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Peng Y, Jiang DY, Yao SY, Zhang X, Kazuo S, Liu J, Du MQ, Lin LX, Chen Q, Jin H. Gene-modified animal models of Parkinson's disease. Exp Neurol 2025; 390:115287. [PMID: 40328415 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2025.115287] [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: 01/29/2025] [Revised: 04/25/2025] [Accepted: 04/30/2025] [Indexed: 05/08/2025]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that commonly occurs in older individuals and clinically manifests as resting tremors, bradykinesia, muscle stiffness, and impaired postural balance. From a genetic perspective, animal models using gene-editing technologies offer distinct advantages in replicating the pathophysiological traits of PD, while also functionally exploring potential treatment targets. In this review, we highlight the available gene- modified animal models related to various mechanisms of PD, including abnormal expression of alpha-synuclein protein, dysfunction of the autophagy-lysosome system, abnormalities in the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and mitochondrial dysfunction. We further discuss their respective strengths, limitations, and prospects, aiming to provide the most up to date information for the application of PD animal models and the advancement of anti-PD drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Peng
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China.; Department of Neurology, Affiliated Provincial Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China..
| | - Dai-Yi Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China.; Department of Neurology, Affiliated Provincial Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China
| | - Shun-Yu Yao
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China.; Department of Neurology, Affiliated Provincial Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China
| | - Xiuli Zhang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Sugimoto Kazuo
- Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China; Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Department of Neurology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China; Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Miao-Qiao Du
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China.; Department of Neurology, Affiliated Provincial Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China
| | - Lan-Xin Lin
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China.; Department of Neurology, Affiliated Provincial Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China
| | - Quan Chen
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China.; Department of Neurology, Affiliated Provincial Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China
| | - Hong Jin
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated First Hospital of Hunan Traditional Chinese Medical College, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China.; Department of Neurology, Affiliated Provincial Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhuzhou, Hunan 412000, China
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2
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Quansah E, Vatsa N, Ensink E, Brown J, Cave T, Aguileta M, Schulz E, Lindquist A, Gilliland C, Steiner JA, Escobar Galvis ML, Milčiūtė M, Henderson MX, Brundin P, Brundin L, Marshall LL, Gordevicius J. Tet2 loss and enhanced ciliogenesis suppress α-synuclein pathology. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2025; 13:71. [PMID: 40189544 PMCID: PMC11974201 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-025-01988-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2025] [Indexed: 04/09/2025] Open
Abstract
There are no approved treatments that slow Parkinson's disease (PD) progression and therefore it is important to identify novel pathogenic mechanisms that can be targeted. Loss of the epigenetic marker, Tet2 appears to have some beneficial effects in PD models, but the underlying mechanism of action is not well understood. We performed an unbiased transcriptomic analysis of cortical neurons isolated from patients with PD to identify dysregulated pathways and determine their potential contributions to the disease process. We discovered that genes associated with primary cilia, non-synaptic sensory and signaling organelles, are upregulated in both early and late stage PD patients. Enhancing ciliogenesis in primary cortical neurons via sonic hedgehog signaling suppressed the accumulation of α-synuclein pathology in vitro. Interestingly, deletion of Tet2 in mice also enhanced the expression of primary cilia and sonic hedgehog signaling genes and reduced the accumulation of α-synuclein pathology and dopamine neuron degeneration in vivo. Our findings demonstrate the crucial role of TET2 loss in regulating ciliogenesis and potentially affecting the progression of PD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Quansah
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
- Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.
