1
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Wilkes BJ, Adury RZ, Berryman D, Concepcion LR, Liu Y, Yokoi F, Maugee C, Li Y, Vaillancourt DE. Cell-specific Dyt1 ∆GAG knock-in to basal ganglia and cerebellum reveal differential effects on motor behavior and sensorimotor network function. Exp Neurol 2023; 367:114471. [PMID: 37321386 PMCID: PMC10695146 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2023.114471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by repetitive, unintentional movements and disabling postures that result from sustained or intermittent muscle contractions. The basal ganglia and cerebellum have received substantial focus in studying DYT1 dystonia. It remains unclear how cell-specific ∆GAG mutation of torsinA within specific cells of the basal ganglia or cerebellum affects motor performance, somatosensory network connectivity, and microstructure. In order to achieve this goal, we generated two genetically modified mouse models: in model 1 we performed Dyt1 ∆GAG conditional knock-in (KI) in neurons that express dopamine-2 receptors (D2-KI), and in model 2 we performed Dyt1 ∆GAG conditional KI in Purkinje cells of the cerebellum (Pcp2-KI). In both of these models, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to assess sensory-evoked brain activation and resting-state functional connectivity, and diffusion MRI to assess brain microstructure. We found that D2-KI mutant mice had motor deficits, abnormal sensory-evoked brain activation in the somatosensory cortex, as well as increased functional connectivity of the anterior medulla with cortex. In contrast, we found that Pcp2-KI mice had improved motor performance, reduced sensory-evoked brain activation in the striatum and midbrain, as well as reduced functional connectivity of the striatum with the anterior medulla. These findings suggest that (1) D2 cell-specific Dyt1 ∆GAG mediated torsinA dysfunction in the basal ganglia results in detrimental effects on the sensorimotor network and motor output, and (2) Purkinje cell-specific Dyt1 ∆GAG mediated torsinA dysfunction in the cerebellum results in compensatory changes in the sensorimotor network that protect against dystonia-like motor deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Wilkes
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - R Z Adury
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - D Berryman
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - L R Concepcion
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Y Liu
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - F Yokoi
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - C Maugee
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Y Li
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - D E Vaillancourt
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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2
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Fan Y, Si Z, Wang L, Zhang L. DYT- TOR1A dystonia: an update on pathogenesis and treatment. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1216929. [PMID: 37638318 PMCID: PMC10448058 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1216929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
DYT-TOR1A dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions and abnormal movements. It is a severe genetic form of dystonia caused by mutations in the TOR1A gene. TorsinA is a member of the AAA + family of adenosine triphosphatases (ATPases) involved in a variety of cellular functions, including protein folding, lipid metabolism, cytoskeletal organization, and nucleocytoskeletal coupling. Almost all patients with TOR1A-related dystonia harbor the same mutation, an in-frame GAG deletion (ΔGAG) in the last of its 5 exons. This recurrent variant results in the deletion of one of two tandem glutamic acid residues (i.e., E302/303) in a protein named torsinA [torsinA(△E)]. Although the mutation is hereditary, not all carriers will develop DYT-TOR1A dystonia, indicating the involvement of other factors in the disease process. The current understanding of the pathophysiology of DYT-TOR1A dystonia involves multiple factors, including abnormal protein folding, signaling between neurons and glial cells, and dysfunction of the protein quality control system. As there are currently no curative treatments for DYT-TOR1A dystonia, progress in research provides insight into its pathogenesis, leading to potential therapeutic and preventative strategies. This review summarizes the latest research advances in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of DYT-TOR1A dystonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Fan
- Department of Neurology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhibo Si
- Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Linlin Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Neurology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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3
