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Odierna GL, Vucic S, Dyer M, Dickson T, Woodhouse A, Blizzard C. How do we get from hyperexcitability to excitotoxicity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? Brain 2024; 147:1610-1621. [PMID: 38408864 PMCID: PMC11068114 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that, at present, has no effective cure. Evidence of increased circulating glutamate and hyperexcitability of the motor cortex in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have provided an empirical support base for the 'dying forward' excitotoxicity hypothesis. The hypothesis postulates that increased activation of upper motor neurons spreads pathology to lower motor neurons in the spinal cord in the form of excessive glutamate release, which triggers excitotoxic processes. Many clinical trials have focused on therapies that target excitotoxicity via dampening neuronal activation, but not all are effective. As such, there is a growing tension between the rising tide of evidence for the 'dying forward' excitotoxicity hypothesis and the failure of therapies that target neuronal activation. One possible solution to these contradictory outcomes is that our interpretation of the current evidence requires revision in the context of appreciating the complexity of the nervous system and the limitations of the neurobiological assays we use to study it. In this review we provide an evaluation of evidence relevant to the 'dying forward' excitotoxicity hypothesis and by doing so, identify key gaps in our knowledge that need to be addressed. We hope to provide a road map from hyperexcitability to excitotoxicity so that we can better develop therapies for patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We conclude that studies of upper motor neuron activity and their synaptic output will play a decisive role in the future of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Lorenzo Odierna
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2050, Australia
| | - Marcus Dyer
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Center for Neurosciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tracey Dickson
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Adele Woodhouse
- The Wicking Dementia Centre, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Catherine Blizzard
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
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2
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Marques C, Held A, Dorfman K, Sung J, Song C, Kavuturu AS, Aguilar C, Russo T, Oakley DH, Albers MW, Hyman BT, Petrucelli L, Lagier-Tourenne C, Wainger BJ. Neuronal STING activation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:56. [PMID: 38478117 PMCID: PMC10937762 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02688-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While prior studies have focused on STING within immune cells, little is known about STING within neurons. Here, we document neuronal activation of the STING pathway in human postmortem cortical and spinal motor neurons from individuals affected by familial or sporadic ALS. This process takes place selectively in the most vulnerable cortical and spinal motor neurons but not in neurons that are less affected by the disease. Concordant STING activation in layer V cortical motor neurons occurs in a mouse model of C9orf72 repeat-associated ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). To establish that STING activation occurs in a neuron-autonomous manner, we demonstrate the integrity of the STING signaling pathway, including both upstream activators and downstream innate immune response effectors, in dissociated mouse cortical neurons and neurons derived from control human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Human iPSC-derived neurons harboring different familial ALS-causing mutations exhibit increased STING signaling with DNA damage as a main driver. The elevated downstream inflammatory markers present in ALS iPSC-derived neurons can be suppressed with a STING inhibitor. Our results reveal an immunophenotype that consists of innate immune signaling driven by the STING pathway and occurs specifically within vulnerable neurons in ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Marques
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aaron Held
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine Dorfman
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joon Sung
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Catherine Song
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amey S Kavuturu
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Corey Aguilar
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tommaso Russo
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Derek H Oakley
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark W Albers
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Alzheimer Disease Research Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | | | - Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Brian J Wainger
- Department of Neurology, Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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3
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Yan J, Wang YM, Hellwig A, Bading H. TwinF interface inhibitor FP802 stops loss of motor neurons and mitigates disease progression in a mouse model of ALS. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101413. [PMID: 38325382 PMCID: PMC10897598 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Toxic signaling by extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (eNMDARs) is considered an important promoter of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease progression. To exploit this therapeutically, we take advantage of TwinF interface (TI) inhibition, a pharmacological principle that, contrary to classical NMDAR pharmacology, allows selective elimination of eNMDAR-mediated toxicity via disruption of the NMDAR/TRPM4 death signaling complex while sparing the vital physiological functions of synaptic NMDARs. Post-disease onset treatment of the SOD1G93A ALS mouse model with FP802, a modified TI inhibitor with a safe pharmacology profile, stops the progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, resulting in a reduction in the serum biomarker neurofilament light chain, improved motor performance, and an extension of life expectancy. FP802 also effectively blocks NMDA-induced death of neurons in ALS patient-derived forebrain organoids. These results establish eNMDAR toxicity as a key player in ALS pathogenesis. TI inhibitors may provide an effective treatment option for ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yan
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yu Meng Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Hellwig
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hilmar Bading
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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4
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Wong CH, Rahat A, Chang HC. Fused in sarcoma regulates glutamate signaling and oxidative stress response. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 210:172-182. [PMID: 38007141 PMCID: PMC10872661 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in fused in sarcoma (fust-1) are linked to ALS. However, how these ALS causative mutations alter physiological processes and lead to the onset of ALS remains largely unknown. By obtaining humanized fust-1 ALS mutations via CRISPR-CAS9, we generated a C. elegans ALS model. Homozygous fust-1 ALS mutant and fust-1 deletion animals are viable in C. elegans. This allows us to better characterize the molecular mechanisms of fust-1-dependent responses. We found FUST-1 plays a role in regulating superoxide dismutase, glutamate signaling, and oxidative stress. FUST-1 suppresses SOD-1 and VGLUT/EAT-4 in the nervous system. FUST-1 also regulates synaptic AMPA-type glutamate receptor GLR-1. We found that fust-1 ALS mutations act as loss-of-function in SOD-1 and VGLUT/EAT-4 phenotypes, whereas the fust-1 ALS mutations act as gain-of-function in redox homeostasis and the microbe-induced oxidative stress response. We hypothesized that FUST-1 is a link between glutamate signaling and SOD-1. Our results may provide new insights into the human ALS alleles and their roles in pathological mechanisms that lead to ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiong-Hee Wong
- Department of Emergency Medicine, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, 104217, Taiwan
| | - Abu Rahat
- Integrative Neuroscience Program, SUNY Binghamton, Vestal, NY, 13850, USA
| | - Howard C Chang
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA.
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5
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De Marchi F, Venkatesan S, Saraceno M, Mazzini L, Grossini E. Acetyl-L-carnitine and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Current Evidence and Potential use. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS DRUG TARGETS 2024; 23:588-601. [PMID: 36998125 DOI: 10.2174/1871527322666230330083757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The management of neurodegenerative diseases can be frustrating for clinicians, given the limited progress of conventional medicine in this context. AIM For this reason, a more comprehensive, integrative approach is urgently needed. Among various emerging focuses for intervention, the modulation of central nervous system energetics, oxidative stress, and inflammation is becoming more and more promising. METHODS In particular, electrons leakage involved in the mitochondrial energetics can generate reactive oxygen-free radical-related mitochondrial dysfunction that would contribute to the etiopathology of many disorders, such as Alzheimer's and other dementias, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). RESULTS In this context, using agents, like acetyl L-carnitine (ALCAR), provides mitochondrial support, reduces oxidative stress, and improves synaptic transmission. CONCLUSION This narrative review aims to update the existing literature on ALCAR molecular profile, tolerability, and translational clinical potential use in neurodegeneration, focusing on ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Sakthipriyan Venkatesan
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Massimo Saraceno
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Elena Grossini
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale 28100, Novara, Italy
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6
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Chagas Monteiro KL, dos Santos Alcântara MG, de Aquino TM, Ferreira da Silva-Júnior E. Insights on Natural Products Against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Curr Neuropharmacol 2024; 22:1169-1188. [PMID: 38708921 PMCID: PMC10964095 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x22666231016153606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes the death of motor neurons and consequent muscle paralysis. Despite many efforts to address it, current therapy targeting ALS remains limited, increasing the interest in complementary therapies. Over the years, several herbal preparations and medicinal plants have been studied to prevent and treat this disease, which has received remarkable attention due to their blood-brain barrier penetration properties and low toxicity. Thus, this review presents the therapeutic potential of a variety of medicinal herbs and their relationship with ALS and their physiopathological pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadja Luana Chagas Monteiro
- Research Group on Therapeutic Strategies - GPET, Laboratory of Synthesis and Research in Medicinal Chemistry - LSPMED, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Alagoas, 57072-970, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Marcone Gomes dos Santos Alcântara
- Research Group on Therapeutic Strategies - GPET, Laboratory of Synthesis and Research in Medicinal Chemistry - LSPMED, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Alagoas, 57072-970, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Thiago Mendonça de Aquino
- Research Group on Therapeutic Strategies - GPET, Laboratory of Synthesis and Research in Medicinal Chemistry - LSPMED, Institute of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Federal University of Alagoas, 57072-970, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
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7
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Stringer RN, Weiss N. Pathophysiology of ion channels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Mol Brain 2023; 16:82. [PMID: 38102715 PMCID: PMC10722804 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-023-01070-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) stands as the most prevalent and severe form of motor neuron disease, affecting an estimated 2 in 100,000 individuals worldwide. It is characterized by the progressive loss of cortical, brainstem, and spinal motor neurons, ultimately resulting in muscle weakness and death. Although the etiology of ALS remains poorly understood in most cases, the remodelling of ion channels and alteration in neuronal excitability represent a hallmark of the disease, manifesting not only during the symptomatic period but also in the early pre-symptomatic stages. In this review, we delve into these alterations observed in ALS patients and preclinical disease models, and explore their consequences on neuronal activities. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of ion channels as therapeutic targets in the context of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin N Stringer
- Department of Pathophysiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Norbert Weiss
- Department of Pathophysiology, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Center of Biosciences, Institute of Molecular Physiology and Genetics, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.