| | - Naman Vatsa
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Elizabeth Ensink
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Jaycie Brown
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Tyce Cave
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Miguel Aguileta
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Emily Schulz
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Allison Lindquist
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Carla Gilliland
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Jennifer A Steiner
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | | | | | - Michael X Henderson
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Patrik Brundin
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lena Brundin
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
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3
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La Vitola P, Szegö EM, Pinto-Costa R, Rollar A, Harbachova E, Schapira AH, Ulusoy A, Di Monte DA. Mitochondrial oxidant stress promotes α-synuclein aggregation and spreading in mice with mutated glucocerebrosidase. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:233. [PMID: 39663354 PMCID: PMC11634889 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00842-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 11/19/2024] [Indexed: 12/13/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, heterozygous expression of a common Parkinson-associated GBA1 variant, the L444P mutation, was found to exacerbate α-synuclein aggregation and spreading in a mouse model of Parkinson-like pathology targeting neurons of the medullary vagal system. These neurons were also shown to become more vulnerable to oxidative and nitrative stress after L444P expression. The latter paralleled neuronal formation of reactive oxygen species and led to a pronounced accumulation of nitrated α-synuclein. A causal relationship linked mutation-induced oxidative/nitrative stress to enhanced α-synuclein aggregation and spreading that could indeed be rescued by neuronal overexpression of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase 2. Further evidence supported a key involvement of mitochondria as sources of reactive oxygen species as well as targets of oxidative and nitrative damage within L444P-expressing neurons. These findings support the conclusion that enhanced vulnerability to mitochondrial oxidative stress should be considered an important mechanism predisposing to pathology conversion in carriers of GBA1 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro La Vitola
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Eva M Szegö
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Rita Pinto-Costa
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Angela Rollar
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Eugenia Harbachova
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Anthony Hv Schapira
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Royal Free Campus, London, UK
| | - Ayse Ulusoy
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Donato A Di Monte
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
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4
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Khalid Iqbal M, Khan B, Hifsa, YuXuan G, Mujahid M, Kiyani MM, Khan H, Bashir S. The Impact of the Blood-Brain Barrier and Its Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease: Contributions to Pathogenesis and Progression. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:45663-45672. [PMID: 39583664 PMCID: PMC11579724 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c06546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2024] [Revised: 10/16/2024] [Accepted: 10/21/2024] [Indexed: 11/26/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a brain disorder in which neuronal cells responsible for the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that controls movement, are degenerated or impaired in the substantia nigra and basal ganglia. The disease typically affects people over the age of 5 and presents with a variety of motor and nonmotor dysfunctions, which are unique to each person. The impairment of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood retinal barrier (BRB) due to age-related causes such as weakness of tight junctions or rare genetic factors allows several metabolic intermediates to reach and accumulate inside neurons such as Lewy bodies and α-synuclein, disrupting neuronal homeostasis and leading to genetic and epigenetic changes, e.g., damage to the DNA repair system. This perspective highlights the importance of blood barriers, such as the BBB and BRB, in the progression of PD, as the aggregation of Lewy bodies and α-synuclein disrupts neuronal homeostasis. Genetic and epigenetic factors, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction play crucial roles in the progression of the disease. The implications of these findings are significant; identifying synaptic dysfunction could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, while developing targeted therapies focused on preserving synaptic function may slow or halt disease progression. Understanding the various genetic forms of PD could enable more personalized medicine approaches, and using patient-derived midbrain neurons for research may improve the accuracy of PD models due to the implications of an impaired BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Khalid Iqbal
- Institute
of Brain Disorders, Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116044, China
| | - Bakhtawar Khan
- Institute
of Brain Disorders, Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116044, China
| | - Hifsa
- Department
of Biochemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Ge YuXuan
- Institute
of Brain Disorders, Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116044, China
| | - Muhammad Mujahid
- Department
of Biochemistry, Government College University, Faisalabad 38000, Pakistan
| | - Mubin Mustafa Kiyani
- Shifa
College of Medical Technology, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat
University, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Hamid Khan
- Molecular
Biology and Bio Interfaces Engineering Lab, Department of Biological
Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, International
Islamic University Islamabad. H10, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan
| | - Shahid Bashir
- Neuroscience
Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Dammam, Dammam 32253, Saudi Arabia
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Massari CM, Dues DJ, Bergsma A, Sipple K, Frye M, Williams ET, Moore DJ. Neuropathology in an α-synuclein preformed fibril mouse model occurs independent of the Parkinson's disease-linked lysosomal ATP13A2 protein. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 202:106701. [PMID: 39406291 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106701] [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: 08/08/2024] [Revised: 10/07/2024] [Accepted: 10/11/2024] [Indexed: 10/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in the ATP13A2 (PARK9) gene are implicated in early-onset autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. ATP13A2 encodes a lysosomal transmembrane P5B-type ATPase that is highly expressed in brain and specifically within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Recent studies have revealed its normal role as a lysosomal polyamine transporter, although its contribution to PD-related pathology remains unclear. Cellular studies report that ATP13A2 can regulate α-synuclein (α-syn) secretion via exosomes. However, the relationship between ATP13A2 and α-syn in animal models remains inconclusive. ATP13A2 knockout (KO) mice exhibit lysosomal abnormalities and reactive astrogliosis but do not develop PD-related neuropathology. Studies manipulating α-syn levels in mice lacking ATP13A2 indicate minimal effects on pathology. The delivery of α-syn preformed fibrils (PFFs) into the mouse striatum is a well-defined model to study the development and spread of α-syn pathology. In this study we unilaterally injected wild-type (WT) and homozygous ATP13A2 KO mice with mouse α-syn PFFs in the striatum and evaluated mice for neuropathology after 6 months. The distribution, spread and extent of α-syn aggregation in multiple regions of the mouse brain was largely independent of ATP13A2 expression. The loss of nigrostriatal pathway dopaminergic neurons and their nerve terminals induced by PFFs were equivalent in WT and ATP13A2 KO mice. Reactive astrogliosis was induced equivalently by α-syn PFFs in WT and KO mice but was already significantly higher in ATP13A2 KO mice due to pre-existing reactive gliosis. We did not identify asymmetric motor disturbances, microglial activation, or axonal damage induced by α-syn PFFs in WT or KO mice. Although α-syn PFFs induce an increase in lysosomal number in the SNc in general, TH-positive dopaminergic neurons did not exhibit either increased lysosomal area or intensity, regardless of genotype. Our study evaluating the spread of α-syn pathology reveals no exacerbation of α-syn pathology, neuronal loss, astrogliosis or motor deficits in ATP13A2 KO mice, suggesting that selective lysosomal abnormalities resulting from ATP13A2 loss do not play a major role in α-syn clearance or propagation in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caio M Massari
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Dylan J Dues
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Alexis Bergsma
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Kayla Sipple
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Maxwell Frye
- West Michigan Neurodegenerative Diseases (MiND) Program, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Erin T Williams
- West Michigan Neurodegenerative Diseases (MiND) Program, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Darren J Moore
- Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
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6
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Walton S, Fenyi A, Tittle T, Sidransky E, Pal G, Choi S, Melki R, Killinger BA, Kordower JH. Neither alpha-synuclein fibril strain nor host murine genotype influences seeding efficacy. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2024; 10:105. [PMID: 38773124 PMCID: PMC11109094 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-024-00679-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor symptoms and alpha-synuclein (αsyn) aggregation in the nervous system. For unclear reasons, PD patients with certain GBA1 mutations (GBA-PD) have a more aggressive clinical progression. Two testable hypotheses that can potentially account for this phenomenon are that GBA1 mutations promote αsyn spread or drive the generation of highly pathogenic αsyn polymorphs (i.e., strains). We tested these hypotheses by treating homozygous GBA1 D409V knockin (KI) mice with human α-syn-preformed fibrils (PFFs) and treating wild-type mice (WT) with several αsyn-PFF polymorphs amplified from brain autopsy samples collected from patients with idiopathic PD and GBA-PD patients with either homozygous or heterozygous GBA1 mutations. Robust phosphorylated-αsyn (PSER129) positive pathology was observed at the injection site (i.e., the olfactory bulb granule cell layer) and throughout the brain six months following PFF injection. The PFF seeding efficiency and degree of spread were similar regardless