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Fu X, Zhang Z, Hayes LR, Wright N, Asbury J, Li S, Ye Y, Sun S. DDX3X overexpression decreases dipeptide repeat proteins in a mouse model of C9ORF72-ALS/FTD. Exp Neurol 2024; 376:114768. [PMID: 38556190 PMCID: PMC11058010 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114768] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9ORF72 (C9) is the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). One of the proposed pathogenic mechanisms is the neurotoxicity arising from dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins produced by repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation. Therefore, reducing DPR levels emerges as a potential therapeutic strategy for C9ORF72-ALS/FTD. We previously identified an RNA helicase, DEAD-box helicase 3 X-linked (DDX3X), modulates RAN translation. DDX3X overexpression decreases poly-GP accumulation in C9ORF72-ALS/FTD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-differentiated neurons (iPSNs) and reduces the glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. In this study, we examined the in vivo efficacy of DDX3X overexpression using a mouse model. We expressed exogenous DDX3X or GFP in the central nervous system (CNS) of the C9-500 ALS/FTD BAC transgenic or non-transgenic control mice using adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9). The DPR levels were significantly reduced in the brains of DDX3X-expressing C9-BAC mice compared to the GFP control even twelve months after virus delivery. Additionally, p62 aggregation was also decreased. No neuronal loss or neuroinflammatory response were detected in the DDX3X overexpressing C9-BAC mice. This work demonstrates that DDX3X overexpression effectively reduces DPR levels in vivo without provoking neuroinflammation or neurotoxicity, suggesting the potential of increasing DDX3X expression as a therapeutic strategy for C9ORF72-ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujuan Fu
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Lindsey R Hayes
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Noelle Wright
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Julie Asbury
- Notre Dame of Maryland University, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA
| | - Shelley Li
- John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Yingzhi Ye
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Cellular and Molecular Physiology Graduate Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Shuying Sun
- Department of Physiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Sellier C, Corcia P, Vourc'h P, Dupuis L. C9ORF72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion: From ALS and FTD to a broader pathogenic role? Rev Neurol (Paris) 2024; 180:417-428. [PMID: 38609750 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2024.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The major gene underlying monogenic forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and fronto-temporal dementia (FTD) is C9ORF72. The causative mutation in C9ORF72 is an abnormal hexanucleotide (G4C2) repeat expansion (HRE) located in the first intron of the gene. The aim of this review is to propose a comprehensive update on recent developments on clinical, biological and therapeutics aspects related to C9ORF72 in order to highlight the current understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations, and also on biological machinery leading to neuronal death. We will particularly focus on the broad phenotypic presentation of C9ORF72-related diseases, that goes well beyond the classical phenotypes observed in ALS and FTD patients. Last, we will comment the possible therapeutical hopes for patients carrying a C9ORF72 HRE.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sellier
- Centre de recherches en biomédecine de Strasbourg, UMR-S1329, Inserm, université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - P Corcia
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Inserm, université de Tours, Tours, France; Centre constitutif de coordination SLA, CHU de Bretonneau, 2, boulevard Tonnelle, 37044 Tours cedex 1, France
| | - P Vourc'h
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Inserm, université de Tours, Tours, France; Service de biochimie et biologie moléculaire, CHU de Tours, Tours, France
| | - L Dupuis
- Centre de recherches en biomédecine de Strasbourg, UMR-S1329, Inserm, université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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Sachdev A, Gill K, Sckaff M, Birk AM, Aladesuyi Arogundade O, Brown KA, Chouhan RS, Issagholian-Lewin PO, Patel E, Watry HL, Bernardi MT, Keough KC, Tsai YC, Smith AST, Conklin BR, Clelland CD. Reversal of C9orf72 mutation-induced transcriptional dysregulation and pathology in cultured human neurons by allele-specific excision. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2307814121. [PMID: 38621131 PMCID: PMC11047104 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307814121] [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: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Efforts to genetically reverse C9orf72 pathology have been hampered by our incomplete understanding of the regulation of this complex locus. We generated five different genomic excisions at the C9orf72 locus in a patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line and a non-diseased wild-type (WT) line (11 total isogenic lines), and examined gene expression and pathological hallmarks of C9 frontotemporal dementia/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in motor neurons differentiated from these lines. Comparing the excisions in these isogenic series removed the confounding effects of different genomic backgrounds and allowed us to probe the effects of specific genomic changes. A coding single nucleotide polymorphism in the patient cell line allowed us to distinguish transcripts from the normal vs. mutant allele. Using digital droplet PCR (ddPCR), we determined that transcription from the mutant allele is upregulated at least 10-fold, and that sense transcription is independently regulated from each allele. Surprisingly, excision of the WT allele increased pathologic dipeptide repeat poly-GP expression from the mutant allele. Importantly, a single allele was sufficient to supply a normal amount of protein, suggesting that the C9orf72 gene is haplo-sufficient in induced motor neurons. Excision of the mutant repeat expansion reverted all pathology (RNA abnormalities, dipeptide repeat production, and TDP-43 pathology) and improved electrophysiological function, whereas silencing sense expression did not eliminate all dipeptide repeat proteins, presumably because of the antisense expression. These data increase our understanding of C9orf72 gene regulation and inform gene therapy approaches, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and CRISPR gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kamaljot Gill
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA94158
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Maria Sckaff
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA94158
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | | | - Olubankole Aladesuyi Arogundade
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Katherine A. Brown
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Runvir S. Chouhan
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Patrick Oliver Issagholian-Lewin
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Esha Patel
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | | | | | | | | | - Alec Simon Tulloch Smith
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
- The Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA98195
| | - Bruce R. Conklin
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA94158
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
| | - Claire Dudley Clelland
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
- Memory & Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94158
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Udine E, DeJesus-Hernandez M, Tian S, das Neves SP, Crook R, Finch NA, Baker MC, Pottier C, Graff-Radford NR, Boeve BF, Petersen RC, Knopman DS, Josephs KA, Oskarsson B, Da Mesquita S, Petrucelli L, Gendron TF, Dickson DW, Rademakers R, van Blitterswijk M. Abundant transcriptomic alterations in the human cerebellum of patients with a C9orf72 repeat expansion. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:73. [PMID: 38641715 PMCID: PMC11031479 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02720-2] [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: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
The most prominent genetic cause of both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a repeat expansion in the gene C9orf72. Importantly, the transcriptomic consequences of the C9orf72 repeat expansion remain largely unclear. Here, we used short-read RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to profile the cerebellar transcriptome, detecting alterations in patients with a C9orf72 repeat expansion. We focused on the cerebellum, since key C9orf72-related pathologies are abundant in this neuroanatomical region, yet TDP-43 pathology and neuronal loss are minimal. Consistent with previous work, we showed a reduction in the expression of the C9orf72 gene and an elevation in homeobox genes, when comparing patients with the expansion to both patients without the C9orf72 repeat expansion and control subjects. Interestingly, we identified more than 1000 alternative splicing events, including 4 in genes previously associated with ALS and/or FTLD. We also found an increase of cryptic splicing in C9orf72 patients compared to patients without the expansion and controls. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the expression level of select RNA-binding proteins is associated with cryptic splice junction inclusion. Overall, this study explores the presence of widespread transcriptomic changes in the cerebellum, a region not confounded by severe neurodegeneration, in post-mortem tissue from C9orf72 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Udine
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | | | - Shulan Tian
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | | | - Richard Crook
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - NiCole A Finch
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Matthew C Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Cyril Pottier
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Björn Oskarsson
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Sandro Da Mesquita
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Leonard Petrucelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Tania F Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Marka van Blitterswijk
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
- Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
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Zhong R, Rua MT, Wei-LaPierre L. Targeting mitochondrial Ca 2+ uptake for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Physiol 2024; 602:1519-1549. [PMID: 38010626 PMCID: PMC11032238 DOI: 10.1113/jp284143] [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: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron (MN) loss, muscle denervation and paralysis. Over the past several decades, researchers have made tremendous efforts to understand the pathogenic mechanisms underpinning ALS, with much yet to be resolved. ALS is described as a non-cell autonomous condition with pathology detected in both MNs and non-neuronal cells, such as glial cells and skeletal muscle. Studies in ALS patient and animal models reveal ubiquitous abnormalities in mitochondrial structure and function, and disturbance of intracellular calcium homeostasis in various tissue types, suggesting a pivotal role of aberrant mitochondrial calcium uptake and dysfunctional calcium signalling cascades in ALS pathogenesis. Calcium signalling and mitochondrial dysfunction are intricately related to the manifestation of cell death contributing to MN loss and skeletal muscle dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the potential contribution of intracellular calcium signalling, particularly mitochondrial calcium uptake, in ALS pathogenesis. Functional consequences of excessive mitochondrial calcium uptake and possible therapeutic strategies targeting mitochondrial calcium uptake or the mitochondrial calcium uniporter, the main channel mediating mitochondrial calcium influx, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjia Zhong
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611
- Department of Emergency Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China, 110001
| | - Michael T. Rua
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611
| | - Lan Wei-LaPierre
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611
- Myology Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611
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Jagaraj CJ, Shadfar S, Kashani SA, Saravanabavan S, Farzana F, Atkin JD. Molecular hallmarks of ageing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:111. [PMID: 38430277 PMCID: PMC10908642 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05164-9] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, severely debilitating and rapidly progressing disorder affecting motor neurons in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. Unfortunately, there are few effective treatments, thus there remains a critical need to find novel interventions that can mitigate against its effects. Whilst the aetiology of ALS remains unclear, ageing is the major risk factor. Ageing is a slowly progressive process marked by functional decline of an organism over its lifespan. However, it remains unclear how ageing promotes the risk of ALS. At the molecular and cellular level there are specific hallmarks characteristic of normal ageing. These hallmarks are highly inter-related and overlap significantly with each other. Moreover, whilst ageing is a normal process, there are striking similarities at the molecular level between these factors and neurodegeneration in ALS. Nine ageing hallmarks were originally proposed: genomic instability, loss of telomeres, senescence, epigenetic modifications, dysregulated nutrient sensing, loss of proteostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, stem cell exhaustion, and altered inter-cellular communication. However, these were recently (2023) expanded to include dysregulation of autophagy, inflammation and dysbiosis. Hence, given the latest updates to these hallmarks, and their close association to disease processes in ALS, a new examination of their relationship to pathophysiology is warranted. In this review, we describe possible mechanisms by which normal ageing impacts on neurodegenerative mechanisms implicated in ALS, and new therapeutic interventions that may arise from this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Jones Jagaraj
