1
|
Galbiati M, Meroni M, Boido M, Cescon M, Rusmini P, Crippa V, Cristofani R, Piccolella M, Ferrari V, Tedesco B, Casarotto E, Chierichetti M, Cozzi M, Mina F, Cicardi ME, Pedretti S, Mitro N, Caretto A, Risè P, Sala A, Lieberman AP, Bonaldo P, Pennuto M, Vercelli A, Poletti A. Bicalutamide and Trehalose Ameliorate Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy Pathology in Mice. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:524-545. [PMID: 36717478 PMCID: PMC10121997 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01343-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is characterized by motor neuron (MN) degeneration that leads to slowly progressive muscle weakness. It is considered a neuromuscular disease since muscle has a primary role in disease onset and progression. SBMA is caused by a CAG triplet repeat expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. The translated poly-glutamine (polyQ) tract confers a toxic gain of function to the mutant AR altering its folding, causing its aggregation into intracellular inclusions, and impairing the autophagic flux. In an in vitro SBMA neuronal model, we previously showed that the antiandrogen bicalutamide and trehalose, a natural disaccharide stimulating autophagy, block ARpolyQ activation, reduce its nuclear translocation and toxicity and facilitate the autophagic degradation of cytoplasmic AR aggregates. Here, in a knock-in SBMA mouse model (KI AR113Q), we show that bicalutamide and trehalose ameliorated SBMA pathology. Bicalutamide reversed the formation of the AR insoluble forms in KI AR113Q muscle, preventing autophagic flux blockage. We demonstrated that apoptosis is activated in KI AR113Q muscle, and that both compounds prevented its activation. We detected a decrease of mtDNA and an increase of OXPHOS enzymes, already at early symptomatic stages; these alterations were reverted by trehalose. Overall, bicalutamide and/or trehalose led to a partial recovery of muscle morphology and function, and improved SBMA mouse motor behavior, inducing an extension of their survival. Thus, bicalutamide and trehalose, by counteracting ARpolyQ toxicity in skeletal muscle, are valuable candidates for future clinical trials in SBMA patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariarita Galbiati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Marco Meroni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Boido
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Matilde Cescon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Paola Rusmini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Crippa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cristofani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Margherita Piccolella
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Ferrari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Tedesco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Casarotto
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Chierichetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Cozzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Mina
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Elena Cicardi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Weinberg ALS Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Silvia Pedretti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nico Mitro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Caretto
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Patrizia Risè
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Sala
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Paolo Bonaldo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vercelli
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Orbassano, Italy
| | - Angelo Poletti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari "Rodolfo Paoletti", Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2027, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Prakasam R, Bonadiman A, Andreotti R, Zuccaro E, Dalfovo D, Marchioretti C, Tripathy D, Petris G, Anderson EN, Migazzi A, Tosatto L, Cereseto A, Battaglioli E, Sorarù G, Lim WF, Rinaldi C, Sambataro F, Pourshafie N, Grunseich C, Romanel A, Pandey UB, Contestabile A, Ronzitti G, Basso M, Pennuto M. LSD1/PRMT6-targeting gene therapy to attenuate androgen receptor toxic gain-of-function ameliorates spinobulbar muscular atrophy phenotypes in flies and mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:603. [PMID: 36746939 PMCID: PMC9902531 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36186-9] [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: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is caused by CAG expansions in the androgen receptor gene. Androgen binding to polyQ-expanded androgen receptor triggers SBMA through a combination of toxic gain-of-function and loss-of-function mechanisms. Leveraging cell lines, mice, and patient-derived specimens, we show that androgen receptor co-regulators lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) are overexpressed in an androgen-dependent manner specifically in the skeletal muscle of SBMA patients and mice. LSD1 and PRMT6 cooperatively and synergistically transactivate androgen receptor, and their effect is enhanced by expanded polyQ. Pharmacological and genetic silencing of LSD1 and PRMT6 attenuates polyQ-expanded androgen receptor transactivation in SBMA cells and suppresses toxicity in SBMA flies, and a preclinical approach based on miRNA-mediated silencing of LSD1 and PRMT6 attenuates disease manifestations in SBMA mice. These observations suggest that targeting overexpressed co-regulators can attenuate androgen receptor toxic gain-of-function without exacerbating loss-of-function, highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with SBMA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramachandran Prakasam
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Angela Bonadiman
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Roberta Andreotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Zuccaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
| | - Davide Dalfovo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Caterina Marchioretti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
| | - Debasmita Tripathy
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Gianluca Petris
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Saffron Walden, UK
| | - Eric N Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alice Migazzi
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Laura Tosatto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Anna Cereseto
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Elena Battaglioli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Wooi Fang Lim
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Carlo Rinaldi
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Naemeh Pourshafie
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher Grunseich
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alessandro Romanel
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Udai Bhan Pandey
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Giuseppe Ronzitti
- Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Evry, France
- Genethon, 91000, Evry, France
| | - Manuela Basso
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy.