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8
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Vukolova MN, Yen LY, Khmyz MI, Sobolevsky AI, Yelshanskaya MV. Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-emerging role of AMPA and kainate subtypes of ionotropic glutamate receptors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1252953. [PMID: 38033869 PMCID: PMC10683763 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1252953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) mediate the majority of excitatory neurotransmission and are implicated in various neurological disorders. In this review, we discuss the role of the two fastest iGluRs subtypes, namely, α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) and kainate receptors, in the pathogenesis and treatment of Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Although both AMPA and kainate receptors represent promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of these diseases, many of their antagonists show adverse side effects. Further studies of factors affecting the selective subunit expression and trafficking of AMPA and kainate receptors, and a reasonable approach to their regulation by the recently identified novel compounds remain promising directions for pharmacological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina N. Vukolova
- Department of Pathophysiology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Laura Y. Yen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
- Cellular and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Graduate Program, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Margarita I. Khmyz
- N. V. Sklifosovsky Institute of Clinical Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander I. Sobolevsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Maria V. Yelshanskaya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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9
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Kar M, Vogel LT, Chauhan G, Ausserwöger H, Welsh TJ, Kamath AR, Knowles TPJ, Hyman AA, Seidel CAM, Pappu RV. Glutamate helps unmask the differences in driving forces for phase separation versus clustering of FET family proteins in sub-saturated solutions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.11.552963. [PMID: 37609232 PMCID: PMC10441405 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.11.552963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Multivalent proteins undergo coupled segregative and associative phase transitions. Phase separation, a segregative transition, is driven by macromolecular solubility, and this leads to coexisting phases above system-specific saturation concentrations. Percolation is a continuous transition that is driven by multivalent associations among cohesive motifs. Contributions from percolation are highlighted by the formation of heterogeneous distributions of clusters in sub-saturated solutions, as was recently reported for Fused in sarcoma (FUS) and FET family proteins. Here, we show that clustering and phase separation are defined by a separation of length- and energy-scales. This is unmasked when glutamate is the primary solution anion. Glutamate is preferentially excluded from protein sites, and this enhances molecular associations. Differences between glutamate and chloride are manifest at ultra-low protein concentrations. These differences are amplified as concentrations increase, and they saturate as the micron-scale is approached. Therefore, condensate formation in supersaturated solutions and clustering in sub-saturated are governed by distinct energy and length scales. Glutamate, unlike chloride, is the dominant intracellular anion, and the separation of scales, which is masked in chloride, is unmasked in glutamate. Our work highlights how components of cellular milieus and sequence-encoded interactions contribute to amplifying distinct contributions from associative versus segregative phase transitions.
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10
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Belo do Nascimento I, Ates G, Desmet N, Beckers P, Massie A, Hermans E. AMPKα1 Deficiency in Astrocytes from a Rat Model of ALS Is Associated with an Altered Metabolic Resilience. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1183. [PMID: 37627248 PMCID: PMC10452650 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the activity of the regulator of cell metabolism AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) have been reported in motor neurons from patients and animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Considering the key role played by astrocytes in modulating energy metabolism in the nervous system and their compromised support towards neurons in ALS, we examined whether a putative alteration in AMPK expression/activity impacted astrocytic functions such as their metabolic plasticity and glutamate handling capacity. We found a reduced expression of AMPK mRNA in primary cultures of astrocytes derived from transgenic rats carrying an ALS-associated mutated superoxide dismutase (hSOD1G93A). The activation of AMPK after glucose deprivation was reduced in hSOD1G93A astrocytes compared to non-transgenic. This was accompanied by a lower increase in ATP levels and increased vulnerability to this insult, although the ATP production rate did not differ between the two cell types. Furthermore, soliciting the activity of glutamate transporters was found to induce similar AMPK activity in these cells. However, manipulation of AMPK activity did not influence glutamate transport. Together, these results suggest that the altered AMPK responsiveness in ALS might be context dependent and may compromise the metabolic adaptation of astrocytes in response to specific cellular stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Belo do Nascimento
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (I.B.d.N.); (N.D.); (P.B.)
| | - Gamze Ates
- Center for Neurosciences, Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (G.A.); (A.M.)
| | - Nathalie Desmet
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (I.B.d.N.); (N.D.); (P.B.)
| | - Pauline Beckers
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (I.B.d.N.); (N.D.); (P.B.)
| | - Ann Massie
- Center for Neurosciences, Neuro-Aging & Viro-Immunotherapy, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (G.A.); (A.M.)
| | - Emmanuel Hermans
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (I.B.d.N.); (N.D.); (P.B.)
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11
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Hosaka T, Tsuji H, Kwak S. Roles of Aging, Circular RNAs, and RNA Editing in the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Cells 2023; 12:1443. [PMID: 37408276 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable motor neuron disease caused by upper and lower motor neuron death. Despite advances in our understanding of ALS pathogenesis, effective treatment for this fatal disease remains elusive. As aging is a major risk factor for ALS, age-related molecular changes may provide clues for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Dysregulation of age-dependent RNA metabolism plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ALS. In addition, failure of RNA editing at the glutamine/arginine (Q/R) site of GluA2 mRNA causes excitotoxicity due to excessive Ca2+ influx through Ca2+-permeable α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors, which is recognized as an underlying mechanism of motor neuron death in ALS. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a circular form of cognate RNA generated by back-splicing, are abundant in the brain and accumulate with age. Hence, they are assumed to play a role in neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that age-related dysregulation of RNA editing and changes in circRNA expression are involved in ALS pathogenesis. Herein, we review the potential associations between age-dependent changes in circRNAs and RNA editing, and discuss the possibility of developing new therapies and biomarkers for ALS based on age-related changes in circRNAs and dysregulation of RNA editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Hosaka
- Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
- University of Tsukuba Hospital/Jichi Medical University Joint Ibaraki Western Regional Clinical Education Center, Chikusei 308-0813, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ibaraki Western Medical Center, Chikusei 308-0813, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tsuji
- Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
| | - Shin Kwak
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
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12
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Westi EW, Andersen JV, Aldana BI. Using stable isotope tracing to unravel the metabolic components of neurodegeneration: Focus on neuron-glia metabolic interactions. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 182:106145. [PMID: 37150307 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Disrupted brain metabolism is a critical component of several neurodegenerative diseases. Energy metabolism of both neurons and astrocytes is closely connected to neurotransmitter recycling via the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle. Neurons and astrocytes hereby work in close metabolic collaboration which is essential to sustain neurotransmission. Elucidating the mechanistic involvement of altered brain metabolism in disease progression has been aided by the advance of techniques to monitor cellular metabolism, in particular by mapping metabolism of substrates containing stable isotopes, a technique known as isotope tracing. Here we review key aspects of isotope tracing including advantages, drawbacks and applications to different cerebral preparations. In addition, we narrate how isotope tracing has facilitated the discovery of central metabolic features in neurodegeneration with a focus on the metabolic cooperation between neurons and astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil W Westi
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens V Andersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Blanca I Aldana
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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13
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Reale LA, Dyer MS, Perry SE, Young KM, Dickson TC, Woodhouse A, Blizzard CA. Pathologically mislocalised TDP-43 in upper motor neurons causes a die-forward spread of ALS-like pathogenic changes throughout the mouse corticomotor system. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 226:102449. [PMID: 37011806 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Abstract
Alterations in upper motor neuron excitability are one of the earliest phenomena clinically detected in ALS, and in 97% of cases, the RNA/DNA binding protein, TDP-43, is mislocalised in upper and lower motor neurons. While these are two major pathological hallmarks in disease, our understanding of where disease pathology begins, and how it spreads through the corticomotor system, is incomplete. This project used a model where mislocalised TDP-43 was expressed in the motor cortex, to determine if localised cortical pathology could result in widespread corticomotor system degeneration. Mislocalised TDP-43 caused layer V excitatory neurons in the motor cortex to become hyperexcitable after 20 days of expression. Following cortical hyperexcitability, a spread of pathogenic changes through the corticomotor system was observed. By 30 days expression, there was a significant decrease in lower motor neuron number in the lumbar spinal cord. However, cell loss occurred selectively, with a significant loss in lumbar regions 1-3, and not lumbar regions 4-6. This regional vulnerability was associated with alterations in pre-synaptic excitatory and inhibitory proteins. Excitatory inputs (VGluT2) were increased in all lumbar regions, while inhibitory inputs (GAD65/67) were increased in lumbar regions 4-6 only. This data indicates that mislocalised TDP-43 in upper motor neurons can cause lower motor neuron degeneration. Furthermore, cortical pathology increased excitatory inputs to the spinal cord, to which local circuitry compensated with an upregulation of inhibition. These findings reveal how TDP-43 mediated pathology may spread through corticofugal tracts in ALS and identify a potential pathway for therapeutic intervention.
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14
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Aydemir D, Surucu S, Basak AN, Ulusu NN. Evaluation of the Hematological and Serum Biochemistry Parameters in the Pre-Symptomatic and Symptomatic Stages of ALS Disease to Support Early Diagnosis and Prognosis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11223569. [PMID: 36428998 PMCID: PMC9688239 DOI: 10.3390/cells11223569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common motor neuron disease. Since there are no pathognomonic tests for ALS prognoses; clinical diagnoses of the disease take time and are usually difficult. Prognostic biomarkers are urgently needed for rapid and effective ALS prognoses. Male albino rats were divided into ten groups based on age: 0 (40-45 days old), A (70-75 days old), B (90-95 days old), C (110-115 days old), and D (130-135 days old). Each group was divided into two subgroups according to its mutation status: wild type (SOD1WT) or mutated (SOD1G93A). Serum biochemistry and hematological parameters were measured in 90 rats to evaluate possible biomarkers for faster ALS diagnoses and prognoses. Weight loss, cholesterol, creatinine, glucose, total bilirubin (TBIL), blood urine nitrogen (BUN), c-peptide, glucagon, PYY, white blood cell (WBC), lymphocyte (LYM), monocyte (MID), granulocyte (GRAN), red cell distribution width with standard deviation (RDW-SD), red cell distribution width with the coefficient of variation (RDW-CV), platelet (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), and procalcitonin (PCT) levels were changed in the SOD1G93A rats compared to the SOD1WT rats independently from aging. For the first time in the literature, we showed promising hematological and serum biochemistry parameters in the pre-symptomatic and symptomatic stages of ALS by eliminating the effects of aging. Our results can be used for early diagnoses and prognoses of ALS, improving the quality of life and survival time of ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duygu Aydemir
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Koc University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Sariyer, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Selcuk Surucu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Koc University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
| | - Ayse Nazli Basak
- Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation, Neurodegeneration Research Laboratory, NDAL-KUTTAM, School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul 34010, Turkey
| | - Nuriye Nuray Ulusu
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Koc University, Sariyer, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Sariyer, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
- Correspondence:
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15
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Ghaffari LT, Trotti D, Haeusler AR, Jensen BK. Breakdown of the central synapses in C9orf72-linked ALS/FTD. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1005112. [PMID: 36187344 PMCID: PMC9523884 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1005112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease that leads to the death of motor and cortical neurons. The clinical manifestations of ALS are heterogenous, and efficacious treatments to significantly slow the progression of the disease are lacking. Cortical hyper-excitability is observed pre-symptomatically across disease-causative genetic variants, as well as in the early stages of sporadic ALS, and typically precedes motor neuron involvement and overt neurodegeneration. The causes of cortical hyper-excitability are not yet fully understood but is mainly agreed to be an early event. The identification of the nucleotide repeat expansion (GGGGCC)n in the C9ORF72 gene has provided evidence that ALS and another neurodegenerative disease, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), are part of a disease spectrum with common genetic origins. ALS and FTD are diseases in which synaptic dysfunction is reported throughout disease onset and stages of progression. It has become apparent that ALS/FTD-causative genes, such as C9ORF72, may have roles in maintaining the normal physiology of the synapse, as mutations in these genes often manifest in synaptic dysfunction. Here we review the dysfunctions of the central nervous system synapses associated with the nucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72 observed in patients, organismal, and cellular models of ALS and FTD.