of the mouse genotype or PFF polymorphs. We found that PFFs amplified from the human brain, regardless of patient genotype, were generally more effective seeders than wholly synthetic PFFs (i.e., non-amplified); however, PFF concentration differed between these two studies, which might also account for the observed differences. To investigate whether the molecular composition of pathology differed between different seeding conditions, we performed Biotinylation by Antibody Recognition on PSER129 (BAR-PSER129). We found that for BAR-PSER129, the endogenous PSER129 pool dominated identified interactions, and thus, very few potential interactions were explicitly identified for seeded pathology. However, we found Dynactin Subunit 2 (Dctn2) interaction was shared across all PFF conditions, and NCK Associated Protein 1 (Nckap1) and Adaptor Related Protein Complex 3 Subunit Beta 2 (Ap3b2) were unique to PFFs amplified from GBA-PD brains of heterozygous mutation carriers. In conclusion, both the genotype and αsyn strain had little effect on overall seeding efficacy and global PSER129-interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Walton
- ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Alexis Fenyi
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS, Fontenay-Aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - Tyler Tittle
- Graduate College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ellen Sidransky
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Gian Pal
- Department of Neurology, Division of Movement Disorders, Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Solji Choi
- Graduate College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ronald Melki
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS, Fontenay-Aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | | | - Jeffrey H Kordower
- ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
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Croucher KM, Fleming SM. ATP13A2 (PARK9) and basal ganglia function. Front Neurol 2024; 14:1252400. [PMID: 38249738 PMCID: PMC10796451 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1252400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
ATP13A2 is a lysosomal protein involved in polyamine transport with loss of function mutations associated with multiple neurodegenerative conditions. These include early onset Parkinson's disease, Kufor-Rakeb Syndrome, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, hereditary spastic paraplegia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. While ATP13A2 mutations may result in clinical heterogeneity, the basal ganglia appear to be impacted in the majority of cases. The basal ganglia is particularly vulnerable to environmental exposures such as heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial agents which are also established risk factors for many neurodegenerative conditions. Not surprisingly then, impaired function of ATP13A2 has been linked to heavy metal toxicity including manganese, iron, and zinc. This review discusses the role of ATP13A2 in basal ganglia function and dysfunction, potential common pathological mechanisms in ATP13A2-related disorders, and how gene x environment interactions may contribute to basal ganglia dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina M. Croucher
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Kent State University, Kent, OH, United States
| | - Sheila M. Fleming
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, United States
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8
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Labrador-Garrido A, Zhong S, Hughes L, Keshiya S, Kim WS, Halliday GM, Dzamko N. Live cell in situ lysosomal GCase activity correlates to alpha-synuclein levels in human differentiated neurons with LRRK2 and GBA1 mutations. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1229213. [PMID: 37908374 PMCID: PMC10613732 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1229213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Heterozygous mutations in GBA1, which encodes the lysosomal hydrolase glucocerebrosidase (GCase), are a common risk factor for the neurodegenerative movement disorder Parkinson's disease (PD). Consequently, therapeutic options targeting the GCase enzyme are in development. An important aspect of this development is determining the effect of potential modifying compounds on GCase activity, which can be complicated by the different methods and substrate probes that are commonly employed for this purpose. Methods In this study, we employed the GCase substrate probe 5-(pentafluorobenzoylamino)fluorescein di-D-glucopyranoside (PFB-FDGlu) in combination with live cell imaging to measure GCase activity in situ in the lysosome. Results The live cell assay was validated using the GCase inhibitor conduritol-B-epoxide and with GBA1 knockout neural cells and was then used to assess GCase activity in iPSC differentiated into neural stem cells and neurons that were obtained from idiopathic PD patients and PD patients with the LRRK2 G2019S and GBA N370S mutations, as well as controls (n = 4 per group). Heterogeneity in GCase activity was observed across all groups. However, a significant inverse correlation between GCase activity and levels of alpha-synuclein protein was observed. Discussion The live cell imaging assay for GCase activity could be useful for further understanding the role of GCase in PD and screening potential modifying compounds in differentiated human cell models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Nicolas Dzamko
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health and the Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
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9
