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Murray SJ, Wellby MP, Barrell GK, Russell KN, Deane AR, Wynyard JR, Gray SJ, Palmer DN, Mitchell NL. Efficacy of dual intracerebroventricular and intravitreal CLN5 gene therapy in sheep prompts the first clinical trial to treat CLN5 Batten disease. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1212235. [PMID: 37942487 PMCID: PMC10628725 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1212235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the CLN5 gene cause the fatal, pediatric, neurodegenerative disease CLN5 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Affected children suffer progressive neuronal loss, visual failure and premature death. Presently there is no treatment. This study evaluated dual intracerebroventricular (ICV) and intravitreal (IVT) administration of a self-complementary adeno-associated viral vector encoding ovine CLN5 (scAAV9/oCLN5) into CLN5 affected sheep (CLN5-/-) at various disease stages. CLN5 disease progression was slowed in pre-symptomatic sheep who received a moderate dose of scAAV9/oCLN5, whilst a higher ICV dose treatment in early and advanced symptomatic animals delayed or halted disease progression. Intracranial (brain) volume loss was attenuated in all treatment cohorts, and visual function was also sustained in both the early and advanced symptomatic treated sheep over the 24-month duration of the study. Robust CLN5 protein expression was detected throughout the brain and spinal cord, and improvements in central nervous system and retinal disease correlates were observed. These findings hold translational promise for extending and improving the quality of life in both pre-symptomatic and symptomatic CLN5 patients, and prompted the initiation of the first in-human Phase I/II clinical trial testing ICV/IVT administration of scAAV9 encoding human CLN5 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/; NCT05228145).
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J. Murray
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Martin P. Wellby
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Graham K. Barrell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Katharina N. Russell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Ashley R. Deane
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - John R. Wynyard
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Steven J. Gray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - David N. Palmer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
- Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Nadia L. Mitchell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
- Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Mitchell NL, Murray SJ, Wellby MP, Barrell GK, Russell KN, Deane AR, Wynyard JR, Palmer MJ, Pulickan A, Prendergast PM, Casy W, Gray SJ, Palmer DN. Long-term safety and dose escalation of intracerebroventricular CLN5 gene therapy in sheep supports clinical translation for CLN5 Batten disease. Front Genet 2023; 14:1212228. [PMID: 37614821 PMCID: PMC10442658 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1212228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
CLN5 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL, Batten disease) is a rare, inherited fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the CLN5 gene. The disease is characterised by progressive neuronal loss, blindness, and premature death. There is no cure. This study evaluated the efficacy of intracerebroventricular (ICV) delivery of an adeno-associated viral vector encoding ovine CLN5 (scAAV9/oCLN5) in a naturally occurring sheep model of CLN5 disease. CLN5 affected (CLN5-/-) sheep received low, moderate, or high doses of scAAV9/oCLN5 at three disease stages. The treatment delayed disease progression, extended survival and slowed stereotypical brain atrophy in most animals. Of note, one high dose treated animal only developed mild disease symptomology and survived to 60.1 months of age, triple the natural life expectancy of an untreated CLN5-/- sheep. Eyesight was not preserved at any administration age or dosage. Histopathologic examination revealed that greater transduction efficiency was achieved through higher ICV doses, and this resulted in greater amelioration of disease pathology. Together with other pre-clinical data from CLN5-/- sheep, the safety and efficacy data from these investigational new drug (IND)-enabling studies supported the initiation of the first in-human CLN5 gene therapy clinical study using the ICV delivery route for the treatment of CLN5 NCL. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT05228145.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia L. Mitchell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
- Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Samantha J. Murray
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Martin P. Wellby
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Graham K. Barrell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Katharina N. Russell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Ashley R. Deane
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - John R. Wynyard
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Madeleine J. Palmer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Anila Pulickan
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | | | - Widler Casy
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Steven J. Gray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - David N. Palmer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
- Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Mitchell NL, Russell KN, Barrell GK, Tammen I, Palmer DN. Characterization of neuropathology in ovine CLN5 and CLN6 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (Batten disease). Dev Neurobiol 2023; 83:127-142. [PMID: 37246363 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Sheep with naturally occurring CLN5 and CLN6 forms of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (Batten disease) share the key clinical features of the human disease and represent an ideal model system in which the clinical efficacy of gene therapies is developed and test. However, it was first important to characterize the neuropathological changes that occur with disease progression in affected sheep. This study compared neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and lysosomal storage accumulation in CLN5 affected Borderdale, CLN6 affected South Hampshire, and Merino sheep brains from birth to end-stage disease at ≤24 months of age. Despite very different gene products, mutations, and subcellular localizations, the pathogenic cascade was remarkably similar for all three disease models. Glial activation was present at birth in affected sheep and preceded neuronal loss, with both spreading from the visual and parieto-occipital cortices most prominently associated with clinical symptoms to the entire cortical mantle by end-stage disease. In contrast, the subcortical regions were less involved, yet lysosomal storage followed a near-linear increase across the diseased sheep brain with age. Correlation of these neuropathological changes with published clinical data identified three potential therapeutic windows in affected sheep-presymptomatic (3 months), early symptomatic (6 months), and a later symptomatic disease stage (9 months of age)-beyond which the extensive depletion of neurons was likely to diminish any chance of therapeutic benefit. This comprehensive natural history of the neuropathological changes in ovine CLN5 and CLN6 disease will be integral in determining what impact treatment has at each of these disease stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia L Mitchell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Katharina N Russell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Graham K Barrell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Imke Tammen
- Faculty of Science, Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David N Palmer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
