1
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Lisberg A, Liu Y, Merry DE. Blocking the dimerization of polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor protects cells from DHT-induced toxicity by increasing AR turnover. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107246. [PMID: 38556081 PMCID: PMC11067348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107246] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular degenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). This mutation causes AR to misfold and aggregate, contributing to toxicity in and degeneration of motor neurons and skeletal muscle. There is currently no effective treatment or cure for this disease. The role of an interdomain interaction between the amino- and carboxyl-termini of AR, termed the N/C interaction, has been previously identified as a component of androgen receptor-induced toxicity in cell and mouse models of SBMA. However, the mechanism by which this interaction contributes to disease pathology is unclear. This work seeks to investigate this mechanism by interrogating the role of AR homodimerization- a unique form of the N/C-interaction- in SBMA. We show that, although the AR N/C-interaction is reduced by polyglutamine-expansion, homodimers of 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-bound AR are increased. Additionally, blocking homodimerization results in decreased AR aggregation and toxicity in cell models. Blocking homodimerization results in the increased degradation of AR, which likely plays a role in the protective effects of this mutation. Overall, this work identifies a novel mechanism in SBMA pathology that may represent a novel target for the development of therapeutics for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Lisberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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2
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Richardson K, Sengupta M, Sujkowski A, Libohova K, Harris AC, Wessells R, Merry DE, Todi SV. A phenotypically robust model of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy in Drosophila. J Neurosci Res 2024; 102:e25278. [PMID: 38284836 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.25278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked disorder that affects males who inherit the androgen receptor (AR) gene with an abnormal CAG triplet repeat expansion. The resulting protein contains an elongated polyglutamine (polyQ) tract and causes motor neuron degeneration in an androgen-dependent manner. The precise molecular sequelae of SBMA are unclear. To assist with its investigation and the identification of therapeutic options, we report here a new model of SBMA in Drosophila melanogaster. We generated transgenic flies that express the full-length, human AR with a wild-type or pathogenic polyQ repeat. Each transgene is inserted into the same safe harbor site on the third chromosome of the fly as a single copy and in the same orientation. Expression of pathogenic AR, but not of its wild-type variant, in neurons or muscles leads to consistent, progressive defects in longevity and motility that are concomitant with polyQ-expanded AR protein aggregation and reduced complexity in neuromuscular junctions. Additional assays show adult fly eye abnormalities associated with the pathogenic AR species. The detrimental effects of pathogenic AR are accentuated by feeding flies the androgen, dihydrotestosterone. This new, robust SBMA model can be a valuable tool toward future investigations of this incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Richardson
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Medha Sengupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alyson Sujkowski
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Kozeta Libohova
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Autumn C Harris
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Maximizing Access to Science Careers Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Robert Wessells
- Department of Physiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sokol V Todi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Maximizing Access to Science Careers Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- Department of Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
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3
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Garcia Castro DR, Mazuk JR, Heine EM, Simpson D, Pinches RS, Lozzi C, Hoffman K, Morrin P, Mathis D, Lebedev MV, Nissley E, Han KH, Farmer T, Merry DE, Tong Q, Pennuto M, Montie HL. Increased SIRT3 combined with PARP inhibition rescues motor function of SBMA mice. iScience 2023; 26:107375. [PMID: 37599829 PMCID: PMC10433013 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107375] [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: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disease with substantial mitochondrial and metabolic dysfunctions. SBMA is caused by polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). Activating or increasing the NAD+-dependent deacetylase, SIRT3, reduced oxidative stress and death of cells modeling SBMA. However, increasing diminished SIRT3 in AR100Q mice failed to reduce acetylation of the SIRT3 target/antioxidant, SOD2, and had no effect on increased total acetylated peptides in quadriceps. Yet, overexpressing SIRT3 resulted in a trend of motor recovery, and corrected TCA cycle activity by decreasing acetylation of SIRT3 target proteins. We sought to boost blunted SIRT3 activity by replenishing diminished NAD+ with PARP inhibition. Although NAD+ was not affected, overexpressing SIRT3 with PARP inhibition fully restored hexokinase activity, correcting the glycolytic pathway in AR100Q quadriceps, and rescued motor endurance of SBMA mice. These data demonstrate that targeting metabolic anomalies can restore motor function downstream of polyQ-expanded AR.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R. Garcia Castro
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Joseph R. Mazuk
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Erin M. Heine
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Daniel Simpson
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - R. Seth Pinches
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Caroline Lozzi
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Kathryn Hoffman
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Phillip Morrin
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Dylan Mathis
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Maria V. Lebedev
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Elyse Nissley
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Kang Hoo Han
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Tyler Farmer
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
| | - Diane E. Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Qiang Tong
- USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Heather L. Montie
- Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19131, USA
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4
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Gogia N, Ni L, Olmos V, Haidery F, Luttik K, Lim J. Exploring the Role of Posttranslational Modifications in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:931301. [PMID: 35726299 PMCID: PMC9206542 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.931301] [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: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked adult-onset progressive neuromuscular disease that affects the spinal and bulbar motor neurons and skeletal muscles. SBMA is caused by expansion of polymorphic CAG trinucleotide repeats in the Androgen Receptor (AR) gene, resulting in expanded glutamine tract in the AR protein. Polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion renders the mutant AR protein toxic, resulting in the formation of mutant protein aggregates and cell death. This classifies SBMA as one of the nine known polyQ diseases. Like other polyQ disorders, the expansion of the polyQ tract in the AR protein is the main genetic cause of the disease; however, multiple other mechanisms besides the polyQ tract expansion also contribute to the SBMA disease pathophysiology. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, ubiquitination, and SUMOylation are a category of mechanisms by which the functionality of AR has been found to be significantly modulated and can alter the neurotoxicity of SBMA. This review summarizes the different PTMs and their effects in regulating the AR function and discusses their pathogenic or protective roles in context of SBMA. This review also includes the therapeutic approaches that target the PTMs of AR in an effort to reduce the mutant AR-mediated toxicity in SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Gogia
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Luhan Ni
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Victor Olmos
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Fatema Haidery
- Yale College, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Kimberly Luttik
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Janghoo Lim
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States,Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States,Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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5
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Martinez-Rojas VA, Juarez-Hernandez LJ, Musio C. Ion channels and neuronal excitability in polyglutamine neurodegenerative diseases. Biomol Concepts 2022; 13:183-199. [DOI: 10.1515/bmc-2022-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a family composed of nine neurodegenerative inherited disorders (NDDs) caused by pathological expansions of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats which encode a polyQ tract in the corresponding proteins. CAG polyQ repeat expansions produce neurodegeneration via multiple downstream mechanisms; among those the neuronal activity underlying the ion channels is affected directly by specific channelopathies or indirectly by secondary dysregulation. In both cases, the altered excitability underlies to gain- or loss-of-function pathological effects. Here we summarize the repertoire of ion channels in polyQ NDDs emphasizing the biophysical features of neuronal excitability and their pathogenic role. The aim of this review is to point out the value of a deeper understanding of those functional mechanisms and processes as crucial elements for the designing and targeting of novel therapeutic avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir A. Martinez-Rojas
- Institute of Biophysics (IBF), Trento Unit, National Research Council (CNR) , Via Sommarive 18 , 38123 Trento , Italy
| | - Leon J. Juarez-Hernandez
- Institute of Biophysics (IBF), Trento Unit, National Research Council (CNR) , Via Sommarive 18 , 38123 Trento , Italy
| | - Carlo Musio
- Institute of Biophysics (IBF), Trento Unit, National Research Council (CNR) , Via Sommarive 18 , 38123 Trento , Italy
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6
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Pluciennik A, Liu Y, Molotsky E, Marsh GB, Ranxhi B, Arnold FJ, St-Cyr S, Davidson B, Pourshafie N, Lieberman AP, Gu W, Todi SV, Merry DE. Deubiquitinase USP7 contributes to the pathogenicity of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:134565. [PMID: 33170804 DOI: 10.1172/jci134565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are devastating, slowly progressing neurodegenerative conditions caused by expansion of polyQ-encoding CAG repeats within the coding regions of distinct, unrelated genes. In spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), polyQ expansion within the androgen receptor (AR) causes progressive neuromuscular toxicity, the molecular basis of which is unclear. Using quantitative proteomics, we identified changes in the AR interactome caused by polyQ expansion. We found that the deubiquitinase USP7 preferentially interacts with polyQ-expanded AR and that lowering USP7 levels reduced mutant AR aggregation and cytotoxicity in cell models of SBMA. Moreover, USP7 knockdown suppressed disease phenotypes in SBMA and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) fly models, and monoallelic knockout of Usp7 ameliorated several motor deficiencies in transgenic SBMA mice. USP7 overexpression resulted in reduced AR ubiquitination, indicating the direct action of USP7 on AR. Using quantitative proteomics, we identified the ubiquitinated lysine residues on mutant AR that are regulated by USP7. Finally, we found that USP7 also differentially interacts with mutant Huntingtin (HTT) protein in striatum and frontal cortex of a knockin mouse model of Huntington's disease. Taken together, our findings reveal a critical role for USP7 in the pathophysiology of SBMA and suggest a similar role in SCA3 and Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pluciennik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elana Molotsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gregory B Marsh
- Department of Pharmacology and Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Bedri Ranxhi
- Department of Pharmacology and Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Frederick J Arnold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sophie St-Cyr
- Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Beverly Davidson
- Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Naemeh Pourshafie
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,George Washington University, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Wei Gu
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sokol V Todi
- Department of Pharmacology and Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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7
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Nath SR, Lieberman ML, Yu Z, Marchioretti C, Jones ST, Danby ECE, Van Pelt KM, Sorarù G, Robins DM, Bates GP, Pennuto M, Lieberman AP. MEF2 impairment underlies skeletal muscle atrophy in polyglutamine disease. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 140:63-80. [PMID: 32306066 PMCID: PMC7166004 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02156-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) tract expansion leads to proteotoxic misfolding and drives a family of nine diseases. We study spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a progressive degenerative disorder of the neuromuscular system caused by the polyQ androgen receptor (AR). Using a knock-in mouse model of SBMA, AR113Q mice, we show that E3 ubiquitin ligases which are a hallmark of the canonical muscle atrophy machinery are not induced in AR113Q muscle. Similarly, we find no evidence to suggest dysfunction of signaling pathways that trigger muscle hypertrophy or impairment of the muscle stem cell niche. Instead, we find that skeletal muscle atrophy is characterized by diminished function of the transcriptional regulator Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2 (MEF2), a regulator of myofiber homeostasis. Decreased expression of MEF2 target genes is age- and glutamine tract length-dependent, occurs due to polyQ AR proteotoxicity, and is associated with sequestration of MEF2 into intranuclear inclusions in muscle. Skeletal muscle from R6/2 mice, a model of Huntington disease which develops progressive atrophy, also sequesters MEF2 into inclusions and displays age-dependent loss of MEF2 target genes. Similarly, SBMA patient muscle shows loss of MEF2 target gene expression, and restoring MEF2 activity in AR113Q muscle rescues fiber size and MEF2-regulated gene expression. This work establishes MEF2 impairment as a novel mechanism of skeletal muscle atrophy downstream of toxic polyglutamine proteins and as a therapeutic target for muscle atrophy in these disorders.