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sina Shadfar
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sara Assar Kashani
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sayanthooran Saravanabavan
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Fabiha Farzana
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
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Bhatt N, Puangmalai N, Sengupta U, Jerez C, Kidd M, Gandhi S, Kayed R. C9orf72-associated dipeptide protein repeats form A11-positive oligomers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:105628. [PMID: 38295729 PMCID: PMC10844744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.105628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9orf72 is one of the most common causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. The hexanucleotide expansion, formed by GGGGCC (G4C2) repeats, leads to the production of five dipeptide protein repeats (DPRs) via repeat-associated non-AUG translation. Among the five dipeptide repeats, Gly-Arg, Pro-Arg, and Gly-Ala form neuronal inclusions that contain aggregates of the peptides. Several studies have attempted to model DPR-associated toxicity using various repeat lengths, which suggests a unique conformation that is cytotoxic and is independent of the repeat length. However, the structural characteristics of DPR aggregates have yet to be determined. Increasing evidence suggests that soluble species, such as oligomers, are the main cause of toxicity in proteinopathies, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. To investigate the ability of DPRs to aggregate and form toxic oligomers, we adopted a reductionist approach using small dipeptide repeats of 3, 6, and 12. This study shows that DPRs, particularly glycine-arginine and proline-arginine, form oligomers that exhibit distinct dye-binding properties and morphologies. Importantly, we also identified toxic DPR oligomers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia postmortem brains that are morphologically similar to those generated recombinantly. This study demonstrates that, similar to soluble oligomers formed by various amyloid proteins, DPR oligomers are toxic, independent of their repeat length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nemil Bhatt
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Nicha Puangmalai
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Urmi Sengupta
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Cynthia Jerez
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Madison Kidd
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Shailee Gandhi
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA; Department of Neurology, Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
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Cunha-Oliveira T, Montezinho L, Simões RF, Carvalho M, Ferreiro E, Silva FSG. Mitochondria: A Promising Convergent Target for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2024; 13:248. [PMID: 38334639 PMCID: PMC10854804 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030248] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, for which current treatment options are limited. Recent studies have shed light on the role of mitochondria in ALS pathogenesis, making them an attractive therapeutic intervention target. This review contains a very comprehensive critical description of the involvement of mitochondria and mitochondria-mediated mechanisms in ALS. The review covers several key areas related to mitochondria in ALS, including impaired mitochondrial function, mitochondrial bioenergetics, reactive oxygen species, metabolic processes and energy metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics, turnover, autophagy and mitophagy, impaired mitochondrial transport, and apoptosis. This review also highlights preclinical and clinical studies that have investigated various mitochondria-targeted therapies for ALS treatment. These include strategies to improve mitochondrial function, such as the use of dichloroacetate, ketogenic and high-fat diets, acetyl-carnitine, and mitochondria-targeted antioxidants. Additionally, antiapoptotic agents, like the mPTP-targeting agents minocycline and rasagiline, are discussed. The paper aims to contribute to the identification of effective mitochondria-targeted therapies for ALS treatment by synthesizing the current understanding of the role of mitochondria in ALS pathogenesis and reviewing potential convergent therapeutic interventions. The complex interplay between mitochondria and the pathogenic mechanisms of ALS holds promise for the development of novel treatment strategies to combat this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Cunha-Oliveira
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Liliana Montezinho
- Center for Investigation Vasco da Gama (CIVG), Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Rui F. Simões
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marcelo Carvalho
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Ferreiro
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Filomena S. G. Silva
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Mitotag Lda, Biocant Park, 3060-197 Cantanhede, Portugal
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9
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Feng C, Chen Q, Luan X, Sun P, Cao Y, Wu J, Wang S, Sun X, Cao L, Tian G. Adult-onset neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease related retinal degeneration: a Chinese case series. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1188193. [PMID: 38288273 PMCID: PMC10822994 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1188193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose To evaluate adult-onset neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID)-related retinopathy with guanine-guanine-cytosine repeat expansions in NOTCH2NLC. Materials and methods Neuro-ophthalmic evaluations, including best-corrected visual acuity, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, intraocular pressure (IOP), ultrasound biomicroscopy, pupillometry, fundus photography, fundus autofluorescence (FAF), optical coherence tomography (OCT), Humphrey visual field, full-field electroretinography (ERG), and multifocal ERG (mf-ERG) were performed in patients with gene-proven NIID. Results Nine patients (18 eyes) were evaluated, with a median age of 62 years (55-68) and only one man was included in our study. Six patients presented with decreased visual acuity or night blindness, whereas the other three were asymptomatic. The visual acuity was measured from 20/200 to 20/20. Miosis was present in eight patients, four of whom had ciliary process hypertrophy and pronation, and three of whom had shallow anterior chambers. Fundus photography, FAF, and OCT showed consistent structural abnormalities mainly started from peripapillary areas and localized in the outer layer of photoreceptors and inner ganglion cell layer. ERG and mf-ERG also revealed retinal dysfunction in the corresponding regions. Conclusion Patients with NIID showed both structural and functional retinopathies which were unique and different from common cone-rod dystrophy or retinitis pigmentosa. Patients with miosis may have a potential risk of an angle-closure glaucoma attack. Neuro-ophthalmic evaluations is essential for evaluating patients with NIID, even without visual symptom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyi Feng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinghua Luan
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuwen Cao
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingying Wu
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Shige Wang
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinghuai Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Cao
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Neurological Rare Disease Biobank and Precision Diagnostic Technical Service Platform, Shanghai, China
| | - Guohong Tian
- Department of Ophthalmology, Eye Ear Nose and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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10
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Bayandina SV, Mukha DV. Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a Model for Studying Human Neurodegenerative Disorders: Viral Capsid Protein Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17213. [PMID: 38139041 PMCID: PMC10743263 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417213] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
In this article, we briefly describe human neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) and the experimental models used to study them. The main focus is the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an experimental model used to study neurodegenerative processes. We review recent experimental data on the aggregation of human neurodegenerative disease-related proteins in yeast cells. In addition, we describe the results of studies that were designed to investigate the molecular mechanisms that underlie the aggregation of reporter proteins. The advantages and disadvantages of the experimental approaches that are currently used to study the formation of protein aggregates are described. Special attention is given to the similarity between aggregates that form as a result of protein misfolding and viral factories-special structural formations in which viral particles are formed inside virus-infected cells. A separate part of the review is devoted to our previously published study on the formation of aggregates upon expression of the insect densovirus capsid protein in yeast cells. Based on the reviewed results of studies on NDs and related protein aggregation, as well as viral protein aggregation, a new experimental model system for the study of human NDs is proposed. The core of the proposed system is a comparative transcriptomic analysis of changes in signaling pathways during the expression of viral capsid proteins in yeast cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dmitry V. Mukha
- Vavilov Institute of General Genetics Russian Academy of Sciences, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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11
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Rifai OM, O’Shaughnessy J, Dando OR, Munro AF, Sewell MDE, Abrahams S, Waldron FM, Sibley CR, Gregory JM. Distinct neuroinflammatory signatures exist across genetic and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cohorts. Brain 2023; 146:5124-5138. [PMID: 37450566 PMCID: PMC10690026 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad243] [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: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons. ALS is on a pathogenetic disease spectrum with frontotemporal dementia, referred to as ALS-frontotemporal spectrum disorder (ALS-FTSD). For mutations associated with ALS-FTSD, such as the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion, the molecular factors associated with heterogeneity along this spectrum require further characterization. Here, using a targeted NanoString molecular barcoding approach, we interrogate neuroinflammatory dysregulation and heterogeneity at the level of gene expression in post-mortem motor cortex tissue from a cohort of clinically heterogeneous C9-ALS-FTSD cases. We identified 20 dysregulated genes in C9-ALS-FTSD, with enrichment of microglial and inflammatory response gene sets. Two genes with significant correlations to available clinical metrics were selected for validation: FKBP5, a correlate of cognitive function, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a correlate of disease duration. FKBP5 and its signalling partner, NF-κB, appeared to have a cell type-specific staining distribution, with activated (i.e. nuclear) NF-κB immunoreactivity in C9-ALS-FTSD. Expression of BDNF, a correlate of disease duration, was confirmed to be higher in individuals with long compared to short disease duration using BaseScope™ in situ hybridization. Our analyses also revealed two distinct neuroinflammatory panel signatures (NPS), NPS1 and NPS2, delineated by the direction of expression of proinflammatory, axonal transport and synaptic signalling pathways. We compared NPS between C9-ALS-FTSD cases and those from sporadic ALS and SOD1-ALS cohorts and identified NPS1 and NPS2 across all cohorts. Moreover, a subset of NPS was also able to separate publicly available RNA sequencing data from independent C9-ALS and sporadic ALS cohorts into two inflammatory subgroups. Importantly, NPS subgroups did not clearly segregate with available demographic, genetic, clinical or pathological features, highlighting the value of molecular stratification in clinical trials for inflammatory subgroup identification. Our findings thus underscore the importance of tailoring therapeutic approaches based on distinct molecular signatures that exist between and within ALS-FTSD cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia M Rifai
- Translational Neuroscience PhD Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Judi O’Shaughnessy
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Owen R Dando
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XF, UK
| | - Alison F Munro
- Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Michael D E Sewell
- Translational Neuroscience PhD Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Sharon Abrahams
- Human Cognitive Neuroscience-Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9AD, UK
| | - Fergal M Waldron
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Christopher R Sibley
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XF, UK
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, The King’s Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK
| | - Jenna M Gregory
- Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
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12
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Soustelle L, Aimond F, López-Andrés C, Brugioti V, Raoul C, Layalle S. ALS-Associated KIF5A Mutation Causes Locomotor Deficits Associated with Cytoplasmic Inclusions, Alterations of Neuromuscular Junctions, and Motor Neuron Loss. J Neurosci 2023; 43:8058-8072. [PMID: 37748861 PMCID: PMC10669773 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0562-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. Recently, genome-wide association studies identified KIF5A as a new ALS-causing gene. KIF5A encodes a protein of the kinesin-1 family, allowing the anterograde transport of cargos along the microtubule rails in neurons. In ALS patients, mutations in the KIF5A gene induce exon 27 skipping, resulting in a mutated protein with a new C-terminal region (KIF5A Δ27). To understand how KIF5A Δ27 underpins the disease, we developed an ALS-associated KIF5A Drosophila model. When selectively expressed in motor neurons, KIF5A Δ27 alters larval locomotion as well as morphology and synaptic transmission at neuromuscular junctions in both males and females. We show that the distribution of mitochondria and synaptic vesicles is profoundly disturbed by KIF5A Δ27 expression. That is consistent with the numerous KIF5A Δ27-containing inclusions observed in motor neuron soma and axons. Moreover, KIF5A Δ27 expression leads to motor neuron death and reduces life expectancy. Our in vivo model reveals that a toxic gain of function underlies the pathogenicity of ALS-linked KIF5A mutant.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Understanding how a mutation identified in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) causes the disease and the loss of motor neurons is crucial to fight against this disease. To this end, we have created a Drosophila model based on the motor neuron expression of the KIF5A mutant gene, recently identified in ALS patients. KIF5A encodes a kinesin that allows the anterograde transport of cargos. This model recapitulates the main features of ALS, including alterations of locomotion, synaptic neurotransmission, and morphology at neuromuscular junctions, as well as motor neuron death. KIF5A mutant is found in cytoplasmic inclusions, and its pathogenicity is because of a toxic gain of function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Soustelle
- Institute for Neurosciences Montpellier, Université Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier, 34091, France
| | - Franck Aimond
- Institute for Neurosciences Montpellier, Université Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier, 34091, France
| | - Cristina López-Andrés
- Institute for Neurosciences Montpellier, Université Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier, 34091, France
| | - Véronique Brugioti
- Institute for Neurosciences Montpellier, Université Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier, 34091, France
| | - Cédric Raoul
- Institute for Neurosciences Montpellier, Université Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier, 34091, France
| | - Sophie Layalle
- Institute for Neurosciences Montpellier, Université Montpellier, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Montpellier, 34091, France
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13
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Tan RH, McCann H, Shepherd CE, Pinkerton M, Mazumder S, Devenney EM, Adler GL, Rowe DB, Kril J, Halliday GM, Kiernan MC. Heterogeneity of cortical pTDP-43 inclusion morphologies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:180. [PMID: 37957721 PMCID: PMC10642010 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01670-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the presence of significant cortical pTDP-43 inclusions of heterogeneous morphologies in patients diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), pathological subclassification is routinely performed in the minority of patients with concomitant frontotemporal dementia (FTD). OBJECTIVE In order to improve current understanding of the presence and relevance of pathological pTDP-43 subtypes in ALS, the present study examined the pattern of cortical pTDP-43 aggregates in 61 ALS cases without FTD. RESULTS Based on the presence, morphology and composition of pTDP-43 pathology, three distinct ALS-TDP subtypes were delineated: (1) A predominant pattern of pTDP-43 granulofilamentous neuronal inclusions (GFNIs) and grains that were immuno-negative for p62 was identified in 18% of cases designated ALS-TDP type E; (2) neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions (NCIs) that were immuno-positive for both pTDP-43 and p62 were observed in 67% of cases assigned ALS-TDP type B; and (3) scarce cortical pTDP-43 and p62 aggregates were identified in 15% of cases coined ALS-TDP type SC (scarce cortical). Quantitative analyses revealed a significantly greater burden of pTDP-43 GFNI and grains in ALS-TDP type E. Principal component analysis demonstrated significant relationships between GFNIs, grains and ALS-TDP subtypes to support the distinction of subtypes E and B. No significant difference in age at death or disease duration was found between ALS-TDP subgroups to suggest that these subtypes represent earlier or later stages of the same disease process. Instead, a significantly higher ALS-TDP stage, indicating greater topographical spread of pTDP-43, was identified in ALS-TDP type E. Alzheimer's disease neuropathological change (ABC score ≥ intermediate) and Lewy body disease (Braak stage ≥ IV) was more prevalent in the ALS-TDP type SC cohort, which also demonstrated a significantly lower overall cognitive score. CONCLUSION In summary, the present study demonstrates that ALS-TDP does not represent a single homogenous neuropathology. We propose the subclassification of ALS-TDP into three distinct subtypes using standard immuno-stains for pTDP-43 and p62 in the motor cortex, which is routinely sampled and evaluated for diagnostic neuropathological characterisation of ALS. We propose that future studies specify both clinicopathological group and pTDP-43 subtype to advance current understanding of the pathogenesis of clinical phenotypes in pTDP-43 proteinopathies, which will have significant relevance to the development of targeted therapies for this heterogeneous disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel H Tan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
| | - Heather McCann
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Monica Pinkerton
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Srestha Mazumder
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emma M Devenney
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gabrielle L Adler
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Dominic B Rowe
- Macquarie University Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jillian Kril
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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14
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Genin EC, Abou-Ali M, Paquis-Flucklinger V. Mitochondria, a Key Target in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Pathogenesis. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1981. [PMID: 38002924 PMCID: PMC10671245 DOI: 10.3390/genes14111981] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial dysfunction occurs in numerous neurodegenerative diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), where it contributes to motor neuron (MN) death. Of all the factors involved in ALS, mitochondria have been considered as a major player, as secondary mitochondrial dysfunction has been found in various models and patients. Abnormal mitochondrial morphology, defects in mitochondrial dynamics, altered activities of respiratory chain enzymes and increased production of reactive oxygen species have been described. Moreover, the identification of CHCHD10 variants in ALS patients was the first genetic evidence that a mitochondrial defect may be a primary cause of MN damage and directly links mitochondrial dysfunction to the pathogenesis of ALS. In this review, we focus on the role of mitochondria in ALS and highlight the pathogenic variants of ALS genes associated with impaired mitochondrial functions. The multiple pathways demonstrated in ALS pathogenesis suggest that all converge to a common endpoint leading to MN loss. This may explain the disappointing results obtained with treatments targeting a single pathological process. Fighting against mitochondrial dysfunction appears to be a promising avenue for developing combined therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuelle C. Genin
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging, Nice (IRCAN), Université Côte d’Azur, Inserm U1081, CNRS UMR7284, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Nice, 06200 Nice, France; (M.A.-A.); (V.P.-F.)
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15
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Zhang S, Tong M, Zheng D, Huang H, Li L, Ungermann C, Pan Y, Luo H, Lei M, Tang Z, Fu W, Chen S, Liu X, Zhong Q. C9orf72-catalyzed GTP loading of Rab39A enables HOPS-mediated membrane tethering and fusion in mammalian autophagy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6360. [PMID: 37821429 PMCID: PMC10567733 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42003-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The multi-subunit homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting (HOPS) membrane-tethering complex is required for autophagosome-lysosome fusion in mammals, yet reconstituting the mammalian HOPS complex remains a challenge. Here we propose a "hook-up" model for mammalian HOPS complex assembly, which requires two HOPS sub-complexes docking on membranes via membrane-associated Rabs. We identify Rab39A as a key small GTPase that recruits HOPS onto autophagic vesicles. Proper pairing with Rab2 and Rab39A enables HOPS complex assembly between proteoliposomes for its tethering function, facilitating efficient membrane fusion. GTP loading of Rab39A is important for the recruitment of HOPS to autophagic membranes. Activation of Rab39A is catalyzed by C9orf72, a guanine exchange factor associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and familial frontotemporal dementia. Constitutive activation of Rab39A can rescue autophagy defects caused by C9orf72 depletion. These results therefore reveal a crucial role for the C9orf72-Rab39A-HOPS axis in autophagosome-lysosome fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mindan Tong
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Denghao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huiying Huang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Linsen Li
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Christian Ungermann
- Osnabrück University, Department of Biology/Chemistry, Biochemistry section, Osnabrück, Germany
- Center of Cellular Nanoanalytic Osnabrück (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Yi Pan
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hanyan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 200011, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, 200125, Shanghai, China
| | - Zaiming Tang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wan Fu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - She Chen
- National Institute of Biological Sciences, 102206, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxia Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qing Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Department of Pathophysiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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16
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Kortazar-Zubizarreta I, Manero-Azua A, Afonso-Agüera J, Perez de Nanclares G. C9ORF72 Gene GGGGCC Hexanucleotide Expansion: A High Clinical Variability from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis to Frontotemporal Dementia. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1396. [PMID: 37763163 PMCID: PMC10532825 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13091396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The expanded GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat (HRE) in the non-coding region of the C9ORF72 gene (C9ORF72-HRE) is the most common genetic cause of familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), FTD, and concurrent ALS and FTD (ALS-FTD), in addition to contributing to the sporadic forms of these diseases. Both syndromes overlap not only genetically, but also sharing similar clinical and neuropathological findings, being considered as a spectrum. In this paper we describe the clinical-genetic findings in a Basque family with different manifestations within the spectrum, our difficulties in reaching the diagnosis, and a narrative review, carried out as a consequence, of the main features associated with C9ORF72-HRE. Family members underwent a detailed clinical assessment, neurological examination, and genetic analysis by repeat-primed PCR. We studied 10 relatives of a symptomatic carrier of the C9ORF72-HRE expansion. Two of them presented the expansion in the pathological range, one of them was symptomatic whereas the other one remained asymptomatic at 72 years. Given the great intrafamilial clinical variability of C9ORF72-HRE, the characterization of patients and family members with particular clinical and genetic subgroups within ALS and FTD becomes a bottleneck for medication development, in particular for genetically focused medicines for ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izaro Kortazar-Zubizarreta
- Department of Neurology, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Araba University Hospital-Txagorritxu, 01009 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Africa Manero-Azua
- Molecular (Epi) Genetics Laboratory, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Araba University Hospital, 01009 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; (A.M.-A.); (G.P.d.N.)
| | - Juan Afonso-Agüera
- Department of Neurology, Central University Hospital of Asturias, 33006 Oviedo, Spain;
| | - Guiomar Perez de Nanclares
- Molecular (Epi) Genetics Laboratory, Bioaraba Health Research Institute, Araba University Hospital, 01009 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; (A.M.-A.); (G.P.d.N.)