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Murray SJ, Almuqbel MM, Felton SA, Palmer NJ, Myall DJ, Shoorangiz R, Ella A, Keller M, Palmer DN, Melzer TR, Mitchell NL. Progressive MRI brain volume changes in ovine models of CLN5 and CLN6 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcac339. [PMID: 36632184 PMCID: PMC9830986 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (Batten disease) are a group of inherited lysosomal storage disorders characterized by progressive neurodegeneration leading to motor and cognitive dysfunction, seizure activity and blindness. The disease can be caused by mutations in 1 of 13 ceroid lipofuscinosis neuronal (CLN) genes. Naturally occurring sheep models of the CLN5 and CLN6 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses recapitulate the clinical disease progression and post-mortem pathology of the human disease. We used longitudinal MRI to assess global and regional brain volume changes in CLN5 and CLN6 affected sheep compared to age-matched controls over 18 months. In both models, grey matter volume progressively decreased over time, while cerebrospinal fluid volume increased in affected sheep compared with controls. Total grey matter volume showed a strong positive correlation with clinical scores, while cerebrospinal fluid volume was negatively correlated with clinical scores. Cortical regions in affected animals showed significant atrophy at baseline (5 months of age) and progressively declined over the disease course. Subcortical regions were relatively spared with the exception of the caudate nucleus in CLN5 affected animals that degenerated rapidly at end-stage disease. Our results, which indicate selective vulnerability and provide a timeline of degeneration of specific brain regions in two sheep models of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, will provide a clinically relevant benchmark for assessing therapeutic efficacy in subsequent trials of gene therapy for CLN5 and CLN6 disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Murray
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
| | - Mustafa M Almuqbel
- Pacific Radiology Group, Christchurch 8014, New Zealand,New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
| | | | | | - Daniel J Myall
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
| | - Reza Shoorangiz
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch 8011, New Zealand
| | | | - Matthieu Keller
- UMR Physiologie de la Reproduction & des Comportements, INRAE/CNRS/University of Tours, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - David N Palmer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
| | | | - Nadia L Mitchell
- Correspondence to: Nadia Mitchell Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences, PO Box 85084, Lincoln University Lincoln 7647, Canterbury, New Zealand E-mail:
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Murray SJ, Mitchell NL. The Translational Benefits of Sheep as Large Animal Models of Human Neurological Disorders. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:831838. [PMID: 35242840 PMCID: PMC8886239 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.831838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The past two decades have seen a considerable rise in the use of sheep to model human neurological disorders. While each animal model has its merits, sheep have many advantages over small animal models when it comes to studies on the brain. In particular, sheep have brains more comparable in size and structure to the human brain. They also have much longer life spans and are docile animals, making them useful for a wide range of in vivo studies. Sheep are amenable to regular blood and cerebrospinal fluid sampling which aids in biomarker discovery and monitoring of treatment efficacy. Several neurological diseases have been found to occur naturally in sheep, however sheep can also be genetically engineered or experimentally manipulated to recapitulate disease or injury. Many of these types of sheep models are currently being used for pre-clinical therapeutic trials, particularly gene therapy, with studies from several models culminating in potential treatments moving into clinical trials. This review will provide an overview of the benefits of using sheep to model neurological conditions, and highlight naturally occurring and experimentally induced sheep models that have demonstrated translational validity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Murray
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - Nadia L Mitchell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand
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Hunt H, Dittmer KE, Garrick DJ, Fairley RA, Heap SJ, Jolly RD. An inherited night blindness in Wiltshire sheep. Vet Pathol 2022; 59:310-318. [PMID: 34974772 DOI: 10.1177/03009858211067461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Twelve cases of adult-onset blindness were identified in a flock of 130 polled Wiltshire sheep in New Zealand over a 3-year period. Affected sheep developed night blindness between 2 and 3 years of age, which progressed to complete blindness by 4 to 5 years of age. Fundic examination findings included progressive tapetal hyperreflectivity and attenuation of retinal blood vessels. Histologically, the retinas had a selective loss of rod photoreceptors with initial preservation of cone photoreceptors. Retinal degeneration was not accompanied by any other ocular or central nervous system abnormalities, and pedigree analysis suggested an inherited basis for the disease. Mating an affected Wiltshire ram to 2 affected Wiltshire ewes resulted in 6 progeny that all developed retinal degeneration by 2 years of age, while mating of the same affected ram to 6 unaffected ewes resulted in 8 unaffected progeny, consistent with autosomal recessive inheritance. Homozygosity mapping of 5 affected Wiltshire sheep and 1 unaffected Wiltshire sheep using an OvineSNP50 Genotyping BeadChip revealed an identical-by-descent region on chromosome 5, but none of the genes within this region were considered plausible candidate genes. Whole-genome sequencing of 2 affected sheep did not reveal any significant mutations in any of the genes associated with retinitis pigmentosa in humans or progressive retinal atrophy in dogs. Inherited progressive retinal degeneration affecting rod photoreceptors has not been previously reported in sheep, but this disease has several similarities to inherited retinal dystrophies in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayley Hunt
- Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | - Stephen J Heap
- McMaster and Heap Veterinary Practice, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Mckean NE, Handley RR, Snell RG. A Review of the Current Mammalian Models of Alzheimer's Disease and Challenges That Need to Be Overcome. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13168. [PMID: 34884970 PMCID: PMC8658123 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222313168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the looming health crises of the near future. Increasing lifespans and better medical treatment for other conditions mean that the prevalence of this disease is expected to triple by 2050. The impact of AD includes both the large toll on individuals and their families as well as a large financial cost to society. So far, we have no way to prevent, slow, or cure the disease. Current medications can only alleviate some of the symptoms temporarily. Many animal models of AD have been created, with the first transgenic mouse model in 1995. Mouse models have been beset by challenges, and no mouse model fully captures the symptomatology of AD without multiple genetic mutations and/or transgenes, some of which have never been implicated in human AD. Over 25 years later, many mouse models have been given an AD-like disease and then 'cured' in the lab, only for the treatments to fail in clinical trials. This review argues that small animal models are insufficient for modelling complex disorders such as AD. In order to find effective treatments for AD, we need to create large animal models with brains and lifespan that are closer to humans, and underlying genetics that already predispose them to AD-like phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Elizabeth Mckean
- Applied Translational Genetics Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; (N.E.M.); (R.R.H.)
- Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Renee Robyn Handley
- Applied Translational Genetics Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; (N.E.M.); (R.R.H.)
- Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Russell Grant Snell
- Applied Translational Genetics Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, 3a Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; (N.E.M.); (R.R.H.)
- Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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Jolly RD, Dittmer KE, Jones BR, Worth AJ, Thompson KG, Johnstone AC, Palmer DN, Van de Water NS, Hemsley KM, Garrick DJ, Winchester BG, Walkley SU. Animal medical genetics: a historical perspective on more than 50 years of research into genetic disorders of animals at Massey University. N Z Vet J 2021; 69:255-266. [PMID: 33969809 DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2021.1928564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Over the last 50 years, there have been major advances in knowledge and technology regarding genetic diseases, and the subsequent ability to control them in a cost-effective manner. This review traces these advances through research into genetic diseases of animals at Massey University (Palmerston North, NZ), and briefly discusses the disorders investigated during that time, with additional detail for disorders of major importance such as bovine α-mannosidosis, ovine ceroid-lipofuscinosis, canine mucopolysaccharidosis IIIA and feline hyperchylomicronaemia. The overall research has made a significant contribution to veterinary medicine, has provided new biological knowledge and advanced our understanding of similar disorders in human patients, including testing various specific therapies prior to human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- R D Jolly
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - K E Dittmer
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - B R Jones
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - A J Worth
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - K G Thompson
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - A C Johnstone
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - D N Palmer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - N S Van de Water
- Department of Diagnostic Genetics, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - K M Hemsley
- Childhood Dementia Research Group, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, Australia
| | - D J Garrick
- School of Agriculture & Environment, Al Rae Centre for Genetics and Breeding, Massey University, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - B G Winchester
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - S U Walkley
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.,Rose F. Kennedy Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center, Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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Murray SJ, Russell KN, Melzer TR, Gray SJ, Heap SJ, Palmer DN, Mitchell NL. Intravitreal gene therapy protects against retinal dysfunction and degeneration in sheep with CLN5 Batten disease. Exp Eye Res 2021; 207:108600. [PMID: 33930398 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2021.108600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL; Batten disease) are a group of inherited neurodegenerative diseases primarily affecting children. A common feature across most NCLs is the progressive loss of vision. We performed intravitreal injections of self-complementary AAV9 vectors packaged with either ovine CLN5 or CLN6 into one eye of 3-month-old CLN5-/- or CLN6-/- animals, respectively. Electroretinography (ERG) was performed every month following treatment, and retinal histology was assessed post-mortem in the treated compared to untreated eye. In CLN5-/- animals, ERG amplitudes were normalised in the treated eye whilst the untreated eye declined in a similar manner to CLN5 affected controls. In CLN6-/- animals, ERG amplitudes in both eyes declined over time although the treated eye showed a slower decline. Post-mortem examination revealed significant attenuation of retinal atrophy and lysosomal storage body accumulation in the treated eye compared with the untreated eye in CLN5-/- animals. This proof-of-concept study provides the first observation of efficacious intravitreal gene therapy in a large animal model of NCL. In particular, the single administration of AAV9-mediated intravitreal gene therapy can successfully ameliorate retinal deficits in CLN5-/- sheep. Combining ocular gene therapy with brain-directed therapy presents a promising treatment strategy to be used in future sheep trials aiming to halt neurological and retinal disease in CLN5 Batten disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Murray
- Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, 7647, New Zealand
| | - Katharina N Russell
- Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, 7647, New Zealand
| | - Tracy R Melzer
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch and the New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Steven J Gray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Stephen J Heap
- McMaster & Heap Veterinary Practice, Christchurch, 8025, New Zealand
| | - David N Palmer
- Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, 7647, New Zealand; Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand
| | - Nadia L Mitchell
- Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, 7647, New Zealand; Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand.
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Basak I, Wicky HE, McDonald KO, Xu JB, Palmer JE, Best HL, Lefrancois S, Lee SY, Schoderboeck L, Hughes SM. A lysosomal enigma CLN5 and its significance in understanding neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:4735-4763. [PMID: 33792748 PMCID: PMC8195759 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03813-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (NCL), also known as Batten disease, is an incurable childhood brain disease. The thirteen forms of NCL are caused by mutations in thirteen CLN genes. Mutations in one CLN gene, CLN5, cause variant late-infantile NCL, with an age of onset between 4 and 7 years. The CLN5 protein is ubiquitously expressed in the majority of tissues studied and in the brain, CLN5 shows both neuronal and glial cell expression. Mutations in CLN5 are associated with the accumulation of autofluorescent storage material in lysosomes, the recycling units of the cell, in the brain and peripheral tissues. CLN5 resides in the lysosome and its function is still elusive. Initial studies suggested CLN5 was a transmembrane protein, which was later revealed to be processed into a soluble form. Multiple glycosylation sites have been reported, which may dictate its localisation and function. CLN5 interacts with several CLN proteins, and other lysosomal proteins, making it an important candidate to understand lysosomal biology. The existing knowledge on CLN5 biology stems from studies using several model organisms, including mice, sheep, cattle, dogs, social amoeba and cell cultures. Each model organism has its advantages and limitations, making it crucial to adopt a combinatorial approach, using both human cells and model organisms, to understand CLN5 pathologies and design drug therapies. In this comprehensive review, we have summarised and critiqued existing literature on CLN5 and have discussed the missing pieces of the puzzle that need to be addressed to develop an efficient therapy for CLN5 Batten disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Basak
- Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, 710 Cumberland Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - H E Wicky
- Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, 710 Cumberland Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - K O McDonald
- Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, 710 Cumberland Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - J B Xu
- Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, 710 Cumberland Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - J E Palmer
- Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, 710 Cumberland Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - H L Best
- Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, 710 Cumberland Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Wales, CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - S Lefrancois
- Centre INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, INRS, Laval, H7V 1B7, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 2B2, Canada
| | - S Y Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - L Schoderboeck
- Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, 710 Cumberland Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - S M Hughes
- Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, 710 Cumberland Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand.
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Liu W, Kleine-Holthaus SM, Herranz-Martin S, Aristorena M, Mole SE, Smith AJ, Ali RR, Rahim AA. Experimental gene therapies for the NCLs. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2020; 1866:165772. [PMID: 32220628 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2020.165772] [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: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs), also known as Batten disease, are a group of rare monogenic neurodegenerative diseases predominantly affecting children. All NCLs are lethal and incurable and only one has an approved treatment available. To date, 13 NCL subtypes (CLN1-8, CLN10-14) have been identified, based on the particular disease-causing defective gene. The exact functions of NCL proteins and the pathological mechanisms underlying the diseases are still unclear. However, gene therapy has emerged as an attractive therapeutic strategy for this group of conditions. Here we provide a short review discussing updates on the current gene therapy studies for the NCLs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfei Liu
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, UK
| | | | - Saul Herranz-Martin
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, UK; Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (UAM-CSIC) and Departamento de Biología Molecular,Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Sara E Mole
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK; UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | | | - Robin R Ali
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, UK; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
| | - Ahad A Rahim
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, UK.
