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Tosolini AP, Sleigh JN, Surana S, Rhymes ER, Cahalan SD, Schiavo G. BDNF-dependent modulation of axonal transport is selectively impaired in ALS. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:121. [PMID: 35996201 PMCID: PMC9396851 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01418-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Axonal transport ensures long-range delivery of essential cargoes between proximal and distal compartments, and is needed for neuronal development, function, and survival. Deficits in axonal transport have been detected at pre-symptomatic stages in the SOD1G93A and TDP-43M337V mouse models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), suggesting that impairments in this critical process are fundamental for disease pathogenesis. Strikingly, in ALS, fast motor neurons (FMNs) degenerate first whereas slow motor neurons (SMNs) are more resistant, and this is a currently unexplained phenomenon. The main aim of this investigation was to determine the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on in vivo axonal transport in different α-motor neuron (MN) subtypes in wild-type (WT) and SOD1G93A mice. We report that despite displaying similar basal transport speeds, stimulation of wild-type MNs with BDNF enhances in vivo trafficking of signalling endosomes specifically in FMNs. This BDNF-mediated enhancement of transport was also observed in primary ventral horn neuronal cultures. However, FMNs display selective impairment of axonal transport in vivo in symptomatic SOD1G93A mice, and are refractory to BDNF stimulation, a phenotype that was also observed in primary embryonic SOD1G93A neurons. Furthermore, symptomatic SOD1G93A mice display upregulation of the classical non-pro-survival truncated TrkB and p75NTR receptors in muscles, sciatic nerves, and Schwann cells. Altogether, these data indicate that cell- and non-cell autonomous BDNF signalling is impaired in SOD1G93A MNs, thus identifying a new key deficit in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Tosolini
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK. .,UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - James N Sleigh
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Sunaina Surana
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Elena R Rhymes
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.,UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Stephen D Cahalan
- Comparative Neuromuscular Disease Laboratory, Department of Clinical Sciences and Services, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, NW1 0TU, UK
| | - Giampietro Schiavo
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK. .,UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK. .,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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Shepheard SR, Wuu J, Cardoso M, Wiklendt L, Dinning PG, Chataway T, Schultz D, Benatar M, Rogers ML. Urinary p75 ECD: A prognostic, disease progression, and pharmacodynamic biomarker in ALS. Neurology 2017; 88:1137-1143. [PMID: 28228570 PMCID: PMC5373786 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000003741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate urinary neurotrophin receptor p75 extracellular domain (p75ECD) levels as disease progression and prognostic biomarkers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: The population in this study comprised 45 healthy controls and 54 people with ALS, 31 of whom were sampled longitudinally. Urinary p75ECD was measured using an enzyme-linked immunoassay and validation included intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation, effect of circadian rhythm, and stability over time at room temperature, 4°C, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Longitudinal changes in urinary p75ECD were examined by mixed model analysis, and the prognostic value of baseline p75ECD was explored by survival analysis. Results: Confirming our previous findings, p75ECD was higher in patients with ALS (5.6 ± 2.2 ng/mg creatinine) compared to controls (3.6 ± 1.4 ng/mg creatinine, p < 0.0001). Assay reproducibility was high, with p75ECD showing stability across repeated freeze-thaw cycles, at room temperature and 4°C for 2 days, and no diurnal variation. Urinary p75ECD correlated with the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale at first evaluation (r = −0.44, p = 0.008) and across all study visits (r = −0.36, p < 0.0001). p75ECD also increased as disease progressed at an average rate of 0.19 ng/mg creatinine per month (p < 0.0001). In multivariate prognostic analysis, bulbar onset (hazard ratio [HR] 3.0, p = 0.0035), rate of disease progression from onset to baseline (HR 4.4, p < 0.0001), and baseline p75ECD (HR 1.3, p = 0.0004) were predictors of survival. Conclusions: The assay for urinary p75ECD is analytically robust and shows promise as an ALS biomarker with prognostic, disease progression, and potential pharmacodynamic application. Baseline urinary p75ECD provides prognostic information and is currently the only biological fluid–based biomarker of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie R Shepheard
- From the Department of Human Physiology & Centre for Neuroscience (S.R.S., L.W., T.C., M.-L.R.), Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre (P.G.D.), and Department of Human Physiology, Centre for Neuroscience (P.G.D.), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Neurology (J.W., M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL; and Neurology Department and MND Clinic (D.S.), Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia
| | - Joanne Wuu
- From the Department of Human Physiology & Centre for Neuroscience (S.R.S., L.W., T.C., M.-L.R.), Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre (P.G.D.), and Department of Human Physiology, Centre for Neuroscience (P.G.D.), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Neurology (J.W., M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL; and Neurology Department and MND Clinic (D.S.), Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia
| | - Michell Cardoso
- From the Department of Human Physiology & Centre for Neuroscience (S.R.S., L.W., T.C., M.-L.R.), Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre (P.G.D.), and Department of Human Physiology, Centre for Neuroscience (P.G.D.), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Neurology (J.W., M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL; and Neurology Department and MND Clinic (D.S.), Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia
| | - Luke Wiklendt
- From the Department of Human Physiology & Centre for Neuroscience (S.R.S., L.W., T.C., M.-L.R.), Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre (P.G.D.), and Department of Human Physiology, Centre for Neuroscience (P.G.D.), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Neurology (J.W., M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL; and Neurology Department and MND Clinic (D.S.), Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia
| | - Phil G Dinning
- From the Department of Human Physiology & Centre for Neuroscience (S.R.S., L.W., T.C., M.-L.R.), Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre (P.G.D.), and Department of Human Physiology, Centre for Neuroscience (P.G.D.), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Neurology (J.W., M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL; and Neurology Department and MND Clinic (D.S.), Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia
| | - Tim Chataway
- From the Department of Human Physiology & Centre for Neuroscience (S.R.S., L.W., T.C., M.-L.R.), Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre (P.G.D.), and Department of Human Physiology, Centre for Neuroscience (P.G.D.), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Neurology (J.W., M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL; and Neurology Department and MND Clinic (D.S.), Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia
| | - David Schultz
- From the Department of Human Physiology & Centre for Neuroscience (S.R.S., L.W., T.C., M.-L.R.), Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre (P.G.D.), and Department of Human Physiology, Centre for Neuroscience (P.G.D.), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Neurology (J.W., M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL; and Neurology Department and MND Clinic (D.S.), Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia
| | - Michael Benatar
- From the Department of Human Physiology & Centre for Neuroscience (S.R.S., L.W., T.C., M.-L.R.), Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre (P.G.D.), and Department of Human Physiology, Centre for Neuroscience (P.G.D.), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Neurology (J.W., M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL; and Neurology Department and MND Clinic (D.S.), Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.