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16
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Pain S, Brot S, Gaillard A. Neuroprotective Effects of Neuropeptide Y against Neurodegenerative Disease. Curr Neuropharmacol 2022; 20:1717-1725. [PMID: 34488599 PMCID: PMC9881060 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x19666210906120302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a 36 amino acid peptide, is widely expressed in the mammalian brain. Changes in NPY levels in different brain regions and plasma have been described in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Machado-Joseph disease. The changes in NPY levels may reflect the attempt to set up an endogenous neuroprotective mechanism to counteract the degenerative process. Accumulating evidence indicates that NPY can function as an anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and pro-phagocytic agent, which may be used effectively to halt or to slow down the progression of the disease. In this review, we will focus on the neuroprotective roles of NPY in several neuropathological conditions, with a particular focus on the anti-inflammatory properties of NPY.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie Pain
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques-LNEC INSERM U-1084, Université de Poitiers, LNEC,
F-86000 Poitiers, France; ,CHU Poitiers, Poitiers, F-86021, France
| | - Sébastien Brot
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques-LNEC INSERM U-1084, Université de Poitiers, LNEC,
F-86000 Poitiers, France;
| | - Afsaneh Gaillard
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques-LNEC INSERM U-1084, Université de Poitiers, LNEC,
F-86000 Poitiers, France; ,Address correspondence to this author at the Laboratoire de Neurosciences Expérimentales et Cliniques-LNEC INSERM U-1084, Université de Poitiers, LNEC, F-86000 Poitiers, France; E-mail:
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17
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Differential effects of invasive anodal trans-spinal direct current stimulation on monosynaptic EPSPs, Ia afferents excitability, and motoneuron intrinsic properties between SOD1 G93A and WT mice. Neuroscience 2022; 498:125-143. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.06.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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18
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Sommer D, Rajkumar S, Seidel M, Aly A, Ludolph A, Ho R, Boeckers TM, Catanese A. Aging-Dependent Altered Transcriptional Programs Underlie Activity Impairments in Human C9orf72-Mutant Motor Neurons. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:894230. [PMID: 35774867 PMCID: PMC9237792 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.894230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease characterized by dysfunction and loss of upper and lower motor neurons (MN). Despite several studies identifying drastic alterations affecting synaptic composition and functionality in different experimental models, the specific contribution of impaired activity to the neurodegenerative processes observed in ALS-related MN remains controversial. In particular, contrasting lines of evidence have shown both hyper- as well as hypoexcitability as driving pathomechanisms characterizing this specific neuronal population. In this study, we combined high definition multielectrode array (HD-MEA) techniques with transcriptomic analysis to longitudinally monitor and untangle the activity-dependent alterations arising in human C9orf72-mutant MN. We found a time-dependent reduction of neuronal activity in ALSC9orf72 cultures occurring as synaptic contacts undergo maturation and matched by a significant loss of mutant MN upon aging. Notably, ALS-related neurons displayed reduced network synchronicity most pronounced at later stages of culture, suggesting synaptic imbalance. In concordance with the HD-MEA data, transcriptomic analysis revealed an early up-regulation of synaptic terms in ALSC9orf72 MN, whose expression was decreased in aged cultures. In addition, treatment of older mutant cells with Apamin, a K+ channel blocker previously shown to be neuroprotective in ALS, rescued the time-dependent loss of firing properties observed in ALSC9orf72 MN as well as the expression of maturity-related synaptic genes. All in all, this study broadens the understanding of how impaired synaptic activity contributes to MN degeneration in ALS by correlating electrophysiological alterations to aging-dependent transcriptional programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sommer
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sandeep Rajkumar
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mira Seidel
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Amr Aly
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Albert Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Ritchie Ho
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Tobias M. Boeckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Alberto Catanese
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
- *Correspondence: Alberto Catanese,
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19
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Handley EE, Reale LA, Chuckowree JA, Dyer MS, Barnett GL, Clark CM, Bennett W, Dickson TC, Blizzard CA. Estrogen Enhances Dendrite Spine Function and Recovers Deficits in Neuroplasticity in the prpTDP-43A315T Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:2962-2976. [PMID: 35249200 PMCID: PMC9016039 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02742-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) attacks the corticomotor system, with motor cortex function affected early in disease. Younger females have a lower relative risk of succumbing to ALS than males and older females, implicating a role for female sex hormones in disease progression. However, the mechanisms driving this dimorphic incidence are still largely unknown. We endeavoured to determine if estrogen mitigates disease progression and pathogenesis, focussing upon the dendritic spine as a site of action. Using two-photon live imaging we identify, in the prpTDP-43A315T mouse model of ALS, that dendritic spines in the male motor cortex have a reduced capacity for remodelling than their wild-type controls. In contrast, females show higher capacity for remodelling, with peak plasticity corresponding to highest estrogen levels during the estrous cycle. Estrogen manipulation through ovariectomies and estrogen replacement with 17β estradiol in vivo was found to significantly alter spine density and mitigate disease severity. Collectively, these findings reveal that synpatic plasticity is reduced in ALS, which can be amelioriated with estrogen, in conjuction with improved disease outcomes.
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20
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Brahadeeswaran S, Sivagurunathan N, Calivarathan L. Inflammasome Signaling in the Aging Brain and Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:2288-2304. [PMID: 35066762 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02683-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Inflammasomes are intracellular protein complexes, members of the innate immune system, and their activation and regulation play an essential role in maintaining homeostatic conditions against exogenous and endogenous stimuli. Inflammasomes occur as cytosolic proteins and assemble into a complex during the recognition of pathogen-associated or danger-associated molecular patterns by pattern-recognition receptors in host cells. The formation of the inflammasome complex elicits signaling molecules of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β and interleukin 18 via activation of caspase-1 in the canonical inflammasome pathway whereas caspase-11 in the case of a mouse and caspase-4 and caspase-5 in the case of humans in the non-canonical inflammasome pathway, resulting in pyroptotic or inflammatory cell death which ultimately leads to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. Inflammasome activation, particularly in microglial cells and macrophages, has been linked to aging as well as age-related neurodegenerative diseases. The accumulation of abnormal/ misfolded proteins acts as a ligand for inflammasome activation in neurodegenerative diseases. Although recent studies have revealed the inflammasomes' functionality in both in vitro and in vivo models, many inflammasome signaling cascade activations during biological aging, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration are still ambiguous. In this review, we comprehensively unveil the cellular and molecular mechanisms of inflammasome activation during neuronal aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, prion disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhashini Brahadeeswaran
- Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Neelakudi Campus, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, 610005, India
| | - Narmadhaa Sivagurunathan
- Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Neelakudi Campus, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, 610005, India
| | - Latchoumycandane Calivarathan
- Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Neelakudi Campus, Thiruvarur, Tamil Nadu, 610005, India.