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8
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Gray AL, Annan L, Dick JRT, La Spada AR, Hanna MG, Greensmith L, Malik B. Deterioration of muscle force and contractile characteristics are early pathological events in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy mice. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm042424. [PMID: 32152060 PMCID: PMC7272358 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.042424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), also known as Kennedy's Disease, is a late-onset X-linked progressive neuromuscular disease, which predominantly affects males. The pathological hallmarks of the disease are selective loss of spinal and bulbar motor neurons, accompanied by weakness, atrophy and fasciculations of bulbar and limb muscles. SBMA is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the gene that encodes the androgen receptor (AR) protein. Disease manifestation is androgen dependent and results principally from a toxic gain of AR function. There are currently no effective treatments for this debilitating disease. It is important to understand the course of the disease in order to target therapeutics to key pathological stages. This is especially relevant in disorders such as SBMA, for which disease can be identified before symptom onset, through family history and genetic testing. To fully characterise the role of muscle in SBMA, we undertook a longitudinal physiological and histological characterisation of disease progression in the AR100 mouse model of SBMA. Our results show that the disease first manifests in skeletal muscle, before any motor neuron degeneration, which only occurs in late-stage disease. These findings reveal that alterations in muscle function, including reduced muscle force and changes in contractile characteristics, are early pathological events in SBMA mice and suggest that muscle-targeted therapeutics may be effective in SBMA.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Gray
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Leonette Annan
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - James R T Dick
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Albert R La Spada
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Center for Neurodegeneration and Neurotherapeutics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michael G Hanna
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- UCL MRC International Centre for Genomic Medicine in Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Linda Greensmith
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Bilal Malik
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
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9
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Rusmini P, Cristofani R, Tedesco B, Ferrari V, Messi E, Piccolella M, Casarotto E, Chierichetti M, Cicardi ME, Galbiati M, Geroni C, Lombardi P, Crippa V, Poletti A. Enhanced Clearance of Neurotoxic Misfolded Proteins by the Natural Compound Berberine and Its Derivatives. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21103443. [PMID: 32414108 PMCID: PMC7279252 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Accumulation of misfolded proteins is a common hallmark of several neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) which results from a failure or an impairment of the protein quality control (PQC) system. The PQC system is composed by chaperones and the degradative systems (proteasome and autophagy). Mutant proteins that misfold are potentially neurotoxic, thus strategies aimed at preventing their aggregation or at enhancing their clearance are emerging as interesting therapeutic targets for NDs. Methods: We tested the natural alkaloid berberine (BBR) and some derivatives for their capability to enhance misfolded protein clearance in cell models of NDs, evaluating which degradative pathway mediates their action. Results: We found that both BBR and its semisynthetic derivatives promote degradation of mutant androgen receptor (ARpolyQ) causative of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, acting mainly via proteasome and preventing ARpolyQ aggregation. Overlapping effects were observed on other misfolded proteins causative of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal-lobar degeneration or Huntington disease, but with selective and specific action against each different mutant protein. Conclusions: BBR and its analogues induce the clearance of misfolded proteins responsible for NDs, representing potential therapeutic tools to counteract these fatal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rusmini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Riccardo Cristofani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Barbara Tedesco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Veronica Ferrari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Elio Messi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Margherita Piccolella
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Elena Casarotto
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Marta Chierichetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Maria Elena Cicardi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Mariarita Galbiati
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Cristina Geroni
- Naxospharma srl, Novate Milanese, 20026 Milan, Italy; (C.G.); (P.L.)
| | - Paolo Lombardi
- Naxospharma srl, Novate Milanese, 20026 Milan, Italy; (C.G.); (P.L.)
| | - Valeria Crippa
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
| | - Angelo Poletti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Dipartimento di Eccellenza 2018-2022, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy; (P.R.); (R.C.); (B.T.); (V.F.); (E.M.); (M.P.); (E.C.); (M.C.); (M.E.C.); (M.G.); (V.C.)
- Correspondence:
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10
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Chivet M, Marchioretti C, Pirazzini M, Piol D, Scaramuzzino C, Polanco MJ, Romanello V, Zuccaro E, Parodi S, D’Antonio M, Rinaldi C, Sambataro F, Pegoraro E, Soraru G, Pandey UB, Sandri M, Basso M, Pennuto M. Polyglutamine-Expanded Androgen Receptor Alteration of Skeletal Muscle Homeostasis and Myonuclear Aggregation Are Affected by Sex, Age and Muscle Metabolism. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020325. [PMID: 32019272 PMCID: PMC7072234 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) expansions in the androgen receptor (AR) gene cause spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a neuromuscular disease characterized by lower motor neuron (MN) loss and skeletal muscle atrophy, with an unknown mechanism. We generated new mouse models of SBMA for constitutive and inducible expression of mutant AR and performed biochemical, histological and functional analyses of phenotype. We show that polyQ-expanded AR causes motor dysfunction, premature death, IIb-to-IIa/IIx fiber-type change, glycolytic-to-oxidative fiber-type switching, upregulation of atrogenes and autophagy genes and mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle, together with signs of muscle denervation at late stage of disease. PolyQ expansions in the AR resulted in nuclear enrichment. Within the nucleus, mutant AR formed 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-resistant aggregates and inclusion bodies in myofibers, but not spinal cord and brainstem, in a process exacerbated by age and sex. Finally, we found that two-week induction of expression of polyQ-expanded AR in adult mice was sufficient to cause premature death, body weight loss and muscle atrophy, but not aggregation, metabolic alterations, motor coordination and fiber-type switch, indicating that expression of the disease protein in the adulthood is sufficient to recapitulate several, but not all SBMA manifestations in mice. These results imply that chronic expression of polyQ-expanded AR, i.e. during development and prepuberty, is key to induce the full SBMA muscle pathology observed in patients. Our data support a model whereby chronic expression of polyQ-expanded AR triggers muscle atrophy through toxic (neomorphic) gain of function mechanisms distinct from normal (hypermorphic) gain of function mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Chivet
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
| | - Caterina Marchioretti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Pirazzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Diana Piol
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
| | - Chiara Scaramuzzino
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy; (C.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Maria Josè Polanco
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
| | - Vanina Romanello
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Emanuela Zuccaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Sara Parodi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy; (C.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Maurizio D’Antonio
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Carlo Rinaldi
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, UK;
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Pegoraro
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Gianni Soraru
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Udai Bhan Pandey
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Marco Sandri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Manuela Basso
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy; (C.S.); (S.P.)
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39 049 8276069
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11
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Attems J. The first year. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 139:1-2. [PMID: 31832772 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02113-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Attems
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK.
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12
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Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by a polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). Despite the fact that the monogenic cause of SBMA has been known for nearly 3 decades, there is no effective treatment for this disease, underscoring the complexity of the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to a loss of motor neurons and muscle in SBMA patients. In the current review, we provide an overview of the system-wide clinical features of SBMA, summarize the structure and function of the AR, discuss both gain-of-function and loss-of-function mechanisms of toxicity caused by polyQ-expanded AR, and describe the cell and animal models utilized in the study of SBMA. Additionally, we summarize previously conducted clinical trials which, despite being based on positive results from preclinical studies, proved to be largely ineffective in the treatment of SBMA; nonetheless, these studies provide important insights as researchers develop the next generation of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick J Arnold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 411E Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 411E Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA.
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13
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Hsp70 and Hsp40 inhibit an inter-domain interaction necessary for transcriptional activity in the androgen receptor. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3562. [PMID: 31395886 PMCID: PMC6687723 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11594-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular chaperones such as Hsp40 and Hsp70 hold the androgen receptor (AR) in an inactive conformation. They are released in the presence of androgens, enabling transactivation and causing the receptor to become aggregation-prone. Here we show that these molecular chaperones recognize a region of the AR N-terminal domain (NTD), including a FQNLF motif, that interacts with the AR ligand-binding domain (LBD) upon activation. This suggests that competition between molecular chaperones and the LBD for the FQNLF motif regulates AR activation. We also show that, while the free NTD oligomerizes, binding to Hsp70 increases its solubility. Stabilizing the NTD-Hsp70 interaction with small molecules reduces AR aggregation and promotes its degradation in cellular and mouse models of the neuromuscular disorder spinal bulbar muscular atrophy. These results help resolve the mechanisms by which molecular chaperones regulate the balance between AR aggregation, activation and quality control. Hsp chaperones stabilize the inactive conformation of androgen receptor (AR) and are released upon hormone-induced AR activation. Here, the authors locate the Hsp binding region on AR, and show that Hsp70 reduces AR aggregation and promotes AR degradation in cellular and mouse models of a neuromuscular disorder.
