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Schuster KH, Zalon AJ, DiFranco DM, Putka AF, Stec NR, Jarrah SI, Naeem A, Haque Z, Zhang H, Guan Y, McLoughlin HS. ASOs are an effective treatment for disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures in premanifest and symptomatic SCA3 mice. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1359-1372. [PMID: 38429929 PMCID: PMC11081874 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.02.033] [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: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common dominantly inherited ataxia. Currently, no preventive or disease-modifying treatments exist for this progressive neurodegenerative disorder, although efforts using gene silencing approaches are under clinical trial investigation. The disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the mutant gene, ATXN3, producing an enlarged polyglutamine tract in the mutant protein. Similar to other paradigmatic neurodegenerative diseases, studies evaluating the pathogenic mechanism focus primarily on neuronal implications. Consequently, therapeutic interventions often overlook non-neuronal contributions to disease. Our lab recently reported that oligodendrocytes display some of the earliest and most progressive dysfunction in SCA3 mice. Evidence of disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures has also been reported in other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. Here, we assess the effects of anti-ATXN3 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment on oligodendrocyte dysfunction in premanifest and symptomatic SCA3 mice. We report a severe, but modifiable, deficit in oligodendrocyte maturation caused by the toxic gain-of-function of mutant ATXN3 early in SCA3 disease that is transcriptionally, biochemically, and functionally rescued with anti-ATXN3 ASO. Our results highlight the promising use of an ASO therapy across neurodegenerative diseases that requires glial targeting in addition to affected neuronal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen H Schuster
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Annie J Zalon
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Alexandra F Putka
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Nicholas R Stec
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sabrina I Jarrah
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Arsal Naeem
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Zaid Haque
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Hanrui Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yuanfang Guan
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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2
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Tejwani L, Ravindra NG, Lee C, Cheng Y, Nguyen B, Luttik K, Ni L, Zhang S, Morrison LM, Gionco J, Xiang Y, Yoon J, Ro H, Haidery F, Grijalva RM, Bae E, Kim K, Martuscello RT, Orr HT, Zoghbi HY, McLoughlin HS, Ranum LPW, Shakkottai VG, Faust PL, Wang S, van Dijk D, Lim J. Longitudinal single-cell transcriptional dynamics throughout neurodegeneration in SCA1. Neuron 2024; 112:362-383.e15. [PMID: 38016472 PMCID: PMC10922326 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.10.039] [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: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegeneration is a protracted process involving progressive changes in myriad cell types that ultimately results in the death of vulnerable neuronal populations. To dissect how individual cell types within a heterogeneous tissue contribute to the pathogenesis and progression of a neurodegenerative disorder, we performed longitudinal single-nucleus RNA sequencing of mouse and human spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) cerebellar tissue, establishing continuous dynamic trajectories of each cell population. Importantly, we defined the precise transcriptional changes that precede loss of Purkinje cells and, for the first time, identified robust early transcriptional dysregulation in unipolar brush cells and oligodendroglia. Finally, we applied a deep learning method to predict disease state accurately and identified specific features that enable accurate distinction of wild-type and SCA1 cells. Together, this work reveals new roles for diverse cerebellar cell types in SCA1 and provides a generalizable analysis framework for studying neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Tejwani
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Neal G Ravindra
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Changwoo Lee
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Yubao Cheng
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Billy Nguyen
- University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Kimberly Luttik
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Luhan Ni
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Shupei Zhang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Logan M Morrison
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - John Gionco
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Yangfei Xiang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | | | - Hannah Ro
- Yale College, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | | | - Rosalie M Grijalva
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | | | - Kristen Kim
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Regina T Martuscello
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Hayley S McLoughlin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Laura P W Ranum
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Center for Neurogenetics, College of Medicine, Genetics Institute, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Vikram G Shakkottai
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Phyllis L Faust
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Siyuan Wang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - David van Dijk
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Computer Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Janghoo Lim
