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Swier VJ, White KA, Johnson TB, Wang X, Han J, Pearce DA, Singh R, Drack AV, Pfeifer W, Rogers CS, Brudvig JJ, Weimer JM. A novel porcine model of CLN3 Batten disease recapitulates clinical phenotypes. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050038. [PMID: 37305926 PMCID: PMC10434985 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050038] [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: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mouse models of CLN3 Batten disease, a rare lysosomal storage disorder with no cure, have improved our understanding of CLN3 biology and therapeutics through their ease of use and a consistent display of cellular pathology. However, the translatability of murine models is limited by disparities in anatomy, body size, life span and inconsistent subtle behavior deficits that can be difficult to detect in CLN3 mutant mouse models, thereby limiting their use in preclinical studies. Here, we present a longitudinal characterization of a novel miniswine model of CLN3 disease that recapitulates the most common human pathogenic variant, an exon 7-8 deletion (CLN3Δex7/8). Progressive pathology and neuron loss is observed in various regions of the CLN3Δex7/8 miniswine brain and retina. Additionally, mutant miniswine present with retinal degeneration and motor abnormalities, similar to deficits seen in humans diagnosed with the disease. Taken together, the CLN3Δex7/8 miniswine model shows consistent and progressive Batten disease pathology, and behavioral impairment mirroring clinical presentation, demonstrating its value in studying the role of CLN3 and safety/efficacy of novel disease-modifying therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki J. Swier
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Katherine A. White
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Tyler B. Johnson
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | | | - Jimin Han
- Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - David A. Pearce
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Ruchira Singh
- Department of Ophthalmology, Center for Visual Science, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Arlene V. Drack
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- University of Iowa Institute for Vision Research, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Wanda Pfeifer
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | | | - Jon J. Brudvig
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Jill M. Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
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2
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Sakti DH, Cornish EE, Fraser CL, Nash BM, Sandercoe TM, Jones MM, Rowe NA, Jamieson RV, Johnson AM, Grigg JR. Early recognition of CLN3 disease facilitated by visual electrophysiology and multimodal imaging. Doc Ophthalmol 2023:10.1007/s10633-023-09930-1. [PMID: 36964447 DOI: 10.1007/s10633-023-09930-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis is a group of neurodegenerative disorders with varying visual dysfunction. CLN3 is a subtype which commonly presents with visual decline. Visual symptomatology can be indistinct making early diagnosis difficult. This study reports ocular biomarkers of CLN3 patients to assist clinicians in early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and future therapy. METHODS Retrospective review of 5 confirmed CLN3 patients in our eye clinic. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), electroretinogram (ERG), ultra-widefield (UWF) fundus photography and fundus autofluorescence (FAF), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) studies were undertaken. RESULTS Five unrelated children, 4 females and 1 male, with median age of 6.2 years (4.6-11.7) at first assessment were investigated at the clinic from 2016 to 2021. Four homozygous and one heterozygous pathogenic CLN3 variants were found. Best corrected visual acuities (BCVAs) ranged from 0.18 to 0.88 logMAR at first presentation. Electronegative ERGs were identified in all patients. Bull's eye maculopathies found in all patients. Hyper-autofluorescence ring surrounding hypo-autofluorescence fovea on FAF was found. Foveal ellipsoid zone (EZ) disruptions were found in all patients with additional inner and outer retinal microcystic changes in one patient. Neurological problems noted included autism, anxiety, motor dyspraxia, behavioural issue, and psychomotor regression. CONCLUSIONS CLN3 patients presented at median age 6.2 years with visual decline. Early onset maculopathy with an electronegative ERG and variable cognitive and motor decline should prompt further investigations including neuropaediatric evaluation and genetic assessment for CLN3 disease. The structural parameters such as EZ and FAF will facilitate ocular monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhimas H Sakti
- Save Sight Institute, Speciality of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Eye Hospital Campus, 8 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW, 2001, Australia
- Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Elisa E Cornish
- Save Sight Institute, Speciality of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Eye Hospital Campus, 8 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW, 2001, Australia
- Eye Genetics Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Save Sight Institute, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Clare L Fraser
- Save Sight Institute, Speciality of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Eye Hospital Campus, 8 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW, 2001, Australia
| | - Benjamin M Nash
- Eye Genetics Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Save Sight Institute, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Sydney Genome Diagnostics, Sydney Children's Hospital Network (Westmead), Sydney, Australia
| | - Trent M Sandercoe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sydney Children's Hospital Network (Westmead), Sydney, Australia
| | - Michael M Jones
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sydney Children's Hospital Network (Westmead), Sydney, Australia
| | - Neil A Rowe
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sydney Children's Hospital Network (Westmead), Sydney, Australia
| | - Robyn V Jamieson
- Save Sight Institute, Speciality of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Eye Hospital Campus, 8 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW, 2001, Australia
- Eye Genetics Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Save Sight Institute, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alexandra M Johnson
- Department of Neurology, Sydney Children's Hospital, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - John R Grigg
- Save Sight Institute, Speciality of Clinical Ophthalmology and Eye Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Eye Hospital Campus, 8 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW, 2001, Australia.
- Eye Genetics Research Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Save Sight Institute, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Sydney Children's Hospital Network (Westmead), Sydney, Australia.
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3
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Kuper WFE, Talsma HE, Schooneveld MJ, Pott JWR, Huijgen BCH, Wit GC, Hasselt PM, Genderen MM. Recognizing differentiating clinical signs of CLN3 disease (Batten disease) at presentation. Acta Ophthalmol 2021; 99:397-404. [PMID: 33073538 PMCID: PMC8359263 DOI: 10.1111/aos.14630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To help differentiate CLN3 (Batten) disease, a devastating childhood metabolic disorder, from the similarly presenting early‐onset Stargardt disease (STGD1). Early clinical identification of children with CLN3 disease is essential for adequate referral, counselling and rehabilitation. Methods Medical chart review of 38 children who were referred to a specialized ophthalmological centre because of rapid vision loss. The patients were subsequently diagnosed with either CLN3 disease (18 patients) or early‐onset STGD1 (20 patients). Results Both children who were later diagnosed with CLN3 disease, as children who were later diagnosed with early‐onset STGD1, initially presented with visual acuity (VA) loss due to macular dystrophy at 5–10 years of age. VA in CLN3 disease decreased significantly faster than in STGD1 (p = 0.01). Colour vision was often already severely affected in CLN3 disease while unaffected or only mildly affected in STGD1. Optic disc pallor on fundoscopy and an abnormal nerve fibre layer on optical coherence tomography were common in CLN3 disease compared to generally unaffected in STGD1. In CLN3 disease, dark‐adapted (DA) full‐field electroretinogram (ERG) responses were either absent or electronegative. In early‐onset STGD1, DA ERG responses were generally unaffected. None of the STGD1 patients had an electronegative ERG. Conclusion Already upon presentation at the ophthalmologist, the retina in CLN3 disease is more extensively and more severely affected compared to the retina in early‐onset STGD1. This results in more rapid VA loss, severe colour vision abnormalities and abnormal DA ERG responses as the main differentiating early clinical features of CLN3 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willemijn F. E. Kuper
- Department of Metabolic Diseases Wilhelmina Children’s HospitalUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Herman E. Talsma
- Bartiméus Diagnostic Center for Complex Visual Disorders Zeist The Netherlands
| | - Mary J. Schooneveld
- Bartiméus Diagnostic Center for Complex Visual Disorders Zeist The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology Amsterdam University Medical Center Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Jan Willem R. Pott
- Department of Ophthalmology University Medical Center GroningenUniversity of Groningen Groningen The Netherlands
| | | | - Gerard C. Wit
- Bartiméus Diagnostic Center for Complex Visual Disorders Zeist The Netherlands
| | - Peter M. Hasselt
- Department of Metabolic Diseases Wilhelmina Children’s HospitalUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
| | - Maria M. Genderen
- Bartiméus Diagnostic Center for Complex Visual Disorders Zeist The Netherlands
- Department of Ophthalmology University Medical Center UtrechtUtrecht University Utrecht The Netherlands
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4
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Bassal M, Liu J, Jankowiak W, Saftig P, Bartsch U. Rapid and Progressive Loss of Multiple Retinal Cell Types in Cathepsin D-Deficient Mice-An Animal Model of CLN10 Disease. Cells 2021; 10:696. [PMID: 33800998 PMCID: PMC8003850 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vision loss is among the characteristic symptoms of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), a fatal neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder. Here, we performed an in-depth analysis of retinal degeneration at the molecular and cellular levels in mice lacking the lysosomal aspartyl protease cathepsin D, an animal model of congenital CLN10 disease. We observed an early-onset accumulation of storage material as indicated by elevated levels of saposin D and subunit C of the mitochondrial ATP synthase. The accumulation of storage material was accompanied by reactive astrogliosis and microgliosis, elevated expression of the autophagy marker sequestosome 1/p62 and a dysregulated expression of several lysosomal proteins. The number of cone photoreceptor cells was reduced as early as at postnatal day 5. At the end stage of the disease, the outer nuclear layer was almost atrophied, and all cones were lost. A significant loss of rod and cone bipolar cells, amacrine cells and ganglion cells was found at advanced stages of the disease. Results demonstrate that cathepsin D deficiency results in an early-onset and rapidly progressing retinal dystrophy that involves all retinal cell types. Data of the present study will serve as a reference for studies aimed at developing treatments for retinal degeneration in CLN10 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Bassal
- Department of Ophthalmology, Experimental Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (M.B.); (J.L.); (W.J.)
| | - Junling Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Experimental Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (M.B.); (J.L.); (W.J.)
| | - Wanda Jankowiak
- Department of Ophthalmology, Experimental Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (M.B.); (J.L.); (W.J.)
| | - Paul Saftig
- Institute of Biochemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Udo Bartsch
- Department of Ophthalmology, Experimental Ophthalmology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; (M.B.); (J.L.); (W.J.)