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Walton S, Fenyi A, Tittle T, Sidransky E, Pal G, Choi S, Melki R, Killinger BA, Kordower JH. Neither alpha-synuclein-preformed fibrils derived from patients with GBA1 mutations nor the host murine genotype significantly influence seeding efficacy in the mouse olfactory bulb. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.24.554646. [PMID: 37662402 PMCID: PMC10473741 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.24.554646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor symptoms and alpha-synuclein (αsyn) aggregation in the nervous system. For unclear reasons, PD patients with certain GBA mutations (GBA-PD) have a more aggressive clinical progression. Two testable hypotheses that can potentially account for this phenomenon are that GBA1 mutations promote αsyn spread or drive the generation of highly pathogenic αsyn polymorphs (i.e., strains). We tested these hypotheses by treating homozygous GBA1 D409V knockin (KI) mice with human α-syn-preformed fibrils (PFFs) and treating wild-type mice (WT) with several αsyn-PFF polymorphs amplified from brain autopsy samples collected from patients with idiopathic PD and GBA-PD patients with either homozygous or heterozygous GBA1 mutations. Robust phosphorylated-αsyn (PSER129) positive pathology was observed at the injection site (i.e., the olfactory bulb granular layer) and throughout the brain six months following PFF injection. The PFF seeding efficiency and degree of spread were similar regardless of the mouse genotype or PFF polymorphs. We found that PFFs amplified from the human brain, regardless of patient genotype, were generally more effective seeders than wholly synthetic PFFs (i.e., non-amplified); however, PFF concentration differed between these two studies, and this might also account for the observed differences. To investigate whether the molecular composition of pathology differed between different seeding conditions, we permed Biotinylation by Antibody Recognition on PSER129 (BAR-PSER129). We found that for BAR-PSER129, the endogenous PSER129 pool dominated identified interactions, and thus, very few potential interactions were explicitly identified for seeded pathology. However, we found Dctn2 interaction was shared across all PFF conditions, and Nckap1 and Ap3b2 were unique to PFFs amplified from GBA-PD brains of heterozygous mutation carriers. In conclusion, both the genotype and αsyn strain had little effect on overall seeding efficacy and global PSER129-interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Walton
- ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Alexis Fenyi
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS, Fontenay-Aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - Tyler Tittle
- Graduate College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612
| | - Ellen Sidransky
- Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Gian Pal
- Department of Neurology, Division of Movement Disorders, Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Solji Choi
- Graduate College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612
| | - Ronald Melki
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA and Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Diseases, CNRS, Fontenay-Aux-Roses Cedex, France
| | - Bryan A Killinger
- Graduate College, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612
| | - Jeffrey H Kordower
- ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center and School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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10
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Rocha E, Chamoli M, Chinta SJ, Andersen JK, Wallis R, Bezard E, Goldberg M, Greenamyre T, Hirst W, Kuan WL, Kirik D, Niedernhofer L, Rappley I, Padmanabhan S, Trudeau LE, Spillantini M, Scott S, Studer L, Bellantuono I, Mortiboys H. Aging, Parkinson's Disease, and Models: What Are the Challenges? AGING BIOLOGY 2023; 1:e20230010. [PMID: 38978807 PMCID: PMC11230631 DOI: 10.59368/agingbio.20230010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, neurodegenerative condition characterized by motor symptoms such as bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremor, alongside multiple nonmotor symptoms. The appearance of motor symptoms is linked to progressive dopaminergic neuron loss within the substantia nigra. PD incidence increases sharply with age, suggesting a strong association between mechanisms driving biological aging and the development and progression of PD. However, the role of aging in the pathogenesis of PD remains understudied. Numerous models of PD, including cell models, toxin-induced models, and genetic models in rodents and nonhuman primates (NHPs), reproduce different aspects of PD, but preclinical studies of PD rarely incorporate age as a factor. Studies using patient neurons derived from stem cells via reprogramming methods retain some aging features, but their characterization, particularly of aging markers and reproducibility of neuron type, is suboptimal. Investigation of age-related changes in PD using animal models indicates an association, but this is likely in conjunction with other disease drivers. The biggest barrier to drawing firm conclusions is that each model lacks full characterization and appropriate time-course assessments. There is a need to systematically investigate whether aging increases the susceptibility of mouse, rat, and NHP models to develop PD and understand the role of cell models. We propose that a significant investment in time and resources, together with the coordination and sharing of resources, knowledge, and data, is required to accelerate progress in understanding the role of biological aging in PD development and improve the reliability of models to test interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Rocha