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Rosenberg JB, Chen A, Kaminsky SM, Crystal RG, Sondhi D. Advances in the Treatment of Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2019; 7:473-500. [PMID: 33365208 PMCID: PMC7755158 DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2019.1684258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) represent a class of neurodegenerative disorders involving defective lysosomal processing enzymes or receptors, leading to lysosomal storage disorders, typically characterized by observation of cognitive and visual impairments, epileptic seizures, ataxia, and deterioration of motor skills. Recent success of a biologic (Brineura®) for the treatment of neurologic manifestations of the central nervous system (CNS) has led to renewed interest in therapeutics for NCL, with the goal of ablating or reversing the impact of these devastating disorders. Despite complex challenges associated with CNS therapy, many treatment modalities have been evaluated, including enzyme replacement therapy, gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and small molecule pharmacotherapy. Because the clinical endpoints for the evaluation of candidate therapies are complex and often reliant on subjective clinical scales, the development of quantitative biomarkers for NCLs has become an apparent necessity for the validation of potential treatments. We will discuss the latest findings in the search for relevant biomarkers for assessing disease progression. For this review, we will focus primarily on recent pre-clinical and clinical developments for treatments to halt or cure these NCL diseases. Continued development of current therapies and discovery of newer modalities will be essential for successful therapeutics for NCL. AREAS COVERED The reader will be introduced to the NCL subtypes, natural histories, experimental animal models, and biomarkers for NCL progression; challenges and different therapeutic approaches, and the latest pre-clinical and clinical research for therapeutic development for the various NCLs. This review corresponds to the literatures covering the years from 1968 to mid-2019, but primarily addresses pre-clinical and clinical developments for the treatment of NCL disease in the last decade and as a follow-up to our 2013 review of the same topic in this journal. EXPERT OPINION Much progress has been made in the treatment of neurologic diseases, such as the NCLs, including better animal models and improved therapeutics with better survival outcomes. Encouraging results are being reported at symposiums and in the literature, with multiple therapeutics reaching the clinical trial stage for the NCLs. The potential for a cure could be at hand after many years of trial and error in the preclinical studies. The clinical development of enzyme replacement therapy (Brineura® for CLN2), immunosuppression (CellCept® for CLN3), and gene therapy vectors (for CLN1, CLN2, CLN3, and CLN6) are providing encouragement to families that have a child afflicted with NCL. We believe that successful therapies in the future may involve the combination of two or more therapeutic modalities to provide therapeutic benefit especially as the patients grow older.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan B Rosenberg
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Alvin Chen
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Stephen M Kaminsky
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Ronald G Crystal
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Dolan Sondhi
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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Huber RJ, Hughes SM, Liu W, Morgan A, Tuxworth RI, Russell C. The contribution of multicellular model organisms to neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis research. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165614. [PMID: 31783156 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The NCLs (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis) are forms of neurodegenerative disease that affect people of all ages and ethnicities but are most prevalent in children. Commonly known as Batten disease, this debilitating neurological disorder is comprised of 13 different subtypes that are categorized based on the particular gene that is mutated (CLN1-8, CLN10-14). The pathological mechanisms underlying the NCLs are not well understood due to our poor understanding of the functions of NCL proteins. Only one specific treatment (enzyme replacement therapy) is approved, which is for the treating the brain in CLN2 disease. Hence there remains a desperate need for further research into disease-modifying treatments. In this review, we present and evaluate the genes, proteins and studies performed in the social amoeba, nematode, fruit fly, zebrafish, mouse and large animals pertinent to NCL. In particular, we highlight the use of multicellular model organisms to study NCL protein function, pathology and pathomechanisms. Their use in testing novel therapeutic approaches is also presented. With this information, we highlight how future research in these systems may be able to provide new insight into NCL protein functions in human cells and aid in the development of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Huber
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Stephanie M Hughes
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Biomedical Sciences, Brain Health Research Centre and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Wenfei Liu
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Alan Morgan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St., Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
| | - Richard I Tuxworth
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Claire Russell
- Dept. Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London NW1 0TU, UK.
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Kauss V, Dambrova M, Medina DL. Pharmacological approaches to tackle NCLs. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2019; 1866:165553. [PMID: 31521819 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2019.165553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, also collectively known as Batten disease, are a group of rare monogenic disorders caused by mutations in at least 13 different genes. They are characterized by the accumulation of lysosomal storage material and progressive neurological deterioration with dementia, epilepsy, retinopathy, motor disturbances, and early death [1]. Although the identification of disease-causing genes provides an important step for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, compared to other diseases, obstacles to the development of therapies for these rare diseases include less extensive physiopathology knowledge, limited number of patients to test treatments, and poor commercial interest from the industry. Current therapeutic strategies include enzyme replacement therapies, gene therapies targeting the brain and the eye, cell therapies, and pharmacological drugs that could modulate defective molecular pathways. In this review, we will focus in the emerging therapies based in the identification of small-molecules. Recent advances in high- throughput and high-content screening (HTS and HCS) using relevant cell-based assays and applying automation and imaging analysis algorithms, will allow the screening of a large number of compounds in lesser time. These approaches are particularly useful for drug repurposing for Batten disease, that takes the advantage to search for compounds that have already been tested in humans, thereby reducing significantly the resources needed for translation to clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerjans Kauss
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia; Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, Riga LV-1007, Latvia
| | - Maija Dambrova
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga LV-1006, Latvia; Riga Stradins University, Dzirciema 16, Riga LV-1007, Latvia
| | - Diego Luis Medina
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy; Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Medical and Translational Science, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
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Mitchell NL, Russell KN, Wellby MP, Wicky HE, Schoderboeck L, Barrell GK, Melzer TR, Gray SJ, Hughes SM, Palmer DN. Longitudinal In Vivo Monitoring of the CNS Demonstrates the Efficacy of Gene Therapy in a Sheep Model of CLN5 Batten Disease. Mol Ther 2018; 26:2366-2378. [PMID: 30078766 PMCID: PMC6171082 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2018] [Revised: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs; Batten disease) are neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases predominantly affecting children. Single administration of brain-directed lentiviral or recombinant single-stranded adeno-associated virus 9 (ssAAV9) vectors expressing ovine CLN5 into six pre-clinically affected sheep with a naturally occurring CLN5 NCL resulted in long-term disease attenuation. Treatment efficacy was demonstrated by non-invasive longitudinal in vivo monitoring developed to align with assessments used in human medicine. The treated sheep retained neurological and cognitive function, and one ssAAV9-treated animal has been retained and is now 57 months old, almost triple the lifespan of untreated CLN5-affected sheep. The onset of visual deficits was much delayed. Computed tomography and MRI showed that brain structures and volumes remained stable. Because gene therapy in humans is more likely to begin after clinical diagnosis, self-complementary AAV9-CLN5 was injected into the brain ventricles of four 7-month-old affected sheep already showing early clinical signs in a second trial. This also halted disease progression beyond their natural lifespan. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of CLN5 gene therapy, using three different vector platforms, in a large animal model and, thus, the prognosis for human translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia L Mitchell
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand; Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Katharina N Russell
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
| | - Martin P Wellby
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
| | - Hollie E Wicky
- Department of Biochemistry, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Lucia Schoderboeck
- Department of Biochemistry, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Graham K Barrell
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand
| | - Tracy R Melzer
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Steven J Gray
- Gene Therapy Center and Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Stephanie M Hughes
- Department of Biochemistry, Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - David N Palmer
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand; Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand.
