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Nagy ZF, Pál M, Engelhardt JI, Molnár MJ, Klivényi P, Széll M. Beyond C9orf72: repeat expansions and copy number variations as risk factors of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis across various populations. BMC Med Genomics 2024; 17:30. [PMID: 38254109 PMCID: PMC10804878 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-024-01807-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by the loss of both upper and lower motor neurons in the central nervous system. In a significant fraction of ALS cases - irrespective of family history- a genetic background may be identified. The genetic background of ALS shows a high variability from one ethnicity to another. The most frequent genetic cause of ALS is the repeat expansion of the C9orf72 gene. With the emergence of next-generation sequencing techniques and copy number alteration calling tools the focus in ALS genetics has shifted from disease causing genes and mutations towards genetic susceptibility and risk factors.In this review we aimed to summarize the most widely recognized and studied ALS linked repeat expansions and copy number variations other than the hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene. We compare and contrast their involvement and phenotype modifying roles in ALS among different populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsófia Flóra Nagy
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.
- Institute of Genomic Medicine and Rare Disorders, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Margit Pál
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN - SZTE Functional Clinical Genetics Research Group, Szeged, Hungary
| | | | - Mária Judit Molnár
- Institute of Genomic Medicine and Rare Disorders, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- HUN-REN-SE Multiomics Neurodegeneration Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Klivényi
- Department of Neurology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Márta Széll
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- HUN-REN - SZTE Functional Clinical Genetics Research Group, Szeged, Hungary
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De Marchi F, Franjkic T, Schito P, Russo T, Nimac J, Chami AA, Mele A, Vidatic L, Kriz J, Julien JP, Apic G, Russell RB, Rogelj B, Cannon JR, Baralle M, Agosta F, Hecimovic S, Mazzini L, Buratti E, Munitic I. Emerging Trends in the Field of Inflammation and Proteinopathy in ALS/FTD Spectrum Disorder. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1599. [PMID: 37371694 PMCID: PMC10295684 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteinopathy and neuroinflammation are two main hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. They also represent rare common events in an exceptionally broad landscape of genetic, environmental, neuropathologic, and clinical heterogeneity present in patients. Here, we aim to recount the emerging trends in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) spectrum disorder. Our review will predominantly focus on neuroinflammation and systemic immune imbalance in ALS and FTD, which have recently been highlighted as novel therapeutic targets. A common mechanism of most ALS and ~50% of FTD patients is dysregulation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), an RNA/DNA-binding protein, which becomes depleted from the nucleus and forms cytoplasmic aggregates in neurons and glia. This, in turn, via both gain and loss of function events, alters a variety of TDP-43-mediated cellular events. Experimental attempts to target TDP-43 aggregates or manipulate crosstalk in the context of inflammation will be discussed. Targeting inflammation, and the immune system in general, is of particular interest because of the high plasticity of immune cells compared to neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Toni Franjkic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
- Metisox, Cambridge CB24 9NL, UK;
| | - Paride Schito
- Department of Neurology & Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (T.R.)
| | - Tommaso Russo
- Department of Neurology & Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (T.R.)
| | - Jerneja Nimac
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Graduate School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anna A. Chami
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Angelica Mele
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Lea Vidatic
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.V.); (S.H.)
| | - Jasna Kriz
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | | | | | - Boris Rogelj
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jason R. Cannon
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA;
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Silva Hecimovic
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.V.); (S.H.)