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21
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Pasniceanu IS, Atwal MS, Souza CDS, Ferraiuolo L, Livesey MR. Emerging Mechanisms Underpinning Neurophysiological Impairments in C9ORF72 Repeat Expansion-Mediated Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/Frontotemporal Dementia. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 15:784833. [PMID: 34975412 PMCID: PMC8715728 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.784833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are characterized by degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons and neurons of the prefrontal cortex. The emergence of the C9ORF72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion mutation as the leading genetic cause of ALS and FTD has led to a progressive understanding of the multiple cellular pathways leading to neuronal degeneration. Disturbances in neuronal function represent a major subset of these mechanisms and because such functional perturbations precede degeneration, it is likely that impaired neuronal function in ALS/FTD plays an active role in pathogenesis. This is supported by the fact that ALS/FTD patients consistently present with neurophysiological impairments prior to any apparent degeneration. In this review we summarize how the discovery of the C9ORF72 repeat expansion mutation has contributed to the current understanding of neuronal dysfunction in ALS/FTD. Here, we discuss the impact of the repeat expansion on neuronal function in relation to intrinsic excitability, synaptic, network and ion channel properties, highlighting evidence of conserved and divergent pathophysiological impacts between cortical and motor neurons and the influence of non-neuronal cells. We further highlight the emerging association between these dysfunctional properties with molecular mechanisms of the C9ORF72 mutation that appear to include roles for both, haploinsufficiency of the C9ORF72 protein and aberrantly generated dipeptide repeat protein species. Finally, we suggest that relating key pathological observations in C9ORF72 repeat expansion ALS/FTD patients to the mechanistic impact of the C9ORF72 repeat expansion on neuronal function will lead to an improved understanding of how neurophysiological dysfunction impacts upon pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris-Stefania Pasniceanu
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Manpreet Singh Atwal
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Cleide Dos Santos Souza
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Ferraiuolo
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew R Livesey
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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22
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Ziff OJ, Clarke BE, Taha DM, Crerar H, Luscombe NM, Patani R. Meta-analysis of human and mouse ALS astrocytes reveals multi-omic signatures of inflammatory reactive states. Genome Res 2022; 32:71-84. [PMID: 34963663 PMCID: PMC8744676 DOI: 10.1101/gr.275939.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes contribute to motor neuron death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but whether they adopt deleterious features consistent with inflammatory reactive states remains incompletely resolved. To identify inflammatory reactive features in ALS human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived astrocytes, we examined transcriptomics, proteomics, and glutamate uptake in VCP-mutant astrocytes. We complemented this by examining other ALS mutations and models using a systematic meta-analysis of all publicly-available ALS astrocyte sequencing data, which included hiPSC-derived astrocytes carrying SOD1, C9orf72, and FUS gene mutations as well as mouse ALS astrocyte models with SOD1G93A mutation, Tardbp deletion, and Tmem259 (also known as membralin) deletion. ALS astrocytes were characterized by up-regulation of genes involved in the extracellular matrix, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and the immune response and down-regulation of synaptic integrity, glutamate uptake, and other neuronal support processes. We identify activation of the TGFB, Wnt, and hypoxia signaling pathways in both hiPSC and mouse ALS astrocytes. ALS changes positively correlate with TNF, IL1A, and complement pathway component C1q-treated inflammatory reactive astrocytes, with significant overlap of differentially expressed genes. By contrasting ALS changes with models of protective reactive astrocytes, including middle cerebral artery occlusion and spinal cord injury, we uncover a cluster of genes changing in opposing directions, which may represent down-regulated homeostatic genes and up-regulated deleterious genes in ALS astrocytes. These observations indicate that ALS astrocytes augment inflammatory processes while concomitantly suppressing neuronal supporting mechanisms, thus resembling inflammatory reactive states and offering potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J Ziff
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin E Clarke
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Doaa M Taha
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21511, Egypt
| | - Hamish Crerar
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas M Luscombe
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
- UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
- Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Okinawa 904-0495, Japan
| | - Rickie Patani
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, United Kingdom
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom
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23
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Pajarillo E, Digman A, Nyarko-Danquah I, Son DS, Soliman KFA, Aschner M, Lee E. Astrocytic transcription factor REST upregulates glutamate transporter EAAT2, protecting dopaminergic neurons from manganese-induced excitotoxicity. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101372. [PMID: 34756885 PMCID: PMC8626589 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic exposure to high levels of manganese (Mn) leads to manganism, a neurological disorder with similar symptoms to those inherent to Parkinson's disease. However, the underlying mechanisms of this pathological condition have yet to be established. Since the human excitatory amino acid transporter 2 (EAAT2) (glutamate transporter 1 in rodents) is predominantly expressed in astrocytes and its dysregulation is involved in Mn-induced excitotoxic neuronal injury, characterization of the mechanisms that mediate the Mn-induced impairment in EAAT2 function is crucial for the development of novel therapeutics against Mn neurotoxicity. Repressor element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST) exerts protective effects in many neurodegenerative diseases. But the effects of REST on EAAT2 expression and ensuing neuroprotection are unknown. Given that the EAAT2 promoter contains REST binding sites, the present study investigated the role of REST in EAAT2 expression at the transcriptional level in astrocytes and Mn-induced neurotoxicity in an astrocyte–neuron coculture system. The results reveal that astrocytic REST positively regulates EAAT2 expression with the recruitment of an epigenetic modifier, cAMP response element-binding protein–binding protein/p300, to its consensus binding sites in the EAAT2 promoter. Moreover, astrocytic overexpression of REST attenuates Mn-induced reduction in EAAT2 expression, leading to attenuation of glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in the astrocyte–neuron coculture system. Our findings demonstrate that astrocytic REST plays a critical role in protection against Mn-induced neurotoxicity by attenuating Mn-induced EAAT2 repression and the ensuing excitotoxic dopaminergic neuronal injury. This indicates that astrocytic REST could be a potential molecular target for the treatment of Mn toxicity and other neurological disorders associated with EAAT2 dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Pajarillo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Alexis Digman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Ivan Nyarko-Danquah
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Deok-Soo Son
- Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Karam F A Soliman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA; Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition of the Institute for Personalized Medicine, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Eunsook Lee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA.
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24
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Hosaka T, Tsuji H, Kwak S. RNA Editing: A New Therapeutic Target in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Neurological Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222010958. [PMID: 34681616 PMCID: PMC8536083 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222010958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The conversion of adenosine to inosine in RNA editing (A-to-I RNA editing) is recognized as a critical post-transcriptional modification of RNA by adenosine deaminases acting on RNAs (ADARs). A-to-I RNA editing occurs predominantly in mammalian and human central nervous systems and can alter the function of translated proteins, including neurotransmitter receptors and ion channels; therefore, the role of dysregulated RNA editing in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases has been speculated. Specifically, the failure of A-to-I RNA editing at the glutamine/arginine (Q/R) site of the GluA2 subunit causes excessive permeability of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) receptors to Ca2+, inducing fatal status epilepticus and the neurodegeneration of motor neurons in mice. Therefore, an RNA editing deficiency at the Q/R site in GluA2 due to the downregulation of ADAR2 in the motor neurons of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients suggests that Ca2+-permeable AMPA receptors and the dysregulation of RNA editing are suitable therapeutic targets for ALS. Gene therapy has recently emerged as a new therapeutic opportunity for many heretofore incurable diseases, and RNA editing dysregulation can be a target for gene therapy; therefore, we reviewed neurological diseases associated with dysregulated RNA editing and a new therapeutic approach targeting dysregulated RNA editing, especially one that is effective in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Hosaka
- Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Ibaraki, Japan; (T.H.); (H.T.)
- Department of Internal Medicine, Tsukuba University Hospital Kensei Area Medical Education Center, Chikusei 308-0813, Ibaraki, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ibaraki Western Medical Center, Chikusei 308-0813, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tsuji
- Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Ibaraki, Japan; (T.H.); (H.T.)
| | - Shin Kwak
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-3-3342-6111
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25
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Guo C, Ma YY. Calcium Permeable-AMPA Receptors and Excitotoxicity in Neurological Disorders. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:711564. [PMID: 34483848 PMCID: PMC8416103 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.711564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitotoxicity is one of the primary mechanisms of cell loss in a variety of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Other than the previously established signaling pathways of excitotoxicity, which depend on the excessive release of glutamate from axon terminals or over-activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs), Ca2+ influx-triggered excitotoxicity through Ca2+-permeable (CP)-AMPA receptors (AMPARs) is detected in multiple disease models. In this review, both acute brain insults (e.g., brain trauma or spinal cord injury, ischemia) and chronic neurological disorders, including Epilepsy/Seizures, Huntington’s disease (HD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chronic pain, and glaucoma, are discussed regarding the CP-AMPAR-mediated excitotoxicity. Considering the low expression or absence of CP-AMPARs in most cells, specific manipulation of the CP-AMPARs might be a more plausible strategy to delay the onset and progression of pathological alterations with fewer side effects than blocking NMDARs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changyong Guo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Yao-Ying Ma
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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26
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Wright AL, Della Gatta PA, Le S, Berning BA, Mehta P, Jacobs KR, Gul H, San Gil R, Hedl TJ, Riddell WR, Watson O, Keating SS, Venturato J, Chung RS, Atkin JD, Lee A, Shi B, Blizzard CA, Morsch M, Walker AK. Riluzole does not ameliorate disease caused by cytoplasmic TDP-43 in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:6237-6255. [PMID: 34390052 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease commonly treated with riluzole, a small molecule that may act via modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. However, riluzole only modestly extends lifespan for people living with ALS, and its precise mechanisms of action remain unclear. Most ALS cases are characterised by accumulation of cytoplasmic TAR DNA binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43), and understanding the effects of riluzole in models that closely recapitulate TDP-43 pathology may provide insights for development of improved therapeutics. We therefore investigated the effects of riluzole in female transgenic mice that inducibly express nuclear localisation sequence (NLS)-deficient human TDP-43 in neurons (NEFH-tTA/tetO-hTDP-43ΔNLS, 'rNLS8', mice). Riluzole treatment from the first day of hTDP-43ΔNLS expression did not alter disease onset, weight loss or performance on multiple motor behavioural tasks. Riluzole treatment also did not alter TDP-43 protein levels, solubility or phosphorylation. Although we identified a significant decrease in GluA2 and GluA3 proteins in the cortex of rNLS8 mice, riluzole did not ameliorate this disease-associated molecular phenotype. Likewise, riluzole did not alter the disease-associated atrophy of hindlimb muscle in rNLS8 mice. Finally, riluzole treatment beginning after disease onset in rNLS8 mice similarly had no effect on progression of late-stage disease or animal survival. Together, we demonstrate specific glutamatergic receptor alterations and muscle fibre-type changes reminiscent of ALS in female rNLS8 mice, but riluzole had no effect on these or any other disease phenotypes. Future targeting of pathways related to accumulation of TDP-43 pathology may be needed to develop better treatments for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Wright
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paul A Della Gatta
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sheng Le
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Britt A Berning
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Prachi Mehta
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kelly R Jacobs
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hossai Gul
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rebecca San Gil
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Thomas J Hedl
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Winonah R Riddell
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Owen Watson
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sean S Keating
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Juliana Venturato
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Roger S Chung
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Albert Lee
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bingyang Shi
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Catherine A Blizzard
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Marco Morsch
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Adam K Walker
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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27
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Some CSF Kynurenine Pathway Intermediates Associated with Disease Evolution in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Biomolecules 2021; 11:biom11050691. [PMID: 34063031 PMCID: PMC8147980 DOI: 10.3390/biom11050691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the kynurenine pathway (KP) and amino acids profile, using mass spectrometry, in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 42 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients at the diagnosis and 40 controls to detect early disorders of these pathways. Diagnostic and predictive ability (based on weight loss, forced vital capacity, ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised evolution over 12 months, and survival time) of these metabolites were evaluated using univariate followed by supervised multivariate analysis. The multivariate model between ALS and controls was not significant but highlighted some KP metabolites (kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KYNA), 3-Hydroxynurenine (3-HK)/KYNA ratio), and amino acids (Lysine, asparagine) as involved in the discrimination between groups (accuracy 62%). It revealed a probable KP impairment toward neurotoxicity in ALS patients and in bulbar forms. Regarding the prognostic effect of metabolites, 12 were commonly discriminant for at least 3 of 4 disease evolution criteria. This investigation was crucial as it did not show significant changes in CSF concentrations of amino acids and KP intermediates in early ALS evolution. However, trends of KP modifications suggest further exploration. The unclear kinetics of neuroinflammation linked to KP support the interest in exploring these pathways during disease evolution through a longitudinal strategy.
