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Chang KJ, Wu HY, Yarmishyn AA, Li CY, Hsiao YJ, Chi YC, Lo TC, Dai HJ, Yang YC, Liu DH, Hwang DK, Chen SJ, Hsu CC, Kao CL. Genetics behind Cerebral Disease with Ocular Comorbidity: Finding Parallels between the Brain and Eye Molecular Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179707. [PMID: 36077104 PMCID: PMC9456058 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cerebral visual impairments (CVIs) is an umbrella term that categorizes miscellaneous visual defects with parallel genetic brain disorders. While the manifestations of CVIs are diverse and ambiguous, molecular diagnostics stand out as a powerful approach for understanding pathomechanisms in CVIs. Nevertheless, the characterization of CVI disease cohorts has been fragmented and lacks integration. By revisiting the genome-wide and phenome-wide association studies (GWAS and PheWAS), we clustered a handful of renowned CVIs into five ontology groups, namely ciliopathies (Joubert syndrome, Bardet–Biedl syndrome, Alstrom syndrome), demyelination diseases (multiple sclerosis, Alexander disease, Pelizaeus–Merzbacher disease), transcriptional deregulation diseases (Mowat–Wilson disease, Pitt–Hopkins disease, Rett syndrome, Cockayne syndrome, X-linked alpha-thalassaemia mental retardation), compromised peroxisome disorders (Zellweger spectrum disorder, Refsum disease), and channelopathies (neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder), and reviewed several mutation hotspots currently found to be associated with the CVIs. Moreover, we discussed the common manifestations in the brain and the eye, and collated animal study findings to discuss plausible gene editing strategies for future CVI correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kao-Jung Chang
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yu Wu
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | | | - Cheng-Yi Li
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jer Hsiao
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Chi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Chen Lo
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - He-Jhen Dai
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chiang Yang
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Ding-Hao Liu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - De-Kuang Hwang
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jen Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chien Hsu
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-C.H.); (C.-L.K.); Tel.: +886-2-287-573-25 (C.-C.H.); +886-2-287-573-63 (C.-L.K.)
| | - Chung-Lan Kao
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 11217, Taiwan
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112304, Taiwan
- Center for Intelligent Drug Systems and Smart Bio-Devices (IDS2B), National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300093, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-C.H.); (C.-L.K.); Tel.: +886-2-287-573-25 (C.-C.H.); +886-2-287-573-63 (C.-L.K.)
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2
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Guo L, Li Y, Li W, Qiu J, Du J, Wang L, Zhang T. Shikonin ameliorates oxidative stress and neuroinflammation via the Akt/
ERK
/
JNK
/
NF‐κB
signaling pathways in model of Parkinson’s disease. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2022; 49:1221-1231. [DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Guo
- Department of Neurology Yantai City Yantaishan Hospital Yantai Shandong China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Department of Health Care Dongying People's Hospital Dongying Shandong China
| | - Wenna Li
- Department of Neurology Yantai City Yantaishan Hospital Yantai Shandong China
| | - Jiaoxue Qiu
- Department of Neurology Yantai City Yantaishan Hospital Yantai Shandong China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Neurology Yantai City Yantaishan Hospital Yantai Shandong China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Department of Neurology Yantai City Yantaishan Hospital Yantai Shandong China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Health Care Dongying People's Hospital Dongying Shandong China
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3
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Sabitha KR, Chandran D, Shetty AK, Upadhya D. Delineating the neuropathology of lysosomal storage diseases using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cells Dev 2022; 31:221-238. [PMID: 35316126 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2021.0304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) are inherited metabolic diseases caused due to deficiency of lysosomal enzymes, essential for the normal development of the brain and other organs. Approximately two-thirds of the patients suffering from LSD exhibit neurological deficits and impose an escalating challenge to the medical and scientific field. The advent of iPSC technology has aided researchers in efficiently generating functional neuronal and non-neuronal cells through directed differentiation protocols, as well as in decoding the cellular, subcellular and molecular defects associated with LSDs using two-dimensional cultures and cerebral organoid models. This review highlights the information assembled from patient-derived iPSCs on neurodevelopmental and neuropathological defects identified in LSDs. Multiple studies have identified neural progenitor cell migration and differentiation defects, substrate accumulation, axon growth and myelination defects, impaired calcium homeostasis and altered electrophysiological properties, using patient-derived iPSCs. In addition, these studies have also uncovered defective lysosomes, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi complex, autophagy and vesicle trafficking and signaling pathways, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, blood brain barrier dysfunction, neurodegeneration, gliosis, altered transcriptomes in LSDs. The review also discusses the therapeutic applications such as drug discovery, repurposing of drugs, synergistic effects of drugs, targeted molecular therapies, gene therapy, and transplantation applications of mutation corrected lines identified using patient-derived iPSCs for different LSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- K R Sabitha
- Kasturba Medical College Manipal, 29224, Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India;
| | - Divya Chandran
- Kasturba Medical College Manipal, 29224, Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India;
| | - Ashok K Shetty
- Texas A&M University College Station, 14736, College of Medicine, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, College Station, Texas, United States;
| | - Dinesh Upadhya
- Kasturba Medical College Manipal, 29224, Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, Manipal, Karnataka, India;
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4
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Sabitha KR, Shetty AK, Upadhya D. Patient-derived iPSC modeling of rare neurodevelopmental disorders: Molecular pathophysiology and prospective therapies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 121:201-219. [PMID: 33370574 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The pathological alterations that manifest during the early embryonic development due to inherited and acquired factors trigger various neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Besides major NDDs, there are several rare NDDs, exhibiting specific characteristics and varying levels of severity triggered due to genetic and epigenetic anomalies. The rarity of subjects, paucity of neural tissues for detailed analysis, and the unavailability of disease-specific animal models have hampered detailed comprehension of rare NDDs, imposing heightened challenge to the medical and scientific community until a decade ago. The generation of functional neurons and glia through directed differentiation protocols for patient-derived iPSCs, CRISPR/Cas9 technology, and 3D brain organoid models have provided an excellent opportunity and vibrant resource for decoding the etiology of brain development for rare NDDs caused due to monogenic as well as polygenic disorders. The present review identifies cellular and molecular phenotypes demonstrated from patient-derived iPSCs and possible therapeutic opportunities identified for these disorders. New insights to reinforce the existing knowledge of the pathophysiology of these disorders and prospective therapeutic applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- K R Sabitha
- Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India
| | - Ashok K Shetty
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, College Station, TX, USA.
| | - Dinesh Upadhya
- Centre for Molecular Neurosciences, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, Karnataka, India.