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5
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White KA, Nelvagal HR, Poole TA, Lu B, Johnson TB, Davis S, Pratt MA, Brudvig J, Assis AB, Likhite S, Meyer K, Kaspar BK, Cooper JD, Wang S, Weimer JM. Intracranial delivery of AAV9 gene therapy partially prevents retinal degeneration and visual deficits in CLN6-Batten disease mice. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 20:497-507. [PMID: 33665223 PMCID: PMC7887332 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Batten disease is a family of rare, fatal, neuropediatric diseases presenting with memory/learning decline, blindness, and loss of motor function. Recently, we reported the use of an AAV9-mediated gene therapy that prevents disease progression in a mouse model of CLN6-Batten disease (Cln6 nclf ), restoring lifespans in treated animals. Despite the success of our viral-mediated gene therapy, the dosing strategy was optimized for delivery to the brain parenchyma and may limit the therapeutic potential to other disease-relevant tissues, such as the eye. Here, we examine whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) delivery of scAAV9.CB.CLN6 is sufficient to ameliorate visual deficits in Cln6 nclf mice. We show that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) delivery of scAAV9.CB.CLN6 completely prevents hallmark Batten disease pathology in the visual processing centers of the brain, preserving neurons of the superior colliculus, thalamus, and cerebral cortex. Importantly, i.c.v.-delivered scAAV9.CB.CLN6 also expresses in many cells throughout the central retina, preserving many photoreceptors typically lost in Cln6 nclf mice. Lastly, scAAV9.CB.CLN6 treatment partially preserved visual acuity in Cln6 nclf mice as measured by optokinetic response. Taken together, we report the first instance of CSF-delivered viral gene reaching and rescuing pathology in both the brain parenchyma and retinal neurons, thereby partially slowing visual deterioration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A White
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Hemanth R Nelvagal
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
| | - Timothy A Poole
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Bin Lu
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Tyler B Johnson
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA.,Amicus Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Samantha Davis
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Melissa A Pratt
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Jon Brudvig
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Ana B Assis
- Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
| | - Shibi Likhite
- Nationwide Children's Hospital. He was involved in AAV9 construct development
| | - Kathrin Meyer
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Brian K Kaspar
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jonathan D Cooper
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory, Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
| | - Shaomei Wang
- Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Jill M Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA.,Amicus Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD 57069, USA
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6
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Nelvagal HR, Lange J, Takahashi K, Tarczyluk-Wells MA, Cooper JD. Pathomechanisms in the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165570. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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7
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Langin L, Johnson TB, Kovács AD, Pearce DA, Weimer JM. A tailored Cln3 Q352X mouse model for testing therapeutic interventions in CLN3 Batten disease. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10591. [PMID: 32601357 PMCID: PMC7324379 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67478-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
CLN3 Batten disease (CLN3 disease) is a pediatric lysosomal storage disorder that presents with progressive blindness, motor and cognitive decline, seizures, and premature death. CLN3 disease results from mutations in CLN3 with the most prevalent mutation, a 966 bp deletion spanning exons 7-8, affecting ~ 75% of patients. Mouse models with complete Cln3 deletion or Cln3Δex7/8 mutation have been invaluable for learning about both the basic biology of CLN3 and the underlying pathological changes associated with CLN3 disease. These models, however, vary in their disease presentation and are limited in their utility for studying the role of nonsense mediated decay, and as a consequence, in testing nonsense suppression therapies and read-through compounds. In order to develop a model containing a disease-causing nonsense point mutation, here we describe a first-of-its-kind Cln3Q352X mouse model containing a c.1054C > T (p.Gln352Ter) point mutation. Similar to previously characterized Cln3 mutant mouse lines, this novel model shows pathological deficits throughout the CNS including accumulation of lysosomal storage material and glial activation, and has limited perturbation in behavioral measures. Thus, at the molecular and cellular level, this mouse line provides a valuable tool for testing nonsense suppression therapies or read through compounds in CLN3 disease in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Logan Langin
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
| | - Tyler B Johnson
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
| | - Attila D Kovács
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - David A Pearce
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
| | - Jill M Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, 2301 E. 60th N, Sioux Falls, SD, 57104, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
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8
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Zhong Y, Mohan K, Liu J, Al-Attar A, Lin P, Flight RM, Sun Q, Warmoes MO, Deshpande RR, Liu H, Jung KS, Mitov MI, Lin N, Butterfield DA, Lu S, Liu J, Moseley HNB, Fan TWM, Kleinman ME, Wang QJ. Loss of CLN3, the gene mutated in juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, leads to metabolic impairment and autophagy induction in retinal pigment epithelium. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165883. [PMID: 32592935 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL, aka. juvenile Batten disease or CLN3 disease) is a lysosomal storage disease characterized by progressive blindness, seizures, cognitive and motor failures, and premature death. JNCL is caused by mutations in the Ceroid Lipofuscinosis, Neuronal 3 (CLN3) gene, whose function is unclear. Although traditionally considered a neurodegenerative disease, CLN3 disease displays eye-specific effects: Vision loss not only is often one of the earliest symptoms of JNCL, but also has been reported in non-syndromic CLN3 disease. Here we described the roles of CLN3 protein in maintaining healthy retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and normal vision. Using electroretinogram, fundoscopy and microscopy, we showed impaired visual function, retinal autofluorescent lesions, and RPE disintegration and metaplasia/hyperplasia in a Cln3 ~ 1 kb-deletion mouse model [1] on C57BL/6J background. Utilizing a combination of biochemical analyses, RNA-Seq, Seahorse XF bioenergetic analysis, and Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics (SIRM), we further demonstrated that loss of CLN3 increased autophagic flux, suppressed mTORC1 and Akt activities, enhanced AMPK activity, and up-regulated gene expression of the autophagy-lysosomal system in RPE-1 cells, suggesting autophagy induction. This CLN3 deficiency induced autophagy induction coincided with decreased mitochondrial oxygen consumption, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and ATP production. We also reported for the first time that loss of CLN3 led to glycogen accumulation despite of impaired glycogen synthesis. Our comprehensive analyses shed light on how loss of CLN3 affect autophagy and metabolism. This work suggests possible links among metabolic impairment, autophagy induction and lysosomal storage, as well as between RPE atrophy/degeneration and vision loss in JNCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhong
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Kabhilan Mohan
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Ahmad Al-Attar
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Penghui Lin
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Robert M Flight
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Qiushi Sun
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Marc O Warmoes
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Rahul R Deshpande
- Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Huijuan Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Kyung Sik Jung
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Mihail I Mitov
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | | | - D Allan Butterfield
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Shuyan Lu
- Pfizer Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Jinze Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Computer Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Hunter N B Moseley
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Institute for Biomedical Informatics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Teresa W M Fan
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Mark E Kleinman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Qing Jun Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.
