1
|
Babu HWS, Elangovan A, Iyer M, Kirola L, Muthusamy S, Jeeth P, Muthukumar S, Vanlalpeka H, Gopalakrishnan AV, Kadhirvel S, Kumar NS, Vellingiri B. Association Study Between Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase (KMO) Gene and Parkinson's Disease Patients. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:3867-3881. [PMID: 38040995 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03815-9] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
The influence of various risk factors such as aging, intricate cellular molecular processes, and lifestyle factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, and occupational factors has received increased focus in relation to the risk and development of Parkinson's disease (PD). Limited research has been conducted on the assessment of lifestyle impact on kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) gene in PD. A total of 164 subjects, including 82 PD cases and 82 healthy individuals, were recruited based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The severity of PD and clinical assessment were evaluated using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and Hoehn and Yahr (HY) scaling. Sanger sequencing was performed to analyse the KMO gene in the recruited subjects, and case-control studies were conducted. The UPDRS assessment revealed significant impairments in smell, tremors, walking, and posture instability in the late-onset PD cohorts. The HY scaling indicated a higher proportion of late-onset cohorts in stage 2. Moreover, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic groups showed significantly increased levels of 3-HK in late-onset PD. Gene analysis identified missense variants at position g.241593373 T > A (rs752312199) and intronic variants at positions g.241592623A > G (rs640718), g.241592800C > A (rs990388262), g.241592802A > C (rs1350160268), g.241592808 T > C (rs1478255936), and g.241592812G > T (rs948928931). The alterations in the KMO gene were found to influence the levels of kynurenic acid (KYNA) and 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK). Genomic analysis revealed a high prevalence of missense mutations in the late-onset PD groups, leading to a decline in 3-HK levels in patients. This leads to the reduction of the progression of disease in late-onset groups which shows that this mutation may lead to the protective effect on the PD subjects. This study suggests the use of KYNA and 3-HK as potential biomarkers in analysing the progression of disease. This study is limited by its small sample size. To overcome this limitation, a larger study involving in greater number of participants is needed to thoroughly investigate the KMO gene and KP metabolites, to enhance our understanding of Parkinson's disease progression, and to enhance diagnostic capabilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harysh Winster Suresh Babu
- Human Molecular Cytogenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, Bharathiar University, Coimbatore, 641 046, Tamil Nadu, India
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, Punjab, India
| | - Ajay Elangovan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, Punjab, India
| | - Mahalaxmi Iyer
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, Punjab, India
- Centre for Neuroscience, Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education (Deemed to be University), Coimbatore, India
| | - Laxmi Kirola
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Noida, 201301, India
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Health Sciences and Technology (SoHST), UPES University, Dehradun, 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Sureshan Muthusamy
- School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, 613401, India
| | - Priyanka Jeeth
- Structural and Computational Biology Laboratory, Department of Computational Sciences, Central University of Punjab, 151401, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Sindduja Muthukumar
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, Punjab, India
| | - Harvey Vanlalpeka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zoram Medical College, Falkawn, 796005, India
| | - Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology, Tamil Nadu, Vellore, 632 014, India
| | - Saraboji Kadhirvel
- Structural and Computational Biology Laboratory, Department of Computational Sciences, Central University of Punjab, 151401, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | | | - Balachandar Vellingiri
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Translational Research, Department of Zoology, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, 151401, Punjab, India.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fujikawa M, Ueda M, Maruyama K. Role of Kynurenine and Its Derivatives in the Neuroimmune System. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7144. [PMID: 39000249 PMCID: PMC11241229 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing realization of intricate interactions between the nervous and immune systems, characterized by shared humoral factors and receptors. This interplay forms the basis of the neuroimmune system, the understanding of which will provide insights into the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, in which the involvement of the immune system has been overlooked. Kynurenine and its derivatives derived from tryptophan have long been implicated in the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases. Recent studies have revealed their close association not only with neurological disorders but also with sepsis-related deaths. This review provides an overview of the biochemistry of kynurenine and its derivatives, followed by a discussion of their role via the modulation of the neuroimmune system in various diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Fujikawa
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masashi Ueda
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kenta Maruyama
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Aichi, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Groth B, Huang CC, Lin SJ. The histone deacetylases Rpd3 and Hst1 antagonistically regulate de novo NAD + metabolism in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102410. [PMID: 36007612 PMCID: PMC9486569 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
NAD+ is a cellular redox cofactor involved in many essential processes. The regulation of NAD+ metabolism and the signaling networks reciprocally interacting with NAD+-producing metabolic pathways are not yet fully understood. The NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase (HDAC) Hst1 has been shown to inhibit de novo NAD+ synthesis by repressing biosynthesis of nicotinic acid (BNA) gene expression. Here, we alternatively identify HDAC Rpd3 as a positive regulator of de novo NAD+ metabolism in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We reveal that deletion of RPD3 causes marked decreases in the production of de novo pathway metabolites, in direct contrast to deletion of HST1. We determined the BNA expression profiles of rpd3Δ and hst1Δ cells to be similarly opposed, suggesting the two HDACs may regulate the BNA genes in an antagonistic fashion. Our chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that Rpd3 and Hst1 mutually influence each other’s binding distribution at the BNA2 promoter. We demonstrate Hst1 to be the main deacetylase active at the BNA2 promoter, with hst1Δ cells displaying increased acetylation of the N-terminal tail lysine residues of histone H4, H4K5, and H4K12. Conversely, we show that deletion of RPD3 reduces the acetylation of these residues in an Hst1-dependent manner. This suggests that Rpd3 may function to oppose spreading of Hst1-dependent heterochromatin and represents a unique form of antagonism between HDACs in regulating gene expression. Moreover, we found that Rpd3 and Hst1 also coregulate additional targets involved in other branches of NAD+ metabolism. These findings help elucidate the complex interconnections involved in effecting the regulation of NAD+ metabolism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Groth
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Chi-Chun Huang
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Su-Ju Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, California, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Sathyasaikumar KV, Pérez de la Cruz V, Pineda B, Vázquez Cervantes GI, Ramírez Ortega D, Donley DW, Severson PL, West BL, Giorgini F, Fox JH, Schwarcz R. Cellular Localization of Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase in the Brain: Challenging the Dogma. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:315. [PMID: 35204197 PMCID: PMC8868204 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), a key player in the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation, regulates the synthesis of the neuroactive metabolites 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and kynurenic acid (KYNA). KMO activity has been implicated in several major brain diseases including Huntington's disease (HD) and schizophrenia. In the brain, KMO is widely believed to be predominantly localized in microglial cells, but verification in vivo has not been provided so far. Here, we examined KP metabolism in the brain after depleting microglial cells pharmacologically with the colony stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibitor PLX5622. Young adult mice were fed PLX5622 for 21 days and were euthanized either on the next day or after receiving normal chow for an additional 21 days. Expression of microglial marker genes was dramatically reduced on day 22 but had fully recovered by day 43. In both groups, PLX5622 treatment failed to affect Kmo expression, KMO activity or tissue levels of 3-HK and KYNA in the brain. In a parallel experiment, PLX5622 treatment also did not reduce KMO activity, 3-HK and KYNA in the brain of R6/2 mice (a model of HD with activated microglia). Finally, using freshly isolated mouse cells ex vivo, we found KMO only in microglia and neurons but not in astrocytes. Taken together, these data unexpectedly revealed that neurons contain a large proportion of functional KMO in the adult mouse brain under both physiological and pathological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Korrapati V. Sathyasaikumar
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA;
| | - Verónica Pérez de la Cruz
- Neurobiochemistry and Behavior Laboratory, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, Mexico City 14269, Mexico; (V.P.d.l.C.); (G.I.V.C.); (D.R.O.)
| | - Benjamín Pineda
- Neuroimmunology Department, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, Mexico City 14269, Mexico;
| | - Gustavo Ignacio Vázquez Cervantes
- Neurobiochemistry and Behavior Laboratory, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, Mexico City 14269, Mexico; (V.P.d.l.C.); (G.I.V.C.); (D.R.O.)
| | - Daniela Ramírez Ortega
- Neurobiochemistry and Behavior Laboratory, National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery “Manuel Velasco Suárez”, Mexico City 14269, Mexico; (V.P.d.l.C.); (G.I.V.C.); (D.R.O.)
| | - David W. Donley
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; (D.W.D.); (J.H.F.)
| | - Paul L. Severson
- Plexxikon Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (P.L.S.); (B.L.W.)
| | - Brian L. West
- Plexxikon Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA; (P.L.S.); (B.L.W.)
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7JA, UK;
| | - Jonathan H. Fox
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USA; (D.W.D.); (J.H.F.)