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Wu Tsai Institute, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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Shorrock HK, Lennon CD, Aliyeva A, Davey EE, DeMeo CC, Pritchard CE, Planco L, Velez JM, Mascorro-Huamancaja A, Shin DS, Cleary JD, Berglund JA. Widespread alternative splicing dysregulation occurs presymptomatically in CAG expansion spinocerebellar ataxias. Brain 2024; 147:486-504. [PMID: 37776516 PMCID: PMC10834251 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad329] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a group of dominantly inherited neurodegenerative diseases, several of which are caused by CAG expansion mutations (SCAs 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 12) and more broadly belong to the large family of over 40 microsatellite expansion diseases. While dysregulation of alternative splicing is a well defined driver of disease pathogenesis across several microsatellite diseases, the contribution of alternative splicing in CAG expansion SCAs is poorly understood. Furthermore, despite extensive studies on differential gene expression, there remains a gap in our understanding of presymptomatic transcriptomic drivers of disease. We sought to address these knowledge gaps through a comprehensive study of 29 publicly available RNA-sequencing datasets. We identified that dysregulation of alternative splicing is widespread across CAG expansion mouse models of SCAs 1, 3 and 7. These changes were detected presymptomatically, persisted throughout disease progression, were repeat length-dependent, and were present in brain regions implicated in SCA pathogenesis including the cerebellum, pons and medulla. Across disease progression, changes in alternative splicing occurred in genes that function in pathways and processes known to be impaired in SCAs, such as ion channels, synaptic signalling, transcriptional regulation and the cytoskeleton. We validated several key alternative splicing events with known functional consequences, including Trpc3 exon 9 and Kcnma1 exon 23b, in the Atxn1154Q/2Q mouse model. Finally, we demonstrated that alternative splicing dysregulation is responsive to therapeutic intervention in CAG expansion SCAs with Atxn1 targeting antisense oligonucleotide rescuing key splicing events. Taken together, these data demonstrate that widespread presymptomatic dysregulation of alternative splicing in CAG expansion SCAs may contribute to disease onset, early neuronal dysfunction and may represent novel biomarkers across this devastating group of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudia D Lennon
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Asmer Aliyeva
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Biology, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Emily E Davey
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Cristina C DeMeo
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | | | - Lori Planco
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Jose M Velez
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Biology, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | | | - Damian S Shin
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY 12208, USA
| | - John D Cleary
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - J Andrew Berglund
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- Department of Biology, University at Albany—SUNY, Albany, NY 12222, USA
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4
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Chen Y, Jin Y, Hu Z, Qiu M, Li D, Cai Q, Tao C, Lou D, Qi L, Chen S, Yu H, Gao Z. Association Between Serum Neurofilament Light Chain and Neurochemistry Deficits in Patients with Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 23:92-100. [PMID: 36598718 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01507-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Extensive evidence supports the claim that the serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) can be used as a biomarker to monitor disease severity in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). However, little is known about the associations between sNfL levels and neurochemical alterations in SCA3 patients. In this study, we performed a cross-sectional study to analyze the association between sNfL and brain metabolic changes in SCA3 patients. The severity of ataxia was assessed by using the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). The sNfL levels and brain metabolic changes, represented by N-acetyl aspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) and choline complex (Cho)/Cr ratios, were measured by a single-molecule array and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy, respectively. In this cohort, we observed consistently elevated sNfL levels and reduced brain metabolites in the cerebellar hemispheres, dentate nucleus, and cerebellar vermis. However, this correlation was further validated in the cerebellar cortex after analysis using pairwise comparisons and a Bonferroni correction. Taken together, our results further confirmed that sNfL levels were increased in SCA3 patients and were negatively correlated with metabolic changes in the cerebellar cortex. Our data also support the idea that sNfL levels are a promising potential complementary biomarker for patients with SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchao Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, 126 Wenzhou Rd, Hangzhou, China
- Translational Medicine Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Jin
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, 126 Wenzhou Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhouyao Hu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, 126 Wenzhou Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengqiu Qiu
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, 126 Wenzhou Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, 126 Wenzhou Rd, Hangzhou, China
- Translational Medicine Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiusi Cai
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, 126 Wenzhou Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chenjuan Tao
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, 126 Wenzhou Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Danning Lou
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, 126 Wenzhou Rd, Hangzhou, China
| | - Le Qi
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sidan Chen
- Department of Radiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Neurology and Department of Medical Genetics in Second Affiliated Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Zhongming Gao
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, 126 Wenzhou Rd, Hangzhou, China.