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9
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Johnson TB, Brudvig JJ, Lehtimäki KK, Cain JT, White KA, Bragge T, Rytkönen J, Huhtala T, Timm D, Vihma M, Puoliväli JT, Poutiainen P, Nurmi A, Weimer JM. A multimodal approach to identify clinically relevant biomarkers to comprehensively monitor disease progression in a mouse model of pediatric neurodegenerative disease. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 189:101789. [PMID: 32198061 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
While research has accelerated the development of new treatments for pediatric neurodegenerative disorders, the ability to demonstrate the long-term efficacy of these therapies has been hindered by the lack of convincing, noninvasive methods for tracking disease progression both in animal models and in human clinical trials. Here, we unveil a new translational platform for tracking disease progression in an animal model of a pediatric neurodegenerative disorder, CLN6-Batten disease. Instead of looking at a handful of parameters or a single "needle in a haystack", we embrace the idea that disease progression, in mice and patients alike, is a diverse phenomenon best characterized by a combination of relevant biomarkers. Thus, we employed a multi-modal quantitative approach where 144 parameters were longitudinally monitored to allow for individual variability. We use a range of noninvasive neuroimaging modalities and kinematic gait analysis, all methods that parallel those commonly used in the clinic, followed by a powerful statistical platform to identify key progressive anatomical and metabolic changes that correlate strongly with the progression of pathological and behavioral deficits. This innovative, highly sensitive platform can be used as a powerful tool for preclinical studies on neurodegenerative diseases, and provides proof-of-principle for use as a potentially translatable tool for clinicians in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler B Johnson
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Jon J Brudvig
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | | | - Jacob T Cain
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Katherine A White
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Timo Bragge
- Discovery Research Services, Charles River, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jussi Rytkönen
- Discovery Research Services, Charles River, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tuulia Huhtala
- Discovery Research Services, Charles River, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Derek Timm
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Maria Vihma
- Discovery Research Services, Charles River, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Pekka Poutiainen
- Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Nurmi
- Discovery Research Services, Charles River, Kuopio, Finland.
| | - Jill M Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
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10
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Nelvagal HR, Cooper JD. An update on the progress of preclinical models for guiding therapeutic management of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2019.1703672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hemanth Ramesh Nelvagal
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of genetics and genomics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jonathan D Cooper
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of genetics and genomics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA
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Huber RJ, Hughes SM, Liu W, Morgan A, Tuxworth RI, Russell C. The contribution of multicellular model organisms to neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis research. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165614. [PMID: 31783156 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The NCLs (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) are forms of neurodegenerative disease that affect people of all ages and ethnicities but are most prevalent in children. Commonly known as Batten disease, this debilitating neurological disorder is comprised of 13 different subtypes that are categorized based on the particular gene that is mutated (CLN1-8, CLN10-14). The pathological mechanisms underlying the NCLs are not well understood due to our poor understanding of the functions of NCL proteins. Only one specific treatment (enzyme replacement therapy) is approved, which is for the treating the brain in CLN2 disease. Hence there remains a desperate need for further research into disease-modifying treatments. In this review, we present and evaluate the genes, proteins and studies performed in the social amoeba, nematode, fruit fly, zebrafish, mouse and large animals pertinent to NCL. In particular, we highlight the use of multicellular model organisms to study NCL protein function, pathology and pathomechanisms. Their use in testing novel therapeutic approaches is also presented. With this information, we highlight how future research in these systems may be able to provide new insight into NCL protein functions in human cells and aid in the development of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Huber
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Stephanie M Hughes
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Wenfei Liu
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Alan Morgan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Richard I Tuxworth
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Claire Russell
- Dept. Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London NW1 0TU, UK.
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Tarczyluk-Wells MA, Salzlechner C, Najafi AR, Lim MJ, Smith D, Platt FM, Williams BP, Cooper JD. Combined Anti-inflammatory and Neuroprotective Treatments Have the Potential to Impact Disease Phenotypes in Cln3 -/- Mice. Front Neurol 2019; 10:963. [PMID: 31572287 PMCID: PMC6749847 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Batten disease, or juvenile NCL, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that occurs due to mutations in the CLN3 gene. Because the function of CLN3 remains unclear, experimental therapies for JNCL have largely concentrated upon the targeting of downstream pathomechanisms. Neuron loss is preceded by localized glial activation, and in this proof-of-concept study we have investigated whether targeting this innate immune response with ibuprofen in combination with the neuroprotective agent lamotrigine improves the previously documented beneficial effects of immunosuppressants alone. Drugs were administered daily to symptomatic Cln3 -/- mice over a 3 month period, starting at 6 months of age, and their impact was assessed using both behavioral and neuropathological outcome measures. During the treatment period, the combination of ibuprofen and lamotrigine significantly improved the performance of Cln3 -/- mice on the vertical pole test, slowing the disease-associated decline, but had less of an impact upon their rotarod performance. There were also moderate and regionally dependent effects upon astrocyte activation that were most pronounced for ibuprofen alone, but there was no overt effect upon microglial activation. Administering such treatments for longer periods will enable testing for any impact upon the neuron loss that occurs later in disease progression. Given the partial efficacy of these treatments, it will be important to test further drugs of this type in order to find more effective combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta A. Tarczyluk-Wells
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph Salzlechner
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Allison R. Najafi
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States
| | - Ming J. Lim
- Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's Health Partners Academic Health Science Centre, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Frances M. Platt
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Brenda P. Williams
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan D. Cooper
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
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El-Sitt S, Soueid J, Maalouf K, Makhoul N, Al Ali J, Makoukji J, Asser B, Daou D, Harati H, Boustany RM. Exogenous Galactosylceramide as Potential Treatment for CLN3 Disease. Ann Neurol 2019; 86:729-742. [PMID: 31393621 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE CLN3 disease is the commonest of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, a group of pediatric neurodegenerative disorders. Functions of the CLN3 protein include antiapoptotic properties and facilitating anterograde transport of galactosylceramide from Golgi to lipid rafts. This study confirms the beneficial effects of long-term exogenous galactosylceramide supplementation on longevity, neurobehavioral parameters, neuronal cell counts, astrogliosis, and diminution in brain and serum ceramide levels in Cln3 Δex7/8 knock-in mice. Additionally, the impact of galactosylceramide on ceramide synthesis enzymes is documented. METHODS A group of 72 mice received galactosylceramide or vehicle for 40 weeks. The effect of galactosylceramide supplementation on Cln3 Δex7/8 mice was determined by performing behavioral tests, measuring ceramide in brains and serum, and assessing impact on longevity, subunit C storage, astrogliosis, and neuronal cell counts. RESULTS Galactosylceramide resulted in enhanced grip strength of forelimbs in male and female mice, better balance on the accelerating rotarod in females, and improved motor coordination during pole climbing in male mice. Brain and serum ceramide levels as well as apoptosis rates were lower in galactosylceramide-treated Cln3 Δex7/8 mice. Galactosylceramide also increased neuronal cell counts significantly in male and female mice and tended to decrease subunit C storage in specific brain regions. Astrogliosis dropped in females compared to a slight increase in males after galactosylceramide. Galactosylceramide increased the lifespan of affected mice. INTERPRETATION Galactosylceramide improved behavioral, neuropathological, and biochemical parameters in Cln3 Δex7/8 mice, paving the way for effective therapy for CLN3 disease and use of serum ceramide as a potential biomarker to track impact of therapies. ANN NEUROL 2019;86:729-742.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally El-Sitt
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Jihane Soueid
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Katia Maalouf
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Nadine Makhoul
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Jamal Al Ali
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Joelle Makoukji
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Bilal Asser
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Daniel Daou
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
| | - Hayat Harati
- Neuroscience Research Center, Medical School, Lebanese University, Hadath, Lebanon
| | - Rose-Mary Boustany
- Neurogenetics Program, AUBMC Special Kids Clinic and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut
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Johnson TB, Cain JT, White KA, Ramirez-Montealegre D, Pearce DA, Weimer JM. Therapeutic landscape for Batten disease: current treatments and future prospects. Nat Rev Neurol 2019; 15:161-178. [PMID: 30783219 PMCID: PMC6681450 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-019-0138-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Batten disease (also known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses) constitutes a family of devastating lysosomal storage disorders that collectively represent the most common inherited paediatric neurodegenerative disorders worldwide. Batten disease can result from mutations in 1 of 13 genes. These mutations lead to a group of diseases with loosely overlapping symptoms and pathology. Phenotypically, patients with Batten disease have visual impairment and blindness, cognitive and motor decline, seizures and premature death. Pathologically, Batten disease is characterized by lysosomal accumulation of autofluorescent storage material, glial reactivity and neuronal loss. Substantial progress has been made towards the development of effective therapies and treatments for the multiple forms of Batten disease. In 2017, cerliponase alfa (Brineura), a tripeptidyl peptidase enzyme replacement therapy, became the first globally approved treatment for CLN2 Batten disease. Here, we provide an overview of the promising therapeutic avenues for Batten disease, highlighting current FDA-approved clinical trials and prospective future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler B Johnson