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Involvement of Kynurenine Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205180. [PMID: 34680327 PMCID: PMC8533819 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The kynurenine pathway (KP) is a biochemical pathway that synthesizes the vital coenzyme, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). In cancer, the KP is significantly activated, leading to tryptophan depletion and the production of downstream metabolites, which skews the immune response towards tumour tolerance. More specifically, advanced stage cancers that readily metastasize evidence the most dysregulation in KP enzymes, providing a clear link between the KP and cancer morbidity. Consequently, this provides the rationale for an attractive new drug discovery opportunity for adjuvant therapeutics targeting KP-mediated immune tolerance, which would greatly complement current pharmacological interventions. In this review, we summarize recent developments in the roles of the KP and clinical trials examining KP inhibition in liver cancer. Abstract As the second and third leading cancer-related death in men and the world, respectively, primary liver cancer remains a major concern to human health. Despite advances in diagnostic technology, patients with primary liver cancer are often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Treatment options for patients with advanced hepatocarcinoma (HCC) are limited to systemic treatment with multikinase inhibitors and immunotherapy. Furthermore, the 5-year survival rate for these late-stage HCC patients is approximately 12% worldwide. There is an unmet need to identify novel treatment options and/or sensitive blood-based biomarker(s) to detect this cancer at an early stage. Given that the liver harbours the largest proportion of immune cells in the human body, understanding the tumour–immune microenvironment has gained increasing attention as a potential target to treat cancer. The kynurenine pathway (KP) has been proposed to be one of the key mechanisms used by the tumour cells to escape immune surveillance for proliferation and metastasis. In an inflammatory environment such as cancer, the KP is elevated, suppressing local immune cell populations and enhancing tumour growth. In this review, we collectively describe the roles of the KP in cancer and provide information on the latest research into the KP in primary liver cancer.
Collapse
|
6
|
Behl T, Kaur I, Sehgal A, Singh S, Bhatia S, Al-Harrasi A, Zengin G, Bumbu AG, Andronie-Cioara FL, Nechifor AC, Gitea D, Bungau AF, Toma MM, Bungau SG. The Footprint of Kynurenine Pathway in Neurodegeneration: Janus-Faced Role in Parkinson's Disorder and Therapeutic Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6737. [PMID: 34201647 PMCID: PMC8268239 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22136737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Progressive degeneration of neurons and aggravation of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta results in the loss of dopamine in the brain of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Numerous therapies, exhibiting transient efficacy have been developed; however, they are mostly accompanied by side effects and limited reliability, therefore instigating the need to develop novel optimistic treatment targets. Significant therapeutic targets have been identified, namely: chaperones, protein Abelson, glucocerebrosidase-1, calcium, neuromelanin, ubiquitin-proteasome system, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the kynurenine pathway (KP). The role of KP and its metabolites and enzymes in PD, namely quinolinic acid (QUIN), kynurenic acid (KYNA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), 3-hydroxyanthranillic acid (3-HAA), kunurenine-3-monooxygenase (KMO), etc. has been reported. The neurotoxic QUIN, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor agonist, and neuroprotective KYNA-which antagonizes QUIN actions-primarily justify the Janus-faced role of KP in PD. Moreover, KP has been reported to play a biomarker role in PD detection. Therefore, the authors detail the neurotoxic, neuroprotective, and immunomodulatory neuroactive components, alongside the upstream and downstream metabolic pathways of KP, forming a basis for a therapeutic paradigm of the disease while recognizing KP as a potential biomarker in PD, thus facilitating the development of a suitable target in PD management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tapan Behl
- Department of Pharmacology, Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab 140401, India; (I.K.); (A.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Ishnoor Kaur
- Department of Pharmacology, Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab 140401, India; (I.K.); (A.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Aayush Sehgal
- Department of Pharmacology, Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab 140401, India; (I.K.); (A.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Sukhbir Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab 140401, India; (I.K.); (A.S.); (S.S.)
| | - Saurabh Bhatia
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Gurugram, Haryana 122412, India;
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, P.O. Box 33, PC 616 Birkat Al Mouz, Nizwa 611, Oman;
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre, University of Nizwa, P.O. Box 33, PC 616 Birkat Al Mouz, Nizwa 611, Oman;
| | - Gokhan Zengin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University Campus, Konya 42130, Turkey;
| | - Adrian Gheorghe Bumbu
- Department of Surgical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania;
| | - Felicia Liana Andronie-Cioara
- Department of Psycho-Neuroscience and Recovery, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania;
| | - Aurelia Cristina Nechifor
- Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering Department, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania;
| | - Daniela Gitea
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410028 Oradea, Romania; (D.G.); (M.M.T.)
| | | | - Mirela Marioara Toma
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410028 Oradea, Romania; (D.G.); (M.M.T.)
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| | - Simona Gabriela Bungau
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410028 Oradea, Romania; (D.G.); (M.M.T.)
- Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Groth B, Venkatakrishnan P, Lin SJ. NAD + Metabolism, Metabolic Stress, and Infection. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:686412. [PMID: 34095234 PMCID: PMC8171187 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.686412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential metabolite with wide-ranging and significant roles in the cell. Defects in NAD+ metabolism have been associated with many human disorders; it is therefore an emerging therapeutic target. Moreover, NAD+ metabolism is perturbed during colonization by a variety of pathogens, either due to the molecular mechanisms employed by these infectious agents or by the host immune response they trigger. Three main biosynthetic pathways, including the de novo and salvage pathways, contribute to the production of NAD+ with a high degree of conservation from bacteria to humans. De novo biosynthesis, which begins with l-tryptophan in eukaryotes, is also known as the kynurenine pathway. Intermediates of this pathway have various beneficial and deleterious effects on cellular health in different contexts. For example, dysregulation of this pathway is linked to neurotoxicity and oxidative stress. Activation of the de novo pathway is also implicated in various infections and inflammatory signaling. Given the dynamic flexibility and multiple roles of NAD+ intermediates, it is important to understand the interconnections and cross-regulations of NAD+ precursors and associated signaling pathways to understand how cells regulate NAD+ homeostasis in response to various growth conditions. Although regulation of NAD+ homeostasis remains incompletely understood, studies in the genetically tractable budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae may help provide some molecular basis for how NAD+ homeostasis factors contribute to the maintenance and regulation of cellular function and how they are regulated by various nutritional and stress signals. Here we present a brief overview of recent insights and discoveries made with respect to the relationship between NAD+ metabolism and selected human disorders and infections, with a particular focus on the de novo pathway. We also discuss how studies in budding yeast may help elucidate the regulation of NAD+ homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Groth
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Padmaja Venkatakrishnan
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Su-Ju Lin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, College of Biological Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Liu IL, Chung TF, Huang WH, Hsu CH, Liu CC, Chiu YH, Huang KC, Liao ATC, Lin CS. Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) expression is involved in tumour proliferation and predicts poor survival in canine melanoma. Vet Comp Oncol 2020; 19:79-91. [PMID: 32720434 DOI: 10.1111/vco.12641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Canine melanoma is a malignant tumour that exhibits aggressive behaviour, and frequently metastasizes to regional lymph nodes and distant sites. Currently, there are no effective treatments or practical prognostic biomarkers for canine melanoma. The enzyme kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), which plays a central role in the tryptophan metabolism, has previously been identified as the main pathogenic factor in neurodegenerative diseases; however, it has recently been found to be positively associated with tumour malignancy in human hepatocellular carcinoma and canine mammary tumours. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a well-known oncoprotein contributing to the proliferation, survival, invasiveness and metastasis of a variety of cancers. Although whether STAT3 and KMO collaborate in tumorigenesis needs to be further verified, our previous findings showed that inhibition of KMO activity reduced activation of STAT3. This study investigated the expressions of KMO and STAT3/phosphorylated (pSTAT3) by immunohistochemical analysis in 85 cases of canine melanoma, showing their expression levels were high within highly mitotic melanoma cells. KMO Overexpression was significantly associated with increased STAT3 and pSTAT3 expressions. Melanoma tissues with higher KMO, STAT3 and pSTAT3 protein expressions were correlated with reduced survival rates of the canine patients. Moreover, inhibition of KMO activity in canine melanoma cells resulted in reduced cell viability, in addition to decreased expressions of STAT3 and pSTAT3. Our results indicated the significance of KMO and the potential role of KMO/STAT3 interaction in enhancing tumour development. Additionally, KMO and STAT3/pSTAT3 may be viewed as useful biomarkers for the prediction of prognosis of canine melanoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I-Li Liu
- Institute of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Ting-Fang Chung
- Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Wei-Hsiang Huang
- Graduate Institute of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chia-Hui Hsu
- Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Cheng-Chi Liu
- Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yi-Han Chiu
- Department of Nursing, St. Mary's Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Kuo-Chin Huang
- Holistic Education Center, Mackay Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Albert Tai-Ching Liao
- Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Animal Cancer Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chen-Si Lin
- Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Animal Cancer Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Boros F, Vécsei L. Progress in the development of kynurenine and quinoline-3-carboxamide-derived drugs. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2020; 29:1223-1247. [DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2020.1813716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Fanni Boros
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Vécsei
- Department of Neurology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- MTA-SZTE Neuroscience Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and the University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Savage JC, St-Pierre MK, Carrier M, El Hajj H, Novak SW, Sanchez MG, Cicchetti F, Tremblay MÈ. Microglial physiological properties and interactions with synapses are altered at presymptomatic stages in a mouse model of Huntington's disease pathology. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:98. [PMID: 32241286 PMCID: PMC7118932 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01782-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder that affects cognitive and motor abilities by primarily targeting the striatum and cerebral cortex. HD is caused by a mutation elongating the CAG repeats within the Huntingtin gene, resulting in HTT protein misfolding. Although the genetic cause of HD has been established, the specific susceptibility of neurons within various brain structures has remained elusive. Microglia, which are the brain's resident macrophages, have emerged as important players in neurodegeneration. Nevertheless, few studies have examined their implication in HD. METHODS To provide novel insights, we investigated the maturation and dysfunction of striatal microglia using the R6/2 mouse model of HD. This transgenic model, which presents with 120+/-5 CAG repeats, displays progressive motor deficits beginning at 6 weeks of age, with full incapacitation by 13 weeks. We studied microglial morphology, phagocytic capacity, and synaptic contacts in the striatum of R6/2 versus wild-type (WT) littermates at 3, 10, and 13 weeks of age, using a combination of light and transmission electron microscopy. We also reconstructed dendrites and determined synaptic density within the striatum of R6/2 and WT littermates, at nanoscale resolution using focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS At 3 weeks of age, prior to any known motor deficits, microglia in R6/2 animals displayed a more mature morphological phenotype than WT animals. Microglia from R6/2 mice across all ages also demonstrated increased phagocytosis, as revealed by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, microglial processes from 10-week-old R6/2 mice made fewer contacts with synaptic structures than microglial processes in 3-week-old R6/2 mice and age-matched WT littermates. Synaptic density was not affected by genotype at 3 weeks of age but increased with maturation in WT mice. The location of synapses was lastly modified in R6/2 mice compared with WT controls, from targeting dendritic spines to dendritic trunks at both 3 and 10 weeks of age. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that microglia may play an intimate role in synaptic alteration and loss during HD pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie C Savage
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, T2-50, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada.