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ivana Munitic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
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Diab R, Pilotto F, Saxena S. Autophagy and neurodegeneration: Unraveling the role of C9ORF72 in the regulation of autophagy and its relationship to ALS-FTD pathology. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1086895. [PMID: 37006471 PMCID: PMC10060823 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1086895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The proper functioning of the cell clearance machinery is critical for neuronal health within the central nervous system (CNS). In normal physiological conditions, the cell clearance machinery is actively involved in the elimination of misfolded and toxic proteins throughout the lifetime of an organism. The highly conserved and regulated pathway of autophagy is one of the important processes involved in preventing and neutralizing pathogenic buildup of toxic proteins that could eventually lead to the development of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Alzheimer’s disease or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The most common genetic cause of ALS and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a hexanucleotide expansion consisting of GGGGCC (G4C2) repeats in the chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 gene (C9ORF72). These abnormally expanded repeats have been implicated in leading to three main modes of disease pathology: loss of function of the C9ORF72 protein, the generation of RNA foci, and the production of dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs). In this review, we discuss the normal physiological role of C9ORF72 in the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP), and present recent research deciphering how dysfunction of the ALP synergizes with C9ORF72 haploinsufficiency, which together with the gain of toxic mechanisms involving hexanucleotide repeat expansions and DPRs, drive the disease process. This review delves further into the interactions of C9ORF72 with RAB proteins involved in endosomal/lysosomal trafficking, and their role in regulating various steps in autophagy and lysosomal pathways. Lastly, the review aims to provide a framework for further investigations of neuronal autophagy in C9ORF72-linked ALS-FTD as well as other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rim Diab
- Department of Neurology, Center for Experimental Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Federica Pilotto
- Department of Neurology, Center for Experimental Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Smita Saxena
- Department of Neurology, Center for Experimental Neurology, Inselspital University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Smita Saxena,
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Suzuki N, Nishiyama A, Warita H, Aoki M. Genetics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: seeking therapeutic targets in the era of gene therapy. J Hum Genet 2023; 68:131-152. [PMID: 35691950 PMCID: PMC9968660 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-022-01055-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an intractable disease that causes respiratory failure leading to mortality. The main locus of ALS is motor neurons. The success of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a motor neuron disease, has triggered a paradigm shift in developing ALS therapies. The causative genes of ALS and disease-modifying genes, including those of sporadic ALS, have been identified one after another. Thus, the freedom of target choice for gene therapy has expanded by ASO strategy, leading to new avenues for therapeutic development. Tofersen for superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was a pioneer in developing ASO for ALS. Improving protocols and devising early interventions for the disease are vital. In this review, we updated the knowledge of causative genes in ALS. We summarized the genetic mutations identified in familial ALS and their clinical features, focusing on SOD1, fused in sarcoma (FUS), and transacting response DNA-binding protein. The frequency of the C9ORF72 mutation is low in Japan, unlike in Europe and the United States, while SOD1 and FUS are more common, indicating that the target mutations for gene therapy vary by ethnicity. A genome-wide association study has revealed disease-modifying genes, which could be the novel target of gene therapy. The current status and prospects of gene therapy development were discussed, including ethical issues. Furthermore, we discussed the potential of axonal pathology as new therapeutic targets of ALS from the perspective of early intervention, including intra-axonal transcription factors, neuromuscular junction disconnection, dysregulated local translation, abnormal protein degradation, mitochondrial pathology, impaired axonal transport, aberrant cytoskeleton, and axon branching. We simultaneously discuss important pathological states of cell bodies: persistent stress granules, disrupted nucleocytoplasmic transport, and cryptic splicing. The development of gene therapy based on the elucidation of disease-modifying genes and early intervention in molecular pathology is expected to become an important therapeutic strategy in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Ayumi Nishiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Warita
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