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Jacob T Cain
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Katherine A White
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | | | - David A Pearce
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
| | - Jill M Weimer
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine at the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
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Keller D, Erö C, Markram H. Cell Densities in the Mouse Brain: A Systematic Review. Front Neuroanat 2018; 12:83. [PMID: 30405363 PMCID: PMC6205984 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2018.00083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The mouse brain is the most extensively studied brain of all species. We performed an exhaustive review of the literature to establish our current state of knowledge on cell numbers in mouse brain regions, arguably the most fundamental property to measure when attempting to understand a brain. The synthesized information, collected in one place, can be used by both theorists and experimentalists. Although for commonly-studied regions cell densities could be obtained for principal cell types, overall we know very little about how many cells are present in most brain regions and even less about cell-type specific densities. There is also substantial variation in cell density values obtained from different sources. This suggests that we need a new approach to obtain cell density datasets for the mouse brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Keller
- Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland
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16
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Age-dependent alterations in neuronal activity in the hippocampus and visual cortex in a mouse model of Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (CLN3). Neurobiol Dis 2017; 100:19-29. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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Oetjen S, Kuhl D, Hermey G. Revisiting the neuronal localization and trafficking of CLN3 in juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. J Neurochem 2016; 139:456-470. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Oetjen
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Cognition; Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Hamburg Germany
| | - Dietmar Kuhl
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Cognition; Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Hamburg Germany
| | - Guido Hermey
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Cognition; Center for Molecular Neurobiology Hamburg; University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf; Hamburg Germany
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18
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Kovács AD, Pearce DA. Finding the most appropriate mouse model of juvenile CLN3 (Batten) disease for therapeutic studies: the importance of genetic background and gender. Dis Model Mech 2016; 8:351-61. [PMID: 26035843 PMCID: PMC4381334 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.018804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the CLN3 gene cause a fatal neurodegenerative disorder: juvenile CLN3 disease, also known as juvenile Batten disease. The two most commonly utilized mouse models of juvenile CLN3 disease are Cln3-knockout (Cln3−/−) and Cln3Δex7/8-knock-in mice, the latter mimicking the most frequent disease-causing human mutation. To determine which mouse model has the most pronounced neurological phenotypes that can be used as outcome measures for therapeutic studies, we compared the exploratory activity, motor function and depressive-like behavior of 1-, 3- and 6-month-old Cln3−/− and Cln3Δex7/8-knock-in mice on two different genetic backgrounds (129S6/SvEv and C57BL/6J). Although, in many cases, the behavior of Cln3−/− and Cln3Δex7/8 mice was similar, we found genetic-background-, gender- and age-dependent differences between the two mouse models. We also observed large differences in the behavior of the 129S6/SvEv and C57BL/6J wild-type strains, which highlights the strong influence that genetic background can have on phenotype. Based on our results, Cln3−/− male mice on the 129S6/SvEv genetic background are the most appropriate candidates for therapeutic studies. They exhibit motor deficits at 1 and 6 months of age in the vertical pole test, and they were the only mice to show impaired motor coordination in the rotarod test at both 3 and 6 months. Cln3−/− males on the C57BL/6J background and Cln3Δex7/8 males on the 129S6/SvEv background also provide good outcome measures for therapeutic interventions. Cln3−/− (C57BL/6J) males had serious difficulties in climbing down (at 1 and 6 months) and turning downward on (at 1, 3 and 6 months) the vertical pole, whereas Cln3Δex7/8 (129S6/SvEv) males climbed down the vertical pole drastically slower than wild-type males at 3 and 6 months of age. Our study demonstrates the importance of testing mouse models on different genetic backgrounds and comparing males and females in order to find the most appropriate disease model for therapeutic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila D Kovács
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - David A Pearce
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA. Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA.
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19
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Ouseph MM, Kleinman ME, Wang QJ. Vision loss in juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (CLN3 disease). Ann N Y Acad Sci 2016; 1371:55-67. [PMID: 26748992 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.12990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL; also known as CLN3 disease) is a devastating neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder and the most common form of Batten disease. Progressive visual and neurological symptoms lead to mortality in patients by the third decade. Although ceroid-lipofuscinosis, neuronal 3 (CLN3) has been identified as the sole disease gene, the biochemical and cellular bases of JNCL and the functions of CLN3 are yet to be fully understood. As severe ocular pathologies manifest early in disease progression, the retina is an ideal tissue to study in the efforts to unravel disease etiology and design therapeutics. There are significant discrepancies in the ocular phenotypes between human JNCL and existing murine models, impeding investigations on the sequence of events occurring during the progression of vision impairment. This review focuses on current understanding of vision loss in JNCL and discusses future research directions toward molecular dissection of the pathogenesis of the disease and associated vision problems in order to ultimately improve the quality of patient life and cure the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Qing Jun Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry.,Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology.,Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
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21
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Cooper JD, Tarczyluk MA, Nelvagal HR. Towards a new understanding of NCL pathogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2015; 1852:2256-61. [PMID: 26026924 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2015.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Revised: 05/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (NCLs, Batten disease) are a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders that have been traditionally grouped together on the basis of certain shared clinical and pathological features. However, as the number of genes that appear to cause new forms of NCL continues to grow, it is timely to reassess our understanding of the pathogenesis of these disorders and what groups them together. The various NCL subtypes do indeed share features of a build-up of autofluorescent storage material, progressive neuron loss and activation of the innate immune system. The characterisation of animal models has highlighted the selective nature of neuron loss and its intimate relationship with glial activation, rather than the generalised build-up of storage material. More recent data provide evidence for the pathway-dependent nature of pathology, the contribution of glial dysfunction, and the involvement of new brain regions previously thought to be unaffected, and it is becoming apparent that pathology extends beyond the brain. These data have important implications, not just for therapy, but also for our understanding of these disorders. However, looking beneath these broadly similar pathological themes evidence emerges for marked differences in the nature and extent of these events in different forms of NCL. Indeed, given the widely different nature of the mutated gene products it is perhaps more surprising that these disorders resemble each other as much as they do. Such data raise the question whether we should rethink the collective grouping of these gene deficiencies together, or whether it would be better to consider them as separate entities. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Current Research on the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (Batten Disease).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Cooper
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory (PSDL), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK.
| | - Marta A Tarczyluk
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory (PSDL), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Hemanth R Nelvagal
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory (PSDL), Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK
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Groh J, Stadler D, Buttmann M, Martini R. Non-invasive assessment of retinal alterations in mouse models of infantile and juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis by spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2014; 2:54. [PMID: 24887158 PMCID: PMC4035096 DOI: 10.1186/2051-5960-2-54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/30/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses constitute a group of fatal inherited lysosomal storage diseases that manifest in profound neurodegeneration in the CNS. Visual impairment usually is an early symptom and selective degeneration of retinal neurons has been described in patients suffering from distinct disease subtypes. We have previously demonstrated that palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1 deficient (Ppt1-/-) mice, a model of the infantile disease subtype, exhibit progressive axonal degeneration in the optic nerve and loss of retinal ganglion cells, faithfully reflecting disease severity in the CNS. Here we performed spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) in Ppt1-/- and ceroid lipofuscinosis neuronal 3 deficient (Cln3-/-) mice, which are models of infantile and juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, respectively, in order to establish a non-invasive method to assess retinal alterations and monitor disease severity in vivo. Results Blue laser autofluorescence imaging revealed increased accumulation of autofluorescent storage material in the inner retinae of 7-month-old Ppt1-/- and of 16-month-old Cln3-/- mice in comparison with age-matched control littermates. Additionally, optical coherence tomography demonstrated reduced thickness of retinae in knockout mice in comparison with age-matched control littermates. High resolution scans and manual measurements allowed for separation of different retinal composite layers and revealed a thinning of layers in the inner retinae of both mouse models at distinct ages. OCT measurements correlated well with subsequent histological analysis of the same retinae. Conclusions These results demonstrate the feasibility of OCT to assess neurodegenerative disease severity in mouse models of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis and might have important implications for diagnostic evaluation of disease progression and therapeutic efficacy in patients. Moreover, the non-invasive method allows for longitudinal studies in experimental models, reducing the number of animals used for research.