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17
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Morón-Oset J, Fischer LKS, Jauré N, Zhang P, Jahn AJ, Supèr T, Pahl A, Isaacs AM, Grönke S, Partridge L. Repeat length of C9orf72-associated glycine-alanine polypeptides affects their toxicity. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:140. [PMID: 37644512 PMCID: PMC10463776 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01634-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat expansions in a non-coding region of the C9orf72 gene are the most common cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). G4C2 insertion length is variable, and patients can carry up to several thousand repeats. Dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) translated from G4C2 transcripts are thought to be a main driver of toxicity. Experiments in model organisms with relatively short DPRs have shown that arginine-rich DPRs are most toxic, while polyGlycine-Alanine (GA) DPRs cause only mild toxicity. However, GA is the most abundant DPR in patient brains, and experimental work in animals has generally relied on the use of low numbers of repeats, with DPRs often tagged for in vivo tracking. Whether repeat length or tagging affect the toxicity of GA has not been systematically assessed. Therefore, we generated Drosophila fly lines expressing GA100, GA200 or GA400 specifically in adult neurons. Consistent with previous studies, expression of GA100 and GA200 caused only mild toxicity. In contrast, neuronal expression of GA400 drastically reduced climbing ability and survival of flies, indicating that long GA DPRs can be highly toxic in vivo. This toxicity could be abolished by tagging GA400. Proteomics analysis of fly brains showed a repeat-length-dependent modulation of the brain proteome, with GA400 causing earlier and stronger changes than shorter GA proteins. PolyGA expression up-regulated proteins involved in ER to Golgi trafficking, and down-regulated proteins involved in insulin signalling. Experimental down-regulation of Tango1, a highly conserved regulator of ER-to Golgi transport, partially rescued GA400 toxicity, suggesting that misregulation of this process contributes to polyGA toxicity. Experimentally increasing insulin signaling also rescued GA toxicity. In summary, our data show that long polyGA proteins can be highly toxic in vivo, and that they may therefore contribute to ALS/FTD pathogenesis in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Morón-Oset
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9B, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Nathalie Jauré
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9B, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Pingze Zhang
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9B, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Annika Julia Jahn
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9B, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tessa Supèr
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9B, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - André Pahl
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9B, 50931, Cologne, Germany
| | - Adrian M Isaacs
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sebastian Grönke
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9B, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Linda Partridge
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 9B, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, Darwin Building, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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18
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Dunn E, Zhang B, Sahota VK, Augustin H. Potential benefits of medium chain fatty acids in aging and neurodegenerative disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2023; 15:1230467. [PMID: 37680538 PMCID: PMC10481710 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1230467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a large class of neurological disorders characterized by progressive dysfunction and death of neurones. Examples include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Aging is the primary risk factor for neurodegeneration; individuals over 65 are more likely to suffer from a neurodegenerative disease, with prevalence increasing with age. As the population ages, the social and economic burden caused by these diseases will increase. Therefore, new therapies that address both aging and neurodegeneration are imperative. Ketogenic diets (KDs) are low carbohydrate, high-fat diets developed initially as an alternative treatment for epilepsy. The classic ketogenic diet provides energy via long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs); naturally occurring medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs), on the other hand, are the main components of the medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) ketogenic diet. MCT-based diets are more efficient at generating the ketone bodies that are used as a secondary energy source for neurones and astrocytes. However, ketone levels alone do not closely correlate with improved clinical symptoms. Recent findings suggest an alternative mode of action for the MCFAs, e.g., via improving mitochondrial biogenesis and glutamate receptor inhibition. MCFAs have been linked to the treatment of both aging and neurodegenerative disease via their effects on metabolism. Through action on multiple disease-related pathways, MCFAs are emerging as compounds with notable potential to promote healthy aging and ameliorate neurodegeneration. MCFAs have been shown to stimulate autophagy and restore mitochondrial function, which are found to be disrupted in aging and neurodegeneration. This review aims to provide insight into the metabolic benefits of MCFAs in neurodegenerative disease and healthy aging. We will discuss the use of MCFAs to combat dysregulation of autophagy and mitochondrial function in the context of "normal" aging, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hrvoje Augustin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, United Kingdom
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19
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Antoniani F, Cimino M, Mediani L, Vinet J, Verde EM, Secco V, Yamoah A, Tripathi P, Aronica E, Cicardi ME, Trotti D, Sterneckert J, Goswami A, Carra S. Loss of PML nuclear bodies in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal dementia. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:248. [PMID: 37454169 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01547-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) are two neurodegenerative disorders that share genetic causes and pathogenic mechanisms. The critical genetic players of ALS and FTD are the TARDBP, FUS and C9orf72 genes, whose protein products, TDP-43, FUS and the C9orf72-dipeptide repeat proteins, accumulate in form of cytoplasmic inclusions. The majority of the studies focus on the understanding of how cells control TDP-43 and FUS aggregation in the cytoplasm, overlooking how dysfunctions occurring at the nuclear level may influence the maintenance of protein solubility outside of the nucleus. However, protein quality control (PQC) systems that maintain protein homeostasis comprise a cytoplasmic and a nuclear arm that are interconnected and share key players. It is thus conceivable that impairment of the nuclear arm of the PQC may have a negative impact on the cytoplasmic arm of the PQC, contributing to the formation of the cytoplasmic pathological inclusions. Here we focused on two stress-inducible condensates that act as transient deposition sites for misfolding-prone proteins: Promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) and cytoplasmic stress granules (SGs). Upon stress, PML-NBs compartmentalize misfolded proteins, including defective ribosomal products (DRiPs), and recruit chaperones and proteasomes to promote their nuclear clearance. SGs transiently sequester aggregation-prone RNA-binding proteins linked to ALS-FTD and mRNAs to attenuate their translation. We report that PML assembly is impaired in the human brain and spinal cord of familial C9orf72 and FUS ALS-FTD cases. We also show that defective PML-NB assembly impairs the compartmentalization of DRiPs in the nucleus, leading to their accumulation inside cytoplasmic SGs, negatively influencing SG dynamics. Although it is currently unclear what causes the decrease of PML-NBs in ALS-FTD, our data highlight the existence of a cross-talk between the cytoplasmic and nuclear PQC systems, whose alteration can contribute to SG accumulation and cytoplasmic protein aggregation in ALS-FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Antoniani
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marco Cimino
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Mediani
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Jonathan Vinet
- Centro Interdipartimentale Grandi Strumenti (CIGS), University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Enza M Verde
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Valentina Secco
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Alfred Yamoah
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Priyanka Tripathi
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Amsterdam UMC location University of Amsterdam, Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maria E Cicardi
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Davide Trotti
- Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jared Sterneckert
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anand Goswami
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University, 10032, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Eleanor and Lou Gehrig ALS Center, Columbia University, 10032, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Serena Carra
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
- Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
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20
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Koga S, Murakami A, Soto-Beasley AI, Walton RL, Baker MC, Castanedes-Casey M, Josephs KA, Ross OA, Dickson DW. Diffuse argyrophilic grain disease with TDP-43 proteinopathy and neuronal intermediate filament inclusion disease: FTLD with mixed tau, TDP-43 and FUS pathologies. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:109. [PMID: 37415197 PMCID: PMC10324204 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01611-z] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a group of disorders characterized by degeneration of the frontal and temporal lobes, leading to progressive decline in language, behavior, and motor function. FTLD can be further subdivided into three main subtypes, FTLD-tau, FTLD-TDP and FTLD-FUS based which of the three major proteins - tau, TDP-43 or FUS - forms pathological inclusions in neurons and glia. In this report, we describe an 87-year-old woman with a 7-year history of cognitive decline, hand tremor and gait problems, who was thought to have Alzheimer's disease. At autopsy, histopathological analysis revealed severe neuronal loss, gliosis and spongiosis in the medial temporal lobe, orbitofrontal cortex, cingulate gyrus, amygdala, basal forebrain, nucleus accumbens, caudate nucleus and anteromedial thalamus. Tau immunohistochemistry showed numerous argyrophilic grains, pretangles, thorn-shaped astrocytes, and ballooned neurons in the amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, anteromedial thalamus, insular cortex, superior temporal gyrus and cingulate gyrus, consistent with diffuse argyrophilic grain disease (AGD). TDP-43 pathology in the form of small, dense, rounded neuronal cytoplasmic inclusion with few short dystrophic neurites was observed in the limbic regions, superior temporal gyrus, striatum and midbrain. No neuronal intranuclear inclusion was observed. Additionally, FUS-positive inclusions were observed in the dentate gyrus. Compact, eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions, so-called "cherry spots," that were visible on histologic stains were immunopositive for α-internexin. Taken together, the patient had a mixed neurodegenerative disease with features of diffuse AGD, TDP-43 proteinopathy and neuronal intermediate filament inclusion disease. She met criteria for three subtypes of FTLD: FTLD-tau, FTLD-TDP and FTLD-FUS. Her amnestic symptoms that were suggestive of Alzheimer's type dementia are best explained by diffuse AGD and medial temporal TDP-43 proteinopathy, and her motor symptoms were likely explained by neuronal loss and gliosis due to tau pathology in the substantia nigra. This case underscores the importance of considering multiple proteinopathies in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunsuke Koga
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
| | - Aya Murakami
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | | | - Ronald L Walton
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Matthew C Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | | | - Keith A Josephs
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Owen A Ross
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Department of Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
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21
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Jiang X, Gatt A, Lashley T. HnRNP Pathologies in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. Cells 2023; 12:1633. [PMID: 37371103 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common form of young-onset (<65 years) dementia. Clinically, it primarily manifests as a disorder of behavioural, executive, and/or language functions. Pathologically, frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is the predominant cause of FTD. FTLD is a proteinopathy, and the main pathological proteins identified so far are tau, TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), and fused in sarcoma (FUS). As TDP-43 and FUS are members of the heterogeneous ribonucleic acid protein (hnRNP) family, many studies in recent years have expanded the research on the relationship between other hnRNPs and FTLD pathology. Indeed, these studies provide evidence for an association between hnRNP abnormalities and FTLD. In particular, several studies have shown that multiple hnRNPs may exhibit nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic mislocalisation within neurons in FTLD cases. However, due to the diversity and complex association of hnRNPs, most studies are still at the stage of histological discovery of different hnRNP abnormalities in FTLD. We herein review the latest studies relating hnRNPs to FTLD. Together, these studies outline an important role of multiple hnRNPs in the pathogenesis of FTLD and suggest that future research into FTLD should include the whole spectrum of this protein family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwa Jiang
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Ariana Gatt
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK
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22
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Lorenzini I, Alsop E, Levy J, Gittings LM, Lall D, Rabichow BE, Moore S, Pevey R, Bustos LM, Burciu C, Bhatia D, Singer M, Saul J, McQuade A, Tzioras M, Mota TA, Logemann A, Rose J, Almeida S, Gao FB, Marks M, Donnelly CJ, Hutchins E, Hung ST, Ichida J, Bowser R, Spires-Jones T, Blurton-Jones M, Gendron TF, Baloh RH, Van Keuren-Jensen K, Sattler R. Moderate intrinsic phenotypic alterations in C9orf72 ALS/FTD iPSC-microglia despite the presence of C9orf72 pathological features. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1179796. [PMID: 37346371 PMCID: PMC10279871 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1179796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
While motor and cortical neurons are affected in C9orf72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD), it remains largely unknown if and how non-neuronal cells induce or exacerbate neuronal damage. We differentiated C9orf72 ALS/FTD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells into microglia (iPSC-MG) and examined their intrinsic phenotypes. Similar to iPSC motor neurons, C9orf72 ALS/FTD iPSC-MG mono-cultures form G4C2 repeat RNA foci, exhibit reduced C9orf72 protein levels, and generate dipeptide repeat proteins. Healthy control and C9orf72 ALS/FTD iPSC-MG equally express microglial specific genes and perform microglial functions, including inflammatory cytokine release and phagocytosis of extracellular cargos, such as synthetic amyloid beta peptides and healthy human brain synaptoneurosomes. RNA sequencing analysis revealed select transcriptional changes of genes associated with neuroinflammation or neurodegeneration in diseased microglia yet no significant differentially expressed microglial-enriched genes. Moderate molecular and functional differences were observed in C9orf72 iPSC-MG mono-cultures despite the presence of C9orf72 pathological features suggesting that a diseased microenvironment may be required to induce phenotypic changes in microglial cells and the associated neuronal dysfunction seen in C9orf72 ALS/FTD neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ileana Lorenzini
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Eric Alsop
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jennifer Levy
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Lauren M. Gittings
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Deepti Lall
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Benjamin E. Rabichow
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Stephen Moore
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Ryan Pevey
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Lynette M. Bustos
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Camelia Burciu
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Divya Bhatia
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Mo Singer
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Justin Saul
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Amanda McQuade
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Makis Tzioras
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain Discovery Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas A. Mota
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Amber Logemann
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Jamie Rose
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain Discovery Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Almeida
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Fen-Biao Gao
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Michael Marks
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Christopher J. Donnelly
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Elizabeth Hutchins
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Shu-Ting Hung
- Department of Stem Cell Biology Regenerative Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Justin Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology Regenerative Medicine, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Robert Bowser
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Tara Spires-Jones
- UK Dementia Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Brain Discovery Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Mathew Blurton-Jones
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Tania F. Gendron
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Robert H. Baloh
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | | | - Rita Sattler
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
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23
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Vautier A, Lebreton AL, Codron P, Awada Z, Gohier P, Cassereau J. Retinal vessels as a window on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathophysiology: A systematic review. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2023; 179:548-562. [PMID: 36842953 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2022.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare fatal motor neuron disease. Although many potential mechanisms have been proposed, the pathophysiology of the disease remains unknown. Currently available treatments can only delay the progression of the disease and prolong life expectancy by a few months. There is still no definitive cure for ALS, and the development of new treatments is limited by a lack of understanding of the underlying biological processes that trigger and promote neurodegeneration. Several scientific results suggest a neurovascular impairment in ALS providing perspectives for the development of new biomarkers and treatments. In this article, we performed a systematic review using PRISMA guidelines including PubMed, EmBase, GoogleScholar, and Web of Science Core Collection to analyze the scientific literature published between 2000 and 2021 discussing the neurocardiovascular involvement and ophthalmologic abnormalities in ALS. In total, 122 articles were included to establish this systematic review. Indeed, microvascular pathology seems to be involved in ALS, affecting all the neurovascular unit components. Retinal changes have also been recently highlighted without significant alteration of the visual pathways. Despite the peripheral location of the retina, it is considered as an extension of the central nervous system (CNS) as it displays similarities to the brain, the inner blood-retinal barrier, and the blood-brain barrier. This suggests that the eye could be considered as a 'window' into the brain in many CNS disorders. Thus, studying ocular manifestations of brain pathologies seems very promising in understanding neurodegenerative disorders, mainly ALS. Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) could therefore be a powerful approach for exploration of retinal microvascularization allowing to obtain new diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vautier
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France.