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14
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Melikyan LP, Chernykh VB. CAG repeats polymorphism of androgen receptor gene, Kennedy’s disease and male infertility. ANDROLOGY AND GENITAL SURGERY 2019. [DOI: 10.17650/2070-9781-2019-20-2-35-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - V. B. Chernykh
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics; Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University
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15
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Gene expression analysis reveals early dysregulation of disease pathways and links Chmp7 to pathogenesis of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3539. [PMID: 30837566 PMCID: PMC6401132 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40118-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) results from a CAG repeat expansion within the androgen receptor gene (AR). It is unclear why motor neurons selectively degenerate and there are currently no treatments for this debilitating disease. To uncover the causative genes and pathways involved in motor neuron dysfunction, we undertook transcriptomic profiling of primary embryonic motor neurons from SBMA mice. We show that transcriptional dysregulation occurs early during development in SBMA motor neurons. One gene found to be dysregulated, Chmp7, was also altered in vivo in spinal cord before symptom onset in SBMA mice, and crucially in motor neuron precursor cells derived from SBMA patient stem cells, suggesting that Chmp7 may play a causal role in disease pathogenesis by disrupting the endosome-lysosome system. Furthermore, genes were enriched in SBMA motor neurons in several key pathways including p53, DNA repair, WNT and mitochondrial function. SBMA embryonic motor neurons also displayed dysfunctional mitochondria along with DNA damage, possibly resulting from DNA repair gene dysregulation and/or mitochondrial dysfunction. This indicates that a coordinated dysregulation of multiple pathways leads to development of SBMA. Importantly, our findings suggest that the identified pathways and genes, in particular Chmp7, may serve as potential therapeutic targets in SBMA.
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16
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Impaired Nuclear Export of Polyglutamine-Expanded Androgen Receptor in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:119. [PMID: 30644418 PMCID: PMC6333819 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36784-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). Prior studies have highlighted the importance of AR nuclear localization in SBMA pathogenesis; therefore, in this study, we sought to determine the role of AR nuclear export in the pathological manifestations of SBMA. We demonstrate here that the nuclear export of polyQ-expanded AR is impaired, even prior to the formation of intranuclear inclusions of aggregated AR. Additionally, we find that promoting AR export with an exogenous nuclear export signal substantially reduces its aggregation and blocks hormone-induced toxicity. Moreover, we show that these protective effects are conferred by destabilization of the mutant protein due to an increase in proteasomal degradation of the cytoplasmic AR. Despite a growing body of evidence that global disruption of nucleo/cytoplasmic transport occurs in ALS and HD, our data suggest that no such global disruption occurs in models of SBMA; rather, AR-specific mechanisms, including reduced phosphorylation at Serine 650, are likely responsible for the impaired nuclear export of polyQ-expanded AR.
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17
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Nath SR, Yu Z, Gipson TA, Marsh GB, Yoshidome E, Robins DM, Todi SV, Housman DE, Lieberman AP. Androgen receptor polyglutamine expansion drives age-dependent quality control defects and muscle dysfunction. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:3630-3641. [PMID: 29809168 DOI: 10.1172/jci99042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle has emerged as a critical, disease-relevant target tissue in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, a degenerative disorder of the neuromuscular system caused by a CAG/polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Here, we used RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify pathways that are disrupted in diseased muscle using AR113Q knockin mice. This analysis unexpectedly identified substantially diminished expression of numerous ubiquitin/proteasome pathway genes in AR113Q muscle, encoding approximately 30% of proteasome subunits and 20% of E2 ubiquitin conjugases. These changes were age, hormone, and glutamine length dependent and arose due to a toxic gain of function conferred by the mutation. Moreover, altered gene expression was associated with decreased levels of the proteasome transcription factor NRF1 and its activator DDI2 and resulted in diminished proteasome activity. Ubiquitinated ADRM1 was detected in AR113Q muscle, indicating the occurrence of stalled proteasomes in mutant mice. Finally, diminished expression of Drosophila orthologues of NRF1 or ADRM1 promoted the accumulation of polyQ AR protein and increased toxicity. Collectively, these data indicate that AR113Q muscle develops progressive proteasome dysfunction that leads to the impairment of quality control and the accumulation of polyQ AR protein, key features that contribute to the age-dependent onset and progression of this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir R Nath
- Department of Pathology.,Medical Scientist Training Program, and.,Cellular and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Theresa A Gipson
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gregory B Marsh
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Diane M Robins
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Sokol V Todi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - David E Housman
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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18
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Cristofani R, Crippa V, Rusmini P, Cicardi ME, Meroni M, Licata NV, Sala G, Giorgetti E, Grunseich C, Galbiati M, Piccolella M, Messi E, Ferrarese C, Carra S, Poletti A. Inhibition of retrograde transport modulates misfolded protein accumulation and clearance in motoneuron diseases. Autophagy 2018; 13:1280-1303. [PMID: 28402699 PMCID: PMC5584856 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2017.1308985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Motoneuron diseases, like spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are associated with proteins that because of gene mutation or peculiar structures, acquire aberrant (misfolded) conformations toxic to cells. To prevent misfolded protein toxicity, cells activate a protein quality control (PQC) system composed of chaperones and degradative pathways (proteasome and autophagy). Inefficient activation of the PQC system results in misfolded protein accumulation that ultimately leads to neuronal cell death, while efficient macroautophagy/autophagy-mediated degradation of aggregating proteins is beneficial. The latter relies on an active retrograde transport, mediated by dynein and specific chaperones, such as the HSPB8-BAG3-HSPA8 complex. Here, using cellular models expressing aggregate-prone proteins involved in SBMA and ALS, we demonstrate that inhibition of dynein-mediated retrograde transport, which impairs the targeting to autophagy of misfolded species, does not increase their aggregation. Rather, dynein inhibition correlates with a reduced accumulation and an increased clearance of mutant ARpolyQ, SOD1, truncated TARDBP/TDP-43 and expanded polyGP C9ORF72 products. The enhanced misfolded protein clearance is mediated by the proteasome, rather than by autophagy and correlates with the upregulation of the HSPA8 cochaperone BAG1. In line, overexpression of BAG1 increases the proteasome-mediated clearance of these misfolded proteins. Our data suggest that when the misfolded proteins cannot be efficiently transported toward the perinuclear region of the cells, where they are either degraded by autophagy or stored into the aggresome, the cells activate a compensatory mechanism that relies on the induction of BAG1 to target the HSPA8-bound cargo to the proteasome in a dynein-independent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Cristofani
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - Valeria Crippa
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy.,b Center for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CRND) , IRCCS "C. Mondino" Istituto Nazionale Neurologico , Pavia , Italy
| | - Paola Rusmini
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - Maria Elena Cicardi
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - Marco Meroni
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - Nausicaa V Licata
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - Gessica Sala
- c School of Medicine and Surgery, NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience , University of Milano-Bicocca , Italy
| | - Elisa Giorgetti
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - Christopher Grunseich
- d Neurogenetics Branch , National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH , Bethesda , MD , USA
| | - Mariarita Galbiati
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - Margherita Piccolella
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - Elio Messi
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy
| | - Carlo Ferrarese
- c School of Medicine and Surgery, NeuroMI Milan Center for Neuroscience , University of Milano-Bicocca , Italy
| | - Serena Carra
- e Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Metaboliche e Neuroscienze , Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Centro di Neuroscienze e Neurotecnologie , Modena , Italy
| | - Angelo Poletti
- a Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano , Italy.,f Centro InterUniversitario sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative , Università degli Studi di Firenze , Roma Tor Vergata and Milano. Genova , Italy
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19
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Li F, Aji G, Leng F, Chen JC, Luo Y, Zhang J, Hu K, Cheng ZY, Xu X, Lu ZQ. Endocrinal description of two Chinese Kennedy’s disease pedigrees. J Clin Neurosci 2018; 47:245-248. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2017.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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20
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Polanco MJ, Parodi S, Piol D, Stack C, Chivet M, Contestabile A, Miranda HC, Lievens PMJ, Espinoza S, Jochum T, Rocchi A, Grunseich C, Gainetdinov RR, Cato ACB, Lieberman AP, La Spada AR, Sambataro F, Fischbeck KH, Gozes I, Pennuto M. Adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide reduces phosphorylation and toxicity of the polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor in spinobulbar muscular atrophy. Sci Transl Med 2017; 8:370ra181. [PMID: 28003546 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf9526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked neuromuscular disease caused by polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. SBMA belongs to the family of polyQ diseases, which are fatal neurodegenerative disorders mainly caused by protein-mediated toxic gain-of-function mechanisms and characterized by deposition of misfolded proteins in the form of aggregates. The neurotoxicity of the polyQ proteins can be modified by phosphorylation at specific sites, thereby providing the rationale for the development of disease-specific treatments. We sought to identify signaling pathways that modulate polyQ-AR phosphorylation for therapy development. We report that cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) phosphorylates polyQ-AR specifically at Ser96 Phosphorylation of polyQ-AR by CDK2 increased protein stabilization and toxicity and is negatively regulated by the adenylyl cyclase (AC)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway. To translate these findings into therapy, we developed an analog of pituitary adenylyl cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP), a potent activator of the AC/PKA pathway. Chronic intranasal administration of the PACAP analog to knock-in SBMA mice reduced Ser96 phosphorylation, promoted polyQ-AR degradation, and ameliorated disease outcome. These results provide proof of principle that noninvasive therapy based on the use of PACAP analogs is a therapeutic option for SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Josè Polanco
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sara Parodi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy.,Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Diana Piol