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Sondhi D, Scott EC, Chen A, Hackett NR, Wong AMS, Kubiak A, Nelvagal HR, Pearse Y, Cotman SL, Cooper JD, Crystal RG. Partial correction of the CNS lysosomal storage defect in a mouse model of juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis by neonatal CNS administration of an adeno-associated virus serotype rh.10 vector expressing the human CLN3 gene. Hum Gene Ther 2014; 25:223-39. [PMID: 24372003 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2012.253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL or CLN3 disease) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease resulting from mutations in the CLN3 gene that encodes a lysosomal membrane protein. The disease primarily affects the brain with widespread intralysosomal accumulation of autofluorescent material and fibrillary gliosis, as well as the loss of specific neuronal populations. As an experimental treatment for the CNS manifestations of JNCL, we have developed a serotype rh.10 adeno-associated virus vector expressing the human CLN3 cDNA (AAVrh.10hCLN3). We hypothesized that administration of AAVrh.10hCLN3 to the Cln3(Δex7/8) knock-in mouse model of JNCL would reverse the lysosomal storage defect, as well as have a therapeutic effect on gliosis and neuron loss. Newborn Cln3(Δex7/8) mice were administered 3 × 10(10) genome copies of AAVrh.10hCLN3 to the brain, with control groups including untreated Cln3(Δex7/8) mice and wild-type littermate mice. After 18 months, CLN3 transgene expression was detected in various locations throughout the brain, particularly in the hippocampus and deep anterior cortical regions. Changes in the CNS neuronal lysosomal accumulation of storage material were assessed by immunodetection of subunit C of ATP synthase, luxol fast blue staining, and periodic acid-Schiff staining. For all parameters, Cln3(Δex7/8) mice exhibited abnormal lysosomal accumulation, but AAVrh.10hCLN3 administration resulted in significant reductions in storage material burden. There was also a significant decrease in gliosis in AAVrh.10hCLN3-treated Cln3(Δex7/8) mice, and a trend toward improved neuron counts, compared with their untreated counterparts. These data demonstrate that AAVrh.10 delivery of a wild-type cDNA to the CNS is not harmful and instead provides a partial correction of the neurological lysosomal storage defect of a disease caused by a lysosomal membrane protein, indicating that this may be an effective therapeutic strategy for JNCL and other diseases in this category.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolan Sondhi
- 1 Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College, Cornell University , New York, NY 10065
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A murine model of variant late infantile ceroid lipofuscinosis recapitulates behavioral and pathological phenotypes of human disease. PLoS One 2013; 8:e78694. [PMID: 24223841 PMCID: PMC3815212 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2012] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs; also known collectively as Batten Disease) are a family of autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorders. Mutations in as many as 13 genes give rise to ∼10 variants of NCL, all with overlapping clinical symptomatology including visual impairment, motor and cognitive dysfunction, seizures, and premature death. Mutations in CLN6 result in both a variant late infantile onset neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (vLINCL) as well as an adult-onset form of the disease called Type A Kufs. CLN6 is a non-glycosylated membrane protein of unknown function localized to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). In this study, we perform a detailed characterization of a naturally occurring Cln6 mutant (Cln6nclf) mouse line to validate its utility for translational research. We demonstrate that this Cln6nclf mutation leads to deficits in motor coordination, vision, memory, and learning. Pathologically, we demonstrate loss of neurons within specific subregions and lamina of the cortex that correlate to behavioral phenotypes. As in other NCL models, this model displays selective loss of GABAergic interneuron sub-populations in the cortex and the hippocampus with profound, early-onset glial activation. Finally, we demonstrate a novel deficit in memory and learning, including a dramatic reduction in dendritic spine density in the cerebral cortex, which suggests a reduction in synaptic strength following disruption in CLN6. Together, these findings highlight the behavioral and pathological similarities between the Cln6nclf mouse model and human NCL patients, validating this model as a reliable format for screening potential therapeutics.
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NCL disease mechanisms. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:1882-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Revised: 05/08/2013] [Accepted: 05/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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Abstract
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, collectively referred to as Batten disease, make up a group of inherited childhood disorders that result in blindness, motor and cognitive regression, brain atrophy, and seizures, ultimately leading to premature death. So far more than 10 genes have been implicated in different forms of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. Most related research has involved mouse models, but several naturally occurring large animal models have recently been discovered. In this review, we discuss the different large animal models and their significance in Batten disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal Weber
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research/University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - David A. Pearce
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research/University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
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Groh J, Kühl TG, Ip CW, Nelvagal HR, Sri S, Duckett S, Mirza M, Langmann T, Cooper JD, Martini R. Immune cells perturb axons and impair neuronal survival in a mouse model of infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Brain 2013; 136:1083-101. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awt020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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Blom T, Schmiedt ML, Wong AM, Kyttälä A, Soronen J, Jauhiainen M, Tyynelä J, Cooper JD, Jalanko A. Exacerbated neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis phenotype in Cln1/5 double-knockout mice. Dis Model Mech 2013; 6:342-57. [PMID: 23065637 PMCID: PMC3597017 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.010140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2012] [Accepted: 10/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Both CLN1 and CLN5 deficiencies lead to severe neurodegenerative diseases of childhood, known as neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs). The broadly similar phenotypes of NCL mouse models, and the potential for interactions between NCL proteins, raise the possibility of shared or convergent disease mechanisms. To begin addressing these issues, we have developed a new mouse model lacking both Cln1 and Cln5 genes. These double-knockout (Cln1/5 dko) mice were fertile, showing a slight decrease in expected Mendelian breeding ratios, as well as impaired embryoid body formation by induced pluripotent stem cells derived from Cln1/5 dko fibroblasts. Typical disease manifestations of the NCLs, i.e. seizures and motor dysfunction, were detected at the age of 3 months, earlier than in either single knockout mouse. Pathological analyses revealed a similar exacerbation and earlier onset of disease in Cln1/5 dko mice, which exhibited a pronounced accumulation of autofluorescent storage material. Cortical demyelination and more pronounced glial activation in cortical and thalamic regions was followed by cortical neuron loss. Alterations in lipid metabolism in Cln1/5 dko showed a specific increase in plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) activity. Finally, gene expression profiling of Cln1/5 dko cortex revealed defects in myelination and immune response pathways, with a prominent downregulation of α-synuclein in Cln1/5 dko mouse brains. The simultaneous loss of both Cln1 and Cln5 genes might enhance the typical pathological phenotypes of these mice by disrupting or downregulating shared or convergent pathogenic pathways, which could potentially include interactions of CLN1 and CLN5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tea Blom
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Genomics Unit, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM, Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mia-Lisa Schmiedt
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Genomics Unit, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM, Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Andrew M. Wong
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Centre for the Cellular Basis of Behaviour, James Black Centre, King's Health Partners Centre for Neurodegeneration Research, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Aija Kyttälä
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Genomics Unit, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM, Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jarkko Soronen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Genomics Unit, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM, Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Matti Jauhiainen
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Genomics Unit, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaana Tyynelä
- Finnish Medicines Agency, Helsinki, Finland and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jonathan D. Cooper
- Pediatric Storage Disorders Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience and Centre for the Cellular Basis of Behaviour, James Black Centre, King's Health Partners Centre for Neurodegeneration Research, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Anu Jalanko
- National Institute for Health and Welfare, Public Health Genomics Unit, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, FIMM, Biomedicum Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Kollmann K, Uusi-Rauva K, Scifo E, Tyynelä J, Jalanko A, Braulke T. Cell biology and function of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis-related proteins. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:1866-81. [PMID: 23402926 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Revised: 01/18/2013] [Accepted: 01/23/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) comprise a group of inherited lysosomal disorders with variable age of onset, characterized by lysosomal accumulation of autofluorescent ceroid lipopigments, neuroinflammation, photoreceptor- and neurodegeneration. Most of the NCL-related genes encode soluble and transmembrane proteins which localize to the endoplasmic reticulum or to the endosomal/lysosomal compartment and directly or indirectly regulate lysosomal function. Recently, exome sequencing led to the identification of four novel gene defects in NCL patients and a new NCL nomenclature currently comprising CLN1 through CLN14. Although the precise function of most of the NCL proteins remains elusive, comprehensive analyses of model organisms, particularly mouse models, provided new insight into pathogenic mechanisms of NCL diseases and roles of mutant NCL proteins in cellular/subcellular protein and lipid homeostasis, as well as their adaptive/compensatorial regulation at the transcriptional level. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the expression, function and regulation of NCL proteins and their impact on lysosomal integrity. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses or Batten Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Kollmann
- Department of Biochemistry, Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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Use of model organisms for the study of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:1842-65. [PMID: 23338040 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Revised: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses are a group of fatal progressive neurodegenerative diseases predominantly affecting children. Identification of mutations that cause neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, and subsequent functional and pathological studies of the affected genes, underpins efforts to investigate disease mechanisms and identify and test potential therapeutic strategies. These functional studies and pre-clinical trials necessitate the use of model organisms in addition to cell and tissue culture models as they enable the study of protein function within a complex organ such as the brain and the testing of therapies on a whole organism. To this end, a large number of disease models and genetic tools have been identified or created in a variety of model organisms. In this review, we will discuss the ethical issues associated with experiments using model organisms, the factors underlying the choice of model organism, the disease models and genetic tools available, and the contributions of those disease models and tools to neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis research. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses or Batten Disease.
