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El Hajj R, Al Sagheer T, Ballout N. Optogenetics in chronic neurodegenerative diseases, controlling the brain with light: A systematic review. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25321. [PMID: 38588013 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are progressive disorders characterized by synaptic loss and neuronal death. Optogenetics combines optical and genetic methods to control the activity of specific cell types. The efficacy of this approach in neurodegenerative diseases has been investigated in many reviews, however, none of them tackled it systematically. Our study aimed to review systematically the findings of optogenetics and its potential applications in animal models of chronic neurodegenerative diseases and compare it with deep brain stimulation and designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs techniques. The search strategy was performed based on the PRISMA guidelines and the risk of bias was assessed following the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation tool. A total of 247 articles were found, of which 53 were suitable for the qualitative analysis. Our data revealed that optogenetic manipulation of distinct neurons in the brain is efficient in rescuing memory impairment, alleviating neuroinflammation, and reducing plaque pathology in Alzheimer's disease. Similarly, this technique shows an advanced understanding of the contribution of various neurons involved in the basal ganglia pathways with Parkinson's disease motor symptoms and pathology. However, the optogenetic application using animal models of Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was limited. Optogenetics is a promising technique that enhanced our knowledge in the research of neurodegenerative diseases and addressed potential therapeutic solutions for managing these diseases' symptoms and delaying their progression. Nevertheless, advanced investigations should be considered to improve optogenetic tools' efficacy and safety to pave the way for their translatability to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rojine El Hajj
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Tareq Al Sagheer
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Nissrine Ballout
- Neuroscience Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
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Das T, Zaidi F, Farag M, Ruff KM, Messing J, Taylor JP, Pappu RV, Mittag T. Metastable condensates suppress conversion to amyloid fibrils. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.28.582569. [PMID: 38464104 PMCID: PMC10925303 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.28.582569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Stress granules form via co-condensation of RNA binding proteins with prion-like low complexity domains (PLCDs) and RNA molecules released by stress-induced polysomal runoff. Homotypic interactions among PLCDs can drive amyloid fibril formation and this is enhanced by ALS-associated mutations. We find that homotypic interactions that drive condensation versus fibril formation are separable for A1-LCD, the PLCD of hnRNPA1. These separable interactions lead to condensates that are metastable versus fibrils that are globally stable. Metastable condensates suppress fibril formation, and ALS-associated mutations enhance fibril formation by weakening condensate metastability. Mutations designed to enhance A1-LCD condensate metastability restore wild-type behaviors of stress granules in cells even when ALS-associated mutations are present. This suggests that fibril formation can be suppressed by enhancing condensate metastability through condensate-driving interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapojyoti Das
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Fatima Zaidi
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Mina Farag
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Kiersten M. Ruff
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - James Messing
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - J. Paul Taylor
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Rohit V. Pappu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center for Biomolecular Condensates, Washington University in St. Louis; St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Tanja Mittag
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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Mitrea DM, Mittasch M, Gomes BF, Klein IA, Murcko MA. Modulating biomolecular condensates: a novel approach to drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:841-862. [PMID: 35974095 PMCID: PMC9380678 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the past decade, membraneless assemblies known as biomolecular condensates have been reported to play key roles in many cellular functions by compartmentalizing specific proteins and nucleic acids in subcellular environments with distinct properties. Furthermore, growing evidence supports the view that biomolecular condensates often form by phase separation, in which a single-phase system demixes into a two-phase system consisting of a condensed phase and a dilute phase of particular biomolecules. Emerging understanding of condensate function in normal and aberrant cellular states, and of the mechanisms of condensate formation, is providing new insights into human disease and revealing novel therapeutic opportunities. In this Perspective, we propose that such insights could enable a previously unexplored drug discovery approach based on identifying condensate-modifying therapeutics (c-mods), and we discuss the strategies, techniques and challenges involved.
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Hayes LR, Kalab P. Emerging Therapies and Novel Targets for TDP-43 Proteinopathy in ALS/FTD. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1061-1084. [PMID: 35790708 PMCID: PMC9587158 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01260-5] [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] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear clearance and cytoplasmic mislocalization of the essential RNA binding protein, TDP-43, is a pathologic hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, and related neurodegenerative disorders collectively termed "TDP-43 proteinopathies." TDP-43 mislocalization causes neurodegeneration through both loss and gain of function mechanisms. Loss of TDP-43 nuclear RNA processing function destabilizes the transcriptome by multiple mechanisms including disruption of pre-mRNA splicing, the failure of repression of cryptic exons, and retrotransposon activation. The accumulation of cytoplasmic TDP-43, which is prone to aberrant liquid-liquid phase separation and aggregation, traps TDP-43 in the cytoplasm and disrupts a host of downstream processes including the trafficking of RNA granules, local translation within axons, and mitochondrial function. In this review, we will discuss the TDP-43 therapy development pipeline, beginning with therapies in current and upcoming clinical trials, which are primarily focused on accelerating the clearance of TDP-43 aggregates. Then, we will look ahead to emerging strategies from preclinical studies, first from high-throughput genetic and pharmacologic screens, and finally from mechanistic studies focused on the upstream cause(s) of TDP-43 disruption in ALS/FTD. These include modulation of stress granule dynamics, TDP-43 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, RNA metabolism, and correction of aberrant splicing events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey R Hayes
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Dept. of Neurology, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Petr Kalab
- Whiting School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Gleixner AM, Verdone BM, Otte CG, Anderson EN, Ramesh N, Shapiro OR, Gale JR, Mauna JC, Mann JR, Copley KE, Daley EL, Ortega JA, Cicardi ME, Kiskinis E, Kofler J, Pandey UB, Trotti D, Donnelly CJ. NUP62 localizes to ALS/FTLD pathological assemblies and contributes to TDP-43 insolubility. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3380. [PMID: 35697676 PMCID: PMC9192689 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31098-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