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Russell KN, Mitchell NL, Anderson NG, Bunt CR, Wellby MP, Melzer TR, Barrell GK, Palmer DN. Computed tomography provides enhanced techniques for longitudinal monitoring of progressive intracranial volume loss associated with regional neurodegeneration in ovine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. Brain Behav 2018; 8:e01096. [PMID: 30136763 PMCID: PMC6160654 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs; Batten disease) are a group of fatal neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases of children caused by various mutations in a range of genes. Forms associated with mutations in two of these, CLN5 and CLN6, are being investigated in well-established sheep models. Brain atrophy leading to psychomotor degeneration is among the defining features, as is regional progressive ossification of the inner cranium. Ongoing viral-mediated gene therapy trials in these sheep are yielding encouraging results. In vivo assessment of brain atrophy is integral to the longitudinal monitoring of individual animals and provides robust data for translation to treatments for humans. METHODS Computed tomography (CT)-based three-dimensional reconstruction of the intracranial volume (ICV) over time reflects the progression of cortical brain atrophy, verifying the use of ICV measurements as a surrogate measure for brain size in ovine NCL. RESULTS ICVs of NCL-affected sheep increase for the first few months, but then decline progressively between 5 and 13 months in CLN5-/- sheep and 11-15 months in CLN6-/- sheep. Cerebral ventricular volumes are also increased in affected animals. To facilitate ICV measures, the radiodensities of ovine brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid were identified. Ovine brain tissue exhibited a Hounsfield unit (HU) range of (24; 56) and cerebrospinal fluid a HU range of (-12; 23). CONCLUSIONS Computed tomography scanning and reconstruction verify that brain atrophy ovine CLN5 NCL originates in the occipital lobes with subsequent propagation throughout the whole cortex and these regional differences are reflected in the ICV loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina N Russell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Nadia L Mitchell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand.,Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Nigel G Anderson
- Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Craig R Bunt
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Martin P Wellby
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - Tracy R Melzer
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.,New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Graham K Barrell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand
| | - David N Palmer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln, New Zealand.,Department of Radiology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
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An EEG Investigation of Sleep Homeostasis in Healthy and CLN5 Batten Disease Affected Sheep. J Neurosci 2017; 36:8238-49. [PMID: 27488642 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.4295-15.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Sheep have large brains with human-like anatomy, making them a useful species for studying brain function. Sleep homeostasis has not been studied in sheep. Here, we establish correlates of sleep homeostasis in sheep through a sleep deprivation experiment. We then use these correlates to elucidate the nature of sleep deficits in a naturally occurring ovine model of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL, Batten disease) caused by a mutation in CLN5 In humans, mutations in this gene lead to cortical atrophy and blindness, as well as sleep abnormalities. We recorded electroencephalograms (EEGs) from unaffected and early stage CLN5(-/-) (homozygous, affected) sheep over 3 consecutive days, the second day being the sleep deprivation day. In unaffected sheep, sleep deprivation led to increased EEG delta (0.5-4 Hz) power during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, increased time spent in the NREM sleep state, and increased NREM sleep bout length. CLN5(-/-) sheep showed comparable increases in time spent in NREM sleep and NREM sleep bout duration, verifying the presence of increased sleep pressure in both groups. Importantly, CLN5(-/-) sheep did not show the increase in NREM sleep delta power seen in unaffected sheep. This divergent delta power response is consistent with the known cortical degeneration in CLN5(-/-) sheep. We conclude that, whereas sleep homeostasis is present in CLN5(-/-) sheep, underlying CLN5(-/-) disease processes prevent its full expression, even at early stages. Such deficits may contribute to early abnormalities seen in sheep and patients and warrant further study. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sleep abnormalities pervade most neurological diseases, including the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs). Here, we show that, in an ovine model of a variant late-infantile NCL, there is abnormal expression of sleep homeostasis. Whereas some sleep pressure correlates respond to sleep deprivation, the strongest electroencephalogram (EEG) correlate of sleep pressure, non-REM delta power, failed to increase. This highlights the relevance of sleep deficits in this disease, in which the drive for sleep exists but the underlying disease prevents its full expression. Sleep abnormalities could contribute to early disease symptoms such as behavioral disorder and cognitive decline. Our study also shows sleep homeostatic EEG correlates in sheep, opening up new opportunities for studying sleep in a large social mammal with complex human-like brain neuroanatomy.