| | - Marie-Kim St-Pierre
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, T2-50, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Micaël Carrier
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, T2-50, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Hassan El Hajj
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, T2-50, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Sammy Weiser Novak
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, T2-50, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
- Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Core, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Maria Gabriela Sanchez
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, T2-50, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Francesca Cicchetti
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, T2-50, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
- Département de psychiatrie et neurosciences, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705, Boulevard Laurier, T2-50, Québec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada.
- Département de médecine moléculaire, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kumar A, Kumar V, Singh K, Kumar S, Kim YS, Lee YM, Kim JJ. Therapeutic Advances for Huntington's Disease. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10010043. [PMID: 31940909 PMCID: PMC7016861 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurological disease that is inherited in an autosomal fashion. The cause of disease pathology is an expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats within the huntingtin gene (HTT) on chromosome 4 (4p16.3), which codes the huntingtin protein (mHTT). The common symptoms of HD include motor and cognitive impairment of psychiatric functions. Patients exhibit a representative phenotype of involuntary movement (chorea) of limbs, impaired cognition, and severe psychiatric disturbances (mood swings, depression, and personality changes). A variety of symptomatic treatments (which target glutamate and dopamine pathways, caspases, inhibition of aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, transcriptional dysregulation, and fetal neural transplants, etc.) are available and some are in the pipeline. Advancement in novel therapeutic approaches include targeting the mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein and the HTT gene. New gene editing techniques will reduce the CAG repeats. More appropriate and readily tractable treatment goals, coupled with advances in analytical tools will help to assess the clinical outcomes of HD treatments. This will not only improve the quality of life and life span of HD patients, but it will also provide a beneficial role in other inherited and neurological disorders. In this review, we aim to discuss current therapeutic research approaches and their possible uses for HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Kumar
- Department of Genetics, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, UP, India;
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea; (Y.-S.K.); (Y.-M.L.)
- Correspondence: (V.K.); (J.-J.K.)
| | - Kritanjali Singh
- Central Research Station, Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut 250002, India;
| | - Sukesh Kumar
- PG Department of Botany, Nalanda College, Bihar Sharif, Magadh University, Bihar 824234, India;
| | - You-Sam Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea; (Y.-S.K.); (Y.-M.L.)
| | - Yun-Mi Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea; (Y.-S.K.); (Y.-M.L.)
| | - Jong-Joo Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea; (Y.-S.K.); (Y.-M.L.)
- Correspondence: (V.K.); (J.-J.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Palpagama TH, Waldvogel HJ, Faull RLM, Kwakowsky A. The Role of Microglia and Astrocytes in Huntington's Disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:258. [PMID: 31708741 PMCID: PMC6824292 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease. HD patients present with movement disorders, behavioral and psychiatric symptoms and cognitive decline. This review summarizes the contribution of microglia and astrocytes to HD pathophysiology. Neuroinflammation in the HD brain is characterized by a reactive morphology in these glial cells. Microglia and astrocytes are critical in regulating neuronal activity and maintaining an optimal milieu for neuronal function. Previous studies provide evidence that activated microglia and reactive astrocytes contribute to HD pathology through transcriptional activation of pro-inflammatory genes to perpetuate a chronic inflammatory state. Reactive astrocytes also display functional changes in glutamate and ion homeostasis and energy metabolism. Astrocytic and microglial changes may further contribute to the neuronal death observed with the progression of HD. Importantly, the degree to which these neuroinflammatory changes are detrimental to neurons and contribute to the progression of HD pathology is not well understood. Furthermore, recent observations provide compelling evidence that activated microglia and astrocytes exert a variety of beneficial functions that are essential for limiting tissue damage and preserving neuronal function in the HD brain. Therefore, a better understanding of the neuroinflammatory environment in the brain in HD may lead to the development of targeted and innovative therapeutic opportunities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thulani H Palpagama
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Henry J Waldvogel
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard L M Faull
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Andrea Kwakowsky
- Centre for Brain Research, Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Zhang S, Sakuma M, Deora GS, Levy CW, Klausing A, Breda C, Read KD, Edlin CD, Ross BP, Wright Muelas M, Day PJ, O’Hagan S, Kell DB, Schwarcz R, Leys D, Heyes DJ, Giorgini F, Scrutton NS. A brain-permeable inhibitor of the neurodegenerative disease target kynurenine 3-monooxygenase prevents accumulation of neurotoxic metabolites. Commun Biol 2019; 2:271. [PMID: 31372510 PMCID: PMC6656724 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0520-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the kynurenine pathway (KP) leads to imbalances in neuroactive metabolites associated with the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Huntington's disease (HD). Inhibition of the enzyme kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) in the KP normalises these metabolic imbalances and ameliorates neurodegeneration and related phenotypes in several neurodegenerative disease models. KMO is thus a promising candidate drug target for these disorders, but known inhibitors are not brain permeable. Here, 19 new KMO inhibitors have been identified. One of these (1) is neuroprotective in a Drosophila HD model but is minimally brain penetrant in mice. The prodrug variant (1b) crosses the blood-brain barrier, releases 1 in the brain, thereby lowering levels of 3-hydroxykynurenine, a toxic KP metabolite linked to neurodegeneration. Prodrug 1b will advance development of targeted therapies against multiple neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases in which KP likely plays a role, including HD, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaowei Zhang
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN UK
| | - Michiyo Sakuma
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN UK
| | - Girdhar S. Deora
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Colin W. Levy
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN UK
| | - Alex Klausing
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228 USA
| | - Carlo Breda
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
| | - Kevin D. Read
- Drug Discovery Unit, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland DD1 5EH UK
| | | | - Benjamin P. Ross
- School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072 Australia
| | - Marina Wright Muelas
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN UK
| | - Philip J. Day
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL UK
| | - Stephen O’Hagan
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN UK
| | - Douglas B. Kell
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN UK
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21228 USA
| | - David Leys
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN UK
| | - Derren J. Heyes
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN UK
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH UK
| | - Nigel S. Scrutton
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology and School of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN UK
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Rodriguez-Zas SL, Wu C, Southey BR, O'Connor JC, Nixon SE, Garcia R, Zavala C, Lawson M, McCusker RH, Romanova EV, Sweedler JV, Kelley KW, Dantzer R. Disruption of microglia histone acetylation and protein pathways in mice exhibiting inflammation-associated depression-like symptoms. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 97:47-58. [PMID: 30005281 PMCID: PMC6138522 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Peripheral immune challenge can elicit microglia activation and depression-related symptoms. The balance of inflammatory signals in the tryptophan pathway can skew the activity of indoleamine-pyrrole 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO1) towards the metabolization of tryptophan into kynurenine (rather than serotonin), and towards neuroprotective or neurotoxic metabolites. The proteome changes that accompany inflammation-associated depression-related behaviors are incompletely understood. METHODS The changes in microglia protein abundance and post-translational modifications in wild type (WT) mice that exhibit depression-like symptoms after recovery from peripheral Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) challenge were studied. This WT_BGG group was compared to mice that do not express depression-like symptoms after BCG challenge due to IDO1 deficiency by means of genetic knockout (BCG_KO group), and to WT Saline-treated (Sal) mice (WT_Sal group) using a mass spectrometry-based label-free approach. RESULTS The comparison of WT_BCG relative to WT_Sal and KO_BCG mice uncovered patterns of protein abundance and acetylation among the histone families that could influence microglia signaling and transcriptional rates. Members of the histone clusters 1, 2 and 3 families were less abundant in WT_BCG relative to WT_Sal whereas members in the H2A family exhibited the opposite pattern. Irrespective of family, the majority of the histones were less abundant in WT_BCG relative to KO_BCG microglia. Homeostatic mechanisms may temper the potentially toxic effects of high histone levels after BCG challenge to levels lower than Sal. Histone acetylation was highest in WT_BCG and the similar levels observed in WT_Sal and KO_BCG. This result suggest that histone acetylation levels are similar between IDO1 deficient mice after immune challenge and unchallenged WT mice. The over-abundance of tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation proteins (14-3-3 series) in WT_BCG relative to KO_BCG is particularly interesting because these proteins activate another rate-limiting enzyme in the tryptophan pathway. The over-representation of alcoholism and systemic lupus erythematosus pathways among the proteins exhibiting differential abundance between the groups suggest that these disorders share microglia activation pathways with BCG challenge. The over-representation of phagosome pathway among proteins differentially abundant between WT_BCG and KO_BCG microglia suggest an association between IDO1 deficiency and phagocytosis. Likewise, the over-representation of the gap junction pathway among the differentially abundant proteins between KO_BCG and WT_Sal suggest a multifactorial effect of BCG and IDO1 deficiency on cell communication. CONCLUSIONS The present study of histone acetylation and differential protein abundance furthers the understanding of the long lasting effects of peripheral immune challenges. Our findings offer insights into target proteins and mechanisms that provide clues for therapies to ameliorate inflammation-associated depression-related behaviors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra L Rodriguez-Zas