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Pocratsky AM, Nascimento F, Özyurt MG, White IJ, Sullivan R, O’Callaghan BJ, Smith CC, Surana S, Beato M, Brownstone RM. Pathophysiology of Dyt1- Tor1a dystonia in mice is mediated by spinal neural circuit dysfunction. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadg3904. [PMID: 37134150 PMCID: PMC7614689 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg3904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Dystonia, a neurological disorder defined by abnormal postures and disorganized movements, is considered to be a neural circuit disorder with dysfunction arising within and between multiple brain regions. Given that spinal neural circuits constitute the final pathway for motor control, we sought to determine their contribution to this movement disorder. Focusing on the most common inherited form of dystonia in humans, DYT1-TOR1A, we generated a conditional knockout of the torsin family 1 member A (Tor1a) gene in the mouse spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). We found that these mice recapitulated the phenotype of the human condition, developing early-onset generalized torsional dystonia. Motor signs emerged early in the mouse hindlimbs before spreading caudo-rostrally to affect the pelvis, trunk, and forelimbs throughout postnatal maturation. Physiologically, these mice bore the hallmark features of dystonia, including spontaneous contractions at rest and excessive and disorganized contractions, including cocontractions of antagonist muscle groups, during voluntary movements. Spontaneous activity, disorganized motor output, and impaired monosynaptic reflexes, all signs of human dystonia, were recorded from isolated mouse spinal cords from these conditional knockout mice. All components of the monosynaptic reflex arc were affected, including motor neurons. Given that confining the Tor1a conditional knockout to DRG did not lead to early-onset dystonia, we conclude that the pathophysiological substrate of this mouse model of dystonia lies in spinal neural circuits. Together, these data provide new insights into our current understanding of dystonia pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M. Pocratsky
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Filipe Nascimento
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - M. Görkem Özyurt
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Ian J. White
- Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Roisin Sullivan
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Benjamin J. O’Callaghan
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Calvin C. Smith
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sunaina Surana
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Marco Beato
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology, and Pharmacology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Robert M. Brownstone
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
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4
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Berryman D, Barrett J, Liu C, Maugee C, Waldbaum J, Yi D, Xing H, Yokoi F, Saxena S, Li Y. Motor deficit and lack of overt dystonia in Dlx conditional Dyt1 knockout mice. Behav Brain Res 2023; 439:114221. [PMID: 36417958 PMCID: PMC10364669 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.114221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
DYT1 or DYT-TOR1A dystonia is early-onset generalized dystonia caused by a trinucleotide deletion of GAG in the TOR1A or DYT1 gene leads to the loss of a glutamic acid residue in the resulting torsinA protein. A mouse model with overt dystonia is of unique importance to better understand the DYT1 pathophysiology and evaluate preclinical drug efficacy. DYT1 dystonia is likely a network disorder involving multiple brain regions, particularly the basal ganglia. Tor1a conditional knockout in the striatum or cerebral cortex leads to motor deficits, suggesting the importance of corticostriatal connection in the pathogenesis of dystonia. Indeed, corticostriatal long-term depression impairment has been demonstrated in multiple targeted DYT1 mouse models. Pappas and colleagues developed a conditional knockout line (Dlx-CKO) that inactivated Tor1a in the forebrain and surprisingly displayed overt dystonia. We set out to validate whether conditional knockout affecting both cortex and striatum would lead to overt dystonia and whether machine learning-based video behavioral analysis could be used to facilitate high throughput preclinical drug screening. We generated Dlx-CKO mice and found no overt dystonia or motor deficits at 4 months. At 8 months, retesting revealed motor deficits in rotarod, beam walking, grip strength, and hyperactivity in the open field; however, no overt dystonia was visually discernible or through the machine learning-based video analysis. Consistent with other targeted DYT1 mouse models, we observed age-dependent deficits in the beam walking test, which is likely a better motor behavioral test for preclinical drug testing but more labor-intensive when overt dystonia is absent.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Berryman
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jake Barrett
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Canna Liu
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Christian Maugee
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Julien Waldbaum
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Daiyao Yi
- Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hong Xing
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Fumiaki Yokoi
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Shreya Saxena
- Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yuqing Li
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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5