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5
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Li L, Tian E, Chen X, Chao J, Klein J, Qu Q, Sun G, Sun G, Huang Y, Warden CD, Ye P, Feng L, Li X, Cui Q, Sultan A, Douvaras P, Fossati V, Sanjana NE, Riggs AD, Shi Y. GFAP Mutations in Astrocytes Impair Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Proliferation and Myelination in an hiPSC Model of Alexander Disease. Cell Stem Cell 2019; 23:239-251.e6. [PMID: 30075130 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2018.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Alexander disease (AxD) is a leukodystrophy that primarily affects astrocytes and is caused by mutations in the astrocytic filament gene GFAP. While astrocytes are thought to have important roles in controlling myelination, AxD animal models do not recapitulate critical myelination phenotypes and it is therefore not clear how AxD astrocytes contribute to leukodystrophy. Here, we show that AxD patient iPSC-derived astrocytes recapitulate key features of AxD pathology such as GFAP aggregation. Moreover, AxD astrocytes inhibit proliferation of human iPSC-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in co-culture and reduce their myelination potential. CRISPR/Cas9-based correction of GFAP mutations reversed these phenotypes. Transcriptomic analyses of AxD astrocytes and postmortem brains identified CHI3L1 as a key mediator of AxD astrocyte-induced inhibition of OPC activity. Thus, this iPSC-based model of AxD not only recapitulates patient phenotypes not observed in animal models, but also reveals mechanisms underlying disease pathology and provides a platform for assessing therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Li
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - E Tian
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Xianwei Chen
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Jianfei Chao
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Jeremy Klein
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Qiuhao Qu
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Guihua Sun
- Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Guoqiang Sun
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Yanzhou Huang
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Charles D Warden
- Integrative Genomics Core, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Peng Ye
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Lizhao Feng
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Xinqiang Li
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Qi Cui
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Abdullah Sultan
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Panagiotis Douvaras
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Valentina Fossati
- The New York Stem Cell Foundation Research Institute, New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Neville E Sanjana
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013, USA; Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Arthur D Riggs
- Department of Diabetes Complications and Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Yanhong Shi
- Division of Stem Cell Biology Research, Department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA; Irell and Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA 91010, USA.
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6
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Stadelmann C, Timmler S, Barrantes-Freer A, Simons M. Myelin in the Central Nervous System: Structure, Function, and Pathology. Physiol Rev 2019; 99:1381-1431. [PMID: 31066630 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00031.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 283] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes generate multiple layers of myelin membrane around axons of the central nervous system to enable fast and efficient nerve conduction. Until recently, saltatory nerve conduction was considered the only purpose of myelin, but it is now clear that myelin has more functions. In fact, myelinating oligodendrocytes are embedded in a vast network of interconnected glial and neuronal cells, and increasing evidence supports an active role of oligodendrocytes within this assembly, for example, by providing metabolic support to neurons, by regulating ion and water homeostasis, and by adapting to activity-dependent neuronal signals. The molecular complexity governing these interactions requires an in-depth molecular understanding of how oligodendrocytes and axons interact and how they generate, maintain, and remodel their myelin sheaths. This review deals with the biology of myelin, the expanded relationship of myelin with its underlying axons and the neighboring cells, and its disturbances in various diseases such as multiple sclerosis, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders. Furthermore, we will highlight how specific interactions between astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia contribute to demyelination in hereditary white matter pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Stadelmann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany ; Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich , Munich , Germany ; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich , Germany ; Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Leipzig , Leipzig , Germany ; Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich , Germany ; and Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen , Germany
| | - Sebastian Timmler
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany ; Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich , Munich , Germany ; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich , Germany ; Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Leipzig , Leipzig , Germany ; Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich , Germany ; and Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen , Germany
| | - Alonso Barrantes-Freer
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany ; Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich , Munich , Germany ; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich , Germany ; Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Leipzig , Leipzig , Germany ; Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich , Germany ; and Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen , Germany
| | - Mikael Simons
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen , Göttingen , Germany ; Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich , Munich , Germany ; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich , Germany ; Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Leipzig , Leipzig , Germany ; Munich Cluster of Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich , Germany ; and Max Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Göttingen , Germany
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7
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Saito K, Shigetomi E, Yasuda R, Sato R, Nakano M, Tashiro K, Tanaka KF, Ikenaka K, Mikoshiba K, Mizuta I, Yoshida T, Nakagawa M, Mizuno T, Koizumi S. Aberrant astrocyte Ca 2+ signals "AxCa signals" exacerbate pathological alterations in an Alexander disease model. Glia 2018; 66:1053-1067. [PMID: 29383757 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by gain of function mutations in the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene. Accumulation of GFAP proteins and formation of Rosenthal fibers (RFs) in astrocytes are hallmarks of AxD. However, malfunction of astrocytes in the AxD brain is poorly understood. Here, we show aberrant Ca2+ responses in astrocytes as playing a causative role in AxD. Transcriptome analysis of astrocytes from a model of AxD showed age-dependent upregulation of GFAP, several markers for neurotoxic reactive astrocytes, and downregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis molecules. In situ AxD model astrocytes produced aberrant extra-large Ca2+ signals "AxCa signals", which increased with age, correlated with GFAP upregulation, and were dependent on stored Ca2+ . Inhibition of AxCa signals by deletion of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate type 2 receptors (IP3R2) ameliorated AxD pathogenesis. Taken together, AxCa signals in the model astrocytes would contribute to AxD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kozo Saito
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, 400-8510, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Eiji Shigetomi
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, 400-8510, Japan
| | - Rei Yasuda
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Sato
- Department of Genomic Medical Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masakazu Nakano
- Department of Genomic Medical Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kei Tashiro