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Kuronen M, Lehesjoki AE, Jalanko A, Cooper JD, Kopra O. Selective spatiotemporal patterns of glial activation and neuron loss in the sensory thalamocortical pathways of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis 8 mice. Neurobiol Dis 2012; 47:444-57. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2012] [Revised: 04/25/2012] [Accepted: 04/29/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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Staropoli JF, Haliw L, Biswas S, Garrett L, Hölter SM, Becker L, Skosyrski S, Da Silva-Buttkus P, Calzada-Wack J, Neff F, Rathkolb B, Rozman J, Schrewe A, Adler T, Puk O, Sun M, Favor J, Racz I, Bekeredjian R, Busch DH, Graw J, Klingenspor M, Klopstock T, Wolf E, Wurst W, Zimmer A, Lopez E, Harati H, Hill E, Krause DS, Guide J, Dragileva E, Gale E, Wheeler VC, Boustany RM, Brown DE, Breton S, Ruether K, Gailus-Durner V, Fuchs H, de Angelis MH, Cotman SL. Large-scale phenotyping of an accurate genetic mouse model of JNCL identifies novel early pathology outside the central nervous system. PLoS One 2012; 7:e38310. [PMID: 22701626 PMCID: PMC3368842 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cln3Δex7/8 mice harbor the most common genetic defect causing juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL), an autosomal recessive disease involving seizures, visual, motor and cognitive decline, and premature death. Here, to more thoroughly investigate the manifestations of the common JNCL mutation, we performed a broad phenotyping study of Cln3Δex7/8 mice. Homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice, congenic on a C57BL/6N background, displayed subtle deficits in sensory and motor tasks at 10–14 weeks of age. Homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice also displayed electroretinographic changes reflecting cone function deficits past 5 months of age and a progressive decline of retinal post-receptoral function. Metabolic analysis revealed increases in rectal body temperature and minimum oxygen consumption in 12–13 week old homozygous Cln3Δex7/8mice, which were also seen to a lesser extent in heterozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice. Heart weight was slightly increased at 20 weeks of age, but no significant differences were observed in cardiac function in young adults. In a comprehensive blood analysis at 15–16 weeks of age, serum ferritin concentrations, mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells (MCV), and reticulocyte counts were reproducibly increased in homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice, and male homozygotes had a relative T-cell deficiency, suggesting alterations in hematopoiesis. Finally, consistent with findings in JNCL patients, vacuolated peripheral blood lymphocytes were observed in homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 neonates, and to a greater extent in older animals. Early onset, severe vacuolation in clear cells of the epididymis of male homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice was also observed. These data highlight additional organ systems in which to study CLN3 function, and early phenotypes have been established in homozygous Cln3Δex7/8 mice that merit further study for JNCL biomarker development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F. Staropoli
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Larissa Haliw
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sunita Biswas
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lillian Garrett
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine M. Hölter
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Lore Becker
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Julia Calzada-Wack
- Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Frauke Neff
- Institute of Pathology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Birgit Rathkolb
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan Rozman
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
- Molecular Nutritional Medicine, Else Kröner-Fresenius Center, TUM, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Anja Schrewe
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Thure Adler
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, TUM, München, Germany
| | - Oliver Puk
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Minxuan Sun
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Jack Favor
- Institute of Human Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Ildikó Racz
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Raffi Bekeredjian
- Department of Medicine III, Division of Cardiology, University of Heidelberg, Otto-Meyerhof-Zentrum, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk H. Busch
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology, and Hygiene, TUM, München, Germany
| | - Jochen Graw
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Klingenspor
- Molecular Nutritional Medicine, Else Kröner-Fresenius Center, TUM, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Thomas Klopstock
- Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Baur-Institut, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Chair for Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wurst
- Institute of Developmental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
- Lehrstuhl für Entwicklungsgenetik, TUM, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e. V. Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Zimmer
- Institute of Molecular Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Edith Lopez
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hayat Harati
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Neurogenetics Program and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Eric Hill
- Center for Systems Biology, Program in Membrane Biology/Nephrology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Daniela S. Krause
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jolene Guide
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ella Dragileva
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Evan Gale
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Vanessa C. Wheeler
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rose-Mary Boustany
- Neurogenetics Program and Division of Pediatric Neurology, Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Diane E. Brown
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Center for Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sylvie Breton
- Center for Systems Biology, Program in Membrane Biology/Nephrology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Klaus Ruether
- Augenabteilung Sankt Gertrauden Krankenhaus, Berlin, Germany
| | - Valérie Gailus-Durner
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Helmut Fuchs
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
| | - Martin Hrabě de Angelis
- German Mouse Clinic, Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg/Munich, Germany
- Lehrstuhl für Experimentelle Genetik, TUM, Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany
| | - Susan L. Cotman
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Kovács AD, Saje A, Wong A, Ramji S, Cooper JD, Pearce DA. Age-dependent therapeutic effect of memantine in a mouse model of juvenile Batten disease. Neuropharmacology 2012; 63:769-75. [PMID: 22683643 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2012.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2012] [Revised: 05/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/25/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Currently there is no treatment for juvenile Batten disease, a fatal childhood neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the CLN3 gene. The Cln3-knockout (Cln3(Δex1-6)) mouse model recapitulates several features of the human disorder. Cln3(Δex1-6) mice, similarly to juvenile Batten disease patients, have a motor coordination deficit detectable as early as postnatal day 14. Previous studies demonstrated that acute attenuation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA)-type glutamate receptor activity by the non-competitive AMPA antagonist, EGIS-8332, in both 1- and 6-7-month-old Cln3(Δex1-6) mice results in improvement in motor coordination. Here we show that acute inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type glutamate receptors by memantine (1 and 5 mg/kg i.p.) had no effect on the impaired motor coordination of one-month-old Cln3(Δex1-6) mice. At a later stage of the disease, in 6-7-month-old Cln3(Δex1-6) mice, memantine induced a delayed but extended (8 days) improvement of motor skills similarly to that observed previously with EGIS-8332 treatment. An age-dependent therapeutic effect of memantine implies that the pathomechanism in juvenile Batten disease changes during disease progression. In contrast to acute treatment, repeated administration of memantine or EGIS-8332 (1 mg/kg, once a week for 4 weeks) to 6-month-old Cln3(Δex1-6) mice had no beneficial effect on motor coordination. Moreover, repeated treatments did not impact microglial activation or the survival of vulnerable neuron populations. Memantine did not affect astrocytosis in the cortex. EGIS-8332, however, decreased astrocytic activation in the somatosensory barrelfield cortex. Acute inhibition of NMDA receptors can induce a prolonged therapeutic effect, identifying NMDA receptors as a new therapeutic target for juvenile Batten disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila D Kovács
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research/USD, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
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Uusi-Rauva K, Kyttälä A, van der Kant R, Vesa J, Tanhuanpää K, Neefjes J, Olkkonen VM, Jalanko A. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis protein CLN3 interacts with motor proteins and modifies location of late endosomal compartments. Cell Mol Life Sci 2012; 69:2075-89. [PMID: 22261744 PMCID: PMC11114557 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-011-0913-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2011] [Revised: 12/08/2011] [Accepted: 12/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
CLN3 is an endosomal/lysosomal transmembrane protein mutated in classical juvenile onset neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, a fatal inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder. The function of CLN3 in endosomal/lysosomal events has remained elusive due to poor understanding of its interactions in these compartments. It has previously been shown that the localisation of late endosomal/lysosomal compartments is disturbed in cells expressing the most common disease-associated CLN3 mutant, CLN3∆ex7-8 (c.462-677del). We report here that a protracted disease causing mutant, CLN3E295K, affects the properties of late endocytic compartments, since over-expression of the CLN3E295K mutant protein in HeLa cells induced relocalisation of Rab7 and a perinuclear clustering of late endosomes/lysosomes. In addition to the previously reported disturbances in the endocytic pathway, we now show that the anterograde transport of late endosomal/lysosomal compartments is affected in CLN3 deficiency. CLN3 interacted with motor components driving both plus and minus end microtubular trafficking: tubulin, dynactin, dynein and kinesin-2. Most importantly, CLN3 was found to interact directly with active, guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP)-bound Rab7 and with the Rab7-interacting lysosomal protein (RILP) that anchors the dynein motor. The data presented in this study provide novel insights into the role of CLN3 in late endosomal/lysosomal membrane transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristiina Uusi-Rauva
- National Institute for Health and Welfare and FIMM, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Biomedicum Helsinki, PO Box 104, 00251 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aija Kyttälä