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Shankar J Chinta
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, USA
- Touro University California, College of Pharmacy, Vallejo, CA, USA
| | | | - Ruby Wallis
- The Healthy Lifespan Institute, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Tim Greenamyre
- Pittsburgh Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - We-Li Kuan
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Deniz Kirik
- Brain Repair and Imaging in Neural Systems (BRAINS), Lund, Sweden
| | - Laura Niedernhofer
- Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Irit Rappley
- Recursion pharmaceuticals, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Louis-Eric Trudeau
- Department of pharmacology and physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Maria Spillantini
- Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Lorenz Studer
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ilaria Bellantuono
- The Healthy Lifespan Institute, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, The Medical School, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Heather Mortiboys
- The Healthy Lifespan Institute, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kindgom
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11
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Lai TT, Gericke B, Feja M, Conoscenti M, Zelikowsky M, Richter F. Anxiety in synucleinopathies: neuronal circuitry, underlying pathomechanisms and current therapeutic strategies. NPJ Parkinsons Dis 2023; 9:97. [PMID: 37349373 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-023-00547-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Synucleinopathies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by alpha-synuclein (αSyn) accumulation in neurons or glial cells, including Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA). αSyn-related pathology plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies leading to the progressive loss of neuronal populations in specific brain regions and the development of motor and non-motor symptoms. Anxiety is among the most frequent non-motor symptoms in patients with PD, but it remains underrecognized and undertreated, which significantly reduces the quality of life for patients. Anxiety is defined as a neuropsychiatric complication with characteristics such as nervousness, loss of concentration, and sweating due to the anticipation of impending danger. In patients with PD, neuropathology in the amygdala, a central region in the anxiety and fear circuitry, may contribute to the high prevalence of anxiety. Studies in animal models reported αSyn pathology in the amygdala together with alteration of anxiety or fear learning response. Therefore, understanding the progression, extent, and specifics of pathology in the anxiety and fear circuitry in synucleinopathies will suggest novel approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Here, we provide an overview of studies that address neuropsychiatric symptoms in synucleinopathies. We offer insights into anxiety and fear circuitry in animal models and the current implications for therapeutic intervention. In summary, it is apparent that anxiety is not a bystander symptom in these disorders but reflects early pathogenic mechanisms in the cortico-limbic system which may even contribute as a driver to disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy Thi Lai
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Birthe Gericke
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Malte Feja
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | - Franziska Richter
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany.
- Center for Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany.
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12
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Chatterjee D, Krainc D. Mechanisms of Glucocerebrosidase Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:168023. [PMID: 36828270 PMCID: PMC10247409 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.168023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Beta-glucocerebrosidase is a lysosomal hydrolase, encoded by GBA1 that represents the most common risk gene associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) and Lewy Body Dementia. Glucocerebrosidase dysfunction has been also observed in the absence of GBA1 mutations across different genetic and sporadic forms of PD and related disorders, suggesting a broader role of glucocerebrosidase in neurodegeneration. In this review, we highlight recent advances in mechanistic characterization of glucocerebrosidase function as the foundation for development of novel therapeutics targeting glucocerebrosidase in PD and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diptaman Chatterjee
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA. https://twitter.com/NeilChatterBox
| | - Dimitri Krainc
- Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA; Simpson Querrey Center for Neurogenetics, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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13
