VEGF expression disparities in brainstem motor neurons of the SOD1G93A ALS model: Correlations with neuronal vulnerability

• DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00340
• Publication Date: 2024-03-11T21:56:34Z
• Authors: Silvia Silva-Hucha; M. Estrella Ferná...; Kirsty M. Humphreys; Fiona E. Benson; Jaime M. Franco; David Pozo; Angel M. Pastor; Sara Morcuende
• Keywords: Neurochemistry; Vulnerability

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neuromuscular disease characterized by severe muscle weakness mainly due to degeneration and death of motor neurons. A peculiarity the neurodegenerative processes variable susceptibility among distinct neuronal populations, exemplified contrasting resilience neurons innervating ocular system more vulnerable facial hypoglossal The crucial role vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as neuroprotective in nervous well-established since deficit VEGF has been related motoneuronal degeneration. In this study, we investigated survival ocular, facial, utilizing murine SOD1G93A ALS model at various stages disease. Our primary objective was determine whether different brainstem linked disparate expression levels resilient susceptible throughout neurodegeneration. findings revealed selective loss exclusively within nuclei. Furthermore, significantly higher level detected resistant neurons, extraocular ones. We also examined TDP-43 dynamics neuron SOD mice altered. data suggests that increased observed may potentially underlie their resistance during TDP-43-independent manner. work might help better understand underlying mechanisms vulnerability ALS.