Browsing by Author "Gutiérrez García, Daniela A."

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    c-Abl kinase at the crossroads of healthy synaptic remodeling and synaptic dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases
    (2023) Gutiérrez García, Daniela A.; Chandía Cristi, América Valeska; Yanez, Maria Jose; Zanlungo Matsuhiro, Silvana; Álvarez Rojas, Alejandra
    Our ability to learn and remember depends on the active formation, remodeling, and elimination of synapses. Thus, the development and growth of synapses as well as their weakening and elimination are essential for neuronal rewiring. The structural reorganization of synaptic complexes, changes in actin cytoskeleton and organelle dynamics, as well as modulation of gene expression, determine synaptic plasticity. It has been proposed that dysregulation of these key synaptic homeostatic processes underlies the synaptic dysfunction observed in many neurodegenerative diseases. Much is known about downstream signaling of activated N-methyl-D-aspartate and a-amino-3-hydroxy5-methyl-4-isoazolepropionate receptors; however, other signaling pathways can also contribute to synaptic plasticity and long-lasting changes in learning and memory. The non-receptor tyrosine kinase c-Abl (ABL1) is a key signal transducer of intra and extracellular signals, and it shuttles between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. This review focuses on c-Abl and its synaptic and neuronal functions. Here, we discuss the evidence showing that the activation of c-Abl can be detrimental to neurons, promoting the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Nevertheless, c-Abl activity seems to be in a pivotal balance between healthy synaptic plasticity, regulating dendritic spines remodeling and gene expression after cognitive training, and synaptic dysfunction and loss in neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, c-Abl genetic ablation not only improves learning and memory and modulates the brain genetic program of trained mice, but its absence provides dendritic spines resiliency against damage. Therefore, the present review has been designed to elucidate the common links between c-Abl regulation of structural changes that involve the actin cytoskeleton and organelles dynamics, and the transcriptional program activated during synaptic plasticity. By summarizing the recent discoveries on c-Abl functions, we aim to provide an overview of how its inhibition could be a potentially fruitful treatment to improve degenerative outcomes and delay memory loss.
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    Prophylactic treatment with the c-Abl inhibitor, neurotinib, diminishes neuronal damage and the convulsive state in pilocarpine-induced mice
    (Elsevier B.V., 2024) Chandía Cristi, América Valeska; Gutiérrez García, Daniela A.; Dulcey, Andrés E.; Lara, Marcelo; Vargas Rojas, Lina Marcela; Lin, Yi-Han; Jiménez Muñoz, Pablo Salvador; Larenas Barrera, Gabriela Paz; Xu, Xin; Wang, Amy; Owens, Ashley; Dextras, Christopher; Chen, YuChi; Pinto, Claudio; Marín Marín, Tamara Alejandra; Almarza Salazar, Hugo Alcester; Acevedo, Keryma; Cancino Lobos, Gonzalo Ignacio; Hu, Xin; Rojas, Patricio; Ferrer, Marc; Southall, Noel; Henderson, Mark J.; Zanlungo Matsuhiro, Silvana; Marugan, Juan J.; Álvarez Rojas, Alejandra
    The molecular mechanisms underlying seizure generation remain elusive, yet they are crucial for developing effective treatments for epilepsy. The current study shows that inhibiting c-Abl tyrosine kinase prevents apoptosis, reduces dendritic spine loss, and maintains N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit 2B (NR2B) phosphorylated in in vitro models of excitotoxicity. Pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) in mice promotes c-Abl phosphorylation, and disrupting c-Abl activity leads to fewer seizures, increases latency toward SE, and improved animal survival. Currently, clinically used c-Abl inhibitors are non-selective and have poor brain penetration. The allosteric c-Abl inhibitor, neurotinib, used here has favorable potency, selectivity, pharmacokinetics, and vastly improved brain penetration. Neurotinib-administered mice have fewer seizures and improved survival following pilocarpine-SE induction. Our findings reveal c-Abl kinase activation as a key factor in ictogenesis and highlight the impact of its inhibition in preventing the insurgence of epileptic-like seizures in rodents and humans.