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5
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Pérot JB, Niewiadomska-Cimicka A, Brouillet E, Trottier Y, Flament J. Longitudinal MRI and 1H-MRS study of SCA7 mouse forebrain reveals progressive multiregional atrophy and early brain metabolite changes indicating early neuronal and glial dysfunction. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296790. [PMID: 38227598 PMCID: PMC10790999 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
SpinoCerebellar Ataxia type 7 (SCA7) is an inherited disorder caused by CAG triplet repeats encoding polyglutamine expansion in the ATXN7 protein, which is part of the transcriptional coactivator complex SAGA. The mutation primarily causes neurodegeneration in the cerebellum and retina, as well as several forebrain structures. The SCA7140Q/5Q knock-in mouse model recapitulates key disease features, including loss of vision and motor performance. To characterize the temporal progression of brain degeneration of this model, we performed a longitudinal study spanning from early to late symptomatic stages using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and in vivo 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS). Compared to wild-type mouse littermates, MRI analysis of SCA7 mice shows progressive atrophy of defined brain structures, with the striatum, thalamus and cortex being the first and most severely affected. The volume loss of these structures coincided with increased motor impairments in SCA7 mice, suggesting an alteration of the sensory-motor network, as observed in SCA7 patients. MRI also reveals atrophy of the hippocampus and anterior commissure at mid-symptomatic stage and the midbrain and brain stem at late stage. 1H-MRS of hippocampus, a brain region previously shown to be dysfunctional in patients, reveals early and progressive metabolic alterations in SCA7 mice. Interestingly, abnormal glutamine accumulation precedes the hippocampal atrophy and the reduction in myo-inositol and total N-acetyl-aspartate concentrations, two markers of glial and neuronal damage, respectively. Together, our results indicate that non-cerebellar alterations and glial and neuronal metabolic impairments may play a crucial role in the development of SCA7 mouse pathology, particularly at early stages of the disease. Degenerative features of forebrain structures in SCA7 mice correspond to current observations made in patients. Our study thus provides potential biomarkers that could be used for the evaluation of future therapeutic trials using the SCA7140Q/5Q model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Pérot
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Fontenay-aux-Roses, 92260, France
- Institut du Cerveau–Paris Brain Institute–ICM, Sorbonne Université, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Anna Niewiadomska-Cimicka
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7104, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, 67404, France
| | - Emmanuel Brouillet
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Fontenay-aux-Roses, 92260, France
| | - Yvon Trottier
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7104, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, U964, Illkirch, 67404, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, 67404, France
| | - Julien Flament
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Fontenay-aux-Roses, 92260, France
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6
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McLoughlin HS, Gundry K, Rainwater O, Schuster KH, Wellik IG, Zalon AJ, Benneyworth MA, Eberly LE, Öz G. Antisense Oligonucleotide Silencing Reverses Abnormal Neurochemistry in Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3 Mice. Ann Neurol 2023; 94:658-671. [PMID: 37243335 PMCID: PMC10543567 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26713] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common dominantly inherited ataxia, and biomarkers are needed to noninvasively monitor disease progression and treatment response. Anti-ATXN3 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment has been shown to mitigate neuropathology and rescue motor phenotypes in SCA3 mice. Here, we investigated whether repeated ASO administration reverses brainstem and cerebellar neurochemical abnormalities by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). METHODS Symptomatic SCA3 mice received intracerebroventricular treatment of ASO or vehicle and were compared to wild-type vehicle-treated littermates. To quantify neurochemical changes in treated mice, longitudinal 9.4T MRS of cerebellum and brainstem was performed. Acquired magnetic resonance (MR) group means were analyzed by 2-way analysis of variance mixed-effects sex-adjusted analysis with post hoc Sidak correlation for multiple comparisons. Pearson correlations were used to relate SCA3 pathology and behavior. RESULTS MR spectra yielded 15 to 16 neurochemical concentrations in the cerebellum and brainstem. ASO treatment in SCA3 mice resulted in significant total choline rescue and partial reversals of taurine, glutamine, and total N-acetylaspartate across both regions. Some ASO-rescued neurochemicals correlated with reduction in diseased protein and nuclear ATXN3 accumulation. ASO-corrected motor activity correlated with total choline and total N-acetylaspartate levels early in disease. INTERPRETATION SCA3 mouse cerebellar and brainstem neurochemical trends parallel those in patients with SCA3. Decreased total choline may reflect oligodendrocyte abnormalities, decreased total N-acetylaspartate highlights neuronal health disturbances, and high glutamine may indicate gliosis. ASO treatment fully or partially reversed select neurochemical abnormalities in SCA3 mice, indicating the potential for these measures to serve as noninvasive treatment biomarkers in future SCA3 gene silencing trials. ANN NEUROL 2023;94:658-671.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katherine Gundry
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Orion Rainwater
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Isabel G. Wellik
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Annie J. Zalon