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Statistics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
| | - Cong Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Bruce R Southey
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jason C O'Connor
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health San Antonio and Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital, South Texas Veterans Health System, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Scott E Nixon
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Robmay Garcia
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Cynthia Zavala
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Marcus Lawson
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Robert H McCusker
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Elena V Romanova
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jonathan V Sweedler
- Department of Chemistry and the Beckman Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Keith W Kelley
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Robert Dantzer
- Department of Symptom Research, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Zhao Y, Zurawel AA, Jenkins NP, Duennwald ML, Cheng C, Kettenbach AN, Supattapone S. Comparative Analysis of Mutant Huntingtin Binding Partners in Yeast Species. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9554. [PMID: 29934597 PMCID: PMC6015068 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27900-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is caused by the pathological expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) stretch in Huntingtin (Htt), but the molecular mechanisms by which polyQ expansion in Htt causes toxicity in selective neuronal populations remain poorly understood. Interestingly, heterologous expression of expanded polyQ Htt is toxic in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells, but has no effect in Schizosaccharomyces pombe, a related yeast species possessing very few endogenous polyQ or Q/N-rich proteins. Here, we used a comprehensive and unbiased mass spectrometric approach to identify proteins that bind Htt in a length-dependent manner in both species. Analysis of the expanded polyQ-associated proteins reveals marked enrichment of proteins that are localized to and play functional roles in nucleoli and mitochondria in S. cerevisiae, but not in S. pombe. Moreover, expanded polyQ Htt appears to interact preferentially with endogenous polyQ and Q/N-rich proteins, which are rare in S. pombe, as well as proteins containing coiled-coil motifs in S. cerevisiae. Taken together, these results suggest that polyQ expansion of Htt may cause cellular toxicity in S. cerevisiae by sequestering endogenous polyQ and Q/N-rich proteins, particularly within nucleoli and mitochondria.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanding Zhao
- Departments of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755, United States
| | - Ashley A Zurawel
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755, United States
| | - Nicole P Jenkins
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755, United States
| | - Martin L Duennwald
- Department of Pathology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Chao Cheng
- Departments of Molecular and Systems Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755, United States
- Biomedical Data Sciences, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755, United States
| | - Arminja N Kettenbach
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755, United States
| | - Surachai Supattapone
- Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755, United States.
- Medicine, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, 03755, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Potkin KT, Potkin SG. New directions in therapeutics for Huntington disease. FUTURE NEUROLOGY 2018; 13:101-121. [PMID: 30800004 DOI: 10.2217/fnl-2017-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease that affects motor, cognitive and psychiatric functions, and ultimately leads to death. The pathology of the disease is based on an expansion of CAG repeats in exon 1 of the huntingtin gene on chromosome 4, which produces a mutant huntingtin protein (mHtt). This protein is involved in neurotoxicity and brain atrophy, and can form β-sheets and abnormal mHtt aggregates. Currently, there are no approved effective treatments for HD, although tetrabenazine (Xenazine™) and deutetrabenazine (AUSTEDO™) have been approved for treatment of the motor symptom chorea in HD. This literature review aims to address the latest research on promising therapeutics based on influencing the hypothesized pathological mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katya T Potkin
- Stony Brook School of Medicine, 101 Nicolls Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.,Stony Brook School of Medicine, 101 Nicolls Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Steven G Potkin
- Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.,Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Sathyasaikumar KV, Breda C, Schwarcz R, Giorgini F. Assessing and Modulating Kynurenine Pathway Dynamics in Huntington's Disease: Focus on Kynurenine 3-Monooxygenase. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1780:397-413. [PMID: 29856028 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7825-0_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The link between disturbances in kynurenine pathway (KP) metabolism and Huntington's disease (HD) pathogenesis has been explored for a number of years. Several novel genetic and pharmacological tools have recently been developed to modulate key regulatory steps in the KP such as the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO). This insight has offered new options for exploring the mechanistic link between this metabolic pathway and HD, and provided novel opportunities for the development of candidate drug-like compounds. Here, we present an overview of the field, focusing on some novel approaches for interrogating the pathway experimentally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Korrapati V Sathyasaikumar
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Carlo Breda
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Robert Schwarcz
- Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
The emerging field of epigenetics in neurodegeneration and neuroprotection. Nat Rev Neurosci 2017; 18:347-361. [PMID: 28515491 DOI: 10.1038/nrn.2017.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 215] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms - including DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications and changes in nucleosome positioning - regulate gene expression, cellular differentiation and development in almost all tissues, including the brain. In adulthood, changes in the epigenome are crucial for higher cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Striking new evidence implicates the dysregulation of epigenetic mechanisms in neurodegenerative disorders and diseases. Although these disorders differ in their underlying causes and pathophysiologies, many involve the dysregulation of restrictive element 1-silencing transcription factor (REST), which acts via epigenetic mechanisms to regulate gene expression. Although not somatically heritable, epigenetic modifications in neurons are dynamic and reversible, which makes them good targets for therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
|
19
|
Cuartero MI, de la Parra J, García-Culebras A, Ballesteros I, Lizasoain I, Moro MÁ. The Kynurenine Pathway in the Acute and Chronic Phases of Cerebral Ischemia. Curr Pharm Des 2016; 22:1060-73. [PMID: 25248805 DOI: 10.2174/1381612822666151214125950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Kynurenines are a wide range of catabolites which derive from tryptophan through the "Kynurenine Pathway" (KP). In addition to its peripheral role, increasing evidence shows a role of the KP in the central nervous system (CNS), mediating both physiological and pathological functions. Indeed, an imbalance in this route has been associated with several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer´s and Huntington´s diseases. Altered KP catabolism has also been described during both acute and chronic phases of stroke; however the contribution of the KP to the pathophysiology of acute ischemic damage and of post-stroke disorders during the chronic phase including depression and vascular dementia, and the exact mechanisms implicated in the regulation of the KP after stroke are not well established yet. A better understanding of the regulation and activity of the KP after stroke could provide new pharmacological tools in both acute and chronic phases of stroke. In this review, we will make an overview of CNS modulation by the KP. We will detail the KP contribution in the ischemic damage, how the unbalance of the KP might trigger an alteration of the cognitive function after stroke as well as potential targets for the development of new drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María Isabel Cuartero
- Unidad de Investigación Neurovascular, Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Avenida Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Exploring the power of yeast to model aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Biogerontology 2016; 18:3-34. [PMID: 27804052 DOI: 10.1007/s10522-016-9666-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Aging is a multifactorial process determined by molecular, cellular and systemic factors and it is well established that advancing age is a leading risk factor for several neurodegenerative diseases. In fact, the close association of aging and neurodegenerative disorders has placed aging as the greatest social and economic challenge of the 21st century, and age-related diseases have also become a key priority for countries worldwide. The growing need to better understand both aging and neurodegenerative processes has led to the development of simple eukaryotic models amenable for mechanistic studies. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has proven to be an unprecedented experimental model to study the fundamental aspects of aging and to decipher the intricacies of neurodegenerative disorders greatly because the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes are evolutionarily conserved from yeast to human. Moreover, yeast offers several methodological advantages allowing a rapid and relatively easy way of establishing gene-protein-function associations. Here we review different aging theories, common cellular pathways driving aging and neurodegenerative diseases and discuss the major contributions of yeast to the state-of-art knowledge in both research fields.