| | - A L Lebreton
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - P Codron
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Center, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Angers, France; Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology, University Hospital, Angers, France; University of Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, SFR ICAT, Angers, France
| | - Z Awada
- Department of neuroscience, LHH-SIUH, New York, USA
| | - P Gohier
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital, Angers, France
| | - J Cassereau
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Center, Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Angers, France; University of Angers, Inserm, CNRS, MITOVASC, SFR ICAT, Angers, France.
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24
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Themistokleous C, Bagnoli E, Parulekar R, M K Muqit M. Role of autophagy pathway in Parkinson's disease and related Genetic Neurological disorders. J Mol Biol 2023:168144. [PMID: 37182812 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
The elucidation of the function of the PINK1 protein kinase and Parkin ubiquitin E3 ligase in the elimination of damaged mitochondria by autophagy (mitophagy) has provided unprecedented understanding of the mechanistic pathways underlying Parkinson's disease (PD). We provide a comprehensive overview of the general importance of autophagy in Parkinson's disease and related disorders of the central nervous system. This reveals a critical link between autophagy and neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders and suggests that strategies to modulate mitophagy may have greater relevance in the CNS beyond PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos Themistokleous
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, Sir James Black Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Enrico Bagnoli
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, Sir James Black Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA
| | - Ramaa Parulekar
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, Sir James Black Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Miratul M K Muqit
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit, Sir James Black Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK; Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
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25
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Gallagher ER, Holzbaur ELF. The selective autophagy adaptor p62/SQSTM1 forms phase condensates regulated by HSP27 that facilitate the clearance of damaged lysosomes via lysophagy. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112037. [PMID: 36701233 PMCID: PMC10366342 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In response to lysosomal damage, cells engage several quality-control mechanisms, including the selective isolation and degradation of damaged lysosomes by lysophagy. Here, we report that the selective autophagy adaptor SQSTM1/p62 is recruited to damaged lysosomes in both HeLa cells and neurons and is required for lysophagic flux. The Phox and Bem1p (PB1) domain of p62 mediates oligomerization and is specifically required for lysophagy. Consistent with this observation, we find that p62 forms condensates on damaged lysosomes. These condensates are precisely tuned by the small heat shock protein HSP27, which is phosphorylated in response to lysosomal injury and maintains the liquidity of p62 condensates, facilitating autophagosome formation. Mutations in p62 have been identified in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); ALS-associated mutations in p62 impair lysophagy, suggesting that deficits in this pathway may contribute to neurodegeneration. Thus, p62 condensates regulated by HSP27 promote lysophagy by forming platforms for autophagosome biogenesis at damaged lysosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth R Gallagher
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Erika L F Holzbaur
- Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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26
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Current advances in neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease. Neurol Sci 2023; 44:1881-1889. [PMID: 36795299 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06677-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a rare but probably underdiagnosed neurodegenerative disorder due to pathogenic GGC expansions in the NOTCH2NLC gene. In this review, we summarize recent developments in the inheritance features, pathogenesis, and histopathologic and radiologic features of NIID that subvert the previous perceptions of NIID. GGC repeat sizes determine the age of onset and clinical phenotypes of NIID patients. Anticipation may be absent in NIID but paternal bias is observed in NIID pedigrees. Eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions in skin tissues once considered pathological hallmarks of NIID can also present in other GGC repeat diseases. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) hyperintensity along the corticomedullary junction once considered the imaging hallmark of NIID can frequently be absent in muscle weakness and parkinsonism phenotype of NIID. Besides, DWI abnormalities can appear years after the onset of predominant symptoms and may even disappear completely with disease progression. Moreover, continuous reports of NOTCH2NLC GGC expansions in patients with other neurodegenerative diseases lead to the proposal of a new concept of NOTCH2NLC-related GGC repeat expansion disorders (NRED). However, by reviewing the previous literature, we point out the limitations of these studies and provide evidence that these patients are actually suffering from neurodegenerative phenotypes of NIID.
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27
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Paul S, Dansithong W, Gandelman M, Figueroa KP, Zu T, Ranum LPW, Scoles DR, Pulst SM. Staufen Impairs Autophagy in Neurodegeneration. Ann Neurol 2023; 93:398-416. [PMID: 36151701 PMCID: PMC9892312 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is one of the master coordinators of cellular stress responses, regulating metabolism, autophagy, and apoptosis. We recently reported that staufen1 (STAU1), a stress granule (SG) protein, was overabundant in fibroblast cell lines from patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal degeneration, Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases as well as animal models, and patient tissues. STAU1 overabundance is associated with mTOR hyperactivation and links SG formation with autophagy. Our objective was to determine the mechanism of mTOR regulation by STAU1. METHODS We determined STAU1 abundance with disease- and chemical-induced cellular stressors in patient cells and animal models. We also used RNA-binding assays to contextualize STAU1 interaction with MTOR mRNA. RESULTS STAU1 and mTOR were overabundant in bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-C9ORF72, ATXN2Q127 , and Thy1-TDP-43 transgenic mouse models. Reducing STAU1 levels in these mice normalized mTOR levels and activity and autophagy-related marker proteins. We also saw increased STAU1 levels in HEK293 cells transfected to express C9ORF72-relevant dipeptide repeats (DPRs). Conversely, DPR accumulations were not observed in cells treated by STAU1 RNA interference (RNAi). Overexpression of STAU1 in HEK293 cells increased mTOR levels through direct MTOR mRNA interaction, activating downstream targets and impairing autophagic flux. Targeting mTOR by rapamycin or RNAi normalized STAU1 abundance in an SCA2 cellular model. INTERPRETATION STAU1 interaction with mTOR drives its hyperactivation and inhibits autophagic flux in multiple models of neurodegeneration. Staufen, therefore, constitutes a novel target to modulate mTOR activity and autophagy, and for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. ANN NEUROL 2023;93:398-416.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharan Paul
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | | | - Mandi Gandelman
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | | | - Tao Zu
- Center for NeuroGenetics and Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Laura P W Ranum
- Center for NeuroGenetics and Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Daniel R Scoles
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
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28
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Troakes C, Conforti FL. Editorial: The role of gene mutations in the neuropathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)- Progress and challenges. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1145823. [PMID: 36925944 PMCID: PMC10011696 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1145823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Troakes
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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29
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Muzio L, Ghirelli A, Agosta F, Martino G. Novel therapeutic approaches for motor neuron disease. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2023; 196:523-537. [PMID: 37620088 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-98817-9.00027-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that leads to the neurodegeneration and death of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). Although MNs are the main cells involved in the process of neurodegeneration, a growing body of evidence points toward other cell types as concurrent to disease initiation and propagation. Given the current absence of effective therapies, the quest for other therapeutic targets remains open and still challenges the scientific community. Both neuronal and extra-neuronal mechanisms of cellular stress and damage have been studied and have posed the basis for the development of novel therapies that have been investigated on both animal models and humans. In this chapter, a thorough review of the main mechanisms of cellular damage and the respective therapeutic attempts targeting them is reported. The main areas covered include neuroinflammation, protein aggregation, RNA metabolism, and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Muzio
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, InsPE, Milan, Italy
| | - Alma Ghirelli
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, InsPE, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, InsPE, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianvito Martino
- San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Division of Neuroscience, InsPE, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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30
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Cooper‐Knock J, Julian TH, Feneberg E, Highley JR, Sidra M, Turner MR, Talbot K, Ansorge O, Allen SP, Moll T, Shelkovnikova T, Castelli L, Hautbergue GM, Hewitt C, Kirby J, Wharton SB, Mead RJ, Shaw PJ. Atypical TDP-43 protein expression in an ALS pedigree carrying a p.Y374X truncation mutation in TARDBP. Brain Pathol 2023; 33:e13104. [PMID: 35871544 PMCID: PMC9836368 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe an autosomal dominant, multi-generational, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pedigree in which disease co-segregates with a heterozygous p.Y374X nonsense mutation within TDP-43. Mislocalization of TDP-43 and formation of insoluble TDP-43-positive neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions is the hallmark pathology in >95% of ALS patients. Neuropathological examination of the single case for which CNS tissue was available indicated typical TDP-43 pathology within lower motor neurons, but classical TDP-43-positive inclusions were absent from motor cortex. The mutated allele is transcribed and translated in patient fibroblasts and motor cortex tissue, but overall TDP-43 protein expression is reduced compared to wild-type controls. Despite absence of TDP-43-positive inclusions we confirmed deficient TDP-43 splicing function within motor cortex tissue. Furthermore, urea fractionation and mass spectrometry of motor cortex tissue carrying the mutation revealed atypical TDP-43 protein species but not typical C-terminal fragments. We conclude that the p.Y374X mutation underpins a monogenic, fully penetrant form of ALS. Reduced expression of TDP-43 combined with atypical TDP-43 protein species and absent C-terminal fragments extends the molecular phenotypes associated with TDP-43 mutations and with ALS more broadly. Future work will need to include the findings from this pedigree in dissecting the mechanisms of TDP-43-mediated toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnathan Cooper‐Knock
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Thomas H. Julian
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Emily Feneberg
- Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
- Neurology Department, Klinikum Rechts der IsarTechnical University of MunichMunichGermany
| | - J. Robin Highley
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Maurice Sidra
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Martin R. Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical NeurosciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Olaf Ansorge
- Academic Unit of NeuropathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Scott P. Allen
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Tobias Moll
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Tatyana Shelkovnikova
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Lydia Castelli
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Guillaume M. Hautbergue
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Christopher Hewitt
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
- Amarin UK LimitedAmarin CorporationLondonUK
| | - Janine Kirby
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Stephen B. Wharton
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Richard J. Mead
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Pamela J. Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN)University of SheffieldSheffieldUK
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31
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Abstract
The scientific landscape surrounding amyotrophic lateral sclerosis has shifted immensely with a number of well-defined ALS disease-causing genes, each with related phenotypical and cellular motor neuron processes that have come to light. Yet in spite of decades of research and clinical investigation, there is still no etiology for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and treatment options even for those with well-defined familial syndromes are still limited. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the genetic basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, highlighting factors that contribute to its heritability and phenotypic manifestations, and an overview of past, present, and upcoming therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Younger
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Neuroscience, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine and Neurology, White Plains Hospital, White Plains, NY, United States.