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Lynn E. Eberly
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Mengel D, Wellik IG, Schuster KH, Jarrah SI, Wacker M, Ashraf NS, Öz G, Synofzik M, Costa MDC, McLoughlin HS. Blood levels of neurofilament light are associated with disease progression in a mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050144. [PMID: 37664882 PMCID: PMC10499033 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050144] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased neurofilament light (NfL; NEFL) protein in biofluids is reflective of neurodegeneration and has gained interest as a biomarker across neurodegenerative diseases. In spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), the most common dominantly inherited ataxia, patients exhibit progressive NfL increases in peripheral blood when becoming symptomatic, and NfL remains stably elevated throughout further disease course. However, progressive NfL changes are not yet validated in relevant preclinical SCA3 animal models, hindering its application as a biomarker during therapeutic development. We used ultra-sensitive single-molecule array (Simoa) to measure blood NfL over disease progression in YACQ84 mice, a model of SCA3, assessing relationships with measures of disease severity including age, CAG repeat size and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. YACQ84 mice exhibited plasma NfL increases that were concomitant with ataxia-related motor deficits as well as increased serum NfL, which correlated with previously established neurometabolite abnormalities, two relevant measures of disease in patients with SCA3. Our findings establish the progression of NfL increases in the preclinical YACQ84 mouse, further supporting the utility of blood NfL as a peripheral neurodegeneration biomarker and informing on coinciding timelines of different measures of SCA3 pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Mengel
- Research Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076,Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Isabel G. Wellik
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Kristen H. Schuster
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Sabrina I. Jarrah
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Madeleine Wacker
- Research Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076,Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
| | - Naila S. Ashraf
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200, USA
| | - Gülin Öz
- Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, Department of Radiology, Medical School, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Research Division Translational Genomics of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research and Center of Neurology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076,Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), University of Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Germany
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8
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Mou HZ, Pan J, Zhao CL, Xing L, Mo Y, Kang B, Chen HY, Xu JJ. Nanometer Resolution Mass Spectro-Microtomography for In-Depth Anatomical Profiling of Single Cells. ACS NANO 2023. [PMID: 37184339 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c01449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Visually identifying the molecular changes in single cells is of great importance for unraveling fundamental cellular functions as well as disease mechanisms. Herein, we demonstrated a mass spectro-microtomography with an optimal voxel resolution of ∼300 × 300 × 25 nm3, which enables three-dimensional tomography of chemical substances in single cells. This mass imaging method allows for the distinguishment of abundant endogenous and exogenous molecules in subcellular structures. Combined with statistical analysis, we demonstrated this method for spatial metabolomics analysis of drug distribution and subsequent molecular damages caused by intracellular drug action. More interestingly, thanks to the nanoprecision ablation depth (∼12 nm), we realized metabolomics profiling of cell membrane without the interference of cytoplasm and improved the distinction of cancer cells from normal cells. Our current method holds great potential to be a powerful tool for spatially resolved single-cell metabolomics analysis of chemical components during complex biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Zhang Mou
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jianbin Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Cong-Lin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Lei Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuxiang Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Low-Dimensional Quantum Physics, Department of Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bin Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Hong-Yuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jing-Juan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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9
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Putka AF, Mato JP, McLoughlin HS. Myelinating Glia: Potential Therapeutic Targets in Polyglutamine Spinocerebellar Ataxias. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040601. [PMID: 36831268 PMCID: PMC9953858 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040601] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Human studies, in combination with animal and cellular models, support glial cells as both major contributors to neurodegenerative diseases and promising therapeutic targets. Among glial cells, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells are the myelinating glial cells of the central and peripheral nervous system, respectively. In this review, we discuss the contributions of these central and peripheral myelinating glia to the pathomechanisms of polyglutamine (polyQ) spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) types 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 17. First, we highlight the function of oligodendrocytes in healthy conditions and how they are disrupted in polyQ SCA patients and diseased model systems. We then cover the role of Schwann cells in peripheral nerve function and repair as well as their possible role in peripheral neuropathy in polyQ SCAs. Finally, we discuss potential polyQ SCA therapeutic interventions in myelinating glial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra F. Putka