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MacIver CL, Tax CMW, Jones DK, Peall KJ. Structural magnetic resonance imaging in dystonia: A systematic review of methodological approaches and findings. Eur J Neurol 2022; 29:3418-3448. [PMID: 35785410 PMCID: PMC9796340 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Structural magnetic resonance techniques have been widely applied in neurological disorders to better understand tissue changes, probing characteristics such as volume, iron deposition and diffusion. Dystonia is a hyperkinetic movement disorder, resulting in abnormal postures and pain. Its pathophysiology is poorly understood, with normal routine clinical imaging in idiopathic forms. More advanced tools provide an opportunity to identify smaller scale structural changes which may underpin pathophysiology. This review aims to provide an overview of methodological approaches undertaken in structural brain imaging of dystonia cohorts, and to identify commonly identified pathways, networks or regions that are implicated in pathogenesis. METHODS Structural magnetic resonance imaging studies of idiopathic and genetic forms of dystonia were systematically reviewed. Adhering to strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, PubMed and Embase databases were searched up to January 2022, with studies reviewed for methodological quality and key findings. RESULTS Seventy-seven studies were included, involving 1945 participants. The majority of studies employed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) (n = 45) or volumetric analyses (n = 37), with frequently implicated areas of abnormality in the brainstem, cerebellum, basal ganglia and sensorimotor cortex and their interconnecting white matter pathways. Genotypic and motor phenotypic variation emerged, for example fewer cerebello-thalamic tractography streamlines in genetic forms than idiopathic and higher grey matter volumes in task-specific than non-task-specific dystonias. DISCUSSION Work to date suggests microstructural brain changes in those diagnosed with dystonia, although the underlying nature of these changes remains undetermined. Employment of techniques such as multiple diffusion weightings or multi-exponential relaxometry has the potential to enhance understanding of these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L. MacIver
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research InstituteDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff University School of MedicineCardiffUK,Cardiff University Brain Imaging Centre (CUBRIC)Cardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Chantal M. W. Tax
- Cardiff University Brain Imaging Centre (CUBRIC)Cardiff UniversityCardiffUK,Image Sciences InstituteUniversity Medical Center UtrechtUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Derek K. Jones
- Cardiff University Brain Imaging Centre (CUBRIC)Cardiff UniversityCardiffUK
| | - Kathryn J. Peall
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Research InstituteDivision of Psychological Medicine and Clinical NeurosciencesCardiff University School of MedicineCardiffUK
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6
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Brown AM, van der Heijden ME, Jinnah HA, Sillitoe RV. Cerebellar Dysfunction as a Source of Dystonic Phenotypes in Mice. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022:10.1007/s12311-022-01441-0. [PMID: 35821365 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01441-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There is now a substantial amount of compelling evidence demonstrating that the cerebellum may be a central locus in dystonia pathogenesis. Studies using spontaneous genetic mutations in rats and mice, engineered genetic alleles in mice, shRNA knockdown in mice, and conditional genetic silencing of fast neurotransmission in mice have all uncovered a common set of behavioral and electrophysiological defects that point to cerebellar cortical and cerebellar nuclei dysfunction as a source of dystonic phenotypes. Here, we revisit the Ptf1aCre/+;Vglut2flox/flox mutant mouse to define fundamental phenotypes and measures that are valuable for testing the cellular, circuit, and behavioral mechanisms that drive dystonia. In this model, excitatory neurotransmission from climbing fibers is genetically eliminated and, as a consequence, Purkinje cell and cerebellar nuclei firing are altered in vivo, with a prominent and lasting irregular burst pattern of spike activity in cerebellar nuclei neurons. The resulting impact on behavior is that the mice have developmental abnormalities, including twisting of the limbs and torso. These behaviors continue into adulthood along with a tremor, which can be measured with a tremor monitor or EMG. Importantly, expression of dystonic behavior is reduced upon cerebellar-targeted deep brain stimulation. The presence of specific combinations of disease-like features and therapeutic responses could reveal the causative mechanisms of different types of dystonia and related conditions. Ultimately, an emerging theme places cerebellar dysfunction at the center of a broader dystonia brain network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Brown
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Meike E van der Heijden
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - H A Jinnah
- Departments of Neurology, Human Genetics and Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Roy V Sillitoe
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Development, Disease Models & Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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7