- Department of Genomic Medical Sciences, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenji F Tanaka
- Division of Neurobiology and Bioinformatics, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan.,Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Ikenaka
- Division of Neurobiology and Bioinformatics, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Okazaki, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Mikoshiba
- Laboratory for Developmental Neurobiology, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Japan
| | - Ikuko Mizuta
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomokatsu Yoshida
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Masanori Nakagawa
- Department of Neurology, North Medical Center, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshiki Mizuno
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Schuichi Koizumi
- Department of Neuropharmacology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, 400-8510, Japan
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CSF and Blood Levels of GFAP in Alexander Disease. eNeuro 2015; 2:eN-NWR-0080-15. [PMID: 26478912 PMCID: PMC4603256 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0080-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Revised: 09/01/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Alexander disease is a rare, progressive, and generally fatal neurological disorder that results from dominant mutations affecting the coding region of GFAP, the gene encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein, the major intermediate filament protein of astrocytes in the CNS. A key step in pathogenesis appears to be the accumulation of GFAP within astrocytes to excessive levels. Studies using mouse models indicate that the severity of the phenotype correlates with the level of expression, and suppression of GFAP expression and/or accumulation is one strategy that is being pursued as a potential treatment. With the goal of identifying biomarkers that indirectly reflect the levels of GFAP in brain parenchyma, we have assayed GFAP levels in two body fluids in humans that are readily accessible as biopsy sites: CSF and blood. We find that GFAP levels are consistently elevated in the CSF of patients with Alexander disease, but only occasionally and modestly elevated in blood. These results provide the foundation for future studies that will explore whether GFAP levels can serve as a convenient means to monitor the progression of disease and the response to treatment.
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9
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Follow-up study of 22 Chinese children with Alexander disease and analysis of parental origin of de novo GFAP mutations. J Hum Genet 2013; 58:183-8. [DOI: 10.1038/jhg.2012.152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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10
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Yoshida T, Nakagawa M. Clinical aspects and pathology of Alexander disease, and morphological and functional alteration of astrocytes induced by GFAP mutation. Neuropathology 2011; 32:440-6. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-1789.2011.01268.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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11
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Reichard EAP, Ball WS, Bove KE. Alexander Disease: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1080/15513819609169294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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12
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The process of inducing GFAP aggregates in astrocytoma-derived cells is different between R239C and R416W mutant GFAP. A time-lapse recording study. Neurosci Lett 2009; 458:11-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.04.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2008] [Revised: 02/20/2009] [Accepted: 04/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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13
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Cho W, Messing A. Properties of astrocytes cultured from GFAP over-expressing and GFAP mutant mice. Exp Cell Res 2008; 315:1260-72. [PMID: 19146851 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2008.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2008] [Revised: 12/12/2008] [Accepted: 12/14/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Alexander disease is a fatal leukoencephalopathy caused by dominantly-acting coding mutations in GFAP. Previous work has also implicated elevations in absolute levels of GFAP as central to the pathogenesis of the disease. However, identification of the critical astrocyte functions that are compromised by mis-expression of GFAP has not yet been possible. To provide new tools for investigating the nature of astrocyte dysfunction in Alexander disease, we have established primary astrocyte cultures from two mouse models of Alexander disease, a transgenic that over-expresses wild type human GFAP, and a knock-in at the endogenous mouse locus that mimics a common Alexander disease mutation. We find that mutant GFAP, as well as excess wild type GFAP, promotes formation of cytoplasmic inclusions, disrupts the cytoskeleton, decreases cell proliferation, increases cell death, reduces proteasomal function, and compromises astrocyte resistance to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woosung Cho
- Waisman Center, Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
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14
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Ye Wu, Qiang Gu, Jingmin Wang, Yanling Yang, Xiru Wu, Yuwu Jiang. Clinical and genetic study in Chinese patients with Alexander disease. J Child Neurol 2008; 23:173-7. [PMID: 18079314 DOI: 10.1177/0883073807308691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Alexander disease is a rare progressive leukoencephalopathy inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. The infantile form is the most common, with onset before 2 years of age. The typical clinical signs include psychomotor retardation and regression, seizures, and megalencephaly. Juvenile and adult forms are also recognized. The neuropathology of Alexander disease is characterized by abundant presence of Rosenthal fibers in astrocytes in the brain. GFAP has been identified to be the only gene associated with Alexander disease since 2001. Only 1 patient with Alexander disease confirmed by genetic testing has been reported in mainland China. To get further information of the clinical and genetic characteristics of Chinese patients, we analyzed an additional 3 cases with the infantile or juvenile form. A novel mutation, Y83H, and a previously reported mutation, R88C, were identified in these patients. Both mutations were heterozygous and de novo. The results of this research expand the number of patients with Alexander disease found to have GFAP coding mutations in mainland China. A novel missense mutation, Y83H, is identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China
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Kueper T, Grune T, Prahl S, Lenz H, Welge V, Biernoth T, Vogt Y, Muhr GM, Gaemlich A, Jung T, Boemke G, Elsässer HP, Wittern KP, Wenck H, Stäb F, Blatt T. Vimentin Is the Specific Target in Skin Glycation. J Biol Chem 2007; 282:23427-36. [PMID: 17567584 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m701586200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Until now, the glycation reaction was considered to be a nonspecific reaction between reducing sugars and amino groups of random proteins. We were able to identify the intermediate filament vimentin as the major target for the AGE modification N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) in primary human fibroblasts. This glycation of vimentin is neither based on a slow turnover of this protein nor on an extremely high intracellular expression level, but remarkably it is based on structural properties of this protein. Glycation of vimentin was predominantly detected at lysine residues located at the linker regions using nanoLC-ESI-MS/MS. This modification results in a rigorous redistribution of vimentin into a perinuclear aggregate, which is accompanied by the loss of contractile capacity of human skin fibroblasts. CML-induced rearrangement of vimentin was identified as an aggresome. This is the first evidence that CML-vimentin represents a damaged protein inside the aggresome, linking the glycation reaction directly to aggresome formation. Strikingly, we were able to prove that the accumulation of modified vimentin can be found in skin fibroblasts of elderly donors in vivo, bringing AGE modifications in human tissues such as skin into strong relationship with loss of organ contractile functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Kueper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hamburg University, 20146 Hamburg, Germany.