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chivet M, Marchioretti C, Pirazzini M, Piol D, Scaramuzzino C, Polanco MJ, Romanello V, Zuccaro E, Parodi S, D’Antonio M, Rinaldi C, Sambataro F, Pegoraro E, Soraru G, Pandey UB, Sandri M, Basso M, Pennuto M. Polyglutamine-Expanded Androgen Receptor Alteration of Skeletal Muscle Homeostasis and Myonuclear Aggregation Are Affected by Sex, Age and Muscle Metabolism. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020325. [PMID: 32019272 PMCID: PMC7072234 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) expansions in the androgen receptor (AR) gene cause spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a neuromuscular disease characterized by lower motor neuron (MN) loss and skeletal muscle atrophy, with an unknown mechanism. We generated new mouse models of SBMA for constitutive and inducible expression of mutant AR and performed biochemical, histological and functional analyses of phenotype. We show that polyQ-expanded AR causes motor dysfunction, premature death, IIb-to-IIa/IIx fiber-type change, glycolytic-to-oxidative fiber-type switching, upregulation of atrogenes and autophagy genes and mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle, together with signs of muscle denervation at late stage of disease. PolyQ expansions in the AR resulted in nuclear enrichment. Within the nucleus, mutant AR formed 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-resistant aggregates and inclusion bodies in myofibers, but not spinal cord and brainstem, in a process exacerbated by age and sex. Finally, we found that two-week induction of expression of polyQ-expanded AR in adult mice was sufficient to cause premature death, body weight loss and muscle atrophy, but not aggregation, metabolic alterations, motor coordination and fiber-type switch, indicating that expression of the disease protein in the adulthood is sufficient to recapitulate several, but not all SBMA manifestations in mice. These results imply that chronic expression of polyQ-expanded AR, i.e. during development and prepuberty, is key to induce the full SBMA muscle pathology observed in patients. Our data support a model whereby chronic expression of polyQ-expanded AR triggers muscle atrophy through toxic (neomorphic) gain of function mechanisms distinct from normal (hypermorphic) gain of function mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Chivet
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
| | - Caterina Marchioretti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Pirazzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Diana Piol
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
| | - Chiara Scaramuzzino
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy; (C.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Maria Josè Polanco
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
| | - Vanina Romanello
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Emanuela Zuccaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Sara Parodi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy; (C.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Maurizio D’Antonio
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Carlo Rinaldi
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, UK;
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Pegoraro
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Gianni Soraru
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Udai Bhan Pandey
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Marco Sandri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Manuela Basso
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy; (C.S.); (S.P.)