Collapse
|
21
|
Mazarei G, Leavitt BR. Indoleamine 2,3 Dioxygenase as a Potential Therapeutic Target in Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2016; 4:109-18. [PMID: 26397892 PMCID: PMC4923717 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-159003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Within the past decade, there has been increasing interest in the role of tryptophan (Trp) metabolites and the kynurenine pathway (KP) in diseases of the brain such as Huntington’s disease (HD). Evidence is accumulating to suggest that this pathway is imbalanced in neurologic disease states. The KP diverges into two branches that can lead to production of either neuroprotective or neurotoxic metabolites. In one branch, kynurenine (Kyn) produced as a result of tryptophan (Trp) catabolism is further metabolized to neurotoxic metabolites such as 3-hydroxykunurenine (3-HK) and quinolinic acid (QA). In the other branch, Kyn is converted to the neuroprotective metabolite kynurenic acid (KA). The enzyme Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO1) catalyzes the conversion of Trp into Kyn, the first and rate-limiting enzymatic step of the KP. This reaction takes place throughout the body in multiple cell types as a required step in the degradation of the essential amino acid Trp. Studies of IDO1 in brain have focused primarily on a potential role in depression, immune tolerance associated with brain tumours, and multiple sclerosis; however the role of this enzyme in neurodegenerative disease has garnered significant attention in recent years. This review will provide a summary of the current understanding of the role of IDO1 in Huntington’s disease and will assess this enzyme as a potential therapeutic target for HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gelareh Mazarei
- Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics and Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics and Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Jin H, Zhang Y, You H, Tao X, Wang C, Jin G, Wang N, Ruan H, Gu D, Huo X, Cong W, Qin W. Prognostic significance of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase and effects on proliferation, migration, and invasion of human hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2015; 5:10466. [PMID: 26099564 PMCID: PMC4479133 DOI: 10.1038/srep10466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO) is a pivotal enzyme in the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation and plays a critical role in Huntington's and Alzheimer's diseases. This study aimed to examine the expression of KMO in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and investigate the relationship between its expression and prognosis of HCC patients. We first analyzed KMO expression in 120 paired HCC samples (HCC tissues vs matched adjacent non-cancerous liver tissues), and 205 clinical HCC specimens using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression analyses were executed to evaluate the prognosis of HCC. The results of IHC analysis showed that KMO expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues than that in normal liver tissues (all p < 0.05). Survival and recurrence analyses showed that KMO was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) and time to recurrence (TTR) (both p<0.01). And in vitro studies revealed that KMO positively regulated proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. These results suggest that KMO exhibits tumor-promoting effects towards HCC and it may serve as a novel prognostic marker in HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haojie Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Yurong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Haiyan You
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Xuemei Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Cun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Guangzhi Jin
- Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University
| | - Ning Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Haoyu Ruan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Dishui Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Xisong Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| | - Wenming Cong
- Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University
| | - Wenxin Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Crotti A, Glass CK. The choreography of neuroinflammation in Huntington's disease. Trends Immunol 2015; 36:364-73. [PMID: 26001312 PMCID: PMC4786070 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2015.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2015] [Revised: 04/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Currently, the concept of 'neuroinflammation' includes inflammation associated with neurodegenerative diseases, in which there is little or no infiltration of blood-derived immune cells into the brain. The roles of brain-resident and peripheral immune cells in these inflammatory settings are poorly understood, and it is unclear whether neuroinflammation results from immune reaction to neuronal dysfunction/degeneration, and/or represents cell-autonomous phenotypes of dysfunctional immune cells. Here, we review recent studies examining these questions in the context of Huntington's disease (HD), where mutant Huntingtin (HTT) is expressed in both neurons and glia. Insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation in HD may provide a better understanding of inflammation in more complex neurodegenerative disorders, and of the contribution of the neuroinflammatory component to neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher K Glass
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Wang Q, Liu D, Song P, Zou MH. Tryptophan-kynurenine pathway is dysregulated in inflammation, and immune activation. Front Biosci (Landmark Ed) 2015; 20:1116-43. [PMID: 25961549 DOI: 10.2741/4363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The kynurenine (Kyn) pathway is the major route for tryptophan (Trp) metabolism, and it contributes to several fundamental biological processes. Trp is constitutively oxidized by tryptophan 2, 3-dioxygenase in liver cells. In other cell types, it is catalyzed by an alternative inducible indoleamine-pyrrole 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) under certain pathophysiological conditions, which consequently increases the formation of Kyn metabolites. IDO is up-regulated in response to inflammatory conditions as a novel marker of immune activation in early atherosclerosis. Besides, IDO and the IDO-related pathway are important mediators of the immunoinflammatory responses in advanced atherosclerosis. In particular, Kyn, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and quinolinic acid are positively associated with inflammation, oxidative stress (SOX), endothelial dysfunction, and carotid artery intima-media thickness values in end-stage renal disease patients. Moreover, IDO is a potential novel contributor to vessel relaxation and metabolism in systemic infections, which is also activated in acute severe heart attacks. The Kyn pathway plays a key role in the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease by regulating inflammation, SOX, and immune activation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ming-Hui Zou
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA,
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
The role of the immune system in triplet repeat expansion diseases. Mediators Inflamm 2015; 2015:873860. [PMID: 25873774 PMCID: PMC4385693 DOI: 10.1155/2015/873860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 10/06/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Trinucleotide repeat expansion disorders (TREDs) are a group of dominantly inherited neurological diseases caused by the expansion of unstable repeats in specific regions of the associated genes. Expansion of CAG repeat tracts in translated regions of the respective genes results in polyglutamine- (polyQ-) rich proteins that form intracellular aggregates that affect numerous cellular activities. Recent evidence suggests the involvement of an RNA toxicity component in polyQ expansion disorders, thus increasing the complexity of the pathogenic processes. Neurodegeneration, accompanied by reactive gliosis and astrocytosis is the common feature of most TREDs, which may suggest involvement of inflammation in pathogenesis. Indeed, a number of immune response markers have been observed in the blood and CNS of patients and mouse models, and the activation of these markers was even observed in the premanifest stage of the disease. Although inflammation is not an initiating factor of TREDs, growing evidence indicates that inflammatory responses involving astrocytes, microglia, and the peripheral immune system may contribute to disease progression. Herein, we review the involvement of the immune system in the pathogenesis of triplet repeat expansion diseases, with particular emphasis on polyglutamine disorders. We also present various therapeutic approaches targeting the dysregulated inflammation pathways in these diseases.
Collapse
|
26
|
Braun RJ. Ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis in yeast cells expressing neurotoxic proteins. Front Mol Neurosci 2015; 8:8. [PMID: 25814926 PMCID: PMC4357299 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2015.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Critically impaired protein degradation is discussed to contribute to neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's, Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and motor neuron diseases. Misfolded, aggregated, or surplus proteins are efficiently degraded via distinct protein degradation pathways, including the ubiquitin-proteasome system, autophagy, and vesicular trafficking. These pathways are regulated by covalent modification of target proteins with the small protein ubiquitin and are evolutionary highly conserved from humans to yeast. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an established model for deciphering mechanisms of protein degradation, and for the elucidation of pathways underlying programmed cell death. The expression of human neurotoxic proteins triggers cell death in yeast, with neurotoxic protein-specific differences. Therefore, yeast cell death models are suitable for analyzing the role of protein degradation pathways in modulating cell death upon expression of disease-causing proteins. This review summarizes which protein degradation pathways are affected in these yeast models, and how they are involved in the execution of cell death. I will discuss to which extent this mimics the situation in other neurotoxic models, and how this may contribute to a better understanding of human disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralf J Braun
- Institut für Zellbiologie, Universität Bayreuth Bayreuth, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Maddison DC, Giorgini F. The kynurenine pathway and neurodegenerative disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2015; 40:134-41. [PMID: 25773161 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Neuroactive metabolites of the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation have been closely linked to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. Tryptophan is an essential amino acid required for protein synthesis, and in higher eukaryotes is also converted into the key neurotransmitters serotonin and tryptamine. However, in mammals >95% of tryptophan is metabolized through the KP, ultimately leading to the production of nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide (NAD(+)). A number of the pathway metabolites are neuroactive; e.g. can modulate activity of several glutamate receptors and generate/scavenge free radicals. Imbalances in absolute and relative levels of KP metabolites have been strongly associated with neurodegenerative disorders including Huntington's, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's diseases. The KP has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of other brain disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), as well as several cancers and autoimmune disorders such as HIV. Pharmacological and genetic manipulation of the KP has been shown to ameliorate neurodegenerative phenotypes in a number of model organisms, suggesting that it could prove to be a viable target for the treatment of such diseases. Here, we provide an overview of the KP, its role in neurodegeneration and the current strategies for therapeutic targeting of the pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Maddison
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Flaviano Giorgini
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Süssmuth SD, Haider S, Landwehrmeyer GB, Farmer R, Frost C, Tripepi G, Andersen CA, Di Bacco M, Lamanna C, Diodato E, Massai L, Diamanti D, Mori E, Magnoni L, Dreyhaupt J, Schiefele K, Craufurd D, Saft C, Rudzinska M, Ryglewicz D, Orth M, Brzozy S, Baran A, Pollio G, Andre R, Tabrizi SJ, Darpo B, Westerberg G. An exploratory double-blind, randomized clinical trial with selisistat, a SirT1 inhibitor, in patients with Huntington's disease. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2015; 79:465-76. [PMID: 25223731 PMCID: PMC4345957 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.12512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Accepted: 09/06/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Selisistat, a selective SirT1 inhibitor is being developed as a potentially disease-modifying therapeutic for Huntington's disease (HD). This was the first study of selisistat in HD patients and was primarily aimed at development of pharmacodynamic biomarkers. METHODS This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre exploratory study. Fifty-five male and female patients in early stage HD were randomized to receive 10 mg or 100 mg of selisistat or placebo once daily for 14 days. Blood sampling, clinical and safety assessments were conducted throughout the study. Candidate pharmacodynamic markers included circulating soluble huntingtin and innate immune markers. RESULTS Selisistat was found to be safe and well tolerated, and systemic exposure parameters showed that the average steady-state plasma concentration achieved at the 10 mg dose level (125 nm) was comparable with the IC50 for SirT1 inhibition. No adverse effects on motor, cognitive or functional readouts were recorded. While circulating levels of soluble huntingtin were not affected by selisistat in this study, the biological samples collected have allowed development of assay technology for use in future studies. No effects on innate immune markers were seen. CONCLUSIONS Selisistat was found to be safe and well tolerated in early stage HD patients at plasma concentrations within the anticipated therapeutic concentration range.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Salman Haider
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Institute of NeurologyLondon, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ruth Farmer
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondon, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Frost