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A dystonia mouse model with motor and sequencing deficits paralleling human disease. Behav Brain Res 2022; 426:113844. [PMID: 35304183 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2022.113844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The dystonias are a group of movement disorders characterized by involuntary twisting movements and postures. A lack of well characterized behavioral models of dystonia has impeded identification of circuit abnormalities giving rise to the disease. Most mouse behavioral assays are implemented independently of cortex, but cortical dysfunction is implicated in human dystonia. It is therefore important to identify dystonia models in which motor cortex-dependent behaviors are altered in ways relevant to human disease. The goal of this study was to characterize a cortically-dependent behavior in the recently-developed Dlx-CKO mouse model of DYT1 dystonia. Mice performed two tasks: skilled reaching and water-elicited grooming. These tests assess motor learning, dexterous skill, and innate motor sequencing. Furthermore, skilled reaching depends strongly on motor cortex, while dorsal striatum is critical for normal grooming. Dlx-CKO mice exhibited significantly lower success rates and pellet contacts compared to control mice during skilled reaching. Despite the skilled reaching impairments, Dlx-CKO mice adapt their reaching strategies. With training, they more consistently contacted the target. Grooming patterns of Dlx-CKO mice are more disorganized than in control mice, as evidenced by a higher proportion of non-chain grooming. However, when Dlx-CKO mice engage in syntactic chains, they execute them similarly to control mice. These abnormalities may provide targets for preclinical intervention trials, as well as facilitate determination of the physiologic path from torsinA dysfunction to motor phenotype.
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8
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Caffall ZF, Wilkes BJ, Hernández-Martinez R, Rittiner JE, Fox JT, Wan KK, Shipman MK, Titus SA, Zhang YQ, Patnaik S, Hall MD, Boxer MB, Shen M, Li Z, Vaillancourt DE, Calakos N. The HIV protease inhibitor, ritonavir, corrects diverse brain phenotypes across development in mouse model of DYT-TOR1A dystonia. Sci Transl Med 2021; 13:13/607/eabd3904. [PMID: 34408078 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abd3904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Dystonias are a group of chronic movement-disabling disorders for which highly effective oral medications or disease-modifying therapies are lacking. The most effective treatments require invasive procedures such as deep brain stimulation. In this study, we used a high-throughput assay based on a monogenic form of dystonia, DYT1 (DYT-TOR1A), to screen a library of compounds approved for use in humans, the NCATS Pharmaceutical Collection (NPC; 2816 compounds), and identify drugs able to correct mislocalization of the disease-causing protein variant, ∆E302/3 hTorsinA. The HIV protease inhibitor, ritonavir, was among 18 compounds found to normalize hTorsinA mislocalization. Using a DYT1 knock-in mouse model to test efficacy on brain pathologies, we found that ritonavir restored multiple brain abnormalities across development. Ritonavir acutely corrected striatal cholinergic interneuron physiology in the mature brain and yielded sustained correction of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging signals when delivered during a discrete early developmental window. Mechanistically, we found that, across the family of HIV protease inhibitors, efficacy correlated with integrated stress response activation. These preclinical results identify ritonavir as a drug candidate for dystonia with disease-modifying potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary F Caffall
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27715, USA
| | - Bradley J Wilkes
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | | | - Joseph E Rittiner
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27715, USA
| | - Jennifer T Fox
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Kanny K Wan
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Miranda K Shipman
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27715, USA
| | - Steven A Titus
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Ya-Qin Zhang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Samarjit Patnaik
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Matthew D Hall
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Matthew B Boxer
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Min Shen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Zhuyin Li
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - David E Vaillancourt
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.,Department of Neurology, Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Nicole Calakos
- Department of Neurology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27715, USA. .,Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27715, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27715, USA.,Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27715, USA
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9