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Juan P. Mato
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Hayley S. McLoughlin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Correspondence:
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10
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Schuster KH, DiFranco DM, Putka AF, Mato JP, Jarrah SI, Stec NR, Sundararajan VO, McLoughlin HS. Disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures are spatiotemporally dysregulated in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1118429. [PMID: 36875652 PMCID: PMC9975394 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1118429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the ATXN3 gene. Though the ATXN3 protein is expressed ubiquitously throughout the CNS, regional pathology in SCA3 patients is observed within select neuronal populations and more recently within oligodendrocyte-rich white matter tracts. We have previously recapitulated these white matter abnormalities in an overexpression mouse model of SCA3 and demonstrated that oligodendrocyte maturation impairments are one of the earliest and most progressive changes in SCA3 pathogenesis. Disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures have recently emerged as significant contributors to several other neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease, but their role in regional vulnerability and disease progression remains unexplored. Here, we are the first to comparatively assess myelination in human tissue in a region-dependent manner. Translating these findings to SCA3 mouse models of disease, we confirmed endogenous expression of mutant Atxn3 leads to regional transcriptional dysregulation of oligodendrocyte maturation markers in Knock-In models of SCA3. We then investigated the spatiotemporal progression of mature oligodendrocyte transcriptional dysregulation in an overexpression SCA3 mouse model and how it relates to the onset of motor impairment. We further determined that regional reduction in mature oligodendrocyte cell counts in SCA3 mice over time parallels the onset and progression of brain atrophy in SCA3 patients. This work emphasizes the prospective contributions of disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures to regional vulnerability and could inform timepoints and target regions imperative for biomarker assessment and therapeutic intervention in several neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen H Schuster
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Danielle M DiFranco
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Alexandra F Putka
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Juan P Mato
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sabrina I Jarrah
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Nicholas R Stec
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Hayley S McLoughlin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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11
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Ding Y, Zhang Y, Liu X. Combinational treatments of RNA interference and extracellular vesicles in the spinocerebellar ataxia. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1043947. [PMID: 36311034 PMCID: PMC9606576 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1043947] [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: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease (ND) with a high mortality rate. Symptomatic treatment is the only clinically adopted treatment. However, it has poor effect and serious complications. Traditional diagnostic methods [such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] have drawbacks. Presently, the superiority of RNA interference (RNAi) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) in improving SCA has attracted extensive attention. Both can serve as the potential biomarkers for the diagnosing and monitoring disease progression. Herein, we analyzed the basis and prospect of therapies for SCA. Meanwhile, we elaborated the development and application of miRNAs, siRNAs, shRNAs, and EVs in the diagnosis and treatment of SCA. We propose the combination of RNAi and EVs to avoid the adverse factors of their respective treatment and maximize the benefits of treatment through the technology of EVs loaded with RNA. Obviously, the combinational therapy of RNAi and EVs may more accurately diagnose and cure SCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Ding
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuehong Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
- *Correspondence: Xuehong Liu,
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12
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Schuster KH, Putka AF, McLoughlin HS. Pathogenetic Mechanisms Underlying Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 Are Altered in Primary Oligodendrocyte Culture. Cells 2022; 11:cells11162615. [PMID: 36010688 PMCID: PMC9406561 DOI: 10.3390/cells11162615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence has implicated non-neuronal cells, particularly oligodendrocytes, in the pathophysiology of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease and Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3). We recently demonstrated that cell-autonomous dysfunction of oligodendrocyte maturation is one of the of the earliest and most robust changes in vulnerable regions of the SCA3 mouse brain. However, the cell- and disease-specific mechanisms that underlie oligodendrocyte dysfunction remain poorly understood and are difficult to isolate in vivo. In this study, we used primary oligodendrocyte cultures to determine how known pathogenic SCA3 mechanisms affect this cell type. We isolated oligodendrocyte progenitor cells from 5- to 7-day-old mice that overexpress human mutant ATXN3 or lack mouse ATXN3 and differentiated them for up to 5 days in vitro. Utilizing immunocytochemistry, we characterized the contributions of ATXN3 toxic gain-of-function and loss-of-function in oligodendrocyte maturation, protein quality pathways, DNA damage signaling, and methylation status. We illustrate the utility of primary oligodendrocyte culture for elucidating cell-specific pathway dysregulation relevant to SCA3. Given recent work demonstrating disease-associated oligodendrocyte signatures in other neurodegenerative diseases, this novel model has broad applicability in revealing mechanistic insights of oligodendrocyte contribution to pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexandra F. Putka