- National Institute for Health and Welfare and FIMM, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Biomedicum Helsinki, PO Box 104, 00251 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rik van der Kant
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jouni Vesa
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Gonda Neuroscience and Genetics Research Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7088 USA
| | - Kimmo Tanhuanpää
- Light Microscopy Unit, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, PO Box 56, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jacques Neefjes
- Division of Cell Biology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Vesa M. Olkkonen
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum Helsinki, 2U, Tukholmankatu 8, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu Jalanko
- National Institute for Health and Welfare and FIMM, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Biomedicum Helsinki, PO Box 104, 00251 Helsinki, Finland
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Shacka JJ. Mouse models of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses: useful pre-clinical tools to delineate disease pathophysiology and validate therapeutics. Brain Res Bull 2012; 88:43-57. [PMID: 22502604 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2012.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2011] [Revised: 03/04/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL, also known as Batten disease) is a devastating neurodegenerative diseases caused by mutations in either soluble enzymes or membrane-associated structural proteins that result in lysosome dysfunction. Different forms of NCL were defined initially by age of onset, affected population and/or type of storage material but collectively represent the most prevalent pediatric hereditary neurovisceral storage disorder. Specific gene mutations are now known for each subclass of NCL in humans that now largely define the disease: cathepsin D (CTSD) for congenital (CLN10 form); palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1) for infantile (CLN1 form); tripeptidyl peptidase 1 (TPP1) for classic late infantile (CLN2 form); variant late infantile-CLN5, CLN6 or CLN8 for variant late infantile forms; and CLN3 for juvenile (CLN3 form). Several mouse models of NCL have been developed, or in some cases exist sporadically, that exhibit mutations producing a progressive neurodegenerative phenotype similar to that observed in human NCL. The study of these mouse models of NCL has dramatically advanced our knowledge of NCL pathophysiology and in some cases has helped delineate the function of proteins mutated in human NCL. In addition, NCL mutant mice have been tested for several different therapeutic approaches and as such they have become important pre-clinical models for validating treatment options. In this review we will assess the current state of mouse models of NCL with regards to their unique pathophysiology and how these mice have helped investigators achieve a better understanding of human NCL disease and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Shacka
- Neuropathology Division, Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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Abstract
A pathogenic role of immunity in epilepsies has long been suggested based on observations of the efficacy of immune-modulating treatments and, more recently, by the finding of inflammation markers including autoantibodies in individuals with a number of epileptic disorders. Clinical and experimental data suggest that both innate and adaptive immunity may be involved in epilepsy. Innate immunity represents an immediate, nonspecific host response against pathogens via activation of resident brain immune cells and inflammatory mediators. These are hypothesized to contribute to seizures and epileptogenesis. Adaptive immunity employs activation of antigen-specific B and T lymphocytes or antibodies in the context of viral infections and autoimmune disorders. In this article we critically review the evidence for pathogenic roles of adaptive immune responses in several types of epilepsy, and discuss potential mechanisms and therapeutic targets. We highlight future directions for preclinical and clinical research that are required for improved diagnosis and treatment of immune-mediated epilepsies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Granata
- Department of Child Neurology, Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy.
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Abstract
The NCLs (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses) (also known as Batten disease) are a group of at least ten fatal inherited storage disorders. Despite the identification of many of the disease-causing genes, very little is known about the underlying disease mechanisms. However, now that we have mouse or large-animal models for most forms of NCL, we can investigate pathogenesis and compare what happens in the brain in different types of the disease. Broadly similar neuropathological themes have emerged, including the highly selective nature of neuron loss, early effects upon the presynaptic compartment, together with an early and localized glial activation. These events are especially pronounced within the thalamocortical system, but it is clear that where and when they occur varies markedly between different forms of NCL. It is now becoming apparent that, despite having pathological endpoints that resemble one another, these are reached by a sequence of events that is specific to each subtype of NCL.
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Seehafer SS, Ramirez-Montealegre D, Wong AM, Chan CH, Castaneda J, Horak M, Ahmadi SM, Lim MJ, Cooper JD, Pearce DA. Immunosuppression alters disease severity in juvenile Batten disease mice. J Neuroimmunol 2011; 230:169-72. [PMID: 20937531 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2010.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2010] [Revised: 08/20/2010] [Accepted: 08/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Autoantibodies to brain proteins are present in Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (Batten disease) patients and in the Cln3-/- mouse model of this disease, suggesting an autoimmune component to pathogenesis. Using genetic or pharmaceutical approaches to attenuate this immune response in Cln3-/- mice, we demonstrate decreased neuroinflammation, decreased deposition of immunoglobulin G in the brain and protection of vulnerable neuron populations. Moreover, immune suppression results in a significant improvement in motor performance providing for the first plausible therapeutic approach for juvenile Batten disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina S Seehafer
- Center for Neural Development & Disease, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States
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39
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Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) are severe neurodegenerative diseases leading to early death. They belong to the group of lysosomal storage diseases. Epileptic seizures, dementia and motor deficits are frequent symptoms which are to be found prior to a total dismantling of personality and death. At present 10 subtypes of NCL can be distinguished from which the genetic defect is known in eight. The encoded proteins are soluble or membrane proteins whose function is still unclear in most cases. The investigation of the pathology and pathophysiology of NCL is highly dependent on animal models. Mouse models existing for all forms with a known genetic defect play a prominent role. Unfortunately, the retinal phenotype of some mouse models is milder than in humans rendering the appreciation of a positive therapeutic effect more difficult. Because of the severity of NCL, therapy strategies only established in a mouse model will be transferred to humans very quickly.
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Kovács AD, Saje A, Wong A, Szénási G, Kiricsi P, Szabó E, Cooper JD, Pearce DA. Temporary inhibition of AMPA receptors induces a prolonged improvement of motor performance in a mouse model of juvenile Batten disease. Neuropharmacology 2010; 60:405-9. [PMID: 20971125 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2010.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2010] [Revised: 10/10/2010] [Accepted: 10/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the CLN3 gene cause juvenile Batten disease, a fatal pediatric neurodegenerative disorder. The Cln3-knockout (Cln3(Δex1-6)) mouse model of the disease displays many pathological characteristics of the human disorder including a deficit in motor coordination. We have previously found that attenuation of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA)-type glutamate receptor activity in one-month-old Cln3(Δex1-6) mice resulted in an immediate improvement of their motor skills. Here we show that at a later stage of the disease, in 6-7-month-old Cln3(Δex1-6) mice, acute inhibition of AMPA receptors by a single intraperitoneal injection (1mg/kg) of the non-competitive AMPA antagonist, EGIS-8332, does not have an immediate effect. Instead, it induces a delayed but prolonged improvement of motor skills. Four days after the injection of the AMPA antagonist, Cln3(Δex1-6) mice reached the same motor skill level as their wild type (WT) counterparts, an improvement that persisted for an additional four days. EGIS-8332 was rapidly eliminated from the brain as measured by HPLC-MS/MS. Histological analysis performed 8 days after the drug administration revealed that EGIS-8332 did not have any impact upon glial activation or the survival of vulnerable neuron populations in 7-month-old Cln3(Δex1-6) mice. We propose that temporary inhibition of AMPA receptors can induce a prolonged correction of the pre-existing abnormal glutamatergic neurotransmission in vivo for juvenile Batten disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila D Kovács
- Center for Neural Development and Disease, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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41
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A knock-in reporter mouse model for Batten disease reveals predominant expression of Cln3 in visual, limbic and subcortical motor structures. Neurobiol Dis 2010; 41:237-48. [PMID: 20875858 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2010.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2010] [Revised: 08/30/2010] [Accepted: 09/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) or Batten disease is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder of children caused by mutation in CLN3. JNCL is characterized by progressive visual impairment, cognitive and motor deficits, seizures and premature death. Information about the localization of CLN3 expressing neurons in the nervous system is limited, especially during development. The present study has systematically mapped the spatial and temporal localization of CLN3 reporter neurons in the entire nervous system including retina, using a knock-in reporter mouse model. CLN3 reporter is expressed predominantly in post-migratory neurons in visual and limbic cortices, anterior and intralaminar thalamic nuclei, amygdala, cerebellum, red nucleus, reticular formation, vestibular nuclei and retina. CLN3 reporter in the nervous system is mainly expressed during the first postnatal month except in the dentate gyrus, parasolitary nucleus and retina, where it is still strongly expressed in adulthood. The predominant distribution of CLN3 reporter neurons in visual, limbic and subcortical motor structures correlates well with the clinical symptoms of JNCL. These findings have also revealed potential target brain regions and time periods for future investigations of the disease mechanisms and therapeutic intervention.