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28
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Asakawa K, Handa H, Kawakami K. Multi-phaseted problems of TDP-43 in selective neuronal vulnerability in ALS. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:4453-4465. [PMID: 33709256 PMCID: PMC8195926 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03792-z] [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: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) encoded by the TARDBP gene is an evolutionarily conserved heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) that regulates multiple steps of RNA metabolism, and its cytoplasmic aggregation characterizes degenerating motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In most ALS cases, cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregation occurs in the absence of mutations in the coding sequence of TARDBP. Thus, a major challenge in ALS research is to understand the nature of pathological changes occurring in wild-type TDP-43 and to explore upstream events in intracellular and extracellular milieu that promote the pathological transition of TDP-43. Despite the inherent obstacles to analyzing TDP-43 dynamics in in vivo motor neurons due to their anatomical complexity and inaccessibility, recent studies using cellular and animal models have provided important mechanistic insights into potential links between TDP-43 and motor neuron vulnerability in ALS. This review is intended to provide an overview of the current literature on the function and regulation of TDP-43-containing RNP granules or membraneless organelles, as revealed by various models, and to discuss the potential mechanisms by which TDP-43 can cause selective vulnerability of motor neurons in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhide Asakawa
- Department of Chemical Biology, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan.
- Department of Genetics, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Handa
- Department of Chemical Biology, Tokyo Medical University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan
| | - Koichi Kawakami
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan
- Department of Genetics, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), 1111 Yata, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan
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29
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Lake J, Storm CS, Makarious MB, Bandres-Ciga S. Genetic and Transcriptomic Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Current Situation and the Road Ahead. Cells 2021; 10:1030. [PMID: 33925602 PMCID: PMC8170880 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are etiologically and clinically heterogeneous conditions, often reflecting a spectrum of disease rather than well-defined disorders. The underlying molecular complexity of these diseases has made the discovery and validation of useful biomarkers challenging. The search of characteristic genetic and transcriptomic indicators for preclinical disease diagnosis, prognosis, or subtyping is an area of ongoing effort and interest. The next generation of biomarker studies holds promise by implementing meaningful longitudinal and multi-modal approaches in large scale biobank and healthcare system scale datasets. This work will only be possible in an open science framework. This review summarizes the current state of genetic and transcriptomic biomarkers in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, providing a comprehensive landscape of recent literature and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Lake
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.L.); (M.B.M.)
| | - Catherine S. Storm
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK;
- UCL Movement Disorders Centre, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Mary B. Makarious
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.L.); (M.B.M.)
| | - Sara Bandres-Ciga
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (J.L.); (M.B.M.)
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30
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Neurophysiological Mechanisms Underlying Cortical Hyper-Excitability in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Review. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11050549. [PMID: 33925493 PMCID: PMC8145013 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11050549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromotor disease characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs), resulting in muscle paralysis and death. Early cortical hyper-excitability is a common pathological process observed clinically and in animal disease models. Although the mechanisms that underlie cortical hyper-excitability are not completely understood, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that cause enhanced neuronal intrinsic excitability and changes in excitatory and inhibitory synaptic activity are starting to emerge. Here, we review the evidence for an anterograde glutamatergic excitotoxic process, leading to cortical hyper-excitability via intrinsic cellular and synaptic mechanisms and for the role of interneurons in establishing disinhibition in clinical and experimental settings. Understanding the mechanisms that lead to these complex pathological processes will likely produce key insights towards developing novel therapeutic strategies to rescue upper MNs, thus alleviating the impact of this fatal disease.
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31
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Li Y, Wu Q, Hu E, Wang Y, Lu H. Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Metabolomes and Lipidomes for Tracking Changes and Therapeutic Response in Traumatic Brain Injury Surrounding Injured Area at Chronic Phase. ACS Chem Neurosci 2021; 12:1363-1375. [PMID: 33793210 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a complex disease process that may contribute to temporary or permanent disability. Tracking spatial changes of lipids and metabolites in the brain helps unveil the underlying mechanisms of the disease procession and therapeutic response. Here, the liquid microjunction surface sampling technique was used for mass spectrometry imaging of both lipids and metabolites in rat models of controlled cortical impact with and without XueFu ZhuYu decoction treatment, and the work was focused on the diffuse changes outside the injured area at chronic phase (14 days after injury). Quantitative information was provided for phosphotidylcholines and cerebrosides by adding internal standards in the sampling solvent. With principal component analysis for the imaging data, the midbrain was found to be the region with the largest diffuse changes following TBI outside the injured area. In detail, several phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidic acids, and diacylglycerols were found to be significantly up-regulated particularly in midbrain and thalamus after TBI and XFZY treatment. It is associated with the reported "self-repair" mechanisms at the chronic phase of TBI activated by neuroinflammation. Several glycosphingolipids were found to be increased in most of brain regions after TBI, which was inferred to be associated with neuroinflammation and oxidative stress triggered by TBI. Moreover, different classes of small matabolites were significantly changed after TBI, including fatty acids, amino acids, and purines. All these compounds were involved in 10 metabolic pathway networks, and 6 target proteins of XFZY were found related to the impacted pathways. These results shed light on the molecular mechanisms of TBI pathologic processes and therapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youmei Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, P. R. China
| | - Qian Wu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, P. R. China
| | - En Hu
- Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P. R. China
| | - Yang Wang
- Laboratory of Ethnopharmacology, Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410008, P. R. China
| | - Hongmei Lu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, P. R. China
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32
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Potential Roles of the WNT Signaling Pathway in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040839. [PMID: 33917816 PMCID: PMC8068170 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The WNT signaling pathway plays an important role in the physiological and pathophysiological processes of the central nervous system and the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We reviewed the literature pertinent to WNT/β–catenin signaling in ALS from cellular studies, animal models, and human clinical trials. WNT, WNT receptors, and other components of the WNT signaling pathway are expressed in both ALS patients and transgenic mice, and are involved in the pathogenesis of ALS. Studies have shown that abnormal activation of the WNT/β–catenin signaling pathway is related to neuronal degeneration and glial cell proliferation. WNT/Ca2+ signaling is associated with the pro–inflammatory phenotype of microglia; data on the muscle skeletal receptor Tyr kinase receptor in superoxide dismutase–1–G93A mice indicate that gene therapy is necessary for successful treatment of ALS. The varying profiles of lipoprotein receptor–related protein 4 antibodies in different ethnic groups suggest that individual treatment and multifactorial personalized approaches may be necessary for effective ALS therapy. In conclusion, the WNT signaling pathway is important to the ALS disease process, making it a likely therapeutic target.
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33
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Bączyk M, Alami NO, Delestrée N, Martinot C, Tang L, Commisso B, Bayer D, Doisne N, Frankel W, Manuel M, Roselli F, Zytnicki D. Synaptic restoration by cAMP/PKA drives activity-dependent neuroprotection to motoneurons in ALS. J Exp Med 2021; 217:151829. [PMID: 32484501 PMCID: PMC7398175 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20191734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Excessive excitation is hypothesized to cause motoneuron (MN) degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but actual proof of hyperexcitation in vivo is missing, and trials based on this concept have failed. We demonstrate, by in vivo single-MN electrophysiology, that, contrary to expectations, excitatory responses evoked by sensory and brainstem inputs are reduced in MNs of presymptomatic mutSOD1 mice. This impairment correlates with disrupted postsynaptic clustering of Homer1b, Shank, and AMPAR subunits. Synaptic restoration can be achieved by activation of the cAMP/PKA pathway, by either intracellular injection of cAMP or DREADD-Gs stimulation. Furthermore, we reveal, through independent control of signaling and excitability allowed by multiplexed DREADD/PSAM chemogenetics, that PKA-induced restoration of synapses triggers an excitation-dependent decrease in misfolded SOD1 burden and autophagy overload. In turn, increased MN excitability contributes to restoring synaptic structures. Thus, the decrease of excitation to MN is an early but reversible event in ALS. Failure of the postsynaptic site, rather than hyperexcitation, drives disease pathobiochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Bączyk
- Université de Paris, Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences (SPPIN), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Najwa Ouali Alami
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,International Graduate School in Molecular Medicine Ulm, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Nicolas Delestrée
- Université de Paris, Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences (SPPIN), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Clémence Martinot
- Université de Paris, Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences (SPPIN), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Linyun Tang
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Barbara Commisso
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - David Bayer
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms in Aging Research Training Group, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Nicolas Doisne
- Université de Paris, Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences (SPPIN), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Wayne Frankel
- Department of Genetics & Development, Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Marin Manuel
- Université de Paris, Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences (SPPIN), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ulm, Germany.,Neurozentrum Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniel Zytnicki
- Université de Paris, Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences (SPPIN), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
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34
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Tefera TW, Steyn FJ, Ngo ST, Borges K. CNS glucose metabolism in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a therapeutic target? Cell Biosci 2021; 11:14. [PMID: 33431046 PMCID: PMC7798275 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-020-00511-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily characterized by selective degeneration of both the upper motor neurons in the brain and lower motor neurons in the brain stem and the spinal cord. The exact mechanism for the selective death of neurons is unknown. A growing body of evidence demonstrates abnormalities in energy metabolism at the cellular and whole-body level in animal models and in people living with ALS. Many patients with ALS exhibit metabolic changes such as hypermetabolism and body weight loss. Despite these whole-body metabolic changes being observed in patients with ALS, the origin of metabolic dysregulation remains to be fully elucidated. A number of pre-clinical studies indicate that underlying bioenergetic impairments at the cellular level may contribute to metabolic dysfunctions in ALS. In particular, defects in CNS glucose transport and metabolism appear to lead to reduced mitochondrial energy generation and increased oxidative stress, which seem to contribute to disease progression in ALS. Here, we review the current knowledge and understanding regarding dysfunctions in CNS glucose metabolism in ALS focusing on metabolic impairments in glucose transport, glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway, TCA cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. We also summarize disturbances found in glycogen metabolism and neuroglial metabolic interactions. Finally, we discuss options for future investigations into how metabolic impairments can be modified to slow disease progression in ALS. These investigations are imperative for understanding the underlying causes of metabolic dysfunction and subsequent neurodegeneration, and to also reveal new therapeutic strategies in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tesfaye Wolde Tefera