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Mahoney-Crane CL, Viswanathan M, Russell D, Curtiss RAC, Freire J, Bobba SS, Coyle SD, Kandebo M, Yao L, Wan BL, Hatcher NG, Smith SM, Marcus JN, Volpicelli-Daley LA. Neuronopathic GBA1L444P Mutation Accelerates Glucosylsphingosine Levels and Formation of Hippocampal Alpha-Synuclein Inclusions. J Neurosci 2023; 43:501-521. [PMID: 36639889 PMCID: PMC9864632 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0680-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD) is heterozygous mutations GBA1, which encodes for the lysosomal enzyme, glucocerebrosidase. Reduced glucocerebrosidase activity associates with an accumulation of abnormal α-synuclein (α-syn) called Lewy pathology, which characterizes PD. PD patients heterozygous for the neuronotypic GBA1L444P mutation (GBA1+/L444P) have a 5.6-fold increased risk of cognitive impairments. In this study, we used GBA1+/L444P mice of either sex to determine its effects on lipid metabolism, expression of synaptic proteins, behavior, and α-syn inclusion formation. At 3 months of age, GBA1+/L444P mice demonstrated impaired contextual fear conditioning, and increased motor activity. Hippocampal levels of vGLUT1 were selectively reduced in GBA1+/L444P mice. We show, using mass spectrometry, that GBA1L444P expression increased levels of glucosylsphingosine, but not glucosylceramide, in the brains and serum of GBA1+/L444P mice. Templated induction of α-syn pathology in mice showed an increase in α-syn inclusion formation in the hippocampus of GBA1+/L444P mice compared with GBA1+/+ mice, but not in the cortex, or substantia nigra pars compacta. Pathologic α-syn reduced SNc dopamine neurons by 50% in both GBA1+/+ and GBA1+/L444P mice. Treatment with a GlcCer synthase inhibitor did not affect abundance of α-syn inclusions in the hippocampus or rescue dopamine neuron loss. Overall, these data suggest the importance of evaluating the contribution of elevated glucosylsphingosine to PD phenotypes. Further, our data suggest that expression of neuronotypic GBA1L444P may cause defects in the hippocampus, which may be a mechanism by which cognitive decline is more prevalent in individuals with GBA1-PD.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Parkinson's disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) are both pathologically characterized by abnormal α-synuclein (α-syn). Mutant GBA1 is a risk factor for both PD and DLB. Our data show the expression of neuronotypic GBA1L444P impairs behaviors related to hippocampal function, reduces expression of a hippocampal excitatory synaptic protein, and that the hippocampus is more susceptible to α-syn inclusion formation. Further, our data strengthen support for the importance of evaluating the contribution of glucosylsphingosine to PD phenotypes. These outcomes suggest potential mechanisms by which GBA1L444P contributes to the cognitive symptoms clinically observed in PD and DLB. Our findings also highlight the importance of glucosylsphingosine as a relevant biomarker for future therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey L Mahoney-Crane
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Megha Viswanathan
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Dreson Russell
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Rachel A C Curtiss
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Jennifer Freire
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Sai Sumedha Bobba
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Sean D Coyle
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Monika Kandebo
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Company, Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486
| | - Lihang Yao
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Company, Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486
| | - Bang-Lin Wan
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Company, Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486
| | - Nathan G Hatcher
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Company, Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486
| | - Sean M Smith
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Company, Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486
| | - Jacob N Marcus
- Neuroscience Discovery, Merck & Company, Inc, West Point, Pennsylvania 19486
| | - Laura A Volpicelli-Daley
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
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14
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The Consequences of GBA Deficiency in the Autophagy-Lysosome System in Parkinson's Disease Associated with GBA. Cells 2023; 12:cells12010191. [PMID: 36611984 PMCID: PMC9818455 DOI: 10.3390/cells12010191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
GBA gene variants were the first genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease. GBA encodes the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GBA), which is involved in sphingolipid metabolism. GBA exhibits a complex physiological function that includes not only the degradation of its substrate glucosylceramide but also the metabolism of other sphingolipids and additional lipids such as cholesterol, particularly when glucocerebrosidase activity is deficient. In the context of Parkinson's disease associated with GBA, the loss of GBA activity has been associated with the accumulation of α-synuclein species. In recent years, several hypotheses have proposed alternative and complementary pathological mechanisms to explain why lysosomal enzyme mutations lead to α-synuclein accumulation and become important risk factors in Parkinson's disease etiology. Classically, loss of GBA activity has been linked to a dysfunctional autophagy-lysosome system and to a subsequent decrease in autophagy-dependent α-synuclein turnover; however, several other pathological mechanisms underlying GBA-associated parkinsonism have been proposed. This review summarizes and discusses the different hypotheses with a special focus on autophagy-dependent mechanisms, as well as autophagy-independent mechanisms, where the role of other players such as sphingolipids, cholesterol and other GBA-related proteins make important contributions to Parkinson's disease pathogenesis.