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Conor Stack
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mathilde Chivet
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Andrea Contestabile
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Helen C Miranda
- Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Pediatrics, and Neurosciences, and Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Patricia M-J Lievens
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Espinoza
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Tobias Jochum
- Laboratory for Applications of Synchrotron Radiation, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and abcr GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Anna Rocchi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Christopher Grunseich
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Raul R Gainetdinov
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia.,Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo, 143025 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrew C B Cato
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Albert R La Spada
- Departments of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Pediatrics, and Neurosciences, and Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.,Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medical Sciences (DISM), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Kenneth H Fischbeck
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Illana Gozes
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Sagol School of Neuroscience and Adams Super Center for Brain Studies, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy. .,Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
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21
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Yersak JM, Montie HL, Chevalier-Larsen ES, Liu Y, Huang L, Rechsteiner M, Merry DE. The 11S Proteasomal Activator REGγ Impacts Polyglutamine-Expanded Androgen Receptor Aggregation and Motor Neuron Viability through Distinct Mechanisms. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:159. [PMID: 28596723 PMCID: PMC5442185 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is caused by expression of a polyglutamine (polyQ)-expanded androgen receptor (AR). The inefficient nuclear proteasomal degradation of the mutant AR results in the formation of nuclear inclusions containing amino-terminal fragments of the mutant AR. PA28γ (also referred to as REGγ) is a nuclear 11S-proteasomal activator with limited proteasome activation capabilities compared to its cytoplasmic 11S (PA28α, PA28β) counterparts. To clarify the role of REGγ in polyQ-expanded AR metabolism, we carried out genetic and biochemical studies in cell models of SBMA. Overexpression of REGγ in a PC12 cell model of SBMA increased polyQ-expanded AR aggregation and contributed to polyQ-expanded AR toxicity in the presence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). These effects of REGγ were independent of its association with the proteasome and may be due, in part, to the decreased binding of polyQ-expanded AR by the E3 ubiquitin-ligase MDM2. Unlike its effects in PC12 cells, REGγ overexpression rescued transgenic SBMA motor neurons from DHT-induced toxicity in a proteasome binding-dependent manner, suggesting that the degradation of a specific 11S proteasome substrate or substrates promotes motor neuron viability. One potential substrate that we found to play a role in mutant AR toxicity is the splicing factor SC35. These studies reveal that, depending on the cellular context, two biological roles for REGγ impact cell viability in the face of polyQ-expanded AR; a proteasome binding-independent mechanism directly promotes mutant AR aggregation while a proteasome binding-dependent mechanism promotes cell viability. The balance between these functions likely determines REGγ effects on polyQ-expanded AR-expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill M. Yersak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
| | - Heather L. Montie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
| | - Erica S. Chevalier-Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
| | - Lan Huang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
| | - Martin Rechsteiner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of MedicineSalt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Diane E. Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
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22
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Querin G, Sorarù G, Pradat PF. Kennedy disease (X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy): A comprehensive review from pathophysiology to therapy. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2017; 173:326-337. [PMID: 28473226 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2017.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Kennedy's disease, also known as spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), is a rare, adult-onset, X-linked recessive neuromuscular disease caused by expansion of a CAG repeat sequence in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene (AR) encoding a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract. The polyQ-expanded AR accumulates in nuclei, and initiates degeneration and loss of motor neurons and dorsal root ganglia. While the disease has long been considered a pure lower motor neuron disease, recently, the presence of major hyper-creatine-kinase (CK)-emia and myopathic alterations on muscle biopsy has suggested the presence of a primary myopathy underlying a wide range of clinical manifestations. The disease, which affects male adults, is characterized by muscle weakness and atrophy localized proximally in the limbs, and bulbar involvement. Sensory disturbances are associated with the motor phenotype, but may be subclinical. The most frequent systemic symptom is gynecomastia related to androgen insensitivity, but other abnormalities, such as heart rhythm and urinary disturbances, have also been reported. The course of the disease is slowly progressive with normal life expectancy. The diagnosis of SBMA is based on genetic testing, with 38 CAG repeats taken as pathogenic. Despite several therapeutic attempts made in mouse models, no effective disease-modifying therapy is yet available, although symptomatic therapy is beneficial for the management of the weakness, fatigue and bulbar symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Querin
- Laboratoire d'imagerie biomédicale, Sorbonne universités, UPMC University Paris 06, CNRS, Inserm, 75013 Paris, France; Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - G Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - P-F Pradat
- Laboratoire d'imagerie biomédicale, Sorbonne universités, UPMC University Paris 06, CNRS, Inserm, 75013 Paris, France; Département des maladies du système nerveux, hôpital Pitié-Salpêtriere, centre référent-SLA, AP-HP, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.
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23
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Bott LC, Salomons FA, Maric D, Liu Y, Merry D, Fischbeck KH, Dantuma NP. The polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor responsible for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy inhibits the APC/C(Cdh1) ubiquitin ligase complex. Sci Rep 2016; 6:27703. [PMID: 27312068 PMCID: PMC4911547 DOI: 10.1038/srep27703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) causes spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), an X-linked neuromuscular disease that is fully manifest only in males. It has been suggested that proteins with expanded polyglutamine tracts impair ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis due to their propensity to aggregate, but recent studies indicate that the overall activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system is preserved in SBMA models. Here we report that AR selectively interferes with the function of the ubiquitin ligase anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), which, together with its substrate adaptor Cdh1, is critical for cell cycle arrest and neuronal architecture. We show that both wild-type and mutant AR physically interact with the APC/CCdh1 complex in a ligand-dependent fashion without being targeted for proteasomal degradation. Inhibition of APC/CCdh1 by mutant but not wild-type AR in PC12 cells results in enhanced neurite outgrowth which is typically followed by rapid neurite retraction and mitotic entry. Our data indicate a role of AR in neuronal differentiation through regulation of APC/CCdh1 and suggest abnormal cell cycle reactivation as a pathogenic mechanism in SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Bott
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden.,National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Neurogenetics Branch, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Florian A Salomons
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
| | - Dragan Maric
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Diane Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Kenneth H Fischbeck
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Neurogenetics Branch, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nico P Dantuma
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 17177, Sweden
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24
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Zboray L, Pluciennik A, Curtis D, Liu Y, Berman-Booty LD, Orr C, Kesler CT, Berger T, Gioeli D, Paschal BM, Merry DE. Preventing the Androgen Receptor N/C Interaction Delays Disease Onset in a Mouse Model of SBMA. Cell Rep 2015; 13:2312-23. [PMID: 26673324 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) and is associated with misfolding and aggregation of the mutant AR. We investigated the role of an interdomain interaction between the amino (N)-terminal FxxLF motif and carboxyl (C)-terminal AF-2 domain in a mouse model of SBMA. Male transgenic mice expressing polyQ-expanded AR with a mutation in the FxxLF motif (F23A) to prevent the N/C interaction displayed substantially improved motor function compared with N/C-intact AR-expressing mice and showed reduced pathological features of SBMA. Serine 16 phosphorylation was substantially enhanced by the F23A mutation; moreover, the protective effect of AR F23A was dependent on this phosphorylation. These results reveal an important role for the N/C interaction on disease onset in mice and suggest that targeting AR conformation could be a therapeutic strategy for patients with SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori Zboray
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Anna Pluciennik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Dana Curtis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Lisa D Berman-Booty
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Christopher Orr
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Cristina T Kesler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia Health System, Center for Cell Signaling, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Tamar Berger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Daniel Gioeli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Bryce M Paschal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia Health System, Center for Cell Signaling, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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25
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Pennuto M, Basso M. In Vitro and In Vivo Modeling of Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy. J Mol Neurosci 2015; 58:365-73. [PMID: 26614347 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-015-0677-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked neuromuscular disease characterized by late-onset, progressive degeneration of lower motor neurons and skeletal muscle atrophy. SBMA is caused by expansions of a CAG trinucleotide repeat in the gene encoding the androgen receptor (AR). One striking feature of SBMA is sex specificity: SBMA fully manifests only in males, whereas females show subclinical or mild disease manifestations even when homozygous for the mutation. Since the identification of the mutation responsible for SBMA in 1991, several cell and animal models have been developed to recapitulate the main features of disease in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we describe the most widely used cellular and animal models of SBMA, highlighting advantages and disadvantages in the use of these models to gain mechanistic and therapeutic insights into SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute Lab of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy.
| | - Manuela Basso
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Neurobiology, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy.