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Best HL, Neverman NJ, Wicky HE, Mitchell NL, Leitch B, Hughes SM. Characterisation of early changes in ovine CLN5 and CLN6 Batten disease neural cultures for the rapid screening of therapeutics. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 100:62-74. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
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Cronin GM, Beganovic DF, Sutton AL, Palmer D, Thomson PC, Tammen I. Manifestation of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in Australian Merino sheep: observations on altered behaviour and growth. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2016; 175:32-40. [PMID: 26949278 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCL) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder in children. Presently there is no effective treatment and the disorder is lethal. NCL occur in a variety of non-human species including sheep, which are recognised as valuable large animal models for NCL. This experiment investigated the progressive postural, behavioural and liveweight changes in NCL-affected lambs, to establish practical, non-invasive biomarkers of disease progression for future preclinical trials in a CLN6 Merino sheep model. A flock of eight lambs at pasture was studied, with the observer blind to the disorder status. Three genotypes were compared: homozygous affected NCL; n = 4), clinically normal heterozygous (Carrier; n = 2) and homozygous normal (non-carrier control (Normal); n = 2). Direct observation during daylight and continuous accelerometer measurements over 72 h were used to quantify lamb posture and behaviour in 11 sessions between 26-60 weeks of age, conducted at 3-5 week intervals. There was a Genotype (G) × Age (A) interaction (P = 0.001) for liveweight of the lambs in the experiment, with NCL, Carrier and Normal lambs gaining 11.8, 16.5 and 23.4 kg, respectively, between 26 and 60 weeks of age. G×A interactions were also found for walking behaviour (means for NCL, Carrier and Normal genotype groups at 26 and 60 weeks, were 1.7 and 7.9%, 3.3 and 3.1%, and 2.5 and 1.9% of observations, P = 0.008) and a composite variable of key behaviours identified in the principal components analysis (P < 0.001), with mean values for NCL lambs increasing three-fold compared to non-affected lambs as age increased. Similarly, NCL lambs became less responsive to visual and auditory stimuli as they aged. Mean responsiveness scores (out of 3) to visual stimuli for the NCL, Carrier and Normal genotypes at 26 and 60 weeks of age were 2.7 and 1.4, 2.8 and 2.9, and 3.0 and 3.0, respectively (G × A, P < 0.001). Changes in response to auditory stimuli were similar to visual stimuli. NCL lambs took more (P = 0.015) steps per 24 h than Carrier and Normal genotype lambs, but there was no G × A interaction. At 26 and 60 weeks of age respectively, NCL lambs took 2724 and 4121 steps per 24 h, compared to Carrier (1708 and 3105 steps) and Normal genotype lambs (2109 and 3506 steps). NCL lambs also performed less (P = 0.018) grazing behaviour than Carrier and Normal genotype lambs (66.5, 72.3 and 72.5% of observations for NCL, Carrier and Normal lambs, respectively). A number of behavioural changes identified in the experiment could form the basis for a protocol for monitoring and evaluation of disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Greg M Cronin
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag 4003 Narellan, New South Wales 2567, Australia
| | - Danai F Beganovic
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag 4003 Narellan, New South Wales 2567, Australia
| | - Amanda L Sutton
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag 4003 Narellan, New South Wales 2567, Australia
| | - DavidJ Palmer
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag 4003 Narellan, New South Wales 2567, Australia
| | - Peter C Thomson
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag 4003 Narellan, New South Wales 2567, Australia
| | - Imke Tammen
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Private Bag 4003 Narellan, New South Wales 2567, Australia
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Amorim IS, Mitchell NL, Palmer DN, Sawiak SJ, Mason R, Wishart TM, Gillingwater TH. Molecular neuropathology of the synapse in sheep with CLN5 Batten disease. Brain Behav 2015; 5:e00401. [PMID: 26664787 PMCID: PMC4667763 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Revised: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Synapses represent a major pathological target across a broad range of neurodegenerative conditions. Recent studies addressing molecular mechanisms regulating synaptic vulnerability and degeneration have relied heavily on invertebrate and mouse models. Whether similar molecular neuropathological changes underpin synaptic breakdown in large animal models and in human patients with neurodegenerative disease remains unclear. We therefore investigated whether molecular regulators of synaptic pathophysiology, previously identified in Drosophila and mouse models, are similarly present and modified in the brain of sheep with CLN5 Batten disease. METHODS Gross neuropathological analysis of CLN5 Batten disease sheep and controls was used alongside postmortem MRI imaging to identify affected brain regions. Synaptosome preparations were then generated and quantitative fluorescent Western blotting used to determine and compare levels of synaptic proteins. RESULTS The cortex was particularly affected by regional neurodegeneration and synaptic loss in CLN5 sheep, whilst the cerebellum was relatively spared. Quantitative assessment of the protein content of synaptosome preparations revealed significant changes in levels of seven out of eight synaptic neurodegeneration proteins investigated in the motor cortex, but not cerebellum, of CLN5 sheep (α-synuclein, CSP-α, neurofascin, ROCK2, calretinin, SIRT2, and UBR4). CONCLUSIONS Synaptic pathology is a robust correlate of region-specific neurodegeneration in the brain of CLN5 sheep, driven by molecular pathways similar to those reported in Drosophila and rodent models. Thus, large animal models, such as sheep, represent ideal translational systems to develop and test therapeutics aimed at delaying or halting synaptic pathology for a range of human neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês S Amorim
- Centre for Integrative Physiology University of Edinburgh Hugh Robson Building Edinburgh UK ; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research University of Edinburgh Hugh Robson Building Edinburgh UK
| | - Nadia L Mitchell
- Department of Molecular Biosciences Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Batten Animal Research Network Lincoln University Christchurch New Zealand
| | - David N Palmer
- Department of Molecular Biosciences Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Batten Animal Research Network Lincoln University Christchurch New Zealand
| | - Stephen J Sawiak
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience University of Cambridge Downing Street Cambridge UK ; Wolfson Brain Imaging Centre University of Cambridge Box 65 Addenbrooke's Hospital Hills Road Cambridge UK
| | - Roger Mason
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience University of Cambridge Downing Street Cambridge UK
| | - Thomas M Wishart
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research University of Edinburgh Hugh Robson Building Edinburgh UK ; Division of Neurobiology The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies University of Edinburgh Edinburgh UK
| | - Thomas H Gillingwater
- Centre for Integrative Physiology University of Edinburgh Hugh Robson Building Edinburgh UK ; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research University of Edinburgh Hugh Robson Building Edinburgh UK
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Furmston T, Morton AJ, Hailes S. A Significance Test for Inferring Affiliation Networks from Spatio-Temporal Data. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132417. [PMID: 26192280 PMCID: PMC4508121 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 06/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Scientists have long been interested in studying social structures within groups of gregarious animals. However, obtaining evidence about interactions between members of a group is difficult. Recent technologies, such as Global Positioning System technology, have made it possible to obtain a vast wealth of animal movement data, but inferring the underlying (latent) social structure of the group from such data remains an important open problem. While intuitively appealing measures of social interaction exist in the literature, they typically lack formal statistical grounding. In this article, we provide a statistical approach to the problem of inferring the social structure of a group from the movement patterns of its members. By constructing an appropriate null model, we are able to construct a significance test to detect meaningful affiliations between members of the group. We demonstrate our method on large-scale real-world data sets of positional data of flocks of Merino sheep, Ovis aries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Furmston
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - A. Jennifer Morton
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Hailes
- Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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Recent studies of ovine neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses from BARN, the Batten Animal Research Network. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2015; 1852:2279-86. [PMID: 26073432 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2015.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Studies on naturally occurring New Zealand and Australian ovine models of the neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses (Batten disease, NCLs) have greatly aided our understanding of these diseases. Close collaborations between the New Zealand groups at Lincoln University and the University of Otago, Dunedin, and a group at the University of Sydney, Australia, led to the formation of BARN, the Batten Animal Research Network. This review focusses on presentations at the 14th International Conference on Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (Batten Disease), recent relevant background work, and previews of work in preparation for publication. Themes include CLN5 and CLN6 neuronal cell culture studies, studies on tissues from affected and control animals and whole animal in vivo studies. Topics include the effect of a CLN6 mutation on endoplasmic reticulum proteins, lysosomal function and the interactions of CLN6 with other lysosomal activities and trafficking, scoping gene-based therapies, a molecular dissection of neuroinflammation, identification of differentially expressed genes in brain tissue, an attempted therapy with an anti-inflammatory drug in vivo and work towards gene therapy in ovine models of the NCLs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: "Current Research on the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (Batten Disease)".