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Frederik J Steyn
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Center for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Shyuan T Ngo
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Center for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Karin Borges
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
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35
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Kazama M, Kato Y, Kakita A, Noguchi N, Urano Y, Masui K, Niida-Kawaguchi M, Yamamoto T, Watabe K, Kitagawa K, Shibata N. Astrocytes release glutamate via cystine/glutamate antiporter upregulated in response to increased oxidative stress related to sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropathology 2020; 40:587-598. [PMID: 33305472 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
A vast body of evidence implicates increased oxidative stress and extracellular glutamate accumulation in the pathomechanism of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Cystine/glutamate antiporter (xCT) carries extracellular cystine uptake and intracellular glutamate release (cystine/glutamate exchange) in the presence of oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to determine the involvement of xCT in ALS. Immunohistochemical observations in the spinal cord sections demonstrated that xCT was mainly expressed in astrocytes, with staining more intense in 12 sporadic ALS patients as compared to 12 age-matched control individuals. Western blot and densitometric analyses of the spinal cord samples revealed that the relative value of xCT/β-actin optical density ratio was significantly higher in the ALS group as compared to the control group. Next, we conducted cell culture experiments using a human astrocytoma-derived cell line (1321N1) and a mouse motor neuron/neuroblastoma hybrid cell line (NSC34). In 1321N1 cells, the normalized xCT expression levels in cell lysates were significantly increased by H2 O2 treatment. Glutamate concentrations in 1321 N1 cell culture-conditioned media were significantly elevated by H2 O2 treatment, and the H2 O2 -driven elevations were completely canceled by the xCT inhibitor erastin pretreatment. In motor neuron-differentiated NSC34 cells (NSC34d cells), both the normalized xCT expression levels in the cell lysates and glutamate concentrations in the cell-conditioned media were constant with or without H2 O2 treatment. The present results provide in vivo and in vitro evidence that astrocytes upregulate xCT expression to release glutamate in response to increased oxidative stress associated with ALS, contributing to extracellular glutamate accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miku Kazama
- Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoichiro Kato
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Noriko Noguchi
- Department of Medical Life Systems, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan
| | - Yasuomi Urano
- Department of Medical Life Systems, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyotanabe, Japan
| | - Kenta Masui
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motoko Niida-Kawaguchi
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Yamamoto
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Watabe
- Department of Medical Technology, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kitagawa
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Shibata
- Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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36
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Liu Y, Wang S, Kan J, Zhang J, Zhou L, Huang Y, Zhang Y. Chinese Herbal Medicine Interventions in Neurological Disorder Therapeutics by Regulating Glutamate Signaling. Curr Neuropharmacol 2020; 18:260-276. [PMID: 31686629 PMCID: PMC7327939 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x17666191101125530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, and its signaling is critical for excitatory synaptic transmission. The well-established glutamate system involves glutamate synthesis, presynaptic glutamate release, glutamate actions on the ionotropic glutamate receptors (NMDA, AMPA, and kainate receptors) and metabotropic glutamate receptors, and glutamate uptake by glutamate transporters. When the glutamate system becomes dysfunctional, it contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, depression, epilepsy, and ischemic stroke. In this review, based on regulating glutamate signaling, we summarize the effects and underlying mechanisms of natural constituents from Chinese herbal medicines on neurological disorders. Natural constituents from Chinese herbal medicine can prevent the glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity via suppressing presynaptic glutamate release, decreasing ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors expression in the excitatory synapse, and promoting astroglial glutamate transporter expression to increase glutamate clearance from the synaptic cleft. However, some natural constituents from Chinese herbal medicine have the ability to restore the collapse of excitatory synapses by promoting presynaptic glutamate release and increasing ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors expression. These regulatory processes involve various signaling pathways, which lead to different mechanistic routes of protection against neurological disorders. Hence, our review addresses the underlying mechanisms of natural constituents from Chinese herbal medicines that regulate glutamate systems and serve as promising agents for the treatment of the above-mentioned neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China.,Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Shan Wang
- Department of Biology, Center of Pain Medicine and Medical School, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Jun Kan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jingzhi Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China
| | - Lisa Zhou
- Neuroscience Initiative, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, United States
| | - Yuli Huang
- Department of Cardiology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Shunde Foshan), Foshan 528300, China
| | - Yunlong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 511436, China.,Shenzhen Research Institute of Xiamen University, Shenzhen 518000, China
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Dyer MS, Reale LA, Lewis KE, Walker AK, Dickson TC, Woodhouse A, Blizzard CA. Mislocalisation of TDP-43 to the cytoplasm causes cortical hyperexcitability and reduced excitatory neurotransmission in the motor cortex. J Neurochem 2020; 157:1300-1315. [PMID: 33064315 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease pathologically characterised by mislocalisation of the RNA-binding protein TAR-DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Changes to neuronal excitability and synapse dysfunction in the motor cortex are early pathological changes occurring in people with ALS and mouse models of disease. To investigate the effect of mislocalised TDP-43 on the function of motor cortex neurons we utilised mouse models that express either human wild-type (TDP-43WT ) or nuclear localisation sequence-deficient TDP-43 (TDP-43ΔNLS ) on an inducible promoter that enriches expression to forebrain neurons. Pathophysiology was investigated through immunohistochemistry and whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology. Thirty days expression of TDP-43ΔNLS in adult mice did not cause any changes in the number of CTIP2-positive neurons in the motor cortex. However, at this time-point, the expression of TDP-43ΔNLS drives intrinsic hyperexcitability in layer V excitatory neurons of the motor cortex. This hyperexcitability occurs concomitantly with a decrease in excitatory synaptic input to these cells and fluctuations in both directions of ionotropic glutamate receptors. This pathophysiology is not present with TDP-43WT expression, demonstrating that the localisation of TDP-43 to the cytoplasm is crucial for the altered excitability phenotype. This study has important implications for the mechanisms of toxicity of one of the most notorious proteins linked to ALS, TDP-43. We provide the first evidence that TDP-43 mislocalisation causes aberrant synaptic function and a hyperexcitability phenotype in the motor cortex, linking some of the earliest dysfunctions to arise in people with ALS to mislocalisation of TDP-43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus S Dyer
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas, Australia
| | - Laura A Reale
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas, Australia
| | - Katherine E Lewis
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas, Australia
| | - Adam K Walker
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Tracey C Dickson
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas, Australia
| | - Adele Woodhouse
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas, Australia
| | - Catherine A Blizzard
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas, Australia
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38
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Goldshtein H, Muhire A, Petel Légaré V, Pushett A, Rotkopf R, Shefner JM, Peterson RT, Armstrong GAB, Russek‐ Blum N. Efficacy of Ciprofloxacin/Celecoxib combination in zebrafish models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:1883-1897. [PMID: 32915525 PMCID: PMC7545590 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a fixed-dose combination of two approved drugs, Ciprofloxacin and Celecoxib, as a potential therapeutic treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS Toxicity and efficacy of Ciprofloxacin and Celecoxib were tested, each alone and in distinct ratio combinations in SOD1 G93R transgenic zebrafish model for ALS. Quantification of swimming measures following stimuli, measurements of axonal projections from the spinal cord, neuromuscular junction structure and morphometric analysis of microglia cells were performed in the combination- treated vs nontreated mutant larvae. Additionally, quantifications of touch-evoked locomotor escape response were conducted in treated vs nontreated zebrafish expressing the TARDBP G348C ALS variant. RESULTS When administered individually, Ciprofloxacin had a mild effect and Celecoxib had no therapeutic effect. However, combined Ciprofloxacin and Celecoxib (Cipro/Celecox) treatment caused a significant increase of ~ 84% in the distance the SOD1 G93R transgenic larvae swam. Additionally, Cipro/Celecox elicited recovery of impaired motor neurons morphology and abnormal neuromuscular junction structure and preserved the ramified morphology of microglia cells in the SOD1 mutants. Furthermore, larvae expressing the TDP-43 mutation displayed evoked touch responses that were significantly longer in swim distance (110% increase) and significantly higher in maximal swim velocity (~44% increase) when treated with Cipro/Celecox combination. INTERPRETATION Cipro/Celecox combination improved locomotor and cellular deficits of ALS zebrafish models. These results identify this novel combination as effective, and may prove promising for the treatment of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagit Goldshtein
- The Dead Sea Arava Science CenterAuspices of Ben Gurion UniversityCentral Arava86815Israel
| | - Alexandre Muhire
- The Dead Sea Arava Science CenterAuspices of Ben Gurion UniversityCentral Arava86815Israel
| | - Virginie Petel Légaré
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMontreal Neurological InstituteFaculty of MedicineMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH3A 0G4Canada
| | - Avital Pushett
- NeuroSense Therapeutics LtdMedinat Hayehudim 85Herzeliya4676670Israel
| | - Ron Rotkopf
- Bioinformatics and Biological Computing UnitLife Sciences Core FacilitiesWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovot7610001Israel
| | - Jeremy M. Shefner
- Barrow Neurological Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, Creighton University College of Medicine PhoenixPhoenixAZ85013USA
| | | | - Gary A. B. Armstrong
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMontreal Neurological InstituteFaculty of MedicineMcGill UniversityMontrealQCH3A 0G4Canada
| | - Niva Russek‐ Blum
- The Dead Sea Arava Science CenterAuspices of Ben Gurion UniversityCentral Arava86815Israel
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Le Gall L, Anakor E, Connolly O, Vijayakumar UG, Duddy WJ, Duguez S. Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms Affected in ALS. J Pers Med 2020; 10:E101. [PMID: 32854276 PMCID: PMC7564998 DOI: 10.3390/jpm10030101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a terminal late-onset condition characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Mutations in more than 30 genes are associated to the disease, but these explain only ~20% of cases. The molecular functions of these genes implicate a wide range of cellular processes in ALS pathology, a cohesive understanding of which may provide clues to common molecular mechanisms across both familial (inherited) and sporadic cases and could be key to the development of effective therapeutic approaches. Here, the different pathways that have been investigated in ALS are summarized, discussing in detail: mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, axonal transport dysregulation, glutamate excitotoxicity, endosomal and vesicular transport impairment, impaired protein homeostasis, and aberrant RNA metabolism. This review considers the mechanistic roles of ALS-associated genes in pathology, viewed through the prism of shared molecular pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Le Gall
- Northern Ireland Center for Stratified/Personalised Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Derry-Londonderry BT47, UK; (L.L.G.); (E.A.); (O.C.); (U.G.V.); (W.J.D.)