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16
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Quinlan RA, Brenner M, Goldman JE, Messing A. GFAP and its role in Alexander disease. Exp Cell Res 2007; 313:2077-87. [PMID: 17498694 PMCID: PMC2702672 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2007.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2007] [Revised: 03/30/2007] [Accepted: 04/03/2007] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Here we review how GFAP mutations cause Alexander disease. The current data suggest that a combination of events cause the disease. These include: (i) the accumulation of GFAP and the formation of characteristic aggregates, called Rosenthal fibers, (ii) the sequestration of the protein chaperones alpha B-crystallin and HSP27 into Rosenthal fibers, and (iii) the activation of both Jnk and the stress response. These then set in motion events that lead to Alexander disease. We discuss parallels with other intermediate filament diseases and assess potential therapies as part of this review as well as emerging trends in disease diagnosis and other aspects concerning GFAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy A Quinlan
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The University, Durham DH1 3LE, UK.
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17
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Yoshida T, Tomozawa Y, Arisato T, Okamoto Y, Hirano H, Nakagawa M. The functional alteration of mutant GFAP depends on the location of the domain: morphological and functional studies using astrocytoma-derived cells. J Hum Genet 2007; 52:362-369. [PMID: 17318298 DOI: 10.1007/s10038-007-0124-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2006] [Accepted: 01/30/2007] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
To clarify the functional effects of mutant glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), we examined the expression patterns of mutant GFAPs (V87G, R88C, and R416W) in astrocytoma-derived cells and performed migration assay. The morphological change was found in mutant GFAP cells, although the number of changes was small. On migration assay, the migration rate in cells with the V87G or R88C mutation, which are located in the helical rod domain in GFAP, was significantly higher than those of wild-type and R416W. These findings suggest that the functional abnormalities of astrocytes might be induced prior to aggregation of GFAP in Alexander disease and that the functional alteration depends on the location of the domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomokatsu Yoshida
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kajii-chou 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-0841, Japan
| | - Yasuko Tomozawa
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kajii-chou 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-0841, Japan
| | - Takayo Arisato
- Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yuji Okamoto
- Department of Neurology and Geriatrics, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Hirano
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Masanori Nakagawa
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kawaramachi Hirokoji, Kajii-chou 465, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, 602-0841, Japan.
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18
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Der Perng M, Su M, Wen SF, Li R, Gibbon T, Prescott AR, Brenner M, Quinlan RA. The Alexander disease-causing glial fibrillary acidic protein mutant, R416W, accumulates into Rosenthal fibers by a pathway that involves filament aggregation and the association of alpha B-crystallin and HSP27. Am J Hum Genet 2006; 79:197-213. [PMID: 16826512 PMCID: PMC1559481 DOI: 10.1086/504411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2006] [Accepted: 03/20/2006] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we describe the early events in the disease pathogenesis of Alexander disease. This is a rare and usually fatal neurodegenerative disorder whose pathological hallmark is the abundance of protein aggregates in astrocytes. These aggregates, termed "Rosenthal fibers," contain the protein chaperones alpha B-crystallin and HSP27 as well as glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an intermediate filament (IF) protein found almost exclusively in astrocytes. Heterozygous, missense GFAP mutations that usually arise spontaneously during spermatogenesis have recently been found in the majority of patients with Alexander disease. In this study, we show that one of the more frequently observed mutations, R416W, significantly perturbs in vitro filament assembly. The filamentous structures formed resemble assembly intermediates but aggregate more strongly. Consistent with the heterozygosity of the mutation, this effect is dominant over wild-type GFAP in coassembly experiments. Transient transfection studies demonstrate that R416W GFAP induces the formation of GFAP-containing cytoplasmic aggregates in a wide range of different cell types, including astrocytes. The aggregates have several important features in common with Rosenthal fibers, including the association of alpha B-crystallin and HSP27. This association occurs simultaneously with the formation of protein aggregates containing R416W GFAP and is also specific, since HSP70 does not partition with them. Monoclonal antibodies specific for R416W GFAP reveal, for the first time for any IF-based disease, the presence of the mutant protein in the characteristic histopathological feature of the disease, namely Rosenthal fibers. Collectively, these data confirm that the effects of the R416W GFAP are dominant, changing the assembly process in a way that encourages aberrant filament-filament interactions that then lead to protein aggregation and chaperone sequestration as early events in Alexander disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Der Perng
- School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Durham, Durham, United Kingdom
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19
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Gorospe JR, Maletkovic J. Alexander disease and megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts: Leukodystrophies arising from astrocyte dysfunction. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 12:113-22. [PMID: 16807904 DOI: 10.1002/mrdd.20101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J Rafael Gorospe
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia 20010, USA.