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Faller KME, Gutierrez-Quintana R, Mohammed A, Rahim AA, Tuxworth RI, Wager K, Bond M. The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses: Opportunities from model systems. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2015; 1852:2267-78. [PMID: 25937302 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2015.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses are a group of severe and progressive neurodegenerative disorders, generally with childhood onset. Despite the fact that these diseases remain fatal, significant breakthroughs have been made in our understanding of the genetics that underpin these conditions. This understanding has allowed the development of a broad range of models to study disease processes, and to develop new therapeutic approaches. Such models have contributed significantly to our knowledge of these conditions. In this review we will focus on the advantages of each individual model, describe some of the contributions the models have made to our understanding of the broader disease biology and highlight new techniques and approaches relevant to the study and potential treatment of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: "Current Research on the Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (Batten Disease)".
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiterie M E Faller
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary, Medical and Life Sciences, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Rodrigo Gutierrez-Quintana
- School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary, Medical and Life Sciences, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Alamin Mohammed
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ahad A Rahim
- UCL School of Pharmacy, 29-39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Richard I Tuxworth
- College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Kim Wager
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, The Sir Martin Evans Building, Museum Avenue, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Michael Bond
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College of London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
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24
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Perentos N, Martins AQ, Watson TC, Bartsch U, Mitchell NL, Palmer DN, Jones MW, Morton AJ. Translational neurophysiology in sheep: measuring sleep and neurological dysfunction in CLN5 Batten disease affected sheep. Brain 2015; 138:862-74. [PMID: 25724202 PMCID: PMC5014075 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awv026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2014] [Revised: 12/12/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Creating valid mouse models of slowly progressing human neurological diseases is challenging, not least because the short lifespan of rodents confounds realistic modelling of disease time course. With their large brains and long lives, sheep offer significant advantages for translational studies of human disease. Here we used normal and CLN5 Batten disease affected sheep to demonstrate the use of the species for studying neurological function in a model of human disease. We show that electroencephalography can be used in sheep, and that longitudinal recordings spanning many months are possible. This is the first time such an electroencephalography study has been performed in sheep. We characterized sleep in sheep, quantifying characteristic vigilance states and neurophysiological hallmarks such as sleep spindles. Mild sleep abnormalities and abnormal epileptiform waveforms were found in the electroencephalographies of Batten disease affected sheep. These abnormalities resemble the epileptiform activity seen in children with Batten disease and demonstrate the translational relevance of both the technique and the model. Given that both spontaneous and engineered sheep models of human neurodegenerative diseases already exist, sheep constitute a powerful species in which longitudinal in vivo studies can be conducted. This will advance our understanding of normal brain function and improve our capacity for translational research into neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Perentos
- 1 Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Amadeu Q Martins
- 1 Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Thomas C Watson
- 1 Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Ullrich Bartsch
- 2 School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Nadia L Mitchell
- 3 Department of Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Batten Animal Research Network, PO Box 85084, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - David N Palmer
- 3 Department of Molecular Biosciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Life Sciences and Batten Animal Research Network, PO Box 85084, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Matthew W Jones
- 2 School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - A Jennifer Morton
- 1 Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3DY, UK
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25
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Hughes SM, Hope KM, Xu JB, Mitchell NL, Palmer DN. Inhibition of storage pathology in prenatal CLN5-deficient sheep neural cultures by lentiviral gene therapy. Neurobiol Dis 2014; 62:543-50. [PMID: 24269732 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2013.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Revised: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 11/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs, Batten disease) are inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases caused by mutations in several different genes. Mutations in CLN5 cause a variant late-infantile human disease and some cases of juvenile and adult clinical disease. NCLs also occur in animals, and a flock of New Zealand Borderdale sheep with a CLN5 splice-site mutation has been developed for model studies. Dissociated mixed neural cells from CLN5-deficient foetal sheep brains contained no obvious storage bodies at plating but these accumulated rapidly in culture, mainly in microglial cells and also in neurons and astrocytes. Accumulation was very obvious after a week, as monitored by fluorescent microscopy and immunostaining for subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase. Photography at intervals revealed the dynamic nature of the cultures and a flow of storage bodies between cells, specifically the phagocytosis of storage-body containing cells by microglia and incorporation of the storage bodies into the host cells. No storage was observed in cultured control cells. Transduction of cell cultures with a lentiviral vector expressing a C-terminal Myc tagged CLN5 resulted in secretion of post-translationally glycosylated and processed CLN5. Transduction of CLN5-deficient cultures with this construct rapidly reversed storage body accumulation, to less than half in only six days. These results show that storage body accumulation is reversible with enzyme correction and support the use of these cultures for testing of therapeutics prior to whole animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Hughes
- Department of Biochemistry, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 54, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand; Brain Health Research Centre, University of Otago, PO Box 54, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
| | - Katie M Hope
- Department of Biochemistry, Otago School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 54, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
| | - Janet Boyu Xu
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, PO Box 85084, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
| | - Nadia L Mitchell
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, PO Box 85084, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
| | - David N Palmer
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, PO Box 85084, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New Zealand.