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26
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Berger TR, Montie HL, Jain P, Legleiter J, Merry DE. Identification of novel polyglutamine-expanded aggregation species in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Brain Res 2015; 1628:254-264. [PMID: 26453288 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 09/26/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine-repeat disorders are part of a larger family of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by protein misfolding and aggregation. In spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), polyglutamine expansion within the androgen receptor (AR) causes progressive debilitating muscular atrophy and lower motor neuron loss in males. Although soluble polyglutamine-expanded aggregation species are considered toxic intermediates in the aggregation process, relatively little is known about the spectrum of structures that are formed. Here we identify novel polyglutamine-expanded AR aggregates that are SDS-soluble and bind the toxicity-predicting antibody 3B5H10. Soluble, 3B5H10-reactive aggregation species exist in low-density conformations and are larger by atomic force microscopy, suggesting that they may be less compact than later-stage, insoluble aggregates. We demonstrate disease-relevance in vivo and draw correlations with toxicity in vitro. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar R Berger
- Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Heather L Montie
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Pranav Jain
- West Virginia University, Department of Chemistry, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Justin Legleiter
- West Virginia University, Department of Chemistry, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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27
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Pennuto M, Greensmith L, Pradat PF, Sorarù G. 210th ENMC International Workshop: Research and clinical management of patients with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, 27-29 March, 2015, Naarden, The Netherlands. Neuromuscul Disord 2015. [PMID: 26206601 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2015.06.462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute Lab of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Italy.
| | - Linda Greensmith
- The Graham Watts Laboratories for Research into Motor Neuron Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Pierre-François Pradat
- Département des Maladies du Système Nerveux, AP-HP, Groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, F-75013 Paris, France; UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, INSERM, Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomédicale (LIB), Sorbonne Universités, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
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28
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Scaramuzzino C, Casci I, Parodi S, Lievens PMJ, Polanco MJ, Milioto C, Chivet M, Monaghan J, Mishra A, Badders N, Aggarwal T, Grunseich C, Sambataro F, Basso M, Fackelmayer FO, Taylor JP, Pandey UB, Pennuto M. Protein arginine methyltransferase 6 enhances polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor function and toxicity in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Neuron 2015; 85:88-100. [PMID: 25569348 PMCID: PMC4305189 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.12.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2014] [Revised: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion in androgen receptor (AR) is responsible for spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) that leads to selective loss of lower motor neurons. Using SBMA as a model, we explored the relationship between protein structure/function and neurodegeneration in polyglutamine diseases. We show here that protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) is a specific co-activator of normal and mutant AR and that the interaction of PRMT6 with AR is significantly enhanced in the AR mutant. AR and PRMT6 interaction occurs through the PRMT6 steroid receptor interaction motif, LXXLL, and the AR activating function 2 surface. AR transactivation requires PRMT6 catalytic activity and involves methylation of arginine residues at Akt consensus site motifs, which is mutually exclusive with serine phosphorylation by Akt. The enhanced interaction of PRMT6 and mutant AR leads to neurodegeneration in cell and fly models of SBMA. These findings demonstrate a direct role of arginine methylation in polyglutamine disease pathogenesis. PRMT6 is a coactivator of AR whose function is enhanced by polyglutamine expansion PRMT6 methylates the AR at the two Akt consensus site motifs RXRXXS AR arginine methylation by PRMT6 and phosphorylation by Akt are mutually exclusive PRMT6 enhances mutant AR toxicity in spinobulbar muscular atrophy cells and flies
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Scaramuzzino
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Ian Casci
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA; Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sara Parodi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy; Neurogenetics Branch, NINDS, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Patricia M J Lievens
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy; Department of Life and Reproduction Sciences, Section of Biology and Genetics, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Maria J Polanco
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon Institute Lab of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Carmelo Milioto
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon Institute Lab of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Mathilde Chivet
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute Lab of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - John Monaghan
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Ashutosh Mishra
- St. Jude Proteomics Facility, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Nisha Badders
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Tanya Aggarwal
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Fabio Sambataro
- Brain Center for Motor and Social Cognition, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia@UniPR, 43100 Parma, Italy
| | - Manuela Basso
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Neurobiology, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Frank O Fackelmayer
- Laboratory of Epigenetics and Chromosome Biology, Department of Biomedical Research, Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - J Paul Taylor
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Udai Bhan Pandey
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genoa, Italy; Dulbecco Telethon Institute Lab of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy.
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29
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Heine EM, Berger TR, Pluciennik A, Orr CR, Zboray L, Merry DE. Proteasome-mediated proteolysis of the polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor is a late event in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) pathogenesis. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:12572-84. [PMID: 25795778 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.617894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteolysis of polyglutamine-expanded proteins is thought to be a required step in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. The accepted view for many polyglutamine proteins is that proteolysis of the mutant protein produces a "toxic fragment" that induces neuronal dysfunction and death in a soluble form; toxicity of the fragment is buffered by its incorporation into amyloid-like inclusions. In contrast to this view, we show that, in the polyglutamine disease spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, proteolysis of the mutant androgen receptor (AR) is a late event. Immunocytochemical and biochemical analyses revealed that the mutant AR aggregates as a full-length protein, becoming proteolyzed to a smaller fragment through a process requiring the proteasome after it is incorporated into intranuclear inclusions. Moreover, the toxicity-predicting conformational antibody 3B5H10 bound to soluble full-length AR species but not to fragment-containing nuclear inclusions. These data suggest that the AR is toxic as a full-length protein, challenging the notion of polyglutamine protein fragment-associated toxicity by redefining the role of AR proteolysis in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin M Heine
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Tamar R Berger
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Anna Pluciennik
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Christopher R Orr
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Lori Zboray
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Diane E Merry
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
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30
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Chua JP, Reddy SL, Yu Z, Giorgetti E, Montie HL, Mukherjee S, Higgins J, McEachin RC, Robins DM, Merry DE, Iñiguez-Lluhí JA, Lieberman AP. Disrupting SUMOylation enhances transcriptional function and ameliorates polyglutamine androgen receptor-mediated disease. J Clin Invest 2015; 125:831-45. [PMID: 25607844 DOI: 10.1172/jci73214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansion of the polyglutamine (polyQ) tract within the androgen receptor (AR) causes neuromuscular degeneration in individuals with spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). PolyQ AR has diminished transcriptional function and exhibits ligand-dependent proteotoxicity, features that have both been implicated in SBMA; however, the extent to which altered AR transcriptional function contributes to pathogenesis remains controversial. Here, we sought to dissociate effects of diminished AR function from polyQ-mediated proteotoxicity by enhancing the transcriptional activity of polyQ AR. To accomplish this, we bypassed the inhibitory effect of AR SUMOylation (where SUMO indicates small ubiquitin-like modifier) by mutating conserved lysines in the polyQ AR that are sites of SUMOylation. We determined that replacement of these residues by arginine enhances polyQ AR activity as a hormone-dependent transcriptional regulator. In a murine model, disruption of polyQ AR SUMOylation rescued exercise endurance and type I muscle fiber atrophy; it also prolonged survival. These changes occurred without overt alterations in polyQ AR expression or aggregation, revealing the favorable trophic support exerted by the ligand-activated receptor. Our findings demonstrate beneficial effects of enhancing the transcriptional function of the ligand-activated polyQ AR and indicate that the SUMOylation pathway may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention in SBMA.
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31
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Giorgetti E, Rusmini P, Crippa V, Cristofani R, Boncoraglio A, Cicardi ME, Galbiati M, Poletti A. Synergic prodegradative activity of Bicalutamide and trehalose on the mutant androgen receptor responsible for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:64-75. [PMID: 25122660 PMCID: PMC4262493 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked motoneuron disease due to a CAG triplet-repeat expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, which is translated into an elongated polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in AR protein (ARpolyQ). ARpolyQ toxicity is activated by the AR ligand testosterone (or dihydrotestosterone), and the polyQ triggers ARpolyQ misfolding and aggregation in spinal cord motoneurons and muscle cells. In motoneurons, testosterone triggers nuclear toxicity by inducing AR nuclear translocation. Thus, (i) prevention of ARpolyQ nuclear localization, combined with (ii) an increased ARpolyQ cytoplasmic clearance, should reduce its detrimental activity. Using the antiandrogen Bicalutamide (Casodex®), which slows down AR activation and nuclear translocation, and the disaccharide trehalose, an autophagy activator, we found that, in motoneurons, the two compounds together reduced ARpolyQ insoluble forms with higher efficiency than that obtained with single treatments. The ARpolyQ clearance was mediated by trehalose-induced autophagy combined with the longer cytoplasmic retention of ARpolyQ bound to Bicalutamide. This allows an increased recognition of misfolded species by the autophagic system prior to their migration into the nucleus. Interestingly, the combinatory use of trehalose and Bicalutamide was also efficient in the removal of insoluble species of AR with a very long polyQ (Q112) tract, which typically aggregates into the cell nuclei. Collectively, these data suggest that the combinatory use of Bicalutamide and trehalose is a novel approach to facilitate ARpolyQ clearance that has to be tested in other cell types target of SBMA (i.e. muscle cells) and in vivo in animal models of SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Giorgetti
- Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy Centro InterUniversitario sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Genova e Roma Tor Vergata, Milano 20133, Italy Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA and
| | - Paola Rusmini
- Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy Centro InterUniversitario sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Genova e Roma Tor Vergata, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Valeria Crippa
- Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy Centro InterUniversitario sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Genova e Roma Tor Vergata, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Riccardo Cristofani
- Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy Centro InterUniversitario sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Genova e Roma Tor Vergata, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Alessandra Boncoraglio
- Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy Centro InterUniversitario sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Genova e Roma Tor Vergata, Milano 20133, Italy Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center of Groningen, RB 9700 Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maria E Cicardi
- Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy Centro InterUniversitario sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Genova e Roma Tor Vergata, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Mariarita Galbiati
- Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy Centro InterUniversitario sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Genova e Roma Tor Vergata, Milano 20133, Italy
| | - Angelo Poletti
- Sezione di Biomedicina ed Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari (DiSFeB), Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano 20133, Italy Centro InterUniversitario sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Genova e Roma Tor Vergata, Milano 20133, Italy
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Grunseich C, Kats IR, Bott LC, Rinaldi C, Kokkinis A, Fox D, Chen KL, Schindler AB, Mankodi AK, Shrader JA, Schwartz DP, Lehky TJ, Liu CY, Fischbeck KH. Early onset and novel features in a spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patient with a 68 CAG repeat. Neuromuscul Disord 2014; 24:978-81. [PMID: 25047668 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2014.06.441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked neuromuscular disease caused by a trinucleotide (CAG) repeat expansion in the androgen receptor gene. Patients with SBMA have weakness, atrophy, and fasciculations in the bulbar and extremity muscles. Individuals with CAG repeat lengths greater than 62 have not previously been reported. We evaluated a 29year old SBMA patient with 68 CAGs who had unusually early onset and findings not seen in others with the disease. Analysis of the androgen receptor gene confirmed the repeat length of 68 CAGs in both peripheral blood and fibroblasts. Evaluation of muscle and sensory function showed deficits typical of SBMA, and in addition the patient had manifestations of autonomic dysfunction and abnormal sexual development. These findings extend the known phenotype associated with SBMA and shed new insight into the effects of the mutated androgen receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Grunseich
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Ilona R Kats
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Laura C Bott
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carlo Rinaldi
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Angela Kokkinis
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Derrick Fox
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ke-Lian Chen
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alice B Schindler
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ami K Mankodi
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Joseph A Shrader
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daniel P Schwartz
- Electromyography Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Tanya J Lehky
- Electromyography Section, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Chia-Ying Liu
- Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kenneth H Fischbeck
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Renier KJ, Troxell-Smith SM, Johansen JA, Katsuno M, Adachi H, Sobue G, Chua JP, Sun Kim H, Lieberman AP, Breedlove SM, Jordan CL. Antiandrogen flutamide protects male mice from androgen-dependent toxicity in three models of spinal bulbar muscular atrophy. Endocrinology 2014; 155:2624-34. [PMID: 24742193 PMCID: PMC4060177 DOI: 10.1210/en.2013-1756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a late-onset, progressive neurodegenerative disease linked to a polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). Men affected by SBMA show marked muscle weakness and atrophy, typically emerging midlife. Given the androgen-dependent nature of this disease, one might expect AR antagonists to have therapeutic value for treating SBMA. However, current work from animal models suggests otherwise, raising questions about whether polyQ-expanded AR exerts androgen-dependent toxicity through mechanisms distinct from normal AR function. In this study, we asked whether the nonsteroidal AR antagonist flutamide, delivered via a time-release pellet, could reverse or prevent androgen-dependent AR toxicity in three different mouse models of SBMA: the AR97Q transgenic (Tg) model, a knock-in (KI) model, and a myogenic Tg model. We find that flutamide protects mice from androgen-dependent AR toxicity in all three SBMA models, preventing or reversing motor dysfunction in the Tg models and significantly extending the life span in KI males. Given that flutamide effectively protects against androgen-dependent disease in three different mouse models of SBMA, our data are proof of principle that AR antagonists have therapeutic potential for treating SBMA in humans and support the notion that toxicity caused by polyQ-expanded AR uses at least some of the same mechanisms as normal AR before diverging to produce disease and muscle atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayla J Renier
- Neuroscience Program (K.J.R., S.M.T.-S., S.M.B., C.L.J.), Michigan State University, E Lansing, Michigan 48824-1101; College of Medicine (J.A.J.), Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant Michigan 48859; Department of Neurology (M.K., H.A., G.S.), Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan 466-8550; and Department of Pathology (J.P.C., H.S.K., A.P.L.), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
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Montague K, Malik B, Gray AL, La Spada AR, Hanna MG, Szabadkai G, Greensmith L. Endoplasmic reticulum stress in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy: a potential target for therapy. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 137:1894-906. [PMID: 24898351 PMCID: PMC4065020 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is a degenerative motor neuron disease caused by CAG repeat expansion in the androgen receptor gene. Montague et al. reveal an early increase in endoplasmic reticulum stress in a mouse model, and suggest that this pathway may be a therapeutic target for polyglutamine diseases. Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is an X-linked degenerative motor neuron disease caused by an abnormal expansion in the polyglutamine encoding CAG repeat of the androgen receptor gene. There is evidence implicating endoplasmic reticulum stress in the development and progression of neurodegenerative disease, including polyglutamine disorders such as Huntington’s disease and in motor neuron disease, where cellular stress disrupts functioning of the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to induction of the unfolded protein response. We examined whether endoplasmic reticulum stress is also involved in the pathogenesis of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy mice that carry 100 pathogenic polyglutamine repeats in the androgen receptor, and develop a late-onset neuromuscular phenotype with motor neuron degeneration, were studied. We observed a disturbance in endoplasmic reticulum-associated calcium homeostasis in cultured embryonic motor neurons from spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy mice, which was accompanied by increased endoplasmic reticulum stress. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress reduced the endoplasmic reticulum-associated cell death pathway. Examination of spinal cord motor neurons of pathogenic mice at different disease stages revealed elevated expression of markers for endoplasmic reticulum stress, confirming an increase in this stress response in vivo. Importantly, the most significant increase was detected presymptomatically, suggesting that endoplasmic reticulum stress may play an early and possibly causal role in disease pathogenesis. Our results therefore indicate that the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway could potentially be a therapeutic target for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy and related polyglutamine diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karli Montague
- 1 Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK2 MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Bilal Malik
- 1 Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK2 MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Anna L Gray
- 1 Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK2 MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Albert R La Spada
- 3 Department of Paediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA4 Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine and Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA5 Division of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA6 Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA7 Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA8 Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, CA 92123, USA
| | - Michael G Hanna
- 2 MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK9 Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Gyorgy Szabadkai
- 10 Cell and Developmental Biology Department, UCL, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, UK11 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua and CNR Neuroscience Institute, Padua, Italy
| | - Linda Greensmith
- 1 Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK2 MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
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Chua JP, Reddy SL, Merry DE, Adachi H, Katsuno M, Sobue G, Robins DM, Lieberman AP. Transcriptional activation of TFEB/ZKSCAN3 target genes underlies enhanced autophagy in spinobulbar muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 23:1376-86. [PMID: 24150846 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder caused by the expansion of a CAG repeat encoding a polyglutamine tract in exon 1 of the androgen receptor (AR) gene. SBMA demonstrates androgen-dependent toxicity due to unfolding and aggregation of the mutant protein. There are currently no disease-modifying therapies, but of increasing interest for therapeutic targeting is autophagy, a highly conserved cellular process mediating protein quality control. We have previously shown that genetic manipulations inhibiting autophagy diminish skeletal muscle atrophy and extend the lifespan of AR113Q knock-in mice. In contrast, manipulations inducing autophagy worsen muscle atrophy, suggesting that chronic, aberrant upregulation of autophagy contributes to pathogenesis. Since the degree to which autophagy is altered in SBMA and the mechanisms responsible for such alterations are incompletely defined, we sought to delineate autophagic status in SBMA using both cellular and mouse models. Here, we confirm that autophagy is induced in cellular and knock-in mouse models of SBMA and show that the transcription factors transcription factor EB (TFEB) and ZKSCAN3 operate in opposing roles to underlie these changes. We demonstrate upregulation of TFEB target genes in skeletal muscle from AR113Q male mice and SBMA patients. Furthermore, we observe a greater response in AR113Q mice to physiological stimulation of autophagy by both nutrient starvation and exercise. Taken together, our results indicate that transcriptional signaling contributes to autophagic dysregulation and provides a mechanistic framework for the pathologic increase of autophagic responsiveness in SBMA.
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p62/SQSTM1 differentially removes the toxic mutant androgen receptor via autophagy and inclusion formation in a spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy mouse model. J Neurosci 2013; 33:7710-27. [PMID: 23637164 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3021-12.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are inherited neurodegenerative disorders that are caused by the expansion of trinucleotide CAG repeats in the causative genes. Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an inherited motor neuron disease that is caused by the expansion of a polyQ tract within the androgen receptor (AR). p62 is a ubiquitin- and light-chain 3-binding protein that is known to regulate the degradation of targeted proteins via autophagy and inclusion formation. In this study, we examined the effects of p62 depletion and overexpression on cultured cells and in a transgenic mouse model that overexpressed the mutant AR. Here, we demonstrate that depletion of p62 significantly exacerbated motor phenotypes and the neuropathological outcome, whereas overexpression of p62 protected against mutant AR toxicity in SBMA mice. Depletion of p62 significantly increased the levels of monomeric mutant AR and mutant AR protein complexes in an SBMA mouse model via the impairment of autophagic degradation. In addition, p62 overexpression improved SBMA mouse phenotypes by inducing cytoprotective inclusion formation. Our results demonstrate that p62 provides two different therapeutic targets in SBMA pathogenesis: (1) autophagy-dependent degradation and (2) benevolent inclusion formation of the mutant AR.