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20
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Li R, Johnson AB, Salomons GS, van der Knaap MS, Rodriguez D, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Gorospe JR, Goldman JE, Messing A, Brenner M. Propensity for paternal inheritance of de novo mutations in Alexander disease. Hum Genet 2005; 119:137-44. [PMID: 16365765 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-005-0116-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2005] [Accepted: 11/29/2005] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
De novo dominant mutations in the GFAP gene have recently been associated with nearly all cases of Alexander disease, a rare but devastating neurological disorder. These heterozygous mutations must occur very early in development and be present in nearly all cells in order to be detected by the sequencing methods used. To investigate whether the mutations may have arisen in the parental germ lines, we determined the parental chromosome bearing the mutations for 28 independent Alexander disease cases. These cases included 17 different missense mutations and one insertion mutation. To enable assignment of the chromosomal origin of the mutations, six new single nucleotide polymorphisms in the GFAP gene were identified, bringing the known total to 26. In 24 of the 28 cases analyzed, the paternal chromosome carried the GFAP mutation (P < 0.001), suggesting that they predominantly arose in the parental germ line, with most occurring during spermatogenesis. No effect of paternal age was observed. There has been considerable debate about the magnitude of the male to female germ line mutation rate; our ratio of 6:1 is consistent with indirect estimates based on the rate of evolution of the sex chromosome relative to the autosomic chromosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Civitan International Research Center 529, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0021, USA
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21
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Hsiao VC, Tian R, Long H, Der Perng M, Brenner M, Quinlan RA, Goldman JE. Alexander-disease mutation of GFAP causes filament disorganization and decreased solubility of GFAP. J Cell Sci 2005; 118:2057-65. [PMID: 15840648 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.02339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Alexander disease is a fatal neurological illness characterized by white-matter degeneration and the formation of astrocytic cytoplasmic inclusions called Rosenthal fibers, which contain the intermediate filament glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the small heat-shock proteins HSP27 and αB-crystallin, and ubiquitin. Many Alexander-disease patients are heterozygous for one of a set of point mutations in the GFAP gene, all of which result in amino acid substitutions. The biological effects of the most common alteration, R239C, were tested by expressing the mutated protein in cultured cells by transient transfection. In primary rat astrocytes and Cos-7 cells, the mutant GFAP was incorporated into filament networks along with the endogenous GFAP and vimentin, respectively. In SW13Vim– cells, which have no endogenous cytoplasmic intermediate filaments, wild-type human GFAP frequently formed filamentous bundles, whereas the R239C GFAP formed `diffuse' and irregular patterns. Filamentous bundles of R239C GFAP were sometimes formed in SW13Vim– cells when wild-type GFAP was co-transfected. Although the presence of a suitable coassembly partner (vimentin or GFAP) reduced the potential negative effects of the R239C mutation on GFAP network formation, the mutation affected the stability of GFAP in cells in a dominant fashion. Extraction of transfected SW13Vim– cells with Triton-X-100-containing buffers showed that the mutant GFAP was more resistant to solubilization at elevated KCl concentrations. Both wild-type and R239C GFAP assembled into 10 nm filaments with similar morphology in vitro. Thus, although the R239C mutation does not appear to affect filament formation per se, the mutation alters the normal solubility and organization of GFAP networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria C Hsiao
- Department of Pathology and the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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22
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Li R, Johnson AB, Salomons G, Goldman JE, Naidu S, Quinlan R, Cree B, Ruyle SZ, Banwell B, D'Hooghe M, Siebert JR, Rolf CM, Cox H, Reddy A, Gutiérrez-Solana LG, Collins A, Weller RO, Messing A, van der Knaap MS, Brenner M. Glial fibrillary acidic protein mutations in infantile, juvenile, and adult forms of Alexander disease. Ann Neurol 2005; 57:310-26. [PMID: 15732097 DOI: 10.1002/ana.20406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Alexander disease is a progressive, usually fatal neurological disorder defined by the widespread and abundant presence in astrocytes of protein aggregates called Rosenthal fibers. The disease most often occurs in infants younger than 2 years and has been labeled a leukodystrophy because of an accompanying severe myelin deficit in the frontal lobes. Later onset forms have also been recognized based on the presence of abundant Rosenthal fibers. In these cases, clinical signs and pathology can be quite different from the infantile form, raising the question whether they share the same underlying cause. Recently, we and others have found pathogenic, de novo missense mutations in the glial fibrillary acidic protein gene in most infantile patients examined and in a few later onset patients. To obtain further information about the role of glial fibrillary acidic protein mutations in Alexander disease, we analyzed 41 new patients and another 3 previously described clinically, including 18 later onset patients. Our results show that dominant missense glial fibrillary acidic protein mutations account for nearly all forms of this disorder. They also significantly expand the catalog of responsible mutations, verify the value of magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis, indicate an unexpected male predominance for the juvenile form, and provide insights into phenotype-genotype relations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Li
- Department of Neurobiology and Civitan International Research Center, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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23
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Moser HW. Alexander disease: Combined gene analysis and MRI clarify pathogenesis and extend phenotype. Ann Neurol 2005; 57:307-8. [PMID: 15732119 DOI: 10.1002/ana.20436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Abstract
Alexander disease, a rare fatal disorder of the central nervous system, causes progressive loss of motor and mental function. Until recently it was of unknown etiology, almost all cases were sporadic, and there was no effective treatment. It was most common in an infantile form, somewhat less so in a juvenile form, and was rarely seen in an adult-onset form. A number of investigators have now shown that almost all cases of Alexander disease have a dominant mutation in one allele of the gene for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) that causes replacement of one amino acid for another. Only in very rare cases of the adult-onset form is the mutation present in either parent. Thus, in almost all cases, the mutation arises as a spontaneous event, possibly in the germ cell of one parent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne B Johnson
- Departments of Pathology and of Neuroscience-K604, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
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25