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, UMass Chan Medical School, Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Neurosciences and Director in Neurotherapeutics, Worcester, MA, United States
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32
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Tan HHG, Westeneng H, Nitert AD, van Veenhuijzen K, Meier JM, van der Burgh HK, van Zandvoort MJE, van Es MA, Veldink JH, van den Berg LH. MRI Clustering Reveals Three ALS Subtypes With Unique Neurodegeneration Patterns. Ann Neurol 2022; 92:1030-1045. [PMID: 36054734 PMCID: PMC9826424 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to identify subtypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by comparing patterns of neurodegeneration using brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and explore their phenotypes. METHODS We performed T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging in 488 clinically well-characterized patients with ALS and 338 control subjects. Measurements of whole-brain cortical thickness and white matter connectome fractional anisotropy were adjusted for disease-unrelated variation. A probabilistic network-based clustering algorithm was used to divide patients into subgroups of similar neurodegeneration patterns. Clinical characteristics and cognitive profiles were assessed for each subgroup. In total, 512 follow-up scans were used to validate clustering results longitudinally. RESULTS The clustering algorithm divided patients with ALS into 3 subgroups of 187, 163, and 138 patients. All subgroups displayed involvement of the precentral gyrus and are characterized, respectively, by (1) pure motor involvement (pure motor cluster [PM]), (2) orbitofrontal and temporal involvement (frontotemporal cluster [FT]), and (3) involvement of the posterior cingulate cortex, parietal white matter, temporal operculum, and cerebellum (cingulate-parietal-temporal cluster [CPT]). These subgroups had significantly distinct clinical profiles regarding male-to-female ratio, age at symptom onset, and frequency of bulbar symptom onset. FT and CPT revealed higher rates of cognitive impairment on the Edinburgh cognitive and behavioral ALS screen (ECAS). Longitudinally, clustering remained stable: at 90.4% of their follow-up visits, patients clustered in the same subgroup as their baseline visit. INTERPRETATION ALS can manifest itself in 3 main patterns of cerebral neurodegeneration, each associated with distinct clinical characteristics and cognitive profiles. Besides the pure motor and frontotemporal dementia (FTD)-like variants of ALS, a new neuroimaging phenotype has emerged, characterized by posterior cingulate, parietal, temporal, and cerebellar involvement. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:1030-1045.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harold H. G. Tan
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Henk‐Jan Westeneng
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Abram D. Nitert
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Kevin van Veenhuijzen
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jil M. Meier
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Hannelore K. van der Burgh
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Martine J. E. van Zandvoort
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands,Department of Experimental PsychologyUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Michael A. van Es
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Jan H. Veldink
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Leonard H. van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
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33
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Rifai OM, Longden J, O'Shaughnessy J, Sewell MDE, Pate J, McDade K, Daniels MJ, Abrahams S, Chandran S, McColl BW, Sibley CR, Gregory JM. Random forest modelling demonstrates microglial and protein misfolding features to be key phenotypic markers in C9orf72-ALS. J Pathol 2022; 258:366-381. [PMID: 36070099 PMCID: PMC9827842 DOI: 10.1002/path.6008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Clinical heterogeneity observed across patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a known complicating factor in identifying potential therapeutics, even within cohorts with the same mutation, such as C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansions (HREs). Thus, further understanding of pathways underlying this heterogeneity is essential for appropriate ALS trial stratification and the meaningful assessment of clinical outcomes. It has been shown that both inflammation and protein misfolding can influence ALS pathogenesis, such as the manifestation or severity of motor or cognitive symptoms. However, there has yet to be a systematic and quantitative assessment of immunohistochemical markers to interrogate the potential relevance of these pathways in an unbiased manner. To investigate this, we extensively characterised features of commonly used glial activation and protein misfolding stains in thousands of images of post-mortem tissue from a heterogeneous cohort of deeply clinically profiled patients with a C9orf72 HRE. Using a random forest model, we show that microglial staining features are the most accurate classifiers of disease status in our panel and that clinicopathological relationships exist between microglial activation status, TDP-43 pathology, and language dysfunction. Furthermore, we detected spatially resolved changes in fused in sarcoma (FUS) staining, suggesting that liquid-liquid phase shift of this aggregation-prone RNA-binding protein may be important in ALS caused by a C9orf72 HRE. Interestingly, no one feature alone significantly impacted the predictiveness of the model, indicating that the collective examination of all features, or a combination of several features, is what allows the model to be predictive. Our findings provide further support to the hypothesis of dysfunctional immune regulation and proteostasis in the pathogenesis of C9-ALS and provide a framework for digital analysis of commonly used neuropathological stains as a tool to enrich our understanding of clinicopathological relationships within and between cohorts. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia M Rifai
- Translational Neuroscience PhD Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - James Longden
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Judi O'Shaughnessy
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Michael DE Sewell
- Translational Neuroscience PhD Programme, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Judith Pate
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Karina McDade
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Sharon Abrahams
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Human Cognitive Neuroscience-Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Barry W McColl
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Christopher R Sibley
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jenna M Gregory
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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34
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Bauer CS, Cohen RN, Sironi F, Livesey MR, Gillingwater TH, Highley JR, Fillingham DJ, Coldicott I, Smith EF, Gibson YB, Webster CP, Grierson AJ, Bendotti C, De Vos KJ. An interaction between synapsin and C9orf72 regulates excitatory synapses and is impaired in ALS/FTD. Acta Neuropathol 2022; 144:437-464. [PMID: 35876881 PMCID: PMC9381633 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-022-02470-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Dysfunction and degeneration of synapses is a common feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD). A GGGGCC hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene is the main genetic cause of ALS/FTD (C9ALS/FTD). The repeat expansion leads to reduced expression of the C9orf72 protein. How C9orf72 haploinsufficiency contributes to disease has not been resolved. Here we identify the synapsin family of synaptic vesicle proteins, the most abundant group of synaptic phosphoproteins, as novel interactors of C9orf72 at synapses and show that C9orf72 plays a cell-autonomous role in the regulation of excitatory synapses. We mapped the interaction of C9orf72 and synapsin to the N-terminal longin domain of C9orf72 and the conserved C domain of synapsin, and show interaction of the endogenous proteins in synapses. Functionally, C9orf72 deficiency reduced the number of excitatory synapses and decreased synapsin levels at remaining synapses in vitro in hippocampal neuron cultures and in vivo in the hippocampal mossy fibre system of C9orf72 knockout mice. Consistent with synaptic dysfunction, electrophysiological recordings identified impaired excitatory neurotransmission and network function in hippocampal neuron cultures with reduced C9orf72 expression, which correlated with a severe depletion of synaptic vesicles from excitatory synapses in the hippocampus of C9orf72 knockout mice. Finally, neuropathological analysis of post-mortem sections of C9ALS/FTD patient hippocampus with C9orf72 haploinsufficiency revealed a marked reduction in synapsin, indicating that disruption of the interaction between C9orf72 and synapsin may contribute to ALS/FTD pathobiology. Thus, our data show that C9orf72 plays a cell-autonomous role in the regulation of neurotransmission at excitatory synapses by interaction with synapsin and modulation of synaptic vesicle pools, and identify a novel role for C9orf72 haploinsufficiency in synaptic dysfunction in C9ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia S Bauer
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Rebecca N Cohen
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Francesca Sironi
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Matthew R Livesey
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Thomas H Gillingwater
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Chancellor's Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - J Robin Highley
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Daniel J Fillingham
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Ian Coldicott
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Emma F Smith
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Yolanda B Gibson
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Christopher P Webster
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Andrew J Grierson
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156, Milan, Italy
| | - Kurt J De Vos
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ, UK.
- Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK.
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Autophagy-Mediated Inflammatory Cytokine Secretion in Sporadic ALS Patient iPSC-Derived Astrocytes. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:6483582. [PMID: 36046683 PMCID: PMC9423978 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6483582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background. Astrocytes can be involved in motor neuron toxicity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) induced by noncell autonomous effects, and inflammatory cytokines may play the main role in mediating this process. However, the etiology of aberrant cytokine secretion is unclear. The present study assessed possible involvement of the mTOR-autophagy pathway in aberrant cytokine secretion by ALS patient iPSC-derived astrocytes. Method and Results. PBMCs from sporadic ALS patients and control subjects were reprogrammed into iPSCs, which were then differentiated into astrocytes and/or motor neurons. Comparison with control astrocytes indicated that conditioned medium of ALS astrocytes reduced the viability of the control motor neurons (
) assessed using the MTT assay. The results of ELISA showed that the concentrations of TNFα, IL1β, and IL6 in cell culture medium of ALS astrocytes were increased (
). ALS astrocytes had higher p62 and mTOR levels and lower LC3BII/LC3BI ratio and ULK1 and p-Beclin-1 (Ser15) levels (
), indicating defective autophagy. Exogenous inhibition of the mTOR-autophagy pathway, but not the activation of the pathway in control subject astrocytes, increased the levels of p62 and mTOR and concentration of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in cell culture medium and decreased the LC3BII/LC3BI ratio and levels of ULK1 and p-Beclin-1 (Ser15), and these changes were comparable to those in ALS astrocytes. After 48 h of rapamycin (autophagy activator) and 3-methyladenine (autophagy inhibitor) treatments, the exogenous activation of the mTOR-autophagy pathway, but not inhibition of the pathway, in ALS astrocytes significantly reduced the concentrations of TNFα, IL1β, and IL6 in cell culture medium and reduced the levels of p62, while increasing the levels of LC3B-II/LC3B-I, ULK1, and p-Beclin-1 (Ser15), and these changes were comparable to those in control subject astrocytes. Conclusion. Alteration in the mTOR/ULK1/Beclin-1 pathway regulated cytokine secretion in ALS astrocytes, which was able to lead to noncell autonomous toxicity. Autophagy activation mitigated cytokine secretion by ALS astrocytes.