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Ekene Anakor
- Northern Ireland Center for Stratified/Personalised Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Derry-Londonderry BT47, UK; (L.L.G.); (E.A.); (O.C.); (U.G.V.); (W.J.D.)
| | - Owen Connolly
- Northern Ireland Center for Stratified/Personalised Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Derry-Londonderry BT47, UK; (L.L.G.); (E.A.); (O.C.); (U.G.V.); (W.J.D.)
| | - Udaya Geetha Vijayakumar
- Northern Ireland Center for Stratified/Personalised Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Derry-Londonderry BT47, UK; (L.L.G.); (E.A.); (O.C.); (U.G.V.); (W.J.D.)
| | - William J. Duddy
- Northern Ireland Center for Stratified/Personalised Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Derry-Londonderry BT47, UK; (L.L.G.); (E.A.); (O.C.); (U.G.V.); (W.J.D.)
| | - Stephanie Duguez
- Northern Ireland Center for Stratified/Personalised Medicine, Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Ulster University, Derry-Londonderry BT47, UK; (L.L.G.); (E.A.); (O.C.); (U.G.V.); (W.J.D.)
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40
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Michalska P, León R. When It Comes to an End: Oxidative Stress Crosstalk with Protein Aggregation and Neuroinflammation Induce Neurodegeneration. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9080740. [PMID: 32806679 PMCID: PMC7463521 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9080740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a progressive loss of neurons in the brain or spinal cord that leads to a loss of function of the affected areas. The lack of effective treatments and the ever-increasing life expectancy is raising the number of individuals affected, having a tremendous social and economic impact. The brain is particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage given the high energy demand, low levels of antioxidant defenses, and high levels of metal ions. Driven by age-related changes, neurodegeneration is characterized by increased oxidative stress leading to irreversible neuronal damage, followed by cell death. Nevertheless, neurodegenerative diseases are known as complex pathologies where several mechanisms drive neuronal death. Herein we discuss the interplay among oxidative stress, proteinopathy, and neuroinflammation at the early stages of neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we discuss the use of the Nrf2-ARE pathway as a potential therapeutic strategy based on these molecular mechanisms to develop transformative medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrycja Michalska
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando y Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (P.M.); (R.L.); Tel.: +34-91-497-27-66 (P.M. & R.L.)
| | - Rafael León
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando y Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Química Médica, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IQM-CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence: (P.M.); (R.L.); Tel.: +34-91-497-27-66 (P.M. & R.L.)
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41
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Aydemir D, Ulusu NN. Importance of the serum biochemical parameters as potential biomarkers for rapid diagnosis and evaluating preclinical stage of ALS. Med Hypotheses 2020; 141:109736. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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42
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Gunes ZI, Kan VWY, Ye X, Liebscher S. Exciting Complexity: The Role of Motor Circuit Elements in ALS Pathophysiology. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:573. [PMID: 32625051 PMCID: PMC7311855 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease, characterized by the degeneration of both upper and lower motor neurons. Despite decades of research, we still to date lack a cure or disease modifying treatment, emphasizing the need for a much-improved insight into disease mechanisms and cell type vulnerability. Altered neuronal excitability is a common phenomenon reported in ALS patients, as well as in animal models of the disease, but the cellular and circuit processes involved, as well as the causal relevance of those observations to molecular alterations and final cell death, remain poorly understood. Here, we review evidence from clinical studies, cell type-specific electrophysiology, genetic manipulations and molecular characterizations in animal models and culture experiments, which argue for a causal involvement of complex alterations of structure, function and connectivity of different neuronal subtypes within the cortical and spinal cord motor circuitries. We also summarize the current knowledge regarding the detrimental role of astrocytes and reassess the frequently proposed hypothesis of glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity with respect to changes in neuronal excitability. Together, these findings suggest multifaceted cell type-, brain area- and disease stage- specific disturbances of the excitation/inhibition balance as a cardinal aspect of ALS pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep I Gunes
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Biomedical Center, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Vanessa W Y Kan
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Biomedical Center, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - XiaoQian Ye
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Biomedical Center, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Liebscher
- Institute of Clinical Neuroimmunology, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Biomedical Center, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, Munich, Germany.,Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
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43
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Bereman MS, Kirkwood KI, Sabaretnam T, Furlong S, Rowe DB, Guillemin GJ, Mellinger AL, Muddiman DC. Metabolite Profiling Reveals Predictive Biomarkers and the Absence of β-Methyl Amino-l-alanine in Plasma from Individuals Diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. J Proteome Res 2020; 19:3276-3285. [PMID: 32418425 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
By employing chip-based capillary zone electrophoresis coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry, we profiled the plasma metabolome of 134 patients diagnosed with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (81 males and 53 females) and 118 individuals deemed healthy (49 males and 69 females). The most significant markers (p < 0.01) were creatine, which was 49% elevated, and creatinine and methylhistidine, which were decreased by 20 and 24%, respectively, in ALS patients. The ratio of creatine versus creatinine increased 370 and 200% for male and female ALS patients, respectively. In addition, male ALS patients on an average had 5-13% lower amounts of seven essential amino acids, whereas females did not significantly differ from healthy controls. We developed two models using the metabolite abundances: (1) a classification model for the separation of ALS and healthy samples and (2) a classification model for the prediction of disease progression based on the ALS functional rating score. Utilizing a Monte Carlo cross-validation approach, a linear discriminant analysis model achieved a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.85 (0.06) with a mean sensitivity of 80% (9%) and specificity of 78% (10%) for the separation of ALS and controls, respectively. A support vector machine classifier predicted progression categories with an AUC of 0.90 (0.06) with a mean sensitivity of 73% (10%) and a specificity of 86% (5%). Lastly, using a previously reported assay with a stable isotope-labeled (13C315N2) spike-in standard, we were unable to detect the exogenous neurotoxic metabolite, β-methylamino-l-alanine, in the free or protein-bound fraction of any of the 252 plasma samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Bereman
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States.,Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States.,Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Kaylie I Kirkwood
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Tharani Sabaretnam
- The Centre for MND Research Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Sarah Furlong
- The Centre for MND Research Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Dominic B Rowe
- The Centre for MND Research Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Gilles J Guillemin
- The Centre for MND Research Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Allyson L Mellinger
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - David C Muddiman
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States.,Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States.,Molecular Education, Technology and Research Innovation Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
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Dafinca R, Barbagallo P, Farrimond L, Candalija A, Scaber J, Ababneh NA, Sathyaprakash C, Vowles J, Cowley SA, Talbot K. Impairment of Mitochondrial Calcium Buffering Links Mutations in C9ORF72 and TARDBP in iPS-Derived Motor Neurons from Patients with ALS/FTD. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 14:892-908. [PMID: 32330447 PMCID: PMC7220989 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 dysfunction is common to 97% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases, including those with mutations in C9orf72. To investigate how C9ORF72 mutations drive cellular pathology in ALS and to identify convergent mechanisms between C9ORF72 and TARDBP mutations, we analyzed motor neurons (MNs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with ALS. C9ORF72 iPSC-MNs have higher Ca2+ release after depolarization, delayed recovery to baseline after glutamate stimulation, and lower levels of calbindin compared with CRISPR/Cas9 genome-edited controls. TARDBP iPS-derived MNs show high glutamate-induced Ca2+ release. We identify here, by RNA sequencing, that both C9ORF72 and TARDBP iPSC-MNs have upregulation of Ca2+-permeable AMPA and NMDA subunits and impairment of mitochondrial Ca2+ buffering due to an imbalance of MICU1 and MICU2 on the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter, indicating that impaired mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake contributes to glutamate excitotoxicity and is a shared feature of MNs with C9ORF72 or TARDBP mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxandra Dafinca
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
| | - Paola Barbagallo
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Lucy Farrimond
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Ana Candalija
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Jakub Scaber
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Nida'a A Ababneh
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Cell Therapy Center, University of Jordan, Queen Rania St, 11942 Amman, Jordan
| | - Chaitra Sathyaprakash
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Jane Vowles
- James Martin Stem Cell Facility Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Sally A Cowley
- James Martin Stem Cell Facility Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
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45
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Christoforidou E, Joilin G, Hafezparast M. Potential of activated microglia as a source of dysregulated extracellular microRNAs contributing to neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:135. [PMID: 32345319 PMCID: PMC7187511 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01822-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron degeneration in adults, and several mechanisms underlying the disease pathology have been proposed. It has been shown that glia communicate with other cells by releasing extracellular vesicles containing proteins and nucleic acids, including microRNAs (miRNAs), which play a role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Dysregulation of miRNAs is commonly observed in ALS patients, together with inflammation and an altered microglial phenotype. However, the role of miRNA-containing vesicles in microglia-to-neuron communication in the context of ALS has not been explored in depth. This review summarises the evidence for the presence of inflammation, pro-inflammatory microglia and dysregulated miRNAs in ALS, then explores how microglia may potentially be responsible for this miRNA dysregulation. The possibility of pro-inflammatory ALS microglia releasing miRNAs which may then enter neuronal cells to contribute to degeneration is also explored. Based on the literature reviewed here, microglia are a likely source of dysregulated miRNAs and potential mediators of neurodegenerative processes. Therefore, dysregulated miRNAs may be promising candidates for the development of therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Greig Joilin
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
| | - Majid Hafezparast
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK.