| | - Mary-Louise Rogers
- From the Department of Human Physiology & Centre for Neuroscience (S.R.S., L.W., T.C., M.-L.R.), Department of Gastroenterology and Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre (P.G.D.), and Department of Human Physiology, Centre for Neuroscience (P.G.D.), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia; Department of Neurology (J.W., M.B.), Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, FL; and Neurology Department and MND Clinic (D.S.), Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia.
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Pehar M, Harlan BA, Killoy KM, Vargas MR. Role and Therapeutic Potential of Astrocytes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Curr Pharm Des 2017; 23:5010-5021. [PMID: 28641533 PMCID: PMC5740017 DOI: 10.2174/1381612823666170622095802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 06/04/2017] [Accepted: 06/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brain stem, and motor cortex. The molecular mechanism underlying the progressive degeneration of motor neuron remains uncertain but involves a non-cell autonomous process. In acute injury or degenerative diseases astrocytes adopt a reactive phenotype known as astrogliosis. Astrogliosis is a complex remodeling of astrocyte biology and most likely represents a continuum of potential phenotypes that affect neuronal function and survival in an injury-specific manner. In ALS patients, reactive astrocytes surround both upper and lower degenerating motor neurons and play a key role in the pathology. It has become clear that astrocytes play a major role in ALS pathology. Through loss of normal function or acquired new characteristics, astrocytes are able to influence motor neuron fate and the progression of the disease. The use of different cell culture models indicates that ALS-astrocytes are able to induce motor neuron death by secreting a soluble factor(s). Here, we discuss several pathogenic mechanisms that have been proposed to explain astrocyte-mediated motor neuron death in ALS. In addition, examples of strategies that revert astrocyte-mediated motor neuron toxicity are reviewed to illustrate the therapeutic potential of astrocytes in ALS. Due to the central role played by astrocytes in ALS pathology, therapies aimed at modulating astrocyte biology may contribute to the development of integral therapeutic approaches to halt ALS progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Pehar
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Benjamin A. Harlan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Kelby M. Killoy
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Marcelo R. Vargas
- Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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Kassa RM, Bonafede R, Boschi F, Bentivoglio M, Mariotti R. Effect of physical exercise and anabolic steroid treatment on spinal motoneurons and surrounding glia of wild-type and ALS mice. Brain Res 2016; 1657:269-278. [PMID: 28048973 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Motoneuron degeneration is the hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The cause and predisposing factors for sporadic ALS are still unknown. Exposure to a specific environmental risk factors in subjects with a susceptibility genotype may increase the risk of the disease. The role of physical activity and the use of anabolic steroids are still debated in epidemiological studies on patients and murine models of ALS. To assess at the cellular level the role (beneficial or detrimental) of physical exercise and the use of anabolic steroid, we here investigated, in SOD1(G93A) (mSOD1) mice and wild-type littermates, changes in the ventral horn after regular exercise, treatment with the anabolic androgenic steroid 19-nortestosterone (nandrolone), and their combination, compared with matched control sedentary mice. The experiments were pursued for several weeks until symptom onset in mSOD1 mice. Lumbar motoneurons, astrocytes and microglia were analyzed. In wild-type mice, cytological alterations of motoneurons were observed especially after nandrolone treatment. The following main findings were observed in treated mSOD1 mice versus untreated ones: i) nandrolone treatment markedly enhanced motoneuron loss; this detrimental effect was reverted by the combination with exercise, resulting in increased motoneuron survival; ii) astrocytic activation was most marked after nandrolone treatment when motoneuron damage was most severe; iii) microglia activation was most marked after physical exercise when motoneuron damage was less severe. The results indicate a vulnerability of mSOD1 motoneurons to nandrolone treatment, a potential neuroprotective effect of physical exercise, and a modulation by glial cells in the ALS murine model in the examined paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman M Kassa
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Roberta Bonafede
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Federico Boschi
- Department of Computer Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marina Bentivoglio
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Raffaella Mariotti
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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