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15
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Peelaerts W, Baekelandt V. ⍺-Synuclein Structural Diversity and the Cellular Environment in ⍺-Synuclein Transmission Models and Humans. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:67-82. [PMID: 37052776 PMCID: PMC10119367 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01365-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are termed synucleinopathies, disorders that are characterized by the intracellular aggregation of the protein ɑ-synuclein. The cellular tropism of synuclein pathology in these syndromes is notably distinct since in the Lewy disorders, PD and DLB, ɑSyn forms aggregates in neurons whereas in MSA ɑSyn forms aggregates in oligodendrocytes. Studies examining ɑSyn pathology in experimental models and in human brain have now identified fibrillar ɑSyn with unique but distinct molecular signatures, suggesting that the structure of these ɑSyn fibrils might be closely tied to their cellular ontogeny. In contrast to the native structural heterogeneity of ɑSyn in vitro, the conformational landscape of fibrillar ɑSyn in human brain and in vivo transmission models appears to be remarkably uniform. Here, we review the studies by which we propose a hypothesis that the cellular host environment might be in part responsible for how ɑSyn filaments assemble into phenotype-specific strains. We postulate that the maturation of ɑSyn strains develops as a function of their in vivo transmission routes and cell-specific risk factors. The impact of the cellular environment on the structural diversity of ɑSyn might have important implications for the design of preclinical studies and their use for the development of ɑSyn-based biomarkers and therapeutic strategies. By combining phenotype-specific fibrils and relevant synucleinopathy transmission models, preclinical models might more closely reflect unique disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wouter Peelaerts
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veerle Baekelandt
- Laboratory for Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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16
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Real CC, Binda KH, Thomsen MB, Lillethorup TP, Brooks DJ, Landau AM. Selecting the Best Animal Model of Parkinson's Disease for Your Research Purpose: Insight from in vivo PET Imaging Studies. Curr Neuropharmacol 2023; 21:1241-1272. [PMID: 36797611 PMCID: PMC10286593 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x21666230216101659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative multisystem disorder leading to motor and non-motor symptoms in millions of individuals. Despite intense research, there is still no cure, and early disease biomarkers are lacking. Animal models of PD have been inspired by basic elements of its pathogenesis, such as dopamine dysfunction, alpha-synuclein accumulation, neuroinflammation and disruption of protein degradation, and these have been crucial for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of pathology, the identification of biomarkers, and evaluation of novel therapies. Imaging biomarkers are non-invasive tools to assess disease progression and response to therapies; their discovery and validation have been an active field of translational research. Here, we highlight different considerations of animal models of PD that can be applied to future research, in terms of their suitability to answer different research questions. We provide the reader with important considerations of the best choice of model to use based on the disease features of each model, including issues related to different species. In addition, positron emission tomography studies conducted in PD animal models in the last 5 years are presented. With a variety of different species, interventions and genetic information, the choice of the most appropriate model to answer research questions can be daunting, especially since no single model recapitulates all aspects of this complex disorder. Appropriate animal models in conjunction with in vivo molecular imaging tools, if selected properly, can be a powerful combination for the assessment of novel therapies and developing tools for early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Cristiano Real
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Karina Henrique Binda
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Majken Borup Thomsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Thea Pinholt Lillethorup
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - David James Brooks
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Institute of Translational and Clinical Research, University of Newcastle, Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Anne Marlene Landau
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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17
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Zhang C, Chen S, Li X, Xu Q, Lin Y, Lin F, Yuan M, Zi Y, Cai J. Progress in Parkinson's disease animal models of genetic defects: Characteristics and application. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113768. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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18
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Stetzik L, Mercado G, Smith L, George S, Quansah E, Luda K, Schulz E, Meyerdirk L, Lindquist A, Bergsma A, Jones RG, Brundin L, Henderson MX, Pospisilik JA, Brundin P. A novel automated morphological analysis of Iba1+ microglia using a deep learning assisted model. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:944875. [PMID: 36187297 PMCID: PMC9520629 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.944875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
There is growing evidence for the key role of microglial functional state in brain pathophysiology. Consequently, there is a need for efficient automated methods to measure the morphological changes distinctive of microglia functional states in research settings. Currently, many commonly used automated methods can be subject to sample representation bias, time consuming imaging, specific hardware requirements and difficulty in maintaining an accurate comparison across research environments. To overcome these issues, we use commercially available deep learning tools Aiforia® Cloud (Aifoira Inc., Cambridge, MA, United States) to quantify microglial morphology and cell counts from histopathological slides of Iba1 stained tissue sections. We provide evidence for the effective application of this method across a range of independently collected datasets in mouse models of viral infection and Parkinson's disease. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive workflow with training details and annotation strategies by feature layer that can be used as a guide to generate new models. In addition, all models described in this work are available within the Aiforia® platform for study-specific adaptation and validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Stetzik
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States,*Correspondence: Lucas Stetzik,
| | - Gabriela Mercado
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Lindsey Smith
- Aiforia Inc, Cambridge Innovation Center, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Sonia George
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Emmanuel Quansah
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Katarzyna Luda
- Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Emily Schulz
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Lindsay Meyerdirk
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Allison Lindquist
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Alexis Bergsma
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Russell G. Jones
- Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Lena Brundin
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Michael X. Henderson
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | | | - Patrik Brundin
- Parkinson’s Disease Center, Department of Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
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19
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Glucocerebrosidase-associated Parkinson disease: Pathogenic mechanisms and potential drug treatments. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 166:105663. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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