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26
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Abstract
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, collectively referred to as Batten disease, make up a group of inherited childhood disorders that result in blindness, motor and cognitive regression, brain atrophy, and seizures, ultimately leading to premature death. So far more than 10 genes have been implicated in different forms of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. Most related research has involved mouse models, but several naturally occurring large animal models have recently been discovered. In this review, we discuss the different large animal models and their significance in Batten disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystal Weber
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research/University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - David A. Pearce
- Sanford Children's Health Research Center, Sanford Research/University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
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27
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Use of model organisms for the study of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:1842-65. [PMID: 23338040 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2012] [Revised: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses are a group of fatal progressive neurodegenerative diseases predominantly affecting children. Identification of mutations that cause neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, and subsequent functional and pathological studies of the affected genes, underpins efforts to investigate disease mechanisms and identify and test potential therapeutic strategies. These functional studies and pre-clinical trials necessitate the use of model organisms in addition to cell and tissue culture models as they enable the study of protein function within a complex organ such as the brain and the testing of therapies on a whole organism. To this end, a large number of disease models and genetic tools have been identified or created in a variety of model organisms. In this review, we will discuss the ethical issues associated with experiments using model organisms, the factors underlying the choice of model organism, the disease models and genetic tools available, and the contributions of those disease models and tools to neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis research. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: The Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses or Batten Disease.
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Linterman KS, Palmer DN, Kay GW, Barry LA, Mitchell NL, McFarlane RG, Black MA, Sands MS, Hughes SM. Lentiviral-mediated gene transfer to the sheep brain: implications for gene therapy in Batten disease. Hum Gene Ther 2011; 22:1011-20. [PMID: 21595499 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs; Batten disease) are inherited neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases with common clinical features of blindness and seizures culminating in premature death. Gene-therapy strategies for these diseases depend on whether the missing activity is a secreted lysosomal protein taken up by neighboring cells, or an intramembrane protein that requires careful targeting. Therapies are best developed in animal models with large complex human-like brains. Lentiviral-mediated gene delivery to neural cell cultures from normal sheep and sheep affected with an NCL resulted in green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in neurons and neuroblasts, more efficiently than in astrocytes. Similar transgene expression was obtained from two constitutive promoters, the viral MND promoter and the human EF1α promoter. In vivo studies showed stable and persistent GFP expression throughout the cell bodies, axons, and dendrites from intracortical injections and indicated ependymal and subependymal transduction. The sheep showed no ill effects from the injections. These data support continuing gene-therapy trials in the sheep models of Batten disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn S Linterman
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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29
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Frugier T, Mitchell NL, Tammen I, Houweling PJ, Arthur DG, Kay GW, van Diggelen OP, Jolly RD, Palmer DN. A new large animal model of CLN5 neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in Borderdale sheep is caused by a nucleotide substitution at a consensus splice site (c.571+1G>A) leading to excision of exon 3. Neurobiol Dis 2007; 29:306-15. [PMID: 17988881 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2007.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2007] [Revised: 09/06/2007] [Accepted: 09/16/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Batten disease (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, NCLs) are a group of inherited childhood diseases that result in severe brain atrophy, blindness and seizures, leading to premature death. To date, eight different genes have been identified, each associated with a different form. Linkage analysis indicated a CLN5 form in a colony of affected New Zealand Borderdale sheep. Sequencing studies established the disease-causing mutation to be a substitution at a consensus splice site (c.571+1G>A), leading to the excision of exon 3 and a truncated putative protein. A molecular diagnostic test has been developed based on the excision of exon 3. Sequence alignments support the gene product being a soluble lysosomal protein. Western blotting of isolated storage bodies indicates the specific storage of subunit c of mitochondrial ATP synthase. This flock is being expanded as a large animal model for mechanistic studies and trial therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Frugier
- Lincoln University, Agriculture and Life Sciences Division, Cell Biology Group, PO Box 84, Lincoln 7647, Canterbury, New Zealand
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30
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Tammen I, Houweling PJ, Frugier T, Mitchell NL, Kay GW, Cavanagh JAL, Cook RW, Raadsma HW, Palmer DN. A missense mutation (c.184C>T) in ovine CLN6 causes neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in Merino sheep whereas affected South Hampshire sheep have reduced levels of CLN6 mRNA. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2006; 1762:898-905. [PMID: 17046213 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2006.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2006] [Revised: 08/27/2006] [Accepted: 09/06/2006] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs, Batten disease) are a group of fatal recessively inherited neurodegenerative diseases of humans and animals characterised by common clinical signs and pathology. These include blindness, ataxia, dementia, behavioural changes, seizures, brain and retinal atrophy and accumulation of fluorescent lysosome derived organelles in most cells. A number of different variants have been suggested and seven different causative genes identified in humans (CLN1, CLN2, CLN3, CLN5, CLN6, CLN8 and CTSD). Animal models have played a central role in the investigation of this group of diseases and are extremely valuable for developing a better understanding of the disease mechanisms and possible therapeutic approaches. Ovine models include flocks of affected New Zealand South Hampshires and Borderdales and Australian Merinos. The ovine CLN6 gene has been sequenced in a representative selection of these sheep. These investigations unveiled the mutation responsible for the disease in Merino sheep (c.184C>T; p.Arg62Cys) and three common ovine allelic variants (c.56A>G, c.822G>A and c.933_934insCT). Linkage analysis established that CLN6 is the gene most likely to cause NCL in affected South Hampshire sheep, which do not have the c.184C>T mutation but show reduced expression of CLN6 mRNA in a range of tissues as determined by real-time PCR. Lack of linkage precludes CLN6 as a candidate for NCL in Borderdale sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imke Tammen
- Centre for Advanced Technologies in Animal Genetics and Reproduction (Reprogen), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, PMB3, Camden, NSW, Australia.
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31
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Jolly RD, Blair HT, Johnstone AC. Genetic disorders of sheep in New Zealand: A review and perspective. N Z Vet J 2004; 52:52-64. [PMID: 15768097 DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2004.36405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Genetic disorders of sheep that have occurred in New Zealand are reviewed and discussed with regard to phenotype, inheritance and, where known, genotype. Inbreeding was a major factor in the emergence of some of them. The various disorders reflect a continuum, ranging from simple monogenic diseases or malformations due to dysfunctional gene products, those monogenic disorders dependant on environmental interactions, malformations due to homeotic gene dysfunctions, and multifactorial diseases for which genetic factors are associated with disease susceptibility. Chromosomal aberrations, although of limited importance, have contributed to an understanding of the physical chromosome map and derivative linkage map of sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- R D Jolly
- Institute of Veterinary Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
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32
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Cooper JD. Progress towards understanding the neurobiology of Batten disease or neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis. Curr Opin Neurol 2003. [DOI: 10.1097/00019052-200304000-00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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