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36
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Kon T, Mori F, Kinoshita I, Nakamura T, Nishijima H, Suzuki C, Goto S, Kijima H, Tomiyama M, Wakabayashi K. An autopsy case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with striatonigral and pallidoluysian degeneration and cat's-eye-shaped neuronal nuclear inclusions. Neuropathology 2022; 42:329-338. [PMID: 35775096 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
We report the case of a Japanese woman with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) of 28 months' duration who died at the age of 66 years. Postmortem examination revealed moderate loss of neurons and phosphorylated TDP-43 (p-TDP-43)-immunoreactive neuronal and glial cytoplasmic inclusions in the upper and lower motor neurons. Additionally, marked neuronal loss was observed in the neostriatum, globus pallidum, subthalamic nucleus, and substantia nigra. p-TDP-43-immunoreactive inclusions were frequently found in these areas. Neuronal loss and TDP-43 pathology in the motor, striatonigral, and pallidoluysian systems were predominant on the right side. Moreover, p-TDP-43-immunoreactive cat's-eye-shaped neuronal nuclear inclusions (NNIs) were observed in the affected lesions. NNIs in the striatonigral system were also positive for valosin-containing protein (VCP). We diagnosed the patient as having ALS with striatonigral and pallidoluysian degeneration. Patients with ALS rarely experience pallido-nigro-luysian degeneration. To our best knowledge, only one case of ALS combined with striatonigral and pallidoluysian degeneration has been reported. Neuronal loss in the striatonigral and/or pallidoluysian systems has also been reported in patients with ALS with multisystem degeneration accompanied by long-term use of an artificial respirator. Based on these findings, a possibility of an extremely rare subtype of ALS demonstrating selective loss of neurons in the striatonigral and pallidoluysian systems exists; another possibility is that this type could be an early stage or forme fruste of ALS with multisystem degeneration. Although VCP-positive cat's-eye-shaped NNIs have been reported in spinocerebellar ataxia type-2 cases, our case report presents VCP-positive NNIs in a patient with ALS for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Kon
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Mori
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Iku Kinoshita
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakamura
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Haruo Nishijima
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Chieko Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Shintaro Goto
- Department of Pathology and Bioscience, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kijima
- Department of Pathology and Bioscience, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Masahiko Tomiyama
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Koichi Wakabayashi
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
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Gene Therapy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2022; 11:cells11132066. [PMID: 35805149 PMCID: PMC9265980 DOI: 10.3390/cells11132066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene mutation, in 1993, as the first genetic abnormality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), over 50 genes have been identified as either cause or modifier in ALS and ALS/frontotemporal dementia (FTD) spectrum disease. Mutations in C9orf72, SOD1, TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TARDBP), and fused in sarcoma (FUS) genes are the four most common ones. During the last three decades, tremendous effort has been made worldwide to reveal biological pathways underlying the pathogenesis of these gene mutations in ALS/FTD. Accordingly, targeting etiologic genes (i.e., gene therapies) to suppress their toxic effects have been investigated widely. It includes four major strategies: (i) removal or inhibition of abnormal transcribed RNA using microRNA or antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), (ii) degradation of abnormal mRNA using RNA interference (RNAi), (iii) decrease or inhibition of mutant proteins (e.g., using antibodies against misfolded proteins), and (iv) DNA genome editing with methods such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (CRISPR/Cas). The promising results of these studies have led to the application of some of these strategies into ALS clinical trials, especially for C9orf72 and SOD1. In this paper, we will overview advances in gene therapy in ALS/FTD, focusing on C9orf72, SOD1, TARDBP, and FUS genes.
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King A, Lee YK, Jones S, Troakes C. A pathologically confirmed case of combined amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with C9orf72 mutation and multiple system atrophy. Neuropathology 2022; 42:302-308. [PMID: 35746899 PMCID: PMC9541494 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Hexanucleotide repeat expansions in C9orf72 account for a large proportion of cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. There have been occasional reported cases associated with this expansion but also additional extrapyramidal clinical features. However, only very rarely has there been pathological confirmation of a parkinsonian syndrome associated with a C9orf72 repeat expansion. To date, as far as we are aware, there have been no reported pathologically confirmed cases of ALS with C9orf72 mutation and multiple system atrophy (MSA). We report a case of a man who initially presented with extrapyramidal features, including cogwheel rigidity, and, therefore, was clinically considered likely to have Parkinson's disease or a parkinsonian syndrome. Subsequent examination six months later revealed additional abnormal upper and lower motor neuron signs, raising the strong possibility of ALS. He had a rapid clinical decline and died 16 months after the first presentation. It was noted that his father also had ALS, and that his mother had a parkinsonian syndrome, suggestive of progressive supranuclear palsy. The macroscopic and microscopic examination of the brain and spinal cord revealed ALS pathology with neuronal loss, especially of the anterior horns of the cord and the motor cortex. This was associated with numerous neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions immunoreactive for phosphorylated transactivation response DNA‐binding protein of 43 Da (TDP43). There were additional pathological features, including p62‐immunoreactive cerebellar neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions, fully in keeping with a C9orf72 repeat expansion, and this was confirmed on molecular analysis. However, there was also α‐synuclein pathology in the form of oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions in the basal ganglia, cerebellum, and brainstem, indicative of MSA. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of pathologically confirmed combined ALS‐C9orf72 and MSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew King
- Department Of Clinical Neuropathology, King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK.,London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank and Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Yuan Kai Lee
- Department of Neurology, Eastbourne District General Hospital, King's Drive, East Sussex, UK
| | - Shalmai Jones
- London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank and Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank and Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
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Gleixner AM, Verdone BM, Otte CG, Anderson EN, Ramesh N, Shapiro OR, Gale JR, Mauna JC, Mann JR, Copley KE, Daley EL, Ortega JA, Cicardi ME, Kiskinis E, Kofler J, Pandey UB, Trotti D, Donnelly CJ. NUP62 localizes to ALS/FTLD pathological assemblies and contributes to TDP-43 insolubility. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3380. [PMID: 35697676 PMCID: PMC9192689 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31098-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene is the most common genetic cause of ALS and FTLD (C9-ALS/FTLD) with cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions observed in regions of neurodegeneration. The accumulation of repetitive RNAs and dipeptide repeat protein (DPR) are two proposed mechanisms of toxicity in C9-ALS/FTLD and linked to impaired nucleocytoplasmic transport. Nucleocytoplasmic transport is regulated by the phenylalanine-glycine nucleoporins (FG nups) that comprise the nuclear pore complex (NPC) permeability barrier. However, the relationship between FG nups and TDP-43 pathology remains elusive. Our studies show that nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic mislocalization of one FG nup, NUP62, is linked to TDP-43 mislocalization in C9-ALS/FTLD iPSC neurons. Poly-glycine arginine (GR) DPR accumulation initiates the formation of cytoplasmic RNA granules that recruit NUP62 and TDP-43. Cytoplasmic NUP62 and TDP-43 interactions promotes their insolubility and NUP62:TDP-43 inclusions are frequently found in C9orf72 ALS/FTLD as well as sporadic ALS/FTLD postmortem CNS tissue. Our findings indicate NUP62 cytoplasmic mislocalization contributes to TDP-43 proteinopathy in ALS/FTLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Gleixner
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Brandie Morris Verdone
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Charlton G Otte
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Physician Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Eric N Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nandini Ramesh
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Olivia R Shapiro
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jenna R Gale
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jocelyn C Mauna
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jacob R Mann
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Katie E Copley
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Daley
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University of Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Juan A Ortega
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University of Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Maria Elena Cicardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University of Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Julia Kofler
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Udai B Pandey
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Davide Trotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christopher J Donnelly
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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40
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Houghton OH, Mizielinska S, Gomez-Suaga P. The Interplay Between Autophagy and RNA Homeostasis: Implications for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:838402. [PMID: 35573690 PMCID: PMC9096704 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.838402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia are neurodegenerative disorders that lie on a disease spectrum, sharing genetic causes and pathology, and both without effective therapeutics. Two pathways that have been shown to play major roles in disease pathogenesis are autophagy and RNA homeostasis. Intriguingly, there is an increasing body of evidence suggesting a critical interplay between these pathways. Autophagy is a multi-stage process for bulk and selective clearance of malfunctional cellular components, with many layers of regulation. Although the majority of autophagy research focuses on protein degradation, it can also mediate RNA catabolism. ALS/FTD-associated proteins are involved in many stages of autophagy and autophagy-mediated RNA degradation, particularly converging on the clearance of persistent pathological stress granules. In this review, we will summarise the progress in understanding the autophagy-RNA homeostasis interplay and how that knowledge contributes to our understanding of the pathobiology of ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- O H Houghton
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom.,UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - S Mizielinska
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom.,UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - P Gomez-Suaga
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom.,Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Enfermería y Terapia Ocupacional, Universidad de Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Cáceres, Spain
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41
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SQSTM1, a protective factor of SOD1-linked motor neuron disease, regulates the accumulation and distribution of ubiquitinated protein aggregates in neuron. Neurochem Int 2022; 158:105364. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2022.105364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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42
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The pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Mitochondrial dysfunction, protein misfolding and epigenetics. Brain Res 2022; 1786:147904. [PMID: 35390335 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.147904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with multiple complex mechanisms involved. Among them, mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in ALS. Multiple studies have shown that mitochondria are closely associated with reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress and exhibit different functional states in different genetic backgrounds. In this review we explored the roles of Ca2+, autophagy, mitochondrial quality control in the regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis and their relationship with ALS. In addition, we also summarized and analyzed the roles of protein misfolding and abnormal aggregation in the pathogenesis of ALS. Moreover, we also discussed how epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and protein post-translational modification affect initiation and progression of ALS. Nevertheless, existing events still cannot fully explain the pathogenesis of ALS at present, more studies are required to explore pathological mechanisms of ALS.
