase
  • alpha-synuclein
  • amyloid proteins

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 1273 KiB  
Article
Kynurenic Acid Modulates the Expression of Genes and the Activity of Cellular Antioxidant Enzymes in the Hypothalamus and Hippocampus in Sheep
by Tomasz Misztal, Katarzyna Roszkowicz-Ostrowska, Paweł Kowalczyk, Patrycja Młotkowska and Elżbieta Marciniak
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9428; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179428 - 30 Aug 2024
Viewed by 596
Abstract
Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite, is believed to exert neuromodulatory and neuroprotective effects in the brain. This study aimed to examine KYNA’s capacity to modify gene expression and the activity of cellular antioxidant enzymes in specific structures of the sheep brain. Anestrous [...] Read more.
Kynurenic acid (KYNA), a tryptophan metabolite, is believed to exert neuromodulatory and neuroprotective effects in the brain. This study aimed to examine KYNA’s capacity to modify gene expression and the activity of cellular antioxidant enzymes in specific structures of the sheep brain. Anestrous sheep were infused intracerebroventricularly with two KYNA doses—lower (4 × 5 μg/60 μL/30 min, KYNA20) and higher (4 × 25 μg/60 μL/30 min, KYNA100)—at 30 min intervals. The abundance of superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) mRNA, as well as enzyme activities, were determined in the medial–basal hypothalamus (MBH), the preoptic (POA) area of the hypothalamus, and in the hippocampal CA1 field. Both doses of KYNA caused a decrease (p < 0.01) in the expression of SOD2 and CAT mRNA in all structures examined compared to the control group (except for CAT in the POA at the KYNA100 dose). Furthermore, lower levels of SOD2 mRNA (p < 0.05) and CAT mRNA (p < 0.01) were found in the MBH and POA and in the POA and CA, respectively, in sheep administered with the KYNA20 dose. Different stimulatory effects on GPx1 mRNA expression were observed for both doses (p < 0.05-p < 0.01). KYNA exerted stimulatory but dose-dependent effects on SOD2, CAT, and GPx1 activities (p < 0.05-p < 0.001) in all brain tissues examined. The results indicate that KYNA may influence the level of oxidative stress in individual brain structures in sheep by modulating the expression of genes and the activity of at least SOD2, CAT, and GPx1. The present findings also expand the general knowledge about the potential neuroprotective properties of KYNA in the central nervous system. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: New Insights into Neuroproteins)
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14 pages, 2161 KiB  
Article
Brain Region-Specific Expression Levels of Synuclein Genes in an Acid Sphingomyelinase Knockout Mouse Model: Correlation with Depression-/Anxiety-Like Behavior and Locomotor Activity in the Absence of Genotypic Variation
by Razvan-Marius Brazdis, Iulia Zoicas, Johannes Kornhuber and Christiane Mühle
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(16), 8685; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168685 - 9 Aug 2024
Viewed by 941
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests an involvement of sphingolipids, vital components of cell membranes and regulators of cellular processes, in the pathophysiology of both Parkinson’s disease and major depressive disorder, indicating a potential common pathway in these neuropsychiatric conditions. Based on this interaction of sphingolipids [...] Read more.