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondon, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Claudia Lamanna
- Siena Biotech SpASiena, Italy
- European Huntington's Disease Network (EHDN)Chieti, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jens Dreyhaupt
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany
| | - Karin Schiefele
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany
| | - David Craufurd
- Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of ManchesterManchester, United Kingdom
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchester, United Kingdom
| | - Carsten Saft
- Department of Neurology, Huntington-Center NRW, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-UniversityBochum, Germany
| | - Monika Rudzinska
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of SilesiaKatowice, Poland
| | - Danuta Ryglewicz
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and NeurologyWarsaw, Poland
| | - Michael Orth
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University HospitalUlm, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Ralph Andre
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Institute of NeurologyLondon, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Institute of NeurologyLondon, United Kingdom
| | - Borje Darpo
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd HospitalStockholm, Sweden
- iCardiac TechnologiesRochester, NY, USA
| | - Goran Westerberg
- Siena Biotech SpASiena, Italy
- La Crocina Pharmaceutical Consultants D.I.San Giovanni d'Asso (S), Italy
| | - Paddington Consortium
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University HospitalUlm, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Institute of NeurologyLondon, United Kingdom
- Department of Medical Statistics, London School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondon, United Kingdom
- Siena Biotech SpASiena, Italy
- European Huntington's Disease Network (EHDN)Chieti, Italy
- Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm UniversityUlm, Germany
- Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, University of ManchesterManchester, United Kingdom
- Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchester, United Kingdom
- Department of Neurology, Huntington-Center NRW, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-UniversityBochum, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of SilesiaKatowice, Poland
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Psychiatry and NeurologyWarsaw, Poland
- KCR.S.A.Warsaw, Poland
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd HospitalStockholm, Sweden
- iCardiac TechnologiesRochester, NY, USA
- La Crocina Pharmaceutical Consultants D.I.San Giovanni d'Asso (S), Italy
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Mason RP, Breda C, Kooner GS, Mallucci GR, Kyriacou CP, Giorgini F. Modeling Huntington Disease in Yeast and Invertebrates. Mov Disord 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-405195-9.00033-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
|
30
|
Fernandes A, Miller-Fleming L, Pais TF. Microglia and inflammation: conspiracy, controversy or control? Cell Mol Life Sci 2014; 71:3969-85. [PMID: 25008043 PMCID: PMC11113719 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1670-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Microglial cells contribute to normal function of the central nervous system (CNS). Besides playing a role in the innate immunity, they are also involved in neuronal plasticity and homeostasis of the CNS. While microglial cells get activated and undergo phenotypic changes in different disease contexts, they are far from being the "villains" in the CNS. Mounting evidence indicates that microglial dysfunction can exacerbate the pathogenesis of several diseases in the CNS. Several molecular mechanisms tightly regulate the production of inflammatory and toxic factors released by microglia. These mechanisms involve the interaction with other glial cells and neurons and the fine regulation of signaling and transcription activation pathways. The purpose of this review is to discuss microglia activation and to highlight the molecular pathways that can counteract the detrimental role of microglia in several neurologic diseases. Recent work presented in this review support that the understanding of microglial responses can pave the way to design new therapies for inflammatory diseases of the CNS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adelaide Fernandes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
- Department of Biochemistry and Human Biology, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Leonor Miller-Fleming
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
- Present Address: Cambridge Systems Biology Centre and Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, 80 Tennis Court Rd, CB21GA Cambridge, UK
| | - Teresa F. Pais
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Valor LM. Transcription, epigenetics and ameliorative strategies in Huntington's Disease: a genome-wide perspective. Mol Neurobiol 2014; 51:406-23. [PMID: 24788684 PMCID: PMC4309905 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-014-8715-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional dysregulation in Huntington’s disease (HD) is an early event that shapes the brain transcriptome by both the depletion and ectopic activation of gene products that eventually affect survival and neuronal functions. Disruption in the activity of gene expression regulators, such as transcription factors, chromatin-remodeling proteins, and noncoding RNAs, accounts for the expression changes observed in multiple animal and cellular models of HD and in samples from patients. Here, I review the recent advances in the study of HD transcriptional dysregulation and its causes to finally discuss the possible implications in ameliorative strategies from a genome-wide perspective. To date, the use of genome-wide approaches, predominantly based on microarray platforms, has been successful in providing an extensive catalog of differentially regulated genes, including biomarkers aimed at monitoring the progress of the pathology. Although still incipient, the introduction of combined next-generation sequencing techniques is enhancing our comprehension of the mechanisms underlying altered transcriptional dysregulation in HD by providing the first genomic landscapes associated with epigenetics and the occupancy of transcription factors. In addition, the use of genome-wide approaches is becoming more and more necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ameliorative strategies and to identify novel mechanisms of amelioration that may help in the improvement of current preclinical therapeutics. Finally, the major conclusions obtained from HD transcriptomics studies have the potential to be extrapolated to other neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis M Valor
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550, Alicante, Spain,
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Staszewski O, Prinz M. Glial epigenetics in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Cell Tissue Res 2014; 356:609-16. [PMID: 24652504 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-014-1815-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation shapes the differentiation and response to stimuli of all tissues and cells beyond what genetics would dictate. Epigenetic regulation acts through covalent modifications of DNA and histones while leaving the nucleotide code intact. However, these chromatin modifications are known to be vital components of the regulation of cell fate and response. With regards to the central nervous system (CNS), little is known about how epigenetic regulation shapes the function of neural cell types. The focus of research so far has been on epigenetic regulation of neuronal function and the role of epigenetics in tumorigenesis. However, the glial cell compartment, which makes up 90 % of all CNS cells, has so far received scant attention as to how epigenetics shape their differentiation and function. Here, we highlight current knowledge about epigenetic changes in glial cells occurring during CNS injury, neuroinflammatory conditions and neurodegenerative disease. This review offers an overview of the current understanding of epigenetic regulation in glial cells in CNS disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ori Staszewski
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, D-79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Reyes Ocampo J, Lugo Huitrón R, González-Esquivel D, Ugalde-Muñiz P, Jiménez-Anguiano A, Pineda B, Pedraza-Chaverri J, Ríos C, Pérez de la Cruz V. Kynurenines with neuroactive and redox properties: relevance to aging and brain diseases. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2014; 2014:646909. [PMID: 24693337 PMCID: PMC3945746 DOI: 10.1155/2014/646909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2013] [Revised: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 12/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP) is the main route of tryptophan degradation whose final product is NAD(+). The metabolism of tryptophan can be altered in ageing and with neurodegenerative process, leading to decreased biosynthesis of nicotinamide. This fact is very relevant considering that tryptophan is the major source of body stores of the nicotinamide-containing NAD(+) coenzymes, which is involved in almost all the bioenergetic and biosynthetic metabolism. Recently, it has been proposed that endogenous tryptophan and its metabolites can interact and/or produce reactive oxygen species in tissues and cells. This subject is of great importance due to the fact that oxidative stress, alterations in KP metabolites, energetic deficit, cell death, and inflammatory events may converge each other to enter into a feedback cycle where each one depends on the other to exert synergistic actions among them. It is worth mentioning that all these factors have been described in aging and in neurodegenerative processes; however, has so far no one established any direct link between alterations in KP and these factors. In this review, we describe each kynurenine remarking their redox properties, their effects in experimental models, their alterations in the aging process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jazmin Reyes Ocampo
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
- Área de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, 09340 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Rafael Lugo Huitrón
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Dinora González-Esquivel
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Perla Ugalde-Muñiz
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Anabel Jiménez-Anguiano
- Área de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, 09340 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Benjamín Pineda
- Laboratorio de Neuroinmunología, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| | - José Pedraza-Chaverri
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Camilo Ríos
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| | - Verónica Pérez de la Cruz
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suárez, S.S.A., Insurgentes Sur 3877, 14269 México, DF, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Giorgini F, Huang SY, Sathyasaikumar KV, Notarangelo FM, Thomas MAR, Tararina M, Wu HQ, Schwarcz R, Muchowski PJ. Targeted deletion of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase in mice: a new tool for studying kynurenine pathway metabolism in periphery and brain. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:36554-66. [PMID: 24189070 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.503813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), a pivotal enzyme in the kynurenine pathway (KP) of tryptophan degradation, has been suggested to play a major role in physiological and pathological events involving bioactive KP metabolites. To explore this role in greater detail, we generated mice with a targeted genetic disruption of Kmo and present here the first biochemical and neurochemical characterization of these mutant animals. Kmo(-/-) mice lacked KMO activity but showed no obvious abnormalities in the activity of four additional KP enzymes tested. As expected, Kmo(-/-) mice showed substantial reductions in the levels of its enzymatic product, 3-hydroxykynurenine, in liver, brain, and plasma. Compared with wild-type animals, the levels of the downstream metabolite quinolinic acid were also greatly decreased in liver and plasma of the mutant mice but surprisingly were only slightly reduced (by ∼20%) in the brain. The levels of three other KP metabolites: kynurenine, kynurenic acid, and anthranilic acid, were substantially, but differentially, elevated in the liver, brain, and plasma of Kmo(-/-) mice, whereas the liver and brain content of the major end product of the enzymatic cascade, NAD(+), did not differ between Kmo(-/-) and wild-type animals. When assessed by in vivo microdialysis, extracellular kynurenic acid levels were found to be significantly elevated in the brains of Kmo(-/-) mice. Taken together, these results provide further evidence that KMO plays a key regulatory role in the KP and indicate that Kmo(-/-) mice will be useful for studying tissue-specific functions of individual KP metabolites in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flaviano Giorgini
- From the Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester LE1 7RH, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Valor LM, Guiretti D. What's wrong with epigenetics in Huntington's disease? Neuropharmacology 2013; 80:103-14. [PMID: 24184315 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2013.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Revised: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 10/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) can be considered the paradigm of epigenetic dysregulation in neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we attempted to compile the evidence that indicates, on the one hand, that several epigenetic marks (histone acetylation, methylation, ubiquitylation, phosphorylation and DNA modifications) are altered in multiple models and in postmortem patient samples, and on the other hand, that pharmacological treatments aimed to reverse such alterations have beneficial effects on HD phenotypic and biochemical traits. However, the working hypotheses regarding the biological significance of epigenetic dysregulation in this disease and the mechanisms of action of the tested ameliorative strategies need to be refined. Understanding the complexity of the epigenetics in HD will provide useful insights to examine the role of epigenetic dysregulation in other neuropathologies, such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis M Valor
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante (Universidad Miguel Hernández, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550 Alicante, Spain.