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Hayley S. McLoughlin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Correspondence:
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13
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Jansen-West K, Todd TW, Daughrity LM, Yue M, Tong J, Carlomagno Y, Del Rosso G, Kurti A, Jones CY, Dunmore JA, Castanedes-Casey M, Dickson DW, Wszolek ZK, Fryer JD, Petrucelli L, Prudencio M. Plasma PolyQ-ATXN3 Levels Associate With Cerebellar Degeneration and Behavioral Abnormalities in a New AAV-Based SCA3 Mouse Model. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:863089. [PMID: 35386195 PMCID: PMC8977414 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.863089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a dominantly inherited cerebellar ataxia caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat in the gene encoding ATXN3. The polyQ expansion induces protein inclusion formation in the neurons of patients and results in neuronal degeneration in the cerebellum and other brain regions. We used adeno-associated virus (AAV) technology to develop a new mouse model of SCA3 that recapitulates several features of the human disease, including locomotor defects, cerebellar-specific neuronal loss, polyQ-expanded ATXN3 inclusions, and TDP-43 pathology. We also found that neurofilament light is elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of the SCA3 animals, and the expanded polyQ-ATXN3 protein can be detected in the plasma. Interestingly, the levels of polyQ-ATXN3 in plasma correlated with measures of cerebellar degeneration and locomotor deficits in 6-month-old SCA3 mice, supporting the hypothesis that this factor could act as a biomarker for SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Jansen-West
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Tiffany W. Todd
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Neurobiology of Disease Graduate Program, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | | | - Mei Yue
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Jimei Tong
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Yari Carlomagno
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Neurobiology of Disease Graduate Program, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Giulia Del Rosso
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Neurobiology of Disease Graduate Program, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Aishe Kurti
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Caroline Y. Jones
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Judith A. Dunmore
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | | | - Dennis W. Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Neurobiology of Disease Graduate Program, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | | | - John D. Fryer
- Neurobiology of Disease Graduate Program, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, United States
| | - Leonard Petrucelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Neurobiology of Disease Graduate Program, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Mercedes Prudencio
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Neurobiology of Disease Graduate Program, Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
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14
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Miranda CO, Nobre RJ, Paiva VH, Duarte JV, Castelhano J, Petrella LI, Sereno J, Santana M, Afonso S, Januário C, Castelo-Branco M, de Almeida LP. Cerebellar morphometric and spectroscopic biomarkers for Machado-Joseph Disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:37. [PMID: 35305685 PMCID: PMC8933766 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01329-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) or Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common form of dominant SCA worldwide. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS) provide promising non-invasive diagnostic and follow-up tools, also serving to evaluate therapies efficacy. However, pre-clinical studies showing relationship between MRI-MRS based biomarkers and functional performance are missing, which hampers an efficient clinical translation of therapeutics. This study assessed motor behaviour, neurochemical profiles, and morphometry of the cerebellum of MJD transgenic mice and patients aiming at establishing magnetic-resonance-based biomarkers. 1H-MRS and structural MRI measurements of MJD transgenic mice were performed with a 9.4 Tesla scanner, correlated with motor performance on rotarod and compared with data collected from human patients. We found decreased cerebellar white and grey matter and enlargement of the fourth ventricle in both MJD mice and human patients as compared to controls. N-acetylaspartate (NAA), NAA + N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAA + NAAG), Glutamate, and Taurine, were significantly decreased in MJD mouse cerebellum regardless of age, whereas myo-Inositol (Ins) was increased at early time-points. Lower neurochemical ratios levels (NAA/Ins and NAA/total Choline), previously correlated with worse clinical status in SCAs, were also observed in MJD mice cerebella. NAA, NAA + NAAG, Glutamate, and Taurine were also positively correlated with MJD mice motor performance. Importantly, these 1H-MRS results were largely analogous to those found for MJD in human studies and in our pilot data in human patients. We have established a magnetic resonance-based biomarker approach to monitor novel therapies in preclinical studies and human clinical trials.
