Name: bioluminescence imaging of neuroinflammation in transgenic mice after peripheral inoculation of alpha-synuclein fibrils
Uploaded: 2017-04-13T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Bioluminescence Imaging of Neuroinflammation in Transgenic Mice After Peripheral Inoculation of Alpha-Synuclein Fibrils at JoVE.com

The authors thank Olga Sharma, Theresa Hundt, and the staff of the DZNE microscopy and animal facilities for technical support.

All procedures including animals were performed with approval of the animal protection committee of North Rhine-Westphalia State Environment Agency (LANUV). Animals were housed and cared for according to standard conditions with a 12 h light/dark cycle and free access to food and water.
1. Animal Model
<ol>
	<li>Intercross hemizygous Tg(Gfap-luc+/-) mice with hemizygous Tg(M83+/-) mice to generate hemizygous bigenic Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/...

<ol>
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Peripheral injection of alpha-synuclein fibrils into the peritoneum of Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/-) mice represents a facile method to induce neurologic disease accompanied by neuroinflammation to recapitulate important characteristics of synucleinopathies. Similarly, tongue injection represents another route for neuroinvasion by alpha-synuclein prionoids in transgenic mice but is less efficient. We chose to terminate our experiments at 420 days after injection and we cannot exclude the possibili...

There is growing evidence that alpha-synuclein has characteristics that are similar to those of the prion protein, particularly in its capacity to self-seed and propagate misfolding between cells and along neuronal pathways. This property of alpha-synuclein is also referred to as &#39;prion-like&#39; or &#39;prionoid&#39;, and is supported by observations in transplantation experiments, which suggest the transmissibility of misfolded alpha-synuclein from diseased neurons to newly transplanted healthy neurons1,2,3,4. Also direct injection of misfolded alpha-synuclein into the brain or the periphery, e.g. the hindlimb muscle or intestinal wall, results in a spread of alpha-synuclein pathology to distal parts of the CNS5,6,7,8,9,10. We analyzed transmission of alpha-synuclein prionoids via peripheral routes in more detail and addressed the question whether misfolded alpha-synuclein may neuroinvade the CNS after a single intraglossal or intraperitoneal injection, a feature that previously had been shown for prions but not for misfolded alpha-synuclein. After injection of prions into the tongue, neuroinvasion of the CNS is achieved via propagation along the hypoglossal nerve of the tongue that leads to the nucleus of the hypoglossal nerve, which is located in the brain stem11. As a mouse model we chose Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/-) mice that overexpress the A53T mutant of human alpha-synuclein from the prion promoter, and firefly luciferase under control of a Gfap promoter to monitor astrocytic activation by bioluminescence, as previously shown in the brain of prion-infected mice12. In our hands bigenic Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/-) mice did not develop disease until 23 months of age as has been shown by others13. A single injection of human alpha-synuclein fibrils via the intraglossal or intraperitoneal route induced neurologic disease with pathology in the brains and spinal cords of Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/-) mice supporting the hypothesis that alpha-synuclein prionoids share important characteristics with prions14.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>anti-actin antibody</td>
			<td>Merck Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB1501</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>anti-alpha-synuclein, phospho S129 antibody [pSyn#64]</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>015-25191</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>anti-alpha-synuclein, phospho S129 antibody [EP1536Y]</td>
			<td>Abcam</td>
			<td>ab51253</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>anti-GFAP antibody</td>
			<td>Dako</td>
			<td>Z0334 01</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>anti-IBA-1 antibody</td>
			<td>Wako</td>
			<td>019-19741</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>anti-Sequestosome-1 (p62) antibody</td>
			<td>Proteintech</td>
			<td>18420-1-AP</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>anti-ubiquitin antibody [Ubi-1]</td>
			<td>Merck Millipore</td>
			<td>MAB1510</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>14190169</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Ketamine&#160;</td>
			<td>Ratiopharm</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>100 mg/kg</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Xylazine</td>
			<td>Ratiopharm</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>10 mg/kg</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>27-gauge syringe</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>613-4900</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Isoflurane&#160;</td>
			<td>Piramal Healthcare</td>
			<td>PZN&#160; 4831850</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Depilatory cream</td>
			<td>Veet</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Secureline lab marker&#160;</td>
			<td>Neolab</td>
			<td>25040</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>D-luciferin potassium salt</td>
			<td>Acris</td>
			<td>LK10000</td>
			<td>30 mg/mL stock solution</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thermomixer</td>
			<td>Eppendorf</td>
			<td>5776671</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sonopuls Mini20 sonicator</td>
			<td>Bandelin</td>
			<td>3648</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IVIS Lumina II imaging system</td>
			<td>PerkinElmer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Living Image 3.0 Software</td>
			<td>PerkinElmer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tg(M83+/-) mice or B6;C3-Tg(Prnp-SNCA*A53T)83Vle/J mice</td>
			<td>The Jackson Laboratory</td>
			<td>004479</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Standard pattern forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11000-16</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Narrow pattern forceps</td>
			<td>Fine Science Tools</td>
			<td>11002-12</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>N-laurylasarcosyl</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>L5125-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Optima Max-XP ultracentrifuge&#160;</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>TLA-110 rotor&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Thickwall polycarbonate tubes</td>
			<td>Beckman Coulter</td>
			<td>362305</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NuPAG Novex 4-12% Bis-Tris Midi Protein Gels</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>WG1401BOX</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HRP conjugated antibody</td>
			<td>Cayman</td>
			<td>Cay10004301-1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>IR Dye 680 conjugated antibody&#160;</td>
			<td>LI-COR Biosciences</td>
			<td>926-68070</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>SuperSignal West Dura Extended Duration Substrate</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>34075</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Stella 3200 imaging system</td>
			<td>Raytest</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Odyssey infrared imaging system&#160;</td>
			<td>LI-COR Biosciences</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tween 20&#160;</td>
			<td>MP Biomedicals</td>
			<td>TWEEN201</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Triton X-100</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>SA/T8787</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Immobilon-FL PVDF membrane</td>
			<td>Merck Millipore</td>
			<td>IPFL00010</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Xylol</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>Roth</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hydrogen peroxide</td>
			<td>Sigma</td>
			<td>SA/00216763/000500</td>
			<td>working solution 3%</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine serum albumine (BSA)&#160;</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A3294-100G</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Goat serum</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>PCN5000</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI)</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>D1306</td>
			<td>working dilution 1:50,000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluoromount media&#160;</td>
			<td>Omnilab</td>
			<td>SA/F4680/000025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LSM700 confocal laser scanning microscope</td>
			<td>Carl Zeiss</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HALT protease and phosphatase inhibitors</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific&#160;</td>
			<td>10516495</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Precellys 24-Dual homogenizer&#160;</td>
			<td>Peqlab</td>
			<td>91-PCS24D</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated antibody</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A31619</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Alexa Fluor 594 conjugated antibody</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>A11005</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pierce&#160;BCA&#160;Protein&#160;Assay&#160;Kit</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher Scientific</td>
			<td>10741395</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Microtome RM2255</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>LSM700 confocal laser scanning microscope</td>
			<td>Carl Zeiss</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