| | - Deisy Guiretti
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante (Universidad Miguel Hernández, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), Av. Santiago Ramón y Cajal s/n, Sant Joan d'Alacant, 03550 Alicante, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Abstract
Innate immune responses in the central nervous system (CNS) have key roles influencing both physiological and pathological processes. Microglia are innate immune effector cells that reside within the CNS. These inflammatory cells are constantly surveying their external environment and rapidly respond to a variety of molecules that signal changes in CNS homeostasis. In response to these signals, microglia influence neuronal connections, modulate the functions of other glia, and mediate inflammatory responses to disease or injury. In parallel with the regulation of inflammatory responses outside of the CNS, investigators have observed that microglia are capable of heterogeneous responses to exogenous and endogenous signals. While much of this molecular and morphological heterogeneity is regulated by gene transcription, there is ample evidence that microglial behavior is determined, in part, by epigenetic regulation. Recent work has demonstrated that processes involving DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNAs also have important roles in modulating neuroinflammation. Here I will review the evidence supporting a role for epigenetic regulation of neuroinflammation and describe how this might influence the outcome of several CNS disorders, including addiction, infection, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gwenn A Garden
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA,
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Winkler D, Beconi M, Toledo-Sherman LM, Prime M, Ebneth A, Dominguez C, Muñoz-Sanjuan I. Development of LC/MS/MS, high-throughput enzymatic and cellular assays for the characterization of compounds that inhibit kynurenine monooxygenase (KMO). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 18:879-89. [PMID: 23690293 DOI: 10.1177/1087057113489731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Kynurenine monooxygenase (KMO) catalyzes the conversion of kynurenine to 3-hydroxykynurenine. Modulation of KMO activity has been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington disease. Our goal is to develop potent and selective small-molecule KMO inhibitors with suitable pharmacokinetic characteristics for in vivo proof-of-concept studies and subsequent clinical development. We developed a comprehensive panel of biochemical and cell-based assays that use liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry to quantify unlabeled kynurenine and 3-hydroxykynurenine. We describe assays to measure KMO inhibition in cell and tissue extracts, as well as cellular assays including heterologous cell lines and primary rat microglia and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
Collapse
|
38
|
Amaral M, Outeiro TF, Scrutton NS, Giorgini F. The causative role and therapeutic potential of the kynurenine pathway in neurodegenerative disease. J Mol Med (Berl) 2013; 91:705-13. [PMID: 23636512 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-013-1046-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Revised: 04/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Metabolites of the kynurenine pathway (KP), which arise from the degradation of tryptophan, have been studied in detail for over a century and garnered the interest of the neuroscience community in the late 1970s and early 1980s with work uncovering the neuromodulatory potential of this pathway. Much research in the following decades has found that perturbations in the levels of KP metabolites likely contribute to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. More recently, it has become apparent that targeting KP enzymes, in particular kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), may hold substantial therapeutic potential for these disorders. Here we provide an overview of the KP, the neuroactive properties of KP metabolites and their role in neurodegeneration. We also discuss KMO as a therapeutic target for these disorders, and our recent resolution of the crystallographic structure of KMO, which will permit the development of new and improved KMO inhibitors which may ultimately expedite clinical application of these compounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Amaral
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Structural basis of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase inhibition. Nature 2013; 496:382-5. [PMID: 23575632 PMCID: PMC3736096 DOI: 10.1038/nature12039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), an enzyme in the eukaryotic tryptophan catabolic pathway (i.e. kynurenine pathway), leads to amelioration of Huntington’s disease-relevant phenotypes in yeast, fruit fly, and mouse models1–5, as well as a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease3. KMO is a FAD-dependent monooxygenase, and is located in the outer mitochondrial membrane where it converts L-kynurenine to 3-hydroxykynurenine. Perturbations in the levels of kynurenine pathway metabolites have been linked to the pathogenesis of a spectrum of brain disorders6, as well as cancer7,8, and several peripheral inflammatory conditions9. Despite the importance of KMO as a target for neurodegenerative disease, the molecular basis of KMO inhibition by available lead compounds has remained hitherto unknown. Here we report the first crystal structure of KMO, in the free form and in complex with the tight-binding inhibitor UPF 648. UPF 648 binds close to the FAD cofactor and perturbs the local active site structure, preventing productive binding of the substrate kynurenine. Functional assays and targeted mutagenesis revealed that the active site architecture and UPF 648 binding are essentially identical in human KMO, validating the yeast KMO:UPF 648 structure as a template for structure-based drug design. This will inform the search for new KMO inhibitors that are able to cross the blood-brain barrier in targeted therapies against neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases.
Collapse
|
40
|
Vittori A, Orth M, Roos RAC, Outeiro TF, Giorgini F, Hollox EJ. β-Defensin Genomic Copy Number Does Not Influence the Age of Onset in Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2013; 2:107-124. [PMID: 24587836 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-130047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by the abnormal expansion of a CAG triplet repeat tract in the huntingtin gene. While the length of this CAG expansion is the major determinant of the age of onset (AO), other genetic factors have also been shown to play a modulatory role. Recent evidence suggests that neuroinflammation is a pivotal factor in the pathogenesis of HD, and that targeting this process may have important therapeutic ramifications. The human β-defensin 2 (hBD2) - encoded by DEFB4 - is an antimicrobial peptide that exhibits inducible expression in astrocytes during inflammation and is an important regulator of innate and adaptive immune response. Therefore, DEFB4 may contribute to the neuroinflammatory processes observed in HD. OBJECTIVE In this study we tested the hypothesis that copy number variation (CNV) of the β-defensin region, including DEFB4, modifies the AO in HD. METHODS AND RESULTS We genotyped β-defensin CNV in 490 HD individuals using the paralogue ratio test and found no association between β-defensin CNV and onset of HD. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that it is unlikely that DEFB4 plays a role in HD pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Vittori
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK ; Cell and Molecular Neuroscience Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Michael Orth
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Raymund A C Roos
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Neurology, The Netherlands
| | - Tiago F Outeiro
- Cell and Molecular Neuroscience Unit, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Lisboa, Portugal ; Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto de Fisiologia, Lisboa, Portugal ; University Medical Center Göttingen, Department of NeuroDegeneration and Restorative Research, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Edward J Hollox
- Department of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Colín-González AL, Maldonado PD, Santamaría A. 3-Hydroxykynurenine: an intriguing molecule exerting dual actions in the central nervous system. Neurotoxicology 2012; 34:189-204. [PMID: 23219925 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2012.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Revised: 11/23/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Kynurenine pathway is gaining attention due to the many metabolic processes in which it has been involved. The tryptophan conversion into several other metabolites through this pathway provides neuronal and redox modulators useful for maintenance of major functions in the brain. However, when physiopathological conditions prevail - i.e. oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, and inflammation - preferential formation and accumulation of toxic metabolites could trigger factors for degeneration in neurological disorders. 3-Hydroxykynurenine has been largely described as one of these toxic metabolites capable of inducing oxidative damage and cell death; consequently, this metabolite has been hypothesized to play a pivotal role in different neurological and psychiatric disorders. Supporting evidence has shown altered 3-hydroxykynurenine levels in samples of patients from several disorders. In contrast, some experimental studies have provided evidence of antioxidant and scavenging properties inherent to this molecule. In this review, we explored most of literature favoring one or the other concept, in order to provide an accurate vision on the real participation of this tryptophan metabolite in both experimental paradigms and human brain pathologies. Through this collected evidence, we provide an integrative hypothesis on how 3-hydroxykynurenine is exerting its dual actions in the central nervous system and what will be the course of investigations in this field for the next years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Laura Colín-González
- Laboratorio de Aminoácidos Excitadores, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Insurgentes Sur 3877, Mexico City 14269, Mexico
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Braun RJ. Mitochondrion-mediated cell death: dissecting yeast apoptosis for a better understanding of neurodegeneration. Front Oncol 2012; 2:182. [PMID: 23226681 PMCID: PMC3508457 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2012.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Accepted: 11/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial damage and dysfunction are common hallmarks for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer, Parkinson, Huntington diseases, and the motor neuron disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Damaged mitochondria pivotally contribute to neurotoxicity and neuronal cell death in these disorders, e.g., due to their inability to provide the high energy requirements for neurons, their generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and their induction of mitochondrion-mediated cell death pathways. Therefore, in-depth analyses of the underlying molecular pathways, including cellular mechanisms controlling the maintenance of mitochondrial function, is a prerequisite for a better understanding of neurodegenerative disorders. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is an established model for deciphering mitochondrial quality control mechanisms and the distinct mitochondrial roles during apoptosis and programmed cell death. Cell death upon expression of various human neurotoxic proteins has been characterized in yeast, revealing neurotoxic protein-specific differences. This review summarizes how mitochondria are affected in these neurotoxic yeast models, and how they are involved in the execution and prevention of cell death. I will discuss to which extent this mimics the situation in other neurotoxic model systems, and how this may contribute to a better understanding of the mitochondrial roles in the human disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ralf J Braun
- Institut für Zellbiologie, Universität Bayreuth Bayreuth, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
An in vitro perspective on the molecular mechanisms underlying mutant huntingtin protein toxicity. Cell Death Dis 2012; 3:e382. [PMID: 22932724 PMCID: PMC3434668 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2012.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder whose main hallmark is brain atrophy. However, several peripheral organs are considerably affected and their symptoms may, in fact, manifest before those resulting from brain pathology. HD is of genetic origin and caused by a mutation in the huntingtin gene. The mutated protein has detrimental effects on cell survival, but whether the mutation leads to a gain of toxic function or a loss of function of the altered protein is still highly controversial. Most currently used in vitro models have been designed, to a large extent, to investigate the effects of the aggregation process in neuronal-like cells. However, as the pathology involves several other organs, new in vitro models are critically needed to take into account the deleterious effects of mutant huntingtin in peripheral tissues, and thus to identify new targets that could lead to more effective clinical interventions in the early course of the disease. This review aims to present current in vitro models of HD pathology and to discuss the knowledge that has been gained from these studies as well as the new in vitro tools that have been developed, which should reflect the more global view that we now have of the disease.