A G4C2 hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene is the most common genetic cause of ALS and FTLD (C9-ALS/FTLD) with cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions observed in regions of neurodegeneration. The accumulation of repetitive RNAs and dipeptide repeat protein (DPR) are two proposed mechanisms of toxicity in C9-ALS/FTLD and linked to impaired nucleocytoplasmic transport. Nucleocytoplasmic transport is regulated by the phenylalanine-glycine nucleoporins (FG nups) that comprise the nuclear pore complex (NPC) permeability barrier. However, the relationship between FG nups and TDP-43 pathology remains elusive. Our studies show that nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic mislocalization of one FG nup, NUP62, is linked to TDP-43 mislocalization in C9-ALS/FTLD iPSC neurons. Poly-glycine arginine (GR) DPR accumulation initiates the formation of cytoplasmic RNA granules that recruit NUP62 and TDP-43. Cytoplasmic NUP62 and TDP-43 interactions promotes their insolubility and NUP62:TDP-43 inclusions are frequently found in C9orf72 ALS/FTLD as well as sporadic ALS/FTLD postmortem CNS tissue. Our findings indicate NUP62 cytoplasmic mislocalization contributes to TDP-43 proteinopathy in ALS/FTLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda M Gleixner
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Brandie Morris Verdone
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Charlton G Otte
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Physician Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Eric N Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nandini Ramesh
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Olivia R Shapiro
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jenna R Gale
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jocelyn C Mauna
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jacob R Mann
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Katie E Copley
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Daley
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University of Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Juan A Ortega
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University of Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Maria Elena Cicardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University of Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Julia Kofler
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Udai B Pandey
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Davide Trotti
- Department of Neuroscience, Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christopher J Donnelly
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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TDP-43 pathology: from noxious assembly to therapeutic removal. Prog Neurobiol 2022; 211:102229. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Lim WK, Kaur P, Huang H, Jo RS, Ramamoorthy A, Ng LF, Suresh J, Maisha FI, Mathuru AS, Tolwinski NS. Optogenetic approaches for understanding homeostatic and degenerative processes in Drosophila. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5865-5880. [PMID: 34232330 PMCID: PMC8260576 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03836-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Many organs and tissues have an intrinsic ability to regenerate from a dedicated, tissue-specific stem cell pool. As organisms age, the process of self-regulation or homeostasis begins to slow down with fewer stem cells available for tissue repair. Tissues become more fragile and organs less efficient. This slowdown of homeostatic processes leads to the development of cellular and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we highlight the recent use and future potential of optogenetic approaches to study homeostasis. Optogenetics uses photosensitive molecules and genetic engineering to modulate cellular activity in vivo, allowing precise experiments with spatiotemporal control. We look at applications of this technology for understanding the mechanisms governing homeostasis and degeneration as applied to widely used model organisms, such as Drosophila melanogaster, where other common tools are less effective or unavailable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Kin Lim
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Prameet Kaur
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Huanyan Huang
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | - Li Fang Ng
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jahnavi Suresh
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Ajay S Mathuru
- Science Division, Yale-NUS College, Singapore, Singapore
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Braems E, Tziortzouda P, Van Den Bosch L. Exploring the alternative: Fish, flies and worms as preclinical models for ALS. Neurosci Lett 2021; 759:136041. [PMID: 34118308 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons. In general, patients succumb to respiratory insufficiency due to respiratory muscle weakness. Despite many promising therapeutic strategies primarily identified in rodent models, patient trials remain rather unsuccessful. There is a clear need for alternative approaches, which could provide directions towards the justified use of rodents and which increase the likelihood to identify new promising clinical candidates. In the last decades, the use of fast genetic approaches and the development of high-throughput screening platforms in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and in zebrafish (Danio rerio) have contributed to new insights into ALS pathomechanisms, disease modifiers and therapeutic targets. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of these alternative small animal studies, modeling the most common ALS genes and discuss the most recent preclinical discoveries. We conclude that small animal models will not replace rodent models, yet they clearly represent an important asset for preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Braems
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paraskevi Tziortzouda
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium.
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Asakawa K, Handa H, Kawakami K. Illuminating ALS Motor Neurons With Optogenetics in Zebrafish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:640414. [PMID: 33816488 PMCID: PMC8012537 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.640414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurological disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Spinal motor neurons align along the spinal cord length within the vertebral column, and extend long axons to connect with skeletal muscles covering the body surface. Due to this anatomy, spinal motor neurons are among the most difficult cells to observe in vivo. Larval zebrafish have transparent bodies that allow non-invasive visualization of whole cells of single spinal motor neurons, from somas to the neuromuscular synapses. This unique feature, combined with its amenability to genome editing, pharmacology, and optogenetics, enables functional analyses of ALS-associated proteins in the spinal motor neurons in vivo with subcellular resolution. Here, we review the zebrafish skeletal neuromuscular system and the optical methods used to study it. We then introduce a recently developed optogenetic zebrafish ALS model that uses light illumination to control oligomerization, phase transition and aggregation of the ALS-associated DNA/RNA-binding protein called TDP-43. Finally, we will discuss how this disease-in-a-fish ALS model can help solve key questions about ALS pathogenesis and lead to new ALS therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhide Asakawa
- Department of Chemical Biology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Handa
- Department of Chemical Biology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Kawakami
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan.,Department of Genetics, Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima, Japan
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