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Wilkes BJ, DeSimone JC, Liu Y, Chu WT, Coombes SA, Li Y, Vaillancourt DE. Cell-specific effects of Dyt1 knock-out on sensory processing, network-level connectivity, and motor deficits. Exp Neurol 2021; 343:113783. [PMID: 34119482 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
DYT1 dystonia is a debilitating movement disorder characterized by repetitive, unintentional movements and postures. The disorder has been linked to mutation of the TOR1A/DYT1 gene encoding torsinA. Convergent evidence from studies in humans and animal models suggest that striatal medium spiny neurons and cholinergic neurons are important in DYT1 dystonia. What is not known is how torsinA dysfunction in these specific cell types contributes to the pathophysiology of DYT1 dystonia. In this study we sought to determine whether torsinA dysfunction in cholinergic neurons alone is sufficient to generate the sensorimotor dysfunction and brain changes associated with dystonia, or if torsinA dysfunction in a broader subset of cell types is needed. We generated two genetically modified mouse models, one with selective Dyt1 knock-out from dopamine-2 receptor expressing neurons (D2KO) and one where only cholinergic neurons are impacted (Ch2KO). We assessed motor deficits and performed in vivo 11.1 T functional MRI to assess sensory-evoked brain activation and connectivity, along with diffusion MRI to assess brain microstructure. We found that D2KO mice showed greater impairment than Ch2KO mice, including reduced sensory-evoked brain activity in key regions of the sensorimotor network, and altered functional connectivity of the striatum that correlated with motor deficits. These findings suggest that (1) the added impact of torsinA dysfunction in medium spiny and dopaminergic neurons of the basal ganglia generate more profound deficits than the dysfunction of cholinergic neurons alone, and (2) that sensory network impairments are linked to motor deficits in DYT1 dystonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- B J Wilkes
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - J C DeSimone
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Y Liu
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - W T Chu
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - S A Coombes
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Y Li
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - D E Vaillancourt
- Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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10
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Khosravani S, Chen G, Ozelius LJ, Simonyan K. Neural endophenotypes and predictors of laryngeal dystonia penetrance and manifestation. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 148:105223. [PMID: 33316367 PMCID: PMC8284879 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.105223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 12/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Focal dystonias are the most common forms of isolated dystonia; however, the etiopathophysiological signatures of disorder penetrance and clinical manifestation remain unclear. Using an imaging genetics approach, we investigated functional and structural representations of neural endophenotypes underlying the penetrance and manifestation of laryngeal dystonia in families, including 21 probands and 21 unaffected relatives, compared to 32 unrelated healthy controls. We further used a supervised machine-learning algorithm to predict the risk for dystonia development in susceptible individuals based on neural features of identified endophenotypes. We found that abnormalities in prefrontal-parietal cortex, thalamus, and caudate nucleus were commonly shared between patients and their unaffected relatives, representing an intermediate endophenotype of laryngeal dystonia. Machine learning classified 95.2% of unaffected relatives as patients rather than healthy controls, substantiating that these neural alterations represent the endophenotypic marker of dystonia penetrance, independent of its symptomatology. Additional abnormalities in premotor-parietal-temporal cortical regions, caudate nucleus, and cerebellum were present only in patients but not their unaffected relatives, likely representing a secondary endophenotype of dystonia manifestation. Based on alterations in the parietal cortex and caudate nucleus, the machine learning categorized 28.6% of unaffected relative as patients, indicating their increased lifetime risk for developing clinical manifestation of dystonia. The identified endophenotypic neural markers may be implemented for screening of at-risk individuals for dystonia development, selection of families for genetic studies of novel variants based on their risk for disease penetrance, or stratification of patients who would respond differently to a particular treatment in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Khosravani
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gang Chen
- National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Laurie J Ozelius
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristina Simonyan
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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11