Collapse
|
44
|
Tan L, Yu JT, Tan L. The kynurenine pathway in neurodegenerative diseases: mechanistic and therapeutic considerations. J Neurol Sci 2012; 323:1-8. [PMID: 22939820 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2012.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2012] [Revised: 07/10/2012] [Accepted: 08/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP), the primary route of tryptophan degradation in mammalian cells, consists of many metabolites including kynurenic acid (KYNA), quinolinic acid (QUIN), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK) and picolinic acid (PIC). The former two are neuroactive, while the latter two are molecules with pro-oxidants and antioxidants properties. These agents are considered to be involved in aging and numerous neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Several studies have demonstrated that altered kynurenine metabolism plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this group of diseases. The important metabolites and key enzymes show significant importance in those disorders. Both analogs of the neuroprotective metabolites and small molecule enzyme inhibitors preventing the formation of neurotoxic compounds may have potential therapeutic significance. In this review we discuss the mechanistic and therapeutic considerations of KP in aging and the main neurodegenerative diseases and review the updated knowledge in this therapeutic field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, China.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
45
|
Schwarcz R, Bruno JP, Muchowski PJ, Wu HQ. Kynurenines in the mammalian brain: when physiology meets pathology. Nat Rev Neurosci 2012; 13:465-77. [PMID: 22678511 DOI: 10.1038/nrn3257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1030] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The essential amino acid tryptophan is not only a precursor of serotonin but is also degraded to several other neuroactive compounds, including kynurenic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine and quinolinic acid. The synthesis of these metabolites is regulated by an enzymatic cascade, known as the kynurenine pathway, that is tightly controlled by the immune system. Dysregulation of this pathway, resulting in hyper-or hypofunction of active metabolites, is associated with neurodegenerative and other neurological disorders, as well as with psychiatric diseases such as depression and schizophrenia. With recently developed pharmacological agents, it is now possible to restore metabolic equilibrium and envisage novel therapeutic interventions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Schwarcz
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21228, USA. rschwarc@mprc. umaryland.edu
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Cohen-Carmon D, Meshorer E. Polyglutamine (polyQ) disorders: the chromatin connection. Nucleus 2012; 3:433-41. [PMID: 22892726 DOI: 10.4161/nucl.21481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (PolyQ)-related diseases are dominant late-onset genetic disorders that are manifested by progressive neurodegeneration, leading to behavioral and physical impairments. An increased body of evidence suggests that chromatin structure and epigenetic regulation are involved in disease pathology. PolyQ diseases often display an aberrant transcriptional regulation due to the disrupted function of histone-modifying complexes and altered interactions of the polyQ-extended proteins with chromatin-related factors. In this review we describe recent findings relating to the role of chromatin in polyQ diseases. We discuss the involvement of epigenetic-related factors and chromatin structure in genomic instability of CAG repeats; we describe changes in the expression and regulation of chromatin-related enzymes and in the levels and patterns of histone modifications in disease state; we illustrate the potential beneficial effects of different histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors for the treatment of polyQ diseases, and we end by describing the potential use of human pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated derivatives for modeling polyQ diseases in vitro. Taken together, these accumulating studies strongly suggest that disrupted chromatin regulation may be directly involved with the pathophysiology of polyQ-related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Cohen-Carmon
- Department of Genetics, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem-Edmond J. Safra Campus, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Contribution of yeast models to neurodegeneration research. J Biomed Biotechnol 2012; 2012:941232. [PMID: 22910375 PMCID: PMC3403639 DOI: 10.1155/2012/941232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2012] [Revised: 04/11/2012] [Accepted: 05/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
As a model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae has greatly contributed to our understanding of many fundamental aspects of cellular biology in higher eukaryotes. More recently, engineered yeast models developed to study endogenous or heterologous proteins that lay at the root of a given disease have become powerful tools for unraveling the molecular basis of complex human diseases like neurodegeneration. Additionally, with the possibility of performing target-directed large-scale screenings, yeast models have emerged as promising first-line approaches in the discovery process of novel therapeutic opportunities against these pathologies. In this paper, several yeast models that have contributed to the uncovering of the etiology and pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases are described, including the most common forms of neurodegeneration worldwide, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases. Moreover, the potential input of these cell systems in the development of more effective therapies in neurodegeneration, through the identification of genetic and chemical suppressors, is also addressed.
Collapse
|
48
|
Bone marrow transplantation confers modest benefits in mouse models of Huntington's disease. J Neurosci 2012; 32:133-42. [PMID: 22219276 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4846-11.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an expanded polyglutamine tract in the protein huntingtin (htt). Although HD has historically been viewed as a brain-specific disease, htt is expressed ubiquitously, and recent studies indicate that mutant htt might cause changes to the immune system that could contribute to pathogenesis. Monocytes from HD patients and mouse models are hyperactive in response to stimulation, and increased levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines are found in pre-manifest patients that correlate with pathogenesis. In this study, wild-type (WT) bone marrow cells were transplanted into two lethally irradiated transgenic mouse models of HD that ubiquitously express full-length htt (YAC128 and BACHD mice). Bone marrow transplantation partially attenuated hypokinetic and motor deficits in HD mice. Increased levels of synapses in the cortex were found in HD mice that received bone marrow transplants. Importantly, serum levels of interleukin-6, interleukin-10, CXC chemokine ligand 1, and interferon-γ were significantly higher in HD than WT mice but were normalized in mice that received a bone marrow transplant. These results suggest that immune cell dysfunction might be an important modifier of pathogenesis in HD.
Collapse
|
49
|
Seredenina T, Luthi-Carter R. What have we learned from gene expression profiles in Huntington's disease? Neurobiol Dis 2012; 45:83-98. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2011.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2011] [Revised: 06/24/2011] [Accepted: 07/01/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
|
50
|
Huntington disease and the huntingtin protein. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2012; 107:189-214. [PMID: 22482451 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385883-2.00010-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that derives from CAG repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. The clinical syndrome consists of progressive personality changes, movement disorder, and dementia and can develop in children and adults. The huntingtin protein is required for human development and normal brain function. It is subject to posttranslational modification, and some events, such as phosphorylation, can play an enormous role in regulating toxicity of the huntingtin protein. The function of huntingtin in the cell is unknown, and it may play a role as a scaffold. Multiple mouse models of HD have now been created with fragments and full-length protein. The models show variable fidelity to the disease in terms of genetics, pathology, and rates of progression. Pathogenesis of HD involves cleavage of the protein and is associated with neuronal accumulation of aggregated forms. The potential mechanisms of neurodegeneration are myriad, including primary effects of protein homeostasis, gene expression, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Specific therapeutic approaches are similarly varied and include efforts to reduce huntingtin gene expression, protein accumulation, and protein aggregation.
Collapse
|