bioluminescence imaging of neuroinflammation in transgenic mice after peripheral inoculation of alpha-synuclein fibrils

To study the prion-like behavior of misfolded alpha-synuclein, mouse models are needed that allow fast and simple transmission of alpha-synuclein prionoids, which cause neuropathology within the central nervous system (CNS). Here we describe that intraglossal or intraperitoneal injection of alpha-synuclein fibrils into bigenic Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/-) mice, which overexpress human alpha-synuclein with the A53T mutation from the prion protein promoter and firefly luciferase from the promoter for glial fibrillary acidic protein (Gfap), is sufficient to induce neuropathologic disease. In comparison to homozygous Tg(M83+/+) mice that develop severe neurologic symptoms beginning at an age of 8 months, heterozygous Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/-) animals remain free of spontaneous disease until they reach an age of 22 months. Interestingly, injection of alpha-synuclein fibrils via the intraperitoneal route induced neurologic disease with paralysis in four of five Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/-) mice with a median incubation time of 229 &#177;17 days. Diseased animals showed severe deposits of phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in their brains and spinal cords. Accumulations of alpha-synuclein were sarkosyl-insoluble and colocalized with ubiquitin and p62, and were accompanied by an inflammatory response resulting in astrocytic gliosis and microgliosis. Surprisingly, inoculation of alpha-synuclein fibrils into the tongue was less effective in causing disease with only one of five injected animals showing alpha-synuclein pathology after 285 days. Our findings show that inoculation via the intraglossal route and more so via the intraperitoneal route is suitable to induce neurologic illness with relevant hallmarks of synucleinopathies in Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/-) mice. This provides a new model for studying prion-like pathogenesis induced by alpha-synuclein prionoids in greater detail.

Peripheral injection of alpha-synuclein prionoids via the tongue or the peritoneum induced neuropathology in the CNS of bigenic Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/-) mice (Table 1 and Figure 1). After a single intraperitoneal injection with alpha-synuclein fibrils, four of five mice developed neurologic disease with a median incubation time of 229 &#177;17 days. Surprisingly, only one of five mice developed CNS disease after intraglossal i...

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Bioluminescence Imaging of Neuroinflammation in Transgenic Mice After Peripheral Inoculation of Alpha-Synuclein Fibrils

Peripheral injection of alpha-synuclein fibrils into the peritoneum or tongue of Tg(M83+/-:Gfap-luc+/-) mice, which express human alpha-synuclein with the familial A53T mutation and firefly luciferase, can induce neuropathology, including neuroinflammation, in their central nervous system.

To study the prion-like behavior of misfolded alpha-synuclein, mouse models are needed that allow fast and simple transmission of alpha-synuclein ...

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Neuroscience

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