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37
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Rusmini P, Crippa V, Giorgetti E, Boncoraglio A, Cristofani R, Carra S, Poletti A. Clearance of the mutant androgen receptor in motoneuronal models of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 34:2585-603. [PMID: 23810450 PMCID: PMC3748343 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Revised: 04/23/2013] [Accepted: 05/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked motoneuron disease caused by an abnormal expansion of a tandem CAG repeat in exon 1 of the androgen receptor (AR) gene that results in an abnormally long polyglutamine tract (polyQ) in the AR protein. As a result, the mutant AR (ARpolyQ) misfolds, forming cytoplasmic and nuclear aggregates in the affected neurons. Neurotoxicity only appears to be associated with the formation of nuclear aggregates. Thus, improved ARpolyQ cytoplasmic clearance, which indirectly decreases ARpolyQ nuclear accumulation, has beneficial effects on affected motoneurons. In addition, increased ARpolyQ clearance contributes to maintenance of motoneuron proteostasis and viability, preventing the blockage of the proteasome and autophagy pathways that might play a role in the neuropathy in SBMA. The expression of heat shock protein B8 (HspB8), a member of the small heat shock protein family, is highly induced in surviving motoneurons of patients affected by motoneuron diseases, where it seems to participate in the stress response aimed at cell protection. We report here that HspB8 facilitates the autophagic removal of misfolded aggregating species of ARpolyQ. In addition, though HspB8 does not influence p62 and LC3 (two key autophagic molecules) expression, it does prevent p62 bodies formation, and restores the normal autophagic flux in these cells. Interestingly, trehalose, a well-known autophagy stimulator, induces HspB8 expression, suggesting that HspB8 might act as one of the molecular mediators of the proautophagic activity of trehalose. Collectively, these data support the hypothesis that treatments aimed at restoring a normal autophagic flux that result in the more efficient clearance of mutant ARpolyQ might produce beneficial effects in SBMA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Rusmini
- Sezione di Biomedicina e Endocrinologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Farmacologiche e Biomolecolari, Centro di Eccellenza sulle Malattie Neurodegenerative, Universita' degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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38
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Grunseich C, Rinaldi C, Fischbeck KH. Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy: pathogenesis and clinical management. Oral Dis 2013; 20:6-9. [PMID: 23656576 DOI: 10.1111/odi.12121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, or Kennedy's disease, is an X-linked motor neuron disease caused by polyglutamine repeat expansion in the androgen receptor. The disease is characterised by weakness, atrophy and fasciculations in the limb and bulbar muscles. Affected males may have signs of androgen insensitivity, such as gynaecomastia and reduced fertility. Neurophysiological studies are typically consistent with diffuse denervation atrophy, and serum creatine kinase is usually elevated 2-5 times above normal. Progression of the disease is slow, and the focus of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) management is to prevent complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Grunseich
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Androgen receptor inclusions acquire GRP78/BiP to ameliorate androgen-induced protein misfolding stress in embryonic stem cells. Cell Death Dis 2013; 4:e607. [PMID: 23618905 PMCID: PMC3641345 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2013.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Commitment of differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) toward the various lineages is influenced by many factors, including androgens. However, the mechanisms underlying proteotoxic stress conferred by androgen receptor (AR) actions on embryonic cell fate remains unclear. Here we show that mouse ESCs display stress-related cellular phenotypes in response to androgens during early phase of differentiation. Androgen induced a significant increase in the percentage of ESCs and embryoid bodies with the intranuclear and juxtanuclear AR inclusions, which were colocalized with the E3 ubiquitin ligase, C terminus of Hsc70-interacting protein. Caspase-3 activity corresponded with AR expression, was enhanced in cells engaged more differentiation phenotypes. Androgen-mediated accumulation of AR aggregates exacerbated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and rendered ESCs susceptible to apoptosis. Increasing expression levels of the ER chaperones, GRP78/BiP and GRP94, as well as ER stress markers, such as ATF6, phosphorylated PERK, GADD153/CHOP and spliced XBP-1 mRNA, were dramatically elevated in ESCs overexpressing AR. We found that androgen induced GRP78/BiP to dissociate from ATF6, and act as an AR-interacting protein, which was recruited into AR inclusions in ESCs. GRP78/BiP was also colocalized with AR inclusions in the cells of spinal bulbar muscular atrophy transgenic mouse model. Overexpression of GRP78/BiP suppressed ubiquitination of AR aggregates and ameliorated the misfolded AR-mediated cytopathology in ESCs, whereas knockdown of GRP78/BiP increased the accumulation of AR aggregates and significantly higher levels of caspase-3 activity and cell apoptosis. These results generate novel insight into how ESCs respond to stress induced by misfolded AR proteins and identify GRP78/BiP as a novel regulator of the AR protein quality control.
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40
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New routes to therapy for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. J Mol Neurosci 2013; 50:514-23. [PMID: 23420040 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-013-9978-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/06/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), also known as Kennedy's disease, is a genetically inherited neuromuscular disorder characterized by loss of lower motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord and skeletal muscle fasciculation, weakness, and atrophy. SBMA is caused by expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the gene coding for the androgen receptor (AR). PolyQ expansions cause at least eight other neurological disorders, which are collectively known as polyQ diseases. SBMA is unique in the family of polyQ diseases in that the disease manifests fully in male individuals only. The sex specificity of SBMA is the result of the interaction between mutant AR and its natural ligand, testosterone. Here, we will discuss emerging therapeutic perspectives for SBMA in light of recent findings regarding disease pathogenesis.
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Malik B, Nirmalananthan N, Gray AL, La Spada AR, Hanna MG, Greensmith L. Co-induction of the heat shock response ameliorates disease progression in a mouse model of human spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy: implications for therapy. Brain 2013; 136:926-43. [PMID: 23393146 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aws343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, also known as Kennedy's disease, is an adult-onset hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of the polyglutamine repeat in the first exon in the androgen receptor gene. Pathologically, the disease is defined by selective loss of spinal and bulbar motor neurons causing bulbar, facial and limb weakness. Although the precise disease pathophysiology is largely unknown, it appears to be related to abnormal accumulation of the pathogenic androgen receptor protein within the nucleus, leading to disruption of cellular processes. Using a mouse model of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy that exhibits many of the characteristic features of the human disease, in vivo physiological assessment of muscle function revealed that mice with the pathogenic expansion of the androgen receptor develop a motor deficit characterized by a reduction in muscle force, abnormal muscle contractile characteristics, loss of functional motor units and motor neuron degeneration. We have previously shown that treatment with arimoclomol, a co-inducer of the heat shock stress response, delays disease progression in the mutant superoxide dismutase 1 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal motor neuron disease. We therefore evaluated the therapeutic potential of arimoclomol in mice with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Arimoclomol was administered orally, in drinking water, from symptom onset and the effects established at 18 months of age, a late stage of disease. Arimoclomol significantly improved hindlimb muscle force and contractile characteristics, rescued motor units and, importantly, improved motor neuron survival and upregulated the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor which possess neurotrophic activity. These results provide evidence that upregulation of the heat shock response by treatment with arimoclomol may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy and may also be a possible approach for the treatment of other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Malik
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience, MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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42
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Wang AM, Miyata Y, Klinedinst S, Peng HM, Chua JP, Komiyama T, Li X, Morishima Y, Merry DE, Pratt WB, Osawa Y, Collins CA, Gestwicki JE, Lieberman AP. Activation of Hsp70 reduces neurotoxicity by promoting polyglutamine protein degradation. Nat Chem Biol 2013; 9:112-8. [PMID: 23222885 PMCID: PMC3552084 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.1140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Accepted: 11/09/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We sought new strategies to reduce amounts of the polyglutamine androgen receptor (polyQ AR) and achieve benefits in models of spinobulbar muscular atrophy, a protein aggregation neurodegenerative disorder. Proteostasis of the polyQ AR is controlled by the heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90)- and Hsp70-based chaperone machinery, but mechanisms regulating the protein's turnover are incompletely understood. We demonstrate that overexpression of Hsp70 interacting protein (Hip), a co-chaperone that enhances binding of Hsp70 to its substrates, promotes client protein ubiquitination and polyQ AR clearance. Furthermore, we identify a small molecule that acts similarly to Hip by allosterically promoting Hsp70 binding to unfolded substrates. Like Hip, this synthetic co-chaperone enhances client protein ubiquitination and polyQ AR degradation. Both genetic and pharmacologic approaches targeting Hsp70 alleviate toxicity in a Drosophila model of spinobulbar muscular atrophy. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of allosteric regulators of Hsp70 and provide new insights into the role of the chaperone machinery in protein quality control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne M. Wang
- Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Yoshinari Miyata
- Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Life Sciences Institute, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Susan Klinedinst
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Hwei-Ming Peng
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Jason P. Chua
- Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Medical Scientist Training Program, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Tomoko Komiyama
- Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Life Sciences Institute, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Xiaokai Li
- Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Life Sciences Institute, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | | | - Diane E. Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - William B. Pratt
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Yoichi Osawa
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Catherine A. Collins
- Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Jason E. Gestwicki
- Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Life Sciences Institute, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
| | - Andrew P. Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109
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43