Accumulating evidence suggests an involvement of sphingolipids, vital components of cell membranes and regulators of cellular processes, in the pathophysiology of both Parkinson’s disease and major depressive disorder, indicating a potential common pathway in these neuropsychiatric conditions. Based on this interaction of sphingolipids and synuclein proteins, we explored the gene expression patterns of α-, β-, and γ-synuclein in a knockout mouse model deficient for acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), an enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to ceramide, and studied associations with behavioral parameters. Normalized Snca, Sncb, and Sncg gene expression was determined by quantitative PCR in twelve brain regions of sex-mixed homozygous (ASM−/−, n = 7) and heterozygous (ASM+/−, n = 7) ASM-deficient mice, along with wild-type controls (ASM+/+, n = 5). The expression of all three synuclein genes was brain region-specific but independent of ASM genotype, with β-synuclein showing overall higher levels and the least variation. Moreover, we discovered correlations of gene expression levels between brain regions and depression- and anxiety-like behavior and locomotor activity, such as a positive association between Snca mRNA levels and locomotion. Our results suggest that the analysis of synuclein genes could be valuable in identifying biomarkers and comprehending the common pathological mechanisms underlying various neuropsychiatric disorders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: New Insights into Neuroproteins)
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15 pages, 2449 KiB  
Article
Associations between Microglia and Astrocytic Proteins and Tau Biomarkers across the Continuum of Alzheimer’s Disease
by Julia Doroszkiewicz, Agnieszka Kulczyńska-Przybik, Maciej Dulewicz, Jan Mroczko, Renata Borawska, Agnieszka Słowik, Henrik Zetterberg, Jörg Hanrieder, Kaj Blennow and Barbara Mroczko
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7543; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147543 - 9 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1196
Abstract
Recent investigations implicate neuroinflammatory changes, including astrocyte and microglia activation, as crucial in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) Thus, we compared selected proteins reflecting neuroinflammatory processes to establish their connection to AD pathologies. Our study, encompassing 80 subjects with (n = [...] Read more.
Recent investigations implicate neuroinflammatory changes, including astrocyte and microglia activation, as crucial in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) Thus, we compared selected proteins reflecting neuroinflammatory processes to establish their connection to AD pathologies. Our study, encompassing 80 subjects with (n = 42) AD, (n = 18) mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and (n = 20) non-demented controls compares the clinical potential of tested molecules. Using antibody-based methods, we assessed concentrations of NGAL, CXCL-11, sTREM1, and sTREM2 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Proinflammatory proteins, NGAL, and CXCL-11 reached a peak in the early stage of the disease and allowed for the identification of patients with MCI. Furthermore, the concentration of the anti-inflammatory molecule sTREM2 was highest in the more advanced stage of the disease and permitted differentiation between AD and non-demented controls. Additionally, sTREM2 was biochemically linked to tau and pTau in the AD group. Notably, NGAL demonstrated superior diagnostic performance compared to classical AD biomarkers in discriminating MCI patients from controls. These findings suggest that proteins secreted mainly through microglia dysfunction might play not only a detrimental but also a protective role in the development of AD pathology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: New Insights into Neuroproteins)
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Review

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21 pages, 707 KiB  
Review
Clinical Application of Blood Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases—Present and Future Perspectives
by Daria Krawczuk, Agnieszka Kulczyńska-Przybik and Barbara Mroczko
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(15), 8132; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25158132 - 25 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1289
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of complex diseases characterized by a progressive loss of neurons and degeneration in different areas of the nervous system. They share similar mechanisms, such as neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial injury, resulting in neuronal loss. One of the [...] Read more.
Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of complex diseases characterized by a progressive loss of neurons and degeneration in different areas of the nervous system. They share similar mechanisms, such as neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial injury, resulting in neuronal loss. One of the biggest challenges in diagnosing neurodegenerative diseases is their heterogeneity. Clinical symptoms are usually present in the advanced stages of the disease, thus it is essential to find optimal biomarkers that would allow early diagnosis. Due to the development of ultrasensitive methods analyzing proteins in other fluids, such as blood, huge progress has been made in the field of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. The application of protein biomarker measurement has significantly influenced not only diagnosis but also prognosis, differentiation, and the development of new therapies, as it enables the recognition of early stages of disease in individuals with preclinical stages or with mild symptoms. Additionally, the introduction of biochemical markers into routine clinical practice may improve diagnosis and allow for a stratification group of people with higher risk, as well as an extension of well-being since a treatment could be started early. In this review, we focus on blood biomarkers, which could be potentially useful in the daily medical practice of selected neurodegenerative diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members’ Collection Series: New Insights into Neuroproteins)
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