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15
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Li M, Chen X, Xu HL, Huang Z, Chen N, Tu Y, Gan S, Hu J. Brain structural abnormalities in the preclinical stage of Machado-Joseph disease/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (MJD/SCA3): evaluation by MRI morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging. J Neurol 2021; 269:2989-2998. [PMID: 34783886 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10890-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) could provide the added value for detecting brain microstructural alterations in the preclinical stage of Machado-Joseph disease/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (MJD/SCA3) compared with MRI morphometry and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). METHODS Twenty preclinical MJD/SCA3 patients and 21 healthy controls were enrolled. Three b values DWI and 3D T1-weighted images were acquired at 3.0 T. Tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) approach was used to investigate the white matter (WM) alterations in the DTI metrics and NODDI metrics. Gray matter-based spatial statistics (GBSS) approach was used to investigate the grey matter (GM) alterations in the NODDI metrics. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) approach was performed on the 3D T1-weighted images. The relationship between the cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat length and brain microstructural alterations of preclinical MJD/SCA3 was identified. RESULTS Compared with healthy controls, the preclinical MJD/SCA3 patients showed decreased FA and NDI as well as increased MD, AD, and RD in the WM of cerebellum and brainstem (corrected P < 0.05), and decreased NDI in the GM of cerebellar vermis (corrected P < 0.05). The CAG repeat length in preclinical MJD/SCA3 patients was negatively correlated with the reduced FA and NDI of the infratentorial WM and the reduced NDI of the cerebellum, and positively with the increased MD and RD of the infratentorial WM. CONCLUSIONS NOODI can provide novel quantitative microstructural changes in MJD/SCA3 carriers, expanding our understanding of the gray and white matter (axons and dendrites) degeneration in this frequent ataxia syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengcheng Li
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 ChaZhong Rd, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyuan Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao-Ling Xu
- Department of Neurology, 900th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ziqiang Huang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 ChaZhong Rd, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Naping Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 ChaZhong Rd, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqing Tu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 ChaZhong Rd, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Shirui Gan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 ChaZhong Rd, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, People's Republic of China. .,Fujian Institute of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, 20 ChaZhong Rd, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jianping Hu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 20 ChaZhong Rd, Fuzhou, 350005, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Haas E, Incebacak RD, Hentrich T, Huridou C, Schmidt T, Casadei N, Maringer Y, Bahl C, Zimmermann F, Mills JD, Aronica E, Riess O, Schulze-Hentrich JM, Hübener-Schmid J. A Novel SCA3 Knock-in Mouse Model Mimics the Human SCA3 Disease Phenotype Including Neuropathological, Behavioral, and Transcriptional Abnormalities Especially in Oligodendrocytes. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 59:495-522. [PMID: 34716557 PMCID: PMC8786755 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02610-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 is the most common autosomal dominant inherited ataxia worldwide, caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the Ataxin-3 gene resulting in a polyglutamine (polyQ)-expansion in the corresponding protein. The disease is characterized by neuropathological, phenotypical, and specific transcriptional changes in affected brain regions. So far, there is no mouse model available representing all the different aspects of the disease, yet highly needed for a better understanding of the disease pathomechanisms. Here, we characterized a novel Ataxin-3 knock-in mouse model, expressing a heterozygous or homozygous expansion of 304 CAACAGs in the murine Ataxin-3 locus using biochemical, behavioral, and transcriptomic approaches. We compared neuropathological, and behavioral features of the new knock-in model with the in SCA3 research mostly used YAC84Q mouse model. Further, we compared transcriptional changes found in cerebellar samples of the SCA3 knock-in mice and post-mortem human SCA3 patients. The novel knock-in mouse is characterized by the expression of a polyQ-expansion in the murine Ataxin-3 protein, leading to aggregate formation, especially in brain regions known to be vulnerable in SCA3 patients, and impairment of Purkinje cells. Along these neuropathological changes, the mice showed a reduction in body weight accompanied by gait and balance instability. Transcriptomic analysis of cerebellar tissue revealed age-dependent differential expression, enriched for genes attributed to myelinating oligodendrocytes. Comparing these changes with those found in cerebellar tissue of SCA3 patients, we discovered an overlap of differentially expressed genes pointing towards similar gene expression perturbances in several genes linked to myelin sheaths and myelinating oligodendrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Haas