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Abstract
Alexander's disease, a rare and fatal disorder of the central nervous system, most commonly affects infants and young children but can also occur in older children and sometimes adults. In infants and young children, it causes developmental delay, psychomotor retardation, paraparesis, feeding problems, usually megalencephaly, often seizures, and sometimes hydrocephalus. Juvenile cases often do not have megalencephaly and tend to have predominant pseudobulbar and bulbar signs. In both groups, characteristic magnetic resonance imaging findings have been described. In adult cases, the signs are variable, can resemble multiple sclerosis, and might include palatal myoclonus. In all cases, the examination of brain tissue shows the presence of widely distributed Rosenthal fibers. Almost all cases have recently been found to have a heterozygous, missense, point mutation in the gene for glial fibrillary acidic protein, which provides a new diagnostic tool. In most cases, the mutation appears to occur de novo, not being present in either parent, but some adult cases are familial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne B Johnson
- Department of Pathology-K604, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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26
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Abstract
This review presents historical and clinical information on the rare human brain disorder known as Alexander disease (ALX), and reports on the recent discovery of the gene that appears to be causative. The disease is a fatal, white matter disorder (leukodystrophy) of childhood. Adult onset cases also have been described, but it has not been clear whether they represent the same disease. Until recently the diagnosis was made by the pathological examination of brain tissue, in which abundant Rosenthal fibers were found. These abnormal structures occurred within astrocytes, but their composition was unclear. In 1985, a child underwent a diagnostic brain biopsy at this institution, which established the diagnosis of ALX. Ultrastructural immunocytochemistry revealed that the Rosenthal fibers contained abundant amounts of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a normal component of astocytic intermediate filaments. Thus, the gene for this filament protein was considered a candidate gene for the cause of ALX, and DNA samples from children presumed or proven to have this disorder were banked for future study. Other work on the same brain biopsy showed that Rosenthal fibers also contained abundant alphaB-crystallin, a heat shock protein, but no defect was found in its gene. A decade after the biopsy, a transgenic mouse with an extra copy of the gene for GFAP was produced. These mice died early and their brains contained Rosenthal fibers. Although not an exact model for ALX, this also suggested that the gene for GFAP should be considered a candidate gene for ALX. Subsequent research has demonstrated that the great majority of childhood ALX cases contain mutations in the gene for GFAP. This work is now being extended as a diagnostic test, as well as to seek understanding of the pathogenesis of ALX and possible approaches for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne B Johnson
- Rose F. Kennedy Center for Research in Mental Retardation and Human Development, Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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27
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Okamoto Y, Mitsuyama H, Jonosono M, Hirata K, Arimura K, Osame M, Nakagawa M. Autosomal dominant palatal myoclonus and spinal cord atrophy. J Neurol Sci 2002; 195:71-6. [PMID: 11867077 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-510x(01)00687-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
We report a new family with palatal myoclonus, pyramidal tract signs, cerebellar signs, marked atrophy of the medulla oblongata and spinal cord, and autosomal dominant inheritance. These findings were almost identical with those in patients previously reported to have histopathologically confirmed adult-onset Alexander disease. Recently, heterozygous point mutations in the coding region of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in patients with an infantile form of Alexander disease have been reported. We found a new heterozygous amino acid substitution, Val87Gly in exon 1 of GFAP, in the affected individuals in this family but not in 100 spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) patients and 100 controls. Therefore, this family might have new clinical entities related to adult-onset Alexander disease and GFAP mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuji Okamoto
- Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kagoshima University Faculty of Medicine, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima 890-8520, Kagoshima City, Japan
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28
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Messing A, Goldman JE, Johnson AB, Brenner M. Alexander disease: new insights from genetics. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2001; 60:563-73. [PMID: 11398833 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/60.6.563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Prior to finding that GFAP mutations underlie many cases of Alexander disease, it was unclear whether the disease originated in astrocytes or if the formation of Rosenthal fibers was a response to an external insult. It was also unclear whether the etiology of the disease was environmental or genetic. For many cases of Alexander disease, these questions have now been answered. An immediate clinical benefit of this discovery is the possibility of diagnosing most cases of Alexander disease through analysis of patient DNA samples, rather than resorting to brain biopsy. In addition, fetal testing is now an option for parents who have had an Alexander disease child with an identified mutation and who wish to have additional children. For the future, these mutations should provide a unique window for illuminating the mechanism of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Messing
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, Waisman Center and School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53705-2280, USA
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29
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Brenner M, Johnson AB, Boespflug-Tanguy O, Rodriguez D, Goldman JE, Messing A. Mutations in GFAP, encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein, are associated with Alexander disease. Nat Genet 2001; 27:117-20. [PMID: 11138011 DOI: 10.1038/83679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 453] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alexander disease is a rare disorder of the central nervous system of unknown etiology. Infants with Alexander disease develop a leukoencephalopathy with macrocephaly, seizures and psychomotor retardation, leading to death usually within the first decade; patients with juvenile or adult forms typically experience ataxia, bulbar signs and spasticity, and a more slowly progressive course. The pathological hallmark of all forms of Alexander disease is the presence of Rosenthal fibers, cytoplasmic inclusions in astrocytes that contain the intermediate filament protein GFAP in association with small heat-shock proteins. We previously found that overexpression of human GFAP in astrocytes of transgenic mice is fatal and accompanied by the presence of inclusion bodies indistinguishable from human Rosenthal fibers. These results suggested that a primary alteration in GFAP may be responsible for Alexander disease. Sequence analysis of DNA samples from patients representing different Alexander disease phenotypes revealed that most cases are associated with non-conservative mutations in the coding region of GFAP. Alexander disease therefore represents the first example of a primary genetic disorder of astrocytes, one of the major cell types in the vertebrate CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Brenner