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The Role of Torsin AAA+ Proteins in Preserving Nuclear Envelope Integrity and Safeguarding Against Disease. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10030468. [PMID: 32204310 PMCID: PMC7175109 DOI: 10.3390/biom10030468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Torsin ATPases are members of the AAA+ (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) superfamily of proteins, which participate in essential cellular processes. While AAA+ proteins are ubiquitously expressed and demonstrate distinct subcellular localizations, Torsins are the only AAA+ to reside within the nuclear envelope (NE) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) network. Moreover, due to the absence of integral catalytic features, Torsins require the NE- and ER-specific regulatory cofactors, lamina-associated polypeptide 1 (LAP1) and luminal domain like LAP1 (LULL1), to efficiently trigger their atypical mode of ATP hydrolysis. Despite their implication in an ever-growing list of diverse processes, the specific contributions of Torsin/cofactor assemblies in maintaining normal cellular physiology remain largely enigmatic. Resolving gaps in the functional and mechanistic principles of Torsins and their cofactors are of considerable medical importance, as aberrant Torsin behavior is the principal cause of the movement disorder DYT1 early-onset dystonia. In this review, we examine recent findings regarding the phenotypic consequences of compromised Torsin and cofactor activities. In particular, we focus on the molecular features underlying NE defects and the contributions of Torsins to nuclear pore complex biogenesis, as well as the growing implications of Torsins in cellular lipid metabolism. Additionally, we discuss how understanding Torsins may facilitate the study of essential but poorly understood processes at the NE and ER, and aid in the development of therapeutic strategies for dystonia.
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12
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Yokoi F, Oleas J, Xing H, Liu Y, Dexter KM, Misztal C, Gerard M, Efimenko I, Lynch P, Villanueva M, Alsina R, Krishnaswamy S, Vaillancourt DE, Li Y. Decreased number of striatal cholinergic interneurons and motor deficits in dopamine receptor 2-expressing-cell-specific Dyt1 conditional knockout mice. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 134:104638. [PMID: 31618684 PMCID: PMC7323754 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
DYT1 early-onset generalized torsion dystonia is a hereditary movement disorder characterized by abnormal postures and repeated movements. It is caused mainly by a heterozygous trinucleotide deletion in DYT1/TOR1A, coding for torsinA. The mutation may lead to a partial loss of torsinA function. Functional alterations of the basal ganglia circuits have been implicated in this disease. Striatal dopamine receptor 2 (D2R) levels are significantly decreased in DYT1 dystonia patients and in the animal models of DYT1 dystonia. D2R-expressing cells, such as the medium spiny neurons in the indirect pathway, striatal cholinergic interneurons, and dopaminergic neurons in the basal ganglia circuits, contribute to motor performance. However, the function of torsinA in these neurons and its contribution to the motor symptoms is not clear. Here, D2R-expressing-cell-specific Dyt1 conditional knockout (d2KO) mice were generated and in vivo effects of torsinA loss in the corresponding cells were examined. The Dyt1 d2KO mice showed significant reductions of striatal torsinA, acetylcholine metabolic enzymes, Tropomyosin receptor kinase A (TrkA), and cholinergic interneurons. The Dyt1 d2KO mice also showed significant reductions of striatal D2R dimers and tyrosine hydroxylase without significant alteration in striatal monoamine contents or the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. The Dyt1 d2KO male mice showed motor deficits in the accelerated rotarod and beam-walking tests without overt dystonic symptoms. Moreover, the Dyt1 d2KO male mice showed significant correlations between striatal monoamines and locomotion. The results suggest that torsinA in the D2R-expressing cells play a critical role in the development or survival of the striatal cholinergic interneurons, expression of striatal D2R mature form, and motor performance. Medical interventions to compensate for the loss of torsinA function in these neurons may affect the onset and symptoms of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiaki Yokoi
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States.
| | - Janneth Oleas
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - Hong Xing
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - Yuning Liu
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - Kelly M Dexter
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - Carly Misztal
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - Melinda Gerard
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - Iakov Efimenko
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - Patrick Lynch
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - Matthew Villanueva
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - Raul Alsina
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - Shiv Krishnaswamy
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States
| | - David E Vaillancourt
- Laboratory for Rehabilitation Neuroscience, Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, United States; J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, United States; Department of Neurology and Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8205, United States
| | - Yuqing Li
- Norman Fixel Institue for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0236, United States.