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Rana D Incebacak
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thomas Hentrich
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Chrisovalantou Huridou
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Schmidt
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Casadei
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,DFG NGS Competence Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yacine Maringer
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carola Bahl
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Frank Zimmermann
- Interfaculty Biomedical Facility (IBF) Biotechnology lab, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - James D Mills
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Olaf Riess
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,DFG NGS Competence Center Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia M Schulze-Hentrich
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jeannette Hübener-Schmid
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. .,Centre for Rare Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
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17
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Bushart DD, Zalon AJ, Zhang H, Morrison LM, Guan Y, Paulson HL, Shakkottai VG, McLoughlin HS. Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy Targeted Against ATXN3 Improves Potassium Channel-Mediated Purkinje Neuron Dysfunction in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2021; 20:41-53. [PMID: 32789747 PMCID: PMC7930886 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-020-01179-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the second-most common CAG repeat disease, caused by a glutamine-encoding expansion in the ATXN3 protein. SCA3 is characterized by spinocerebellar degeneration leading to progressive motor incoordination and early death. Previous studies suggest that potassium channel dysfunction underlies early abnormalities in cerebellar cortical Purkinje neuron firing in SCA3. However, cerebellar cortical degeneration is often modest both in the human disease and mouse models of SCA3, raising uncertainty about the role of cerebellar dysfunction in SCA3. Here, we address this question by investigating Purkinje neuron excitability in SCA3. In early-stage SCA3 mice, we confirm a previously identified increase in excitability of cerebellar Purkinje neurons and associate this excitability with reduced transcripts of two voltage-gated potassium (KV) channels, Kcna6 and Kcnc3, as well as motor impairment. Intracerebroventricular delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) to reduce mutant ATXN3 restores normal excitability to SCA3 Purkinje neurons and rescues transcript levels of Kcna6 and Kcnc3. Interestingly, while an even broader range of KV channel transcripts shows reduced levels in late-stage SCA3 mice, cerebellar Purkinje neuron physiology was not further altered despite continued worsening of motor impairment. These results suggest the progressive motor phenotype observed in SCA3 may not reflect ongoing changes in the cerebellar cortex but instead dysfunction of other neuronal structures within and beyond the cerebellum. Nevertheless, the early rescue of both KV channel expression and neuronal excitability by ASO treatment suggests that cerebellar cortical dysfunction contributes meaningfully to motor dysfunction in SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- David D. Bushart
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Annie J. Zalon
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Hongjiu Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Microsoft, Inc. Bellevue, WA 98004
| | - Logan M. Morrison
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Yuanfang Guan
- Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Henry L. Paulson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Vikram G. Shakkottai
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Address correspondence to: Vikram G. Shakkottai, 4009 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Pl., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, ; Hayley S. McLoughlin, 4017 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Pl., Ann Arbor, MI 48109,
| | - Hayley S. McLoughlin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,Address correspondence to: Vikram G. Shakkottai, 4009 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Pl., Ann Arbor, MI 48109, ; Hayley S. McLoughlin, 4017 BSRB, 109 Zina Pitcher Pl., Ann Arbor, MI 48109,
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