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46
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Rei N, Rombo DM, Ferreira MF, Baqi Y, Müller CE, Ribeiro JA, Sebastião AM, Vaz SH. Hippocampal synaptic dysfunction in the SOD1 G93A mouse model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Reversal by adenosine A 2AR blockade. Neuropharmacology 2020; 171:108106. [PMID: 32311420 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) mostly affects motor neurons, but non-motor neural and cognitive alterations have been reported in ALS mouse models and patients. Here, we evaluated if time-dependent biphasic changes in synaptic transmission and plasticity occur in hippocampal synapses of ALS SOD1G93A mice. Recordings were performed in hippocampal slices of SOD1G93A and age-matched WT mice, in the pre-symptomatic and symptomatic stages. We found an enhancement of pre-synaptic function and increased adenosine A2A receptor levels in the hippocampus of pre-symptomatic mice. In contrast, in symptomatic mice, there was an impairment of long-term potentiation (LTP) and a decrease in NMDA receptor-mediated synaptic currents, with A2AR levels also being increased. Chronic treatment with the A2AR antagonist KW-6002, rescued LTP and A2AR values. Altogether, these findings suggest an increase in synaptic function during the pre-symptomatic stage, followed by a decrease in synaptic plasticity in the symptomatic stage, which involves over-activation of A2AR from early disease stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Rei
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - D M Rombo
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M F Ferreira
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Y Baqi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sultan Qaboos University, PO Box 36, Postal Code 123, Muscat, Oman
| | - C E Müller
- Pharma-Zentrum Bonn, Pharmazeutisches Institut, Pharmazeutische Chemie I, University of Bonn, Germany
| | - J A Ribeiro
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - A M Sebastião
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - S H Vaz
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
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Bursch F, Kalmbach N, Naujock M, Staege S, Eggenschwiler R, Abo-Rady M, Japtok J, Guo W, Hensel N, Reinhardt P, Boeckers TM, Cantz T, Sterneckert J, Van Den Bosch L, Hermann A, Petri S, Wegner F. Altered calcium dynamics and glutamate receptor properties in iPSC-derived motor neurons from ALS patients with C9orf72, FUS, SOD1 or TDP43 mutations. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:2835-2850. [PMID: 31108504 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The fatal neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by a profound loss of motor neurons (MNs). Until now only riluzole minimally extends life expectancy in ALS, presumably by inhibiting glutamatergic neurotransmission and calcium overload of MNs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the glutamate receptor properties and key aspects of intracellular calcium dynamics in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived MNs from ALS patients with C9orf72 (n = 4 cell lines), fused in sarcoma (FUS) (n = 9), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) (n = 3) or transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43) (n = 3) mutations as well as healthy (n = 7 cell lines) and isogenic controls (n = 3). Using calcium imaging, we most frequently observed spontaneous transients in mutant C9orf72 MNs. Basal intracellular calcium levels and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)-induced signal amplitudes were elevated in mutant TDP43 MNs. Besides, a majority of mutant TDP43 MNs responded to 3.5-dihydroxyphenylglycine as metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist. Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated significantly increased expression levels of AMPA and kainate receptors in mutant FUS cells compared to healthy and isogenic controls. Furthermore, the expression of kainate receptors and voltage gated calcium channels in mutant C9orf72 MNs as well as metabotropic glutamate receptors in mutant SOD1 cells was markedly elevated compared to controls. Our data of iPSC-derived MNs from familial ALS patients revealed several mutation-specific alterations in glutamate receptor properties and calcium dynamics that could play a role in ALS pathogenesis and may lead to future translational strategies with individual stratification of neuroprotective ALS treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Bursch
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Norman Kalmbach
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Maximilian Naujock
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Selma Staege
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Reto Eggenschwiler
- Research Group Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Julia Japtok
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Wenting Guo
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven-University of Leuven, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB-Center for Brain & Disease Research, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niko Hensel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias Cantz
- Research Group Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven-University of Leuven, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB-Center for Brain & Disease Research, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Florian Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
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48
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Choroid plexus LAT2 and SNAT3 as partners in CSF amino acid homeostasis maintenance. Fluids Barriers CNS 2020; 17:17. [PMID: 32046769 PMCID: PMC7014681 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-020-0178-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is mainly produced by the choroid plexus (CP) located in brain ventricles. Although derived from blood plasma, it is nearly protein-free (~ 250-fold less) and contains about 2-20-fold less free amino acids, with the exception of glutamine (Gln) which is nearly equal. The aim of this study was to determine which amino acid transporters are expressed in mouse CP epithelium in order to gain understanding about how this barrier maintains the observed amino acid concentration gradient. METHODS Expression of amino acid transporters was assessed in isolated choroid plexuses (CPs) by qRT-PCR followed by localization studies using immunofluorescence with specific antibodies. The impact of LAT2 (Slc7a8) antiporter deletion on CSF amino acids was determined. RESULTS The purity of isolated choroid plexuses was tested on the mRNA level using specific markers, in particular transthyretin (Ttr) that was enriched 330-fold in CP compared to cerebral tissue. In a first experimental round, 14 out of 32 Slc amino acid transporters tested on the mRNA level by qPCR were selected for further investigation. Out of these, five were considered highly expressed, SNAT1 (Slc38a1), SNAT3 (Slc38a3), LAT2 (Slc7a8), ASC1 (Slc7a10) and SIT1 (Slc6a20b). Three of them were visualized by immunofluorescence: SNAT1 (Slc38a1), a neutral amino acid-Na+ symporter, found at the blood side basolateral membrane of CP epithelium, while SNAT3 (Slc38a3), an amino acid-Na+ symporter and H+ antiporter, as well as LAT2 (Slc7a8), a neutral amino acid antiporter, were localized at the CSF-facing luminal membrane. In a LAT2 knock-out mouse model, CSF Gln was unchanged, whereas other amino acids normally 2-20-fold lower than in plasma, were increased, in particular the LAT2 uptake substrates leucine (Leu), valine (Val) and tryptophan (Trp) and some other amino acids such as glutamate (Glu), glycine (Gly) and proline (Pro). CONCLUSION These results suggest that Gln is actively transported by SNAT1 from the blood into CP epithelial cells and then released luminally into CSF via SNAT3 and LAT2. Its efflux via LAT2 may drive the reuptake from the CSF of essential amino acid substrates of this antiporter and thereby participates to maintaining the amino acid gradient between plasma and CSF.
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49
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Niida-Kawaguchi M, Kakita A, Noguchi N, Kazama M, Masui K, Kato Y, Yamamoto T, Sawada T, Kitagawa K, Watabe K, Shibata N. Soluble iron accumulation induces microglial glutamate release in the spinal cord of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropathology 2019; 40:152-166. [PMID: 31883180 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies on sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS) demonstrated iron accumulation in the spinal cord and increased glutamate concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid. To clarify the relationship between the two phenomena, we first performed quantitative and morphological analyses of substances related to iron and glutamate metabolism using spinal cords obtained at autopsy from 12 SALS patients and 12 age-matched control subjects. Soluble iron content determined by the Ferrozine method as well as ferritin (Ft) and glutaminase C (GLS-C) expression levels on Western blots were significantly higher in the SALS group than in the control group, while ferroportin (FPN) levels on Western blots were significantly reduced in the SALS group as compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in aconitase 1 (ACO1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα)-converting enzyme (TACE) levels on Western blots between the two groups. Immunohistochemically, Ft, ACO1, TACE, TNFα, and GLS-C were proven to be selectively expressed in microglia. Immunoreactivities for FPN and hepcidin were localized in neuronal and glial cells. Based on these observations, it is predicted that soluble iron may stimulate microglial glutamate release. To address this issue, cell culture experiments were carried out on a microglial cell line (BV-2). Treatment of BV-2 cells with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) brought about significant increases in intracellular soluble iron and Ft expression levels and conditioned medium glutamate and TNFα concentrations. Glutamate concentration was also significantly increased in conditioned media of TNFα-treated BV-2 cells. While the FAC-driven increases in glutamate and TNFα release were completely canceled by pretreatment with ACO1 and TACE inhibitors, respectively, the TNFα-driven increase in glutamate release was completely canceled by GLS-C inhibitor pretreatment. Moreover, treatment of BV-2 cells with hepcidin resulted in a significant reduction in FPN expression levels on Western blots of the intracellular total protein extracts. The present results provide in vivo and in vitro evidence that microglial glutamate release in SALS spinal cords is enhanced by intracellular soluble iron accumulation-induced activation of ACO1 and TACE and by increased extracellular TNFα-stimulated GLS-C upregulation, and suggest a positive feedback mechanism to maintain increased intracellular soluble iron levels, involving TNFα, hepcidin, and FPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motoko Niida-Kawaguchi
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Noriko Noguchi
- Department of Medical Life Systems, Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences, Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Miku Kazama
- Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenta Masui
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoichiro Kato
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Yamamoto
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Sawada
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuo Kitagawa
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Watabe
- Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyorin University, Mitaka, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Shibata
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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50
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Malik AR, Willnow TE. Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters in Physiology and Disorders of the Central Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225671. [PMID: 31726793 PMCID: PMC6888459 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) encompass a class of five transporters with distinct expression in neurons and glia of the central nervous system (CNS). EAATs are mainly recognized for their role in uptake of the amino acid glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter. EAATs-mediated clearance of glutamate released by neurons is vital to maintain proper glutamatergic signalling and to prevent toxic accumulation of this amino acid in the extracellular space. In addition, some EAATs also act as chloride channels or mediate the uptake of cysteine, required to produce the reactive oxygen speciesscavenger glutathione. Given their central role in glutamate homeostasis in the brain, as well as their additional activities, it comes as no surprise that EAAT dysfunctions have been implicated in numerous acute or chronic diseases of the CNS, including ischemic stroke and epilepsy, cerebellar ataxias, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease. Here we review the studies in cellular and animal models, as well as in humans that highlight the roles of EAATs in the pathogenesis of these devastating disorders. We also discuss the mechanisms regulating EAATs expression and intracellular trafficking and new exciting possibilities to modulate EAATs and to provide neuroprotection in course of pathologies affecting the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna R. Malik
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
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