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39 049 8276069
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zboray L, Pluciennik A, Curtis D, Liu Y, Berman-Booty LD, Orr C, Kesler CT, Berger T, Gioeli D, Paschal BM, Merry DE. Preventing the Androgen Receptor N/C Interaction Delays Disease Onset in a Mouse Model of SBMA. Cell Rep 2015; 13:2312-23. [PMID: 26673324 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) and is associated with misfolding and aggregation of the mutant AR. We investigated the role of an interdomain interaction between the amino (N)-terminal FxxLF motif and carboxyl (C)-terminal AF-2 domain in a mouse model of SBMA. Male transgenic mice expressing polyQ-expanded AR with a mutation in the FxxLF motif (F23A) to prevent the N/C interaction displayed substantially improved motor function compared with N/C-intact AR-expressing mice and showed reduced pathological features of SBMA. Serine 16 phosphorylation was substantially enhanced by the F23A mutation; moreover, the protective effect of AR F23A was dependent on this phosphorylation. These results reveal an important role for the N/C interaction on disease onset in mice and suggest that targeting AR conformation could be a therapeutic strategy for patients with SBMA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lori Zboray
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Anna Pluciennik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Dana Curtis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Lisa D Berman-Booty
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Christopher Orr
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Cristina T Kesler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia Health System, Center for Cell Signaling, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Tamar Berger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Daniel Gioeli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Bryce M Paschal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia Health System, Center for Cell Signaling, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Todd TW, Kokubu H, Miranda HC, Cortes CJ, La Spada AR, Lim J. Nemo-like kinase is a novel regulator of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. eLife 2015; 4:e08493. [PMID: 26308581 PMCID: PMC4577982 DOI: 10.7554/elife.08493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a progressive neuromuscular disease caused by polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) protein. Despite extensive research, the exact pathogenic mechanisms underlying SBMA remain elusive. In this study, we present evidence that Nemo-like kinase (NLK) promotes disease pathogenesis across multiple SBMA model systems. Most remarkably, loss of one copy of Nlk rescues SBMA phenotypes in mice, including extending lifespan. We also investigated the molecular mechanisms by which NLK exerts its effects in SBMA. Specifically, we have found that NLK can phosphorylate the mutant polyglutamine-expanded AR, enhance its aggregation, and promote AR-dependent gene transcription by regulating AR-cofactor interactions. Furthermore, NLK modulates the toxicity of a mutant AR fragment via a mechanism that is independent of AR-mediated gene transcription. Our findings uncover a crucial role for NLK in controlling SBMA toxicity and reveal a novel avenue for therapy development in SBMA. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08493.001 Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an inherited disease that eventually leads to degeneration in motor neurons and weakness in muscles. It is caused by a specific genetic mutation in the gene that encodes the androgen receptor protein, which leads to the production of a mutant protein that is larger than normal. Similar mutations in other genes can lead to the development of other so-called ‘polyglutamine’ diseases such as Huntington's disease and spinocerebellar ataxia. However, the precise details of how these mutations lead to disease symptoms are not known, and there are currently no effective ways of treating these conditions. Previous research has shown that an enzyme called Nemo-like kinase (or NLK for short) regulates the normal androgen receptor in cancer cells. NLK has kinase activity, that is, it adds phosphate molecules to other proteins to regulate their activity. Todd et al. used human cells, fruit flies, and mice as model systems to investigate whether NLK is involved in the development of SBMA. The experiments show that NLK promotes the development of features associated with SBMA in all three models. The kinase activity of NLK is required for these features to develop. Todd et al. also found that NLK can bind to and add phosphate molecules to the mutant version of the androgen receptor protein. This causes the mutant androgen receptor proteins to accumulate and increases the ability of the mutant proteins to activate particular genes. Todd et al.'s findings suggest that NLK promotes the development of SBMA by interacting with the mutant androgen receptor. Previous studies have shown that NLK is able to modulate the development of spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, which suggests that NLK may also play an important role in other polyglutamine diseases. The next challenge will be to fully understand the role of NLK in these diseases, which may aid future efforts to develop new treatments. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08493.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiffany W Todd
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| | - Hiroshi Kokubu
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| | - Helen C Miranda
- Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Neurosciences, and Pediatrics, Division of Biological Sciences, Institute for Genomic Medicine, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States
| | - Constanza J Cortes
- Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Neurosciences, and Pediatrics, Division of Biological Sciences, Institute for Genomic Medicine, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States
| | - Albert R La Spada
- Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Neurosciences, and Pediatrics, Division of Biological Sciences, Institute for Genomic Medicine, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States
| | - Janghoo Lim
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fischbeck KH. A role for androgen reduction treatment in Kennedy disease? Muscle Nerve 2013; 47:789. [PMID: 23408598 DOI: 10.1002/mus.23814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2013] [Revised: 01/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
|