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13
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Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging-derived free water detects neurodegenerative pattern induced by interferon-γ. Brain Struct Funct 2020; 225:427-439. [PMID: 31894407 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-019-02017-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Imaging biomarkers for immune activation may be valuable for early-stage detection, therapeutic testing, and research on neurodegenerative conditions. In the present study, we determined whether diffusion magnetic resonance imaging-derived free water signal is a sensitive marker for neuroinflammatory effects of interferon-gamma (Ifn-γ). Neonatal wild-type mice were injected in the cerebral ventricles with recombinant adeno-associated viruses expressing the inflammatory cytokine Ifn-γ. Groups of mice expressing Ifn-γ and age-matched controls were imaged at 1, 5 and 8 months. Mice deficient in Ifngr1-/- and Stat1-/- were scanned at 5 months as controls for the signaling cascades activated by Ifn-γ. The results indicate that Ifn-γ affected fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), and free water (FW) in white matter structures, midline cortical areas, and medial thalamic areas. In these structures, FA and MD decreased progressively from 1 to 8 months of age, while FW increased significantly. The observed reductions in FA and MD and increased FW with elevated brain Ifn-γ was not observed in Ifngr1-/- or Stat1-/- mice. These results suggest that the observed microstructure changes involve the Ifn-gr1 and Stat1 signaling. Interestingly, increases in FW were observed in midbrain of Ifngr1-/- mice, which suggests alternative Ifn-γ signaling in midbrain. Although initial evidence is offered in relation to the sensitivity of the FW signal to neurodegenerative and/or inflammatory patterns specific to Ifn-γ, further research is needed to determine applicability and specificity across animal models of neuroinflammatory and degenerative disorders.
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14
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Tang S, Powell EM, Zhu W, Lo FS, Erzurumlu RS, Xu S. Altered Forebrain Functional Connectivity and Neurotransmission in a Kinase-Inactive Met Mouse Model of Autism. Mol Imaging 2019; 18:1536012118821034. [PMID: 30799683 PMCID: PMC6322103 DOI: 10.1177/1536012118821034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
MET, the gene encoding the tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor, is a susceptibility gene for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Genetically altered mice with a kinase-inactive Met offer a potential model for understanding neural circuit organization changes in autism. Here, we focus on the somatosensory thalamocortical circuitry because distinct somatosensory sensitivity phenotypes accompany ASD, and this system plays a major role in sensorimotor and social behaviors in mice. We employed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and in vivo high-resolution proton MR spectroscopy to examine neuronal connectivity and neurotransmission of wild-type, heterozygous Met-Emx1, and fully inactive homozygous Met-Emx1 mice. Met-Emx1 brains showed impaired maturation of large-scale somatosensory network connectivity when compared with wild-type controls. Significant sex × genotype interaction in both network features and glutamate/gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) balance was observed. Female Met-Emx1 brains showed significant connectivity and glutamate/GABA balance changes in the somatosensory thalamocortical system when compared with wild-type brains. The glutamate/GABA ratio in the thalamus was correlated with the connectivity between the somatosensory cortex and the thalamus in heterozygous Met-Emx1 female brains. The findings support the hypothesis that aberrant functioning of the somatosensory thalamocortical system is at the core of the conspicuous somatosensory behavioral phenotypes observed in Met-Emx1 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Tang
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Powell
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wenjun Zhu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Fu-Sun Lo
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Reha S. Erzurumlu
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Su Xu
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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15
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Abstract
Dystonia is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive movements. Although the precise mechanisms of dystonia development remain unknown, the diversity of its clinical phenotypes is thought to be associated with multifactorial pathophysiology, which is linked not only to alterations of brain organization, but also environmental stressors and gene mutations. This chapter will present an overview of the pathophysiology of isolated dystonia through the lens of applications of major neuroimaging methodologies, with links to genetics and environmental factors that play a prominent role in symptom manifestation.
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