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Alabama-Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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30
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Abstract
In order to determine why the diaphragm is more severely affected by progressive dystrophy than limb muscles in the mdx mouse, we examined how regional variations in diaphragm dystrophy, the measures of disease and repair, proliferation by committed myogenic cells, and the expression of mitogenic basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) could contribute to muscle-specific disease phenotypes. There were regional variations in new myotube formation in the diaphragm, with disease more severe in crural than costal leaflets. New repair increased in hyperthyroidism without changes in accumulated repair, probably due to fiber loss. General proliferation was nearly twofold higher in limb than diaphragm mononuclear cells. Since only 2.5-8.4% of committed muscle precursors were proliferating, the higher proliferation by myf5+ myogenic cells in diaphragm did not account for muscle-specific differences. Proliferation by bFGF+ mononuclear cells and an immunogold labeling index for bFGF protein in diaphragm myoblasts were lower in diaphragm than limb muscle. In culture, mixed limb myoblast and fibroblasts contained more S phase cells than diaphragm cells, although myoblasts cycled similarly between muscles. Therefore while muscle architecture and the formation and number of new myotubes certainly affect disease phenotype, the differential outcome of regeneration in mdx diaphragm and limb muscle appears to be contributed by both nonmyogenic and myogenic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Anderson
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
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31
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Wisniewski T, Goldman JE. Alpha B-crystallin is associated with intermediate filaments in astrocytoma cells. Neurochem Res 1998; 23:385-92. [PMID: 9482251 DOI: 10.1023/a:1022465702518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Alpha B-crystallin, a major protein of the vertebrate lens and a member of the small heat shock protein family, is expressed in non-lenticular tissues, including the central nervous system, where it is found mainly in glia. In Rosenthal fibers (RF), astrocytic inclusions that accumulate in Alexander's Disease, alpha B-crystallin is found with hsp27 and skeins of intermediate filaments (IF) of the GFAP and vimentin types. We have investigated the association between IF and alpha B-crystallin in a human astrocytoma cell line, U-373MG, which expresses alpha B-crystallin. Cytoskeletal preparations contained alpha B-crystallin, and a filamentous pattern in which alpha B-crystallin co-localized with GFAP and vimentin by double label immunofluorescence. Immuno-electronmicroscopy confirmed the localization to IF. GFAP isolated from bovine brain and re-assembled, was associated with alpha B-crystallin. Thus, a proportion of alpha B-crystallin in astroglia is associated with IF, and this association may be critical in the formation of RF.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Wisniewski
- Department of Neurology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016, USA
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32
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Moreira JE, Reese TS, Kachar B. Freeze-substitution as a preparative technique for immunoelectronmicroscopy: evaluation by atomic force microscopy. Microsc Res Tech 1996; 33:251-61. [PMID: 8652883 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(19960215)33:3<251::aid-jemt2>3.0.co;2-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Cryofixation followed by freeze substitution in osmium tetroxide was evaluated as a method for preparing biological specimens for immunoelectronmicroscopy. Samples were rapidly frozen by impact onto a sapphire block cooled with liquid nitrogen, substituted at -80 degrees C in acetone containing osmium tetroxide, and embedded in epoxy resin. With this protocol, excellent ultrastructure can be combined with localization of antigens that otherwise would be inactivated by the osmium, but labeling may need to be enhanced by chemically etching the sections prior to staining. The effects of etching on various structures in the sections were investigated by examining the sections with atomic force microscopy, an approach that yields three-dimensional views of the surface of the section. A considerable part of the section was removed or collapsed by the etching, and these effects occurred differentially in several components of the tissue and with different etching protocols. Nevertheless, the results suggest that the partial removal of the plastic by etching of freeze-substituted tissue can be explored as a method for exposing fine biological structures for observation with atomic force microscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Moreira
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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33
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Geiger DH, Rossouw DJ, Hewlett RH, Rutherfoord GS. Semiquantitative postembedding characterization of intermediate filaments in central nervous system lesions using immunoelectron microscopy. Biotech Histochem 1995; 70:285-93. [PMID: 9044656 DOI: 10.3109/10520299509108334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Standardized postembedding immunoelectron microscopy was performed to demonstrate glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and vimentin in individual intermediate filaments to determine the diagnostic value of demonstrating ultrastructural and immunophenotypic characteristics of intermediate filaments in routine brain biopsy specimens. Dual expression of GFAP and vimentin was observed in the astroblastoma and astrocytes of Alexander's disease. The antigen availability for vimentin, however, was too low to allow reliable assessment of the GFAP:vimentin ratio in individual intermediate filaments and/or filament bundles. In meningioma, only vimentin positive intermediate filaments were found. GFAP positive intermediate filaments were present in all other specimens except the oligodendroglial components of the mixed glioma, which were devoid of intermediate filaments. GFAP positivity in the filamentous periphery and electron-dense core of Rosenthal fibers was demonstrated. Technical and tissue processing factors had a significant effect on particle density values obtained for individual specimens. Although the number, distribution, and density of glial intermediate filaments varies in different astroglial entities, correlation of particle density values determined by immunoelectron microscopy with relative GFAP concentrations in different lesions requires utmost caution. Nevertheless, application of the postembedding approach to routinely fixed biopsy specimens indicated an association of different entities with the exclusive presence of GFAP and/or vimentin in individual intermediate filaments, thus emphasizing the diagnostic value of intermediate filament typing for pathological characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- D H Geiger
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Stellenbosch and Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa
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Herbin M, Rio JP, Repérant J, Cooper HM, Nevo E, Lemire M. Ultrastructural study of the optic nerve in blind mole-rats (Spalacidae, Spalax). Vis Neurosci 1995; 12:253-61. [PMID: 7786846 DOI: 10.1017/s0952523800007938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The optic nerve in two species of subterranean mole-rats (Spalacidae) has been examined at the ultrastructural level. The axial length of the eye and the diameter of the optic nerve are 1.9 mm and 52.5 microns in Spalax leucodon, and 0.7 mm and 80.8 microns in Spalax ehrenbergi, respectively. An anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein postembedding procedure was used to distinguish glial cell processes from axons. In both species, the optic nerve is composed exclusively of unmyelinated axons and a spatial distribution gradient according to the size or the density of fibers is lacking. The optic nerve of S. leucodon contains 1790 fibers ranging in diameter from 0.07-2.30 microns (mean = 0.57 microns), whereas in S. ehrenbergi, only 928 fibers, with diameters of 0.04-1.77 microns (mean = 0.53 microns) are observed. In S. ehrenbergi, a higher proportion of glial tissue is present and the fascicular organization of optic fibers is less obvious. Distribution gradients according to size frequency or density of fibers in the optic nerve are absent in both species. Comparison with other mammals suggests that although ocular regression in microphthalmic species is correlated with a significant decrease in the total number of optic fibers and the relative proportion of myelinated fibers, no difference in the absolute size range of unmyelinated axons is observed. The total absence of myelinated fibers in Spalax may be related to the subcutaneous location of the eyes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Affiliation(s)
- M Herbin
- I.N.S.E.R.M. U-106, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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Kömüves LG, Nicols BL, Hutchens TW, Heath JP. Formation of crystalloid inclusions in the small intestine of neonatal pigs: an immunocytochemical study using colloidal gold. THE HISTOCHEMICAL JOURNAL 1993; 25:19-29. [PMID: 8381778 DOI: 10.1007/bf00161041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Enterocytes of the small intestine in 1-day-old suckling piglets contain numerous vesicles in the apical cytoplasm and a large granule located beneath the nucleus. Within the next 3 days, these granules transform into electron-dense crystalloid inclusions. These membrane-bound inclusions are up to 10 microns in length and 1-2 microns in diameter, and they are composed of electron-dense lamellae 3.9 nm apart. Postembedding immunocytochemistry, using rabbit anti-porcine IgG and goat anti-rabbit IgG conjugated to 10 nm colloidal gold, revealed that both the granules and the crystalloid inclusions contained a high concentration of maternal IgG. Although the IgG content of the crystalloid inclusions was detected on epoxy-embedded sections, the use of LR White resin resulted in a much higher density of labelling. Quantification of the labelling density showed that the concentration of IgG in the crystalloid inclusions was approximately ten times higher than that in the lumenal colostrum and approximately three times higher than that in the granules. These observations showed that there are at least three compartments involved in the accretion of IgG in the small intestine of neonatal piglets: smaller apical endocytotic vesicles, large subnuclear granules and crystalloid inclusions. The role of these compartments in maternal immunoglobulin absorption and in the acquisition of passive immunity has yet to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- L G Kömüves
- Microscopy Laboratory, USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030-2600
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Horisberger M. Colloidal gold and its application in cell biology. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CYTOLOGY 1992; 136:227-87. [PMID: 1506145 DOI: 10.1016/s0074-7696(08)62054-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Fanning JC, White JF, Polewski R, Cleary EG. Immunoelectron microscopic localization of elastic tissue components in archival tissue samples. J Microsc 1991; 162:355-67. [PMID: 1890685 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1991.tb03146.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Tissue samples that have been stored for many years, in different media and under a variety of conditions, have been examined by modern techniques of immunoelectron microscopy, using antibodies against elastic tissue components. A range of postembedding restorative procedures has been identified, which will allow reliable immunolocalization of antibodies against the elastic tissue component of such specimens. These methods have been applied successfully to autopsy-derived material, fixed in buffered formaldehyde, to archival material stored frozen at -70 or -20 degrees C, to specimens fixed for electron microscopy and stored for many years in buffer, and even to archival material from formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks, reprocessed for electron microscopic examination. The successful restorative methods included pre-treatment of the sections with 6 M guanidine hydrochloride, or 1 M Tris/saline, each containing 100 mM dithiothreitol (a reducing agent) followed by alkylation with 220 mM iodoacetamide. The application of these techniques allowed reliable study of elastic tissue antibody distributions in archival tissues that could not be obtained again, as well as comparative studies with tissues processed many years previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- J C Fanning
- Department of Pathology, University of Adelaide, South Australia
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Lach B, Sikorska M, Rippstein P, Gregor A, Staines W, Davie TR. Immunoelectron microscopy of Rosenthal fibers. Acta Neuropathol 1991; 81:503-9. [PMID: 1650112 DOI: 10.1007/bf00310130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Seventeen intracerebral gliomas containing Rosenthal fibers (RF) were studied by an immunoperoxidase method for localization of ubiquitin (UB), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), desmin and vimentin (VIM). The majority of RF showed an immunohistochemically negative core surrounded by a ring of overlapping reactions for UB, GFAP and VIM. Many RF were entirely negative for UB and intermediate filaments (IF). Immunoelectron microscopic localization of UB and GFAP was performed on seven selected tumors. UB was found in all RF and on IF in the proximity of RF. GFAP reaction was localized on astrocytic IF, including those trapped within RF, and within the granular component of some RF. In contrast to the light microscopic studies, neither GFAP- nor UB-negative RF were found on immunoelectron microscopy. VIM reaction on IF and a few RF was demonstrated in one tumor processed at low temperature into Lowicryl; it was much weaker than that for GFAP. Many cells with RF contained lysosome-like inclusions with material displaying electron density similar to adjacent RF; few of these inclusions were reactive for UB. It is concluded that RF formation is associated with ubiquitination of astrocytic IF. GFAP- and VIM-immunoreactive IF and products of their disintegration contribute to RF material. It is also suggested that the lysosomal system of astrocytes partially degrades RF.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Lach
- Department of Laboratory Medicine (Neuropathology), Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ontario, Canada
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Beesley
- Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent, UK
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