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Cooper LJ, Merry DE. Cell biological approaches to investigate polyglutamine-expanded AR metabolism. Methods Mol Biol 2013; 1017:241-253. [PMID: 23719921 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-62703-438-8_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). In vivo and in vitro studies have suggested that some steps of normal AR function and metabolism, such as hormone binding and nuclear translocation of the AR, are necessary for toxicity and aggregation of the mutant protein. Mutation of discreet functional domains of the AR and sites of posttranslational modification enable the detailed analysis of the role of AR function and metabolism in toxicity and aggregation of polyglutamine-expanded AR. This analysis could potentially lead to the development of targeted therapy for the treatment of SBMA. We have developed a stably transfected, tetracycline-inducible, cell model that replicates many of the hallmarks of disease, including ligand-dependent aggregation and toxicity, and provides a relatively quick system for the reliable expression and analysis of the mutated polyglutamine-expanded AR. Multiple cell lines, each expressing the androgen receptor with a distinct functional mutation, can be created and the dose of tetracycline modulated to produce equal protein expression across lines in order to evaluate the structural and functional requirements of AR toxicity and aggregation. Results from these studies can then be validated in a disease-relevant cell type, spinal motor neurons, using viral delivery of the gene of interest into dissociated spinal cord cultures. Utilization of these cell models provides a relatively rapid, cost-effective experimental pathway to analyze the role of distinct steps in AR metabolism in disease pathogenesis using in vitro systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori J Cooper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Xiao H, Yu Z, Wu Y, Nan J, Merry DE, Sekiguchi JM, Ferguson DO, Lieberman AP, Dressler GR. A polyglutamine expansion disease protein sequesters PTIP to attenuate DNA repair and increase genomic instability. Hum Mol Genet 2012; 21:4225-36. [PMID: 22736030 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/dds246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamine (Q) expansion diseases are a family of degenerative disorders caused by the lengthening of CAG triplet repeats present in the coding sequences of seemingly unrelated genes whose mutant proteins drive pathogenesis. Despite all the molecular evidence for the genetic basis of these diseases, how mutant poly-Q proteins promote cell death and drive pathogenesis remains controversial. In this report, we show a specific interaction between the mutant androgen receptor (AR), a protein associated with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), and the nuclear protein PTIP (Pax Transactivation-domain Interacting Protein), a protein with an unusually long Q-rich domain that functions in DNA repair. Upon exposure to ionizing radiation, PTIP localizes to nuclear foci that are sites of DNA damage and repair. However, the expression of poly-Q AR sequesters PTIP away from radiation-induced nuclear foci. This results in sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents and chromosomal instabilities. In a mouse model of SBMA, evidence for DNA damage is detected in muscle cell nuclei and muscular atrophy is accelerated when one copy of the gene encoding PTIP is removed. These data provide a new paradigm for understanding the mechanisms of cellular degeneration observed in poly-Q expansion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Xiao
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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SIRT1 modulates aggregation and toxicity through deacetylation of the androgen receptor in cell models of SBMA. J Neurosci 2012; 31:17425-36. [PMID: 22131404 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3958-11.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Posttranslational protein modifications can play a major role in disease pathogenesis; phosphorylation, sumoylation, and acetylation modulate the toxicity of a variety of proteotoxic proteins. The androgen receptor (AR) is substantially modified, in response to hormone binding, by phosphorylation, sumoylation, and acetylation; these modifications might thus contribute to DHT-dependent polyglutamine (polyQ)-expanded AR proteotoxicity in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). SIRT1, a nuclear protein and deacetylase of the AR, is neuroprotective in many neurodegenerative disease models. Our studies reveal that SIRT1 also offers protection against polyQ-expanded AR by deacetylating the AR at lysines 630/632/633. This finding suggested that nuclear AR acetylation plays a role in the aberrant metabolism and toxicity of polyQ-expanded AR. Subsequent studies revealed that the polyQ-expanded AR is hyperacetylated and that pharmacologic reduction of acetylation reduces mutant AR aggregation. Moreover, genetic mutation to inhibit polyQ-expanded AR acetylation of lysines 630/632/633 substantially decreased its aggregation and completely abrogated its toxicity in cell lines and motor neurons. Our studies also reveal one means by which the AR acetylation state likely modifies polyQ-expanded AR metabolism and toxicity, through its effect on DHT-dependent AR stabilization. Overall, our findings reveal a neuroprotective function of SIRT1 that operates through its deacetylation of polyQ-expanded AR and highlight the potential of both SIRT1 and AR acetylation as powerful therapeutic targets in SBMA.
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Chevalier-Larsen ES, Merry DE. Testosterone treatment fails to accelerate disease in a transgenic mouse model of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Dis Model Mech 2011; 5:141-5. [PMID: 21954065 PMCID: PMC3255552 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.007849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence from multiple animal models demonstrates that testosterone plays a crucial role in the progression of symptoms in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a condition that results in neurodegeneration and muscle atrophy in affected men. Mice bearing a transgene encoding a human androgen receptor (AR) that contains a stretch of 112 glutamines (expanded polyglutamine tract; AR112Q mice) reproduce several aspects of the human disease. We treated transgenic male AR112Q mice with testosterone for 6 months. Surprisingly, testosterone treatment of AR112Q males did not exacerbate the disease. Although transgenic AR112Q males exhibited functional deficits when compared with non-transgenics, long-term testosterone treatment had no effect on motor function. Testosterone treatment also failed to affect cellular markers of disease, including inclusion formation (the accumulation of large nuclear aggregates of mutant AR protein) and levels of unphosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain. These data suggest that the mechanism of disease in SBMA saturates at close to endogenous hormone levels and that individuals with SBMA who take, or have taken, testosterone for its putative therapeutic properties are unlikely to suffer adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica S Chevalier-Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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Malik B, Nirmalananthan N, Bilsland LG, La Spada AR, Hanna MG, Schiavo G, Gallo JM, Greensmith L. Absence of disturbed axonal transport in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2011; 20:1776-86. [PMID: 21317158 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddr061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), or Kennedy's disease, is a late-onset motor neuron disease (MND) caused by an abnormal expansion of the CAG repeat in the androgen receptor (AR) gene on the X-chromosome, encoding a polyglutamine (poly-Q) sequence in the protein product. Mutant poly-Q-expanded AR protein is widely expressed but leads to selective lower motoneuron death. Although the mechanisms that underlie SBMA remain unclear, defective axonal transport has been implicated in MND and other forms of poly-Q disease. Transcriptional dysregulation may also be involved in poly-Q repeat pathology. We therefore examined axonal transport in a mouse model of SBMA recapitulating many aspects of the human disease. We found no difference in the expression levels of motor and the microtubule-associated protein tau, in the spinal cord and sciatic nerve of wild-type (WT) and SBMA mice at various stages of disease progression. Furthermore, we found no alteration in binding properties of motor proteins and tau to microtubules. Moreover, analysis of axonal transport rates both in cultured primary motoneurons in vitro and in vivo in the sciatic nerve of adult WT and mutant SBMA mice demonstrated no overt axonal transport deficits in these systems. Our results therefore indicate that unlike other motoneuron and poly-Q diseases, axonal transport deficits do not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Malik
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
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Orr CR, Montie HL, Liu Y, Bolzoni E, Jenkins SC, Wilson EM, Joseph JD, McDonnell DP, Merry DE. An interdomain interaction of the androgen receptor is required for its aggregation and toxicity in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:35567-77. [PMID: 20826791 PMCID: PMC2975181 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.146845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2010] [Revised: 08/10/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion within the androgen receptor (AR) causes spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) and is associated with misfolded and aggregated species of the mutant AR. We showed previously that nuclear localization of the mutant AR was necessary but not sufficient for SBMA. Here we show that an interdomain interaction of the AR that is central to its function within the nucleus is required for AR aggregation and toxicity. Ligands that prevent the interaction between the amino-terminal FXXLF motif and carboxyl-terminal AF-2 domain (N/C interaction) prevented toxicity and AR aggregation in an SBMA cell model and rescued primary SBMA motor neurons from 5α-dihydrotestosterone-induced toxicity. Moreover, genetic mutation of the FXXLF motif prevented AR aggregation and 5α-dihydrotestosterone toxicity. Finally, selective androgen receptor modulators, which prevent the N/C interaction, ameliorated AR aggregation and toxicity while maintaining AR function, highlighting a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent the SBMA phenotype while retaining AR transcriptional function.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Motifs/genetics
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Androgen Antagonists/pharmacology
- Androgens/pharmacology
- Anilides/pharmacology
- Animals
- Binding Sites/genetics
- Blotting, Western
- Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked/genetics
- Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked/metabolism
- Bulbo-Spinal Atrophy, X-Linked/pathology
- Cells, Cultured
- Dihydrotestosterone/pharmacology
- HEK293 Cells
- Humans
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Motor Neurons/cytology
- Motor Neurons/metabolism
- Mutation
- Nitriles/pharmacology
- PC12 Cells
- Protein Binding/drug effects
- Rats
- Receptors, Androgen/chemistry
- Receptors, Androgen/genetics
- Receptors, Androgen/metabolism
- Testosterone/pharmacology
- Tosyl Compounds/pharmacology
- Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion/genetics
- Two-Hybrid System Techniques
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R. Orr
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Heather L. Montie
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Yuhong Liu
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Elena Bolzoni
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Shannon C. Jenkins
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
| | - Elizabeth M. Wilson
- the Laboratories for Reproductive Biology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599
| | - James D. Joseph
- the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, and
| | - Donald P. McDonnell
- the Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, and
| | - Diane E. Merry
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107
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Palazzolo I, Nedelsky NB, Askew CE, Harmison GG, Kasantsev AG, Taylor JP, Fischbeck KH, Pennuto M. B2 attenuates polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor toxicity in cell and fly models of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. J Neurosci Res 2010; 88:2207-16. [PMID: 20336775 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.22389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Expanded polyglutamine tracts cause neurodegeneration through a toxic gain-of-function mechanism. Generation of inclusions is a common feature of polyglutamine diseases and other protein misfolding disorders. Inclusion formation is likely to be a defensive response of the cell to the presence of unfolded protein. Recently, the compound B2 has been shown to increase inclusion formation and decrease toxicity of polyglutamine-expanded huntingtin in cultured cells. We explored the effect of B2 on spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). SBMA is caused by expansion of polyglutamine in the androgen receptor (AR) and is characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord. We found that B2 increases the deposition of mutant AR into nuclear inclusions, without altering the ligand-induced aggregation, expression, or subcellular distribution of the mutant protein. The effect of B2 on inclusions was associated with a decrease in AR transactivation function. We show that B2 reduces mutant AR toxicity in cell and fly models of SBMA, further supporting the idea that accumulation of polyglutamine-expanded protein into inclusions is protective. Our findings suggest B2 as a novel approach to therapy for SBMA.
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