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Activation of the Nrf2 Pathway as a Therapeutic Strategy for ALS Treatment. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27051471. [PMID: 35268572 PMCID: PMC8911691 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27051471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive and fatal disease that causes motoneurons degeneration and functional impairment of voluntary muscles, with limited and poorly efficient therapies. Alterations in the Nrf2-ARE pathway are associated with ALS pathology and result in aberrant oxidative stress, making the stimulation of the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response a promising therapeutic strategy in ALS to reduce oxidative stress. In this review, we first introduce the involvement of the Nrf2 pathway in the pathogenesis of ALS and the role played by astrocytes in modulating such a protective pathway. We then describe the currently developed activators of Nrf2, used in both preclinical animal models and clinical studies, taking into consideration their potentialities as well as the possible limitations associated with their use.
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Kumar AV, Mills J, Lapierre LR. Selective Autophagy Receptor p62/SQSTM1, a Pivotal Player in Stress and Aging. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:793328. [PMID: 35237597 PMCID: PMC8883344 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.793328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient proteostasis is crucial for somatic maintenance, and its decline during aging leads to cellular dysfunction and disease. Selective autophagy is a form of autophagy mediated by receptors that target specific cargoes for degradation and is an essential process to maintain proteostasis. The protein Sequestosome 1 (p62/SQSTM1) is a classical selective autophagy receptor, but it also has roles in the ubiquitin-proteasome system, cellular metabolism, signaling, and apoptosis. p62 is best known for its role in clearing protein aggregates via aggrephagy, but it has recently emerged as a receptor for other forms of selective autophagy such as mitophagy and lipophagy. Notably, p62 has context-dependent impacts on organismal aging and turnover of p62 usually reflects active proteostasis. In this review, we highlight recent advances in understanding the role of p62 in coordinating the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy. We also discuss positive and negative effects of p62 on proteostatic status and their implications on aging and neurodegeneration. Finally, we relate the link between defective p62 and diseases of aging and examine the utility of targeting this multifaceted protein to achieve proteostatic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Louis R. Lapierre
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
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45
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Davidson JM, Chung RS, Lee A. The converging roles of sequestosome-1/p62 in the molecular pathways of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Neurobiol Dis 2022; 166:105653. [PMID: 35143965 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigations into the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) have provided significant insight into the disease. At the cellular level, ALS and FTD are classified as proteinopathies, which is motor neuron degeneration and death characterized by pathological protein aggregates or dysregulated proteostasis. At both the clinical and molecular level there are common signaling pathways dysregulated across the ALS and FTD spectrum (ALS/FTD). Sequestosome-1/p62 is a multifunctional scaffold protein with roles in several signaling pathways including proteostasis, protein degradation via the ubiquitin proteasome system and autophagy, the antioxidant response, inflammatory response, and apoptosis. Notably these pathways are dysregulated in ALS and FTD. Mutations in the functional domains of p62 provide links to the pathogenetic mechanisms of p62 and dyshomeostasis of p62 levels is noted in several types of ALS and FTD. We present here that the dysregulated ALS and FTD signaling pathways are linked, with p62 converging the molecular mechanisms. This review summarizes the current literature on the complex role of p62 in the pathogenesis across the ALS/FTD spectrum. The focus is on the underlying convergent molecular mechanisms of ALS and FTD-associated proteins and pathways that dysregulate p62 levels or are dysregulated by p62, with emphasis on how p62 is implicated across the ALS/FTD spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennilee M Davidson
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 2 Technology Place, NSW 2109, Australia..
| | - Roger S Chung
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 2 Technology Place, NSW 2109, Australia..
| | - Albert Lee
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 2 Technology Place, NSW 2109, Australia..
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46
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Fourier A, Quadrio I. Proteinopathies associated to repeat expansion disorders. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2022; 129:173-185. [DOI: 10.1007/s00702-021-02454-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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47
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Pasha T, Zatorska A, Sharipov D, Rogelj B, Hortobágyi T, Hirth F. Karyopherin abnormalities in neurodegenerative proteinopathies. Brain 2021; 144:2915-2932. [PMID: 34019093 PMCID: PMC8194669 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative proteinopathies are characterized by progressive cell loss that is preceded by the mislocalization and aberrant accumulation of proteins prone to aggregation. Despite their different physiological functions, disease-related proteins like tau, α-synuclein, TAR DNA binding protein-43, fused in sarcoma and mutant huntingtin, all share low complexity regions that can mediate their liquid-liquid phase transitions. The proteins' phase transitions can range from native monomers to soluble oligomers, liquid droplets and further to irreversible, often-mislocalized aggregates that characterize the stages and severity of neurodegenerative diseases. Recent advances into the underlying pathogenic mechanisms have associated mislocalization and aberrant accumulation of disease-related proteins with defective nucleocytoplasmic transport and its mediators called karyopherins. These studies identify karyopherin abnormalities in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, that range from altered expression levels to the subcellular mislocalization and aggregation of karyopherin α and β proteins. The reported findings reveal that in addition to their classical function in nuclear import and export, karyopherins can also act as chaperones by shielding aggregation-prone proteins against misfolding, accumulation and irreversible phase-transition into insoluble aggregates. Karyopherin abnormalities can, therefore, be both the cause and consequence of protein mislocalization and aggregate formation in degenerative proteinopathies. The resulting vicious feedback cycle of karyopherin pathology and proteinopathy identifies karyopherin abnormalities as a common denominator of onset and progression of neurodegenerative disease. Pharmacological targeting of karyopherins, already in clinical trials as therapeutic intervention targeting cancers such as glioblastoma and viral infections like COVID-19, may therefore represent a promising new avenue for disease-modifying treatments in neurodegenerative proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terouz Pasha
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Anna Zatorska
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Daulet Sharipov
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Boris Rogelj
- Jozef Stefan Institute, Department of Biotechnology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tibor Hortobágyi
- ELKH-DE Cerebrovascular and Neurodegenerative Research Group, Department of Neurology, University of Debrecen, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
- King's College London, Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Frank Hirth
- King’s College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London SE5 9RT, UK
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Sharpe JL, Harper NS, Garner DR, West RJH. Modeling C9orf72-Related Frontotemporal Dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Drosophila. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:770937. [PMID: 34744635 PMCID: PMC8566814 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.770937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
An intronic hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) expansion in the C9orf72 gene is the most common genetic cause of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the decade following its discovery, much progress has been made in enhancing our understanding of how it precipitates disease. Both loss of function caused by reduced C9orf72 transcript levels, and gain of function mechanisms, triggered by the production of repetitive sense and antisense RNA and dipeptide repeat proteins, are thought to contribute to the toxicity. Drosophila models, with their unrivaled genetic tractability and short lifespan, have played a key role in developing our understanding of C9orf72-related FTD/ALS. There is no C9orf72 homolog in fly, and although this precludes investigations into loss of function toxicity, it is useful for elucidating mechanisms underpinning gain of function toxicity. To date there are a range of Drosophila C9orf72 models, encompassing different aspects of gain of function toxicity. In addition to pure repeat transgenes, which produce both repeat RNA and dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), RNA only models and DPR models have been generated to unpick the individual contributions of RNA and each dipeptide repeat protein to C9orf72 toxicity. In this review, we discuss how Drosophila models have shaped our understanding of C9orf72 gain of function toxicity, and address opportunities to utilize these models for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne L Sharpe
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Nikki S Harper
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan R Garner
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.,Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Ryan J H West
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.,Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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Rossi S, Cozzolino M. Dysfunction of RNA/RNA-Binding Proteins in ALS Astrocytes and Microglia. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113005. [PMID: 34831228 PMCID: PMC8616248 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a neurological disease that primarily affects motor neurons in the cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. The process that leads to motor neuron degeneration is strongly influenced by non-motor neuronal events that occur in a variety of cell types. Among these, neuroinflammatory processes mediated by activated astrocytes and microglia play a relevant role. In recent years, it has become clear that dysregulation of essential steps of RNA metabolism, as a consequence of alterations in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), is a central event in the degeneration of motor neurons. Yet, a causal link between dysfunctional RNA metabolism and the neuroinflammatory processes mediated by astrocytes and microglia in ALS has been poorly defined. In this review, we will discuss the available evidence showing that RBPs and associated RNA processing are affected in ALS astrocytes and microglia, and the possible mechanisms involved in these events.
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50
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Bede P, Chipika RH, Christidi F, Hengeveld JC, Karavasilis E, Argyropoulos GD, Lope J, Li Hi Shing S, Velonakis G, Dupuis L, Doherty MA, Vajda A, McLaughlin RL, Hardiman O. Genotype-associated cerebellar profiles in ALS: focal cerebellar pathology and cerebro-cerebellar connectivity alterations. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2021; 92:1197-1205. [PMID: 34168085 PMCID: PMC8522463 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-326854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cerebellar disease burden and cerebro-cerebellar connectivity alterations are poorly characterised in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) despite the likely contribution of cerebellar pathology to the clinical heterogeneity of the condition. METHODS A prospective imaging study has been undertaken with 271 participants to systematically evaluate cerebellar grey and white matter alterations, cerebellar peduncle integrity and cerebro-cerebellar connectivity in ALS. Participants were stratified into four groups: (1) patients testing positive for GGGGCC repeat expansions in C9orf72, (2) patients carrying an intermediate-length repeat expansion in ATXN2, (3) patients without established ALS-associated mutations and (4) healthy controls. Additionally, the cerebellar profile of a single patient with ALS who had an ATXN2 allele length of 62 was evaluated. Cortical thickness, grey matter and white matter volumes were calculated in each cerebellar lobule complemented by morphometric analyses to characterise genotype-associated atrophy patterns. A Bayesian segmentation algorithm was used for superior cerebellar peduncle volumetry. White matter diffusivity parameters were appraised both within the cerebellum and in the cerebellar peduncles. Cerebro-cerebellar connectivity was assessed using deterministic tractography. RESULTS Cerebellar pathology was confined to lobules I-V of the anterior lobe in patients with sporadic ALS in contrast to the considerable posterior lobe and vermis disease burden identified in C9orf72 mutation carriers. Patients with intermediate ATXN2 expansions did not exhibit significant cerebellar pathology. CONCLUSIONS Focal rather than global cerebellar degeneration characterises ALS. Pathognomonic ALS symptoms which are typically attributed to other anatomical regions, such as dysarthria, dysphagia, pseudobulbar affect, eye movement abnormalities and cognitive deficits, may be modulated, exacerbated or partially driven by cerebellar changes in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Bede
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Foteini Christidi
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | | | - Jasmin Lope
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stacey Li Hi Shing
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Léonie Dupuis
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- University of Central Florida College of Medicine, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Mark A Doherty
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alice Vajda
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Orla Hardiman
- Computational Neuroimaging Group, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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