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Getty AL, Benedict JW, Pearce DA. A novel interaction of CLN3 with nonmuscle myosin-IIB and defects in cell motility of Cln3(-/-) cells. Exp Cell Res 2010; 317:51-69. [PMID: 20850431 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2010.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2010] [Revised: 09/08/2010] [Accepted: 09/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) is a pediatric lysosomal storage disorder characterized by accumulation of autofluorescent storage material and neurodegeneration, which result from mutations in CLN3. The function of CLN3, a lysosomal membrane protein, is currently unknown. We report that CLN3 interacts with cytoskeleton-associated nonmuscle myosin-IIB. Both CLN3 and myosin-IIB are ubiquitously expressed, yet mutations in either produce dramatic consequences in the CNS such as neurodegeneration in JNCL patients and Cln3(-/-) mouse models, or developmental deficiencies in Myh10(-/-) mice, respectively. A scratch assay revealed a migration defect associated with Cln3(-/-) cells. Inhibition of nonmuscle myosin-II with blebbistatin in WT cells resulted in a phenotype that mimics the Cln3(-/-) migration defect. Moreover, inhibiting lysosome function by treating cells with chloroquine exacerbated the migration defect in Cln3(-/-). Cln3(-/-) cells traversing a transwell filter under gradient trophic factor conditions displayed altered migration, further linking lysosomal function and cell migration. The myosin-IIB distribution in Cln3(-/-) cells is elongated, indicating a cytoskeleton defect caused by the loss of CLN3. In summary, cells lacking CLN3 have defects that suggest altered myosin-IIB activity, supporting a functional and physical interaction between CLN3 and myosin-IIB. We propose that the migration defect in Cln3(-/-) results, in part, from the loss of the CLN3-myosin-IIB interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Getty
- Center for Neural Development and Disease, Aab Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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Bozorg S, Ramirez-Montealegre D, Chung M, Pearce DA. Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL) and the eye. Surv Ophthalmol 2009; 54:463-71. [PMID: 19539834 DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2009.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, or Batten disease, is the most common type of NCL in the United States and Europe. This devastating disorder presents with vision failure and progresses to include seizures, motor dysfunction, and dementia. Death usually occurs in the third decade, but some patients die before age twenty. Though the mechanism of visual failure remains poorly understood, recent advances in molecular genetics have improved diagnostic testing and suggested possible therapeutic strategies. The ophthalmologist plays a crucial role in both early diagnosis and documentation of progression of juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. We update Batten disease research, particularly as it relates to the eye, and present various theories on the pathophysiology of retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bozorg
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
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von Schantz C, Kielar C, Hansen SN, Pontikis CC, Alexander NA, Kopra O, Jalanko A, Cooper JD. Progressive thalamocortical neuron loss in Cln5 deficient mice: Distinct effects in Finnish variant late infantile NCL. Neurobiol Dis 2009; 34:308-19. [PMID: 19385065 PMCID: PMC2704904 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2009.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Finnish variant LINCL (vLINCL(Fin)) is the result of mutations in the CLN5 gene. To gain insights into the pathological staging of this fatal pediatric disorder, we have undertaken a stereological analysis of the CNS of Cln5 deficient mice (Cln5-/-) at different stages of disease progression. Consistent with human vLINCL(Fin), these Cln5-/- mice displayed a relatively late onset regional atrophy and generalized cortical thinning and synaptic pathology, preceded by early and localized glial responses within the thalamocortical system. However, in marked contrast to other forms of NCL, neuron loss in Cln5-/- mice began in the cortex and only subsequently occurred within thalamic relay nuclei. Nevertheless, as in other NCL mouse models, this progressive thalamocortical neuron loss was still most pronounced within the visual system. These data provide unexpected evidence for a distinctive sequence of neuron loss in the thalamocortical system of Cln5-/- mice, diametrically opposed to that seen in other forms of NCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina von Schantz
- The National Institute for Health and Welfare and FIMM, Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Biomedicum Helsinki, Finland
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45
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Jalanko A, Braulke T. Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2009; 1793:697-709. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2008.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 262] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2008] [Revised: 11/06/2008] [Accepted: 11/12/2008] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Novel interactions of CLN3 protein link Batten disease to dysregulation of fodrin-Na+, K+ ATPase complex. Exp Cell Res 2008; 314:2895-905. [PMID: 18621045 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2008.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2008] [Revised: 05/22/2008] [Accepted: 06/13/2008] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (JNCL, Batten disease) is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder of childhood. CLN3, the transmembrane protein underlying JNCL, is proposed to participate in multiple cellular events including membrane trafficking and cytoskeletal functions. We demonstrate here that CLN3 interacts with the plasma membrane-associated cytoskeletal and endocytic fodrin and the associated Na(+), K(+) ATPase. The ion pumping activity of Na(+), K(+) ATPase was unchanged in Cln3(-/-) mouse primary neurons. However, the immunostaining pattern of fodrin appeared abnormal in JNCL fibroblasts and Cln3(-/-) mouse brains suggesting disturbances in the fodrin cytoskeleton. Furthermore, the basal subcellular distribution as well as ouabain-induced endocytosis of neuron-specific Na(+), K(+) ATPase were remarkably affected in Cln3(-/-) mouse primary neurons. These data suggest that CLN3 is involved in the regulation of plasma membrane fodrin cytoskeleton and consequently, the plasma membrane association of Na(+), K(+) ATPase. Most of the processes regulated by multifunctional fodrin and Na(+), K(+) ATPase are also affected in JNCL and Cln3-deficiency implicating that dysregulation of fodrin cytoskeleton and non-pumping functions of Na(+), K(+) ATPase may play a role in the neuronal degeneration in JNCL.
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48
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Synaptic Changes in the Thalamocortical System of Cathepsin D-Deficient Mice. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2008; 67:16-29. [DOI: 10.1097/nen.0b013e31815f3899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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49
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Ahtiainen L, Kolikova J, Mutka AL, Luiro K, Gentile M, Ikonen E, Khiroug L, Jalanko A, Kopra O. Palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1 (Ppt1)-deficient mouse neurons show alterations in cholesterol metabolism and calcium homeostasis prior to synaptic dysfunction. Neurobiol Dis 2007; 28:52-64. [PMID: 17656100 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2007.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2007] [Revised: 05/30/2007] [Accepted: 06/08/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder of children, characterized by selective death of neocortical neurons. To understand early disease mechanisms in INCL, we have studied Ppt1(Deltaex4) knock-out mouse neurons in culture and acute brain slices. Global transcript profiling showed deregulation of key neuronal functions in knock-out mice including cholesterol metabolism, neuronal maturation, and calcium homeostasis. Cholesterol metabolism showed major changes; sterol biosynthesis was enhanced and steady-state amounts of sterols were altered at the cellular level. Changes were also present in early maturation of Ppt1(Deltaex4) neurons indicated by increased proliferative capacity of neuronal stem cells. Knock-out neurons presented unaltered electrophysiological properties suggesting uncompromised synaptic function in young animals. However, knock-out neurons exhibited more efficient recovery from glutamate-induced calcium transients, possibly indicating neuroprotective activation. This study established that the neuronal deregulation in INCL is linked to neuronal maturation, lipid metabolism and calcium homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ahtiainen
- National Public Health Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, Biomedicum Helsinki, PO Box 104, 00251 Helsinki, Finland
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50
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Eliason SL, Stein CS, Mao Q, Tecedor L, Ding SL, Gaines DM, Davidson BL. A knock-in reporter model of Batten disease. J Neurosci 2007; 27:9826-34. [PMID: 17855597 PMCID: PMC6672654 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1710-07.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2007] [Revised: 07/17/2007] [Accepted: 07/18/2007] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis is a severe inherited neurodegenerative disease resulting from mutations in CLN3 (ceroid-lipofuscinosis, neuronal 3, juvenile). CLN3 function, and where and when it is expressed during development, is not known. In this study, we generated a knock-in reporter mouse to elucidate CLN3 expression during embryogenesis and after birth and to correlate expression and behavior in a CLN3-deficient mouse. In embryonic brain, expression appeared in the cortical plate. In postnatal brain, expression was prominent in the cortex, subiculum, parasubiculum, granule neurons of the dentate gyrus, and some brainstem nuclei. In adult brain, reporter gene expression waned in most areas but remained in vascular endothelia and the dentate gyrus. Mice homozygous for Cln3 deletion showed two hallmark pathological features of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosises: autofluorescent inclusions and lysosomal enzyme elevation. Moreover, CLN3-deficient reporter mice displayed progressive neurological deficits, including impaired motor function, decreased overall activity, acquisition of resting tremors, and increased susceptibility to pentilentetrazole-induced seizures. Notably, seizure induction in heterozygous mice was accompanied by enhanced reporter expression. This model provides us with the unique ability to correlate expression with pathology and behavior, thus facilitating the elucidation of CLN3 function and the pathogenesis of Batten disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Beverly L. Davidson
- Departments of Internal Medicine
- Neurology, and
- Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
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