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Tang L, Chen L, Liu X, He J, Ma Y, Zhang N, Fan D. The repeat length of C9orf72 is associated with the survival of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients without C9orf72 pathological expansions. Front Neurol 2022; 13:939775. [PMID: 35989899 PMCID: PMC9381700 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.939775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveTo explore whether the repeat lengths of the chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) gene and the ataxin-2 (ATXN2) gene in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients without C9orf72 repeat expansions confer a risk of ALS or survival disadvantages in ALS.MethodsWe screened a hospital-based cohort of Chinese patients with sporadic ALS without C9orf72 repeat expansions and neurologically healthy controls for C9orf72 GGGGCC and AXTN2 CAG repeat length to compare the frequency of possible detrimental length alleles using several thresholds. Furthermore, the clinical features of ALS were compared between patients with ALS subgroups using different length thresholds of maximum C9orf72 and ATXN2 repeat alleles, such as sex, age of onset, diagnostic delay, and survival.ResultsOverall, 879 sporadic patients with ALS and 535 controls were included and the repeat lengths of the C9orf72 and ATXN2 were both detected. We found significant survival differences in patients using a series of C9orf72 repeat length thresholds from 2 to 5, among which the most significant difference was at the cutoff value of 2 (repeats 2 vs. >2: median survival 67 vs. 55 months, log-rank p = 0.032). Furthermore, Cox regression analysis revealed the role of age of onset [hazard ratio (HR) 1.04, 95% CI 1.03–1.05, p < 0.001], diagnostic delay (0.95, 0.94–0.96, p < 0.001), and carrying C9orf72 repeat length of 2 (0.72, 0.59–0.89, p = 0.002) in the survival of patients without C9orf72 repeat expansions. In addition, bulbar onset was associated with poorer survival when the patients carried the maximum C9orf72 repeat allele over 2 (1.81, 1.32–2.48, p < 0.001). However, no survival difference was found when applying a series of continuous cutoff values of ATXN2 or stratified by C9orf72 repeats of 2.ConclusionThe length of 2 in the maximum C9orf72 repeat allele was identified to be associated with favorable survival in ALS patients without C9orf72 repeat expansions. Our findings from the clinical setting implicated the possible cutoff definition of detrimental C9orf72 repeats, which should be helpful in the understanding of genetics in ALS and in clinical genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Tang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lu Chen
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolu Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ji He
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Ma
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Fan
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Dongsheng Fan
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Deneubourg C, Ramm M, Smith LJ, Baron O, Singh K, Byrne SC, Duchen MR, Gautel M, Eskelinen EL, Fanto M, Jungbluth H. The spectrum of neurodevelopmental, neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders due to defective autophagy. Autophagy 2022; 18:496-517. [PMID: 34130600 PMCID: PMC9037555 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2021.1943177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary dysfunction of autophagy due to Mendelian defects affecting core components of the autophagy machinery or closely related proteins have recently emerged as an important cause of genetic disease. This novel group of human disorders may present throughout life and comprises severe early-onset neurodevelopmental and more common adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders. Early-onset (or congenital) disorders of autophagy often share a recognizable "clinical signature," including variable combinations of neurological, neuromuscular and multisystem manifestations. Structural CNS abnormalities, cerebellar involvement, spasticity and peripheral nerve pathology are prominent neurological features, indicating a specific vulnerability of certain neuronal populations to autophagic disturbance. A typically biphasic disease course of late-onset neurodegeneration occurring on the background of a neurodevelopmental disorder further supports a role of autophagy in both neuronal development and maintenance. Additionally, an associated myopathy has been characterized in several conditions. The differential diagnosis comprises a wide range of other multisystem disorders, including mitochondrial, glycogen and lysosomal storage disorders, as well as ciliopathies, glycosylation and vesicular trafficking defects. The clinical overlap between the congenital disorders of autophagy and these conditions reflects the multiple roles of the proteins and/or emerging molecular connections between the pathways implicated and suggests an exciting area for future research. Therapy development for congenital disorders of autophagy is still in its infancy but may result in the identification of molecules that target autophagy more specifically than currently available compounds. The close connection with adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders highlights the relevance of research into rare early-onset neurodevelopmental conditions for much more common, age-related human diseases.Abbreviations: AC: anterior commissure; AD: Alzheimer disease; ALR: autophagic lysosomal reformation; ALS: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; AMBRA1: autophagy and beclin 1 regulator 1; AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; ASD: autism spectrum disorder; ATG: autophagy related; BIN1: bridging integrator 1; BPAN: beta-propeller protein associated neurodegeneration; CC: corpus callosum; CHMP2B: charged multivesicular body protein 2B; CHS: Chediak-Higashi syndrome; CMA: chaperone-mediated autophagy; CMT: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease; CNM: centronuclear myopathy; CNS: central nervous system; DNM2: dynamin 2; DPR: dipeptide repeat protein; DVL3: disheveled segment polarity protein 3; EPG5: ectopic P-granules autophagy protein 5 homolog; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; ESCRT: homotypic fusion and protein sorting complex; FIG4: FIG4 phosphoinositide 5-phosphatase; FTD: frontotemporal dementia; GBA: glucocerebrosidase; GD: Gaucher disease; GRN: progranulin; GSD: glycogen storage disorder; HC: hippocampal commissure; HD: Huntington disease; HOPS: homotypic fusion and protein sorting complex; HSPP: hereditary spastic paraparesis; LAMP2A: lysosomal associated membrane protein 2A; MEAX: X-linked myopathy with excessive autophagy; mHTT: mutant huntingtin; MSS: Marinesco-Sjoegren syndrome; MTM1: myotubularin 1; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; NBIA: neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation; NCL: neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis; NPC1: Niemann-Pick disease type 1; PD: Parkinson disease; PtdIns3P: phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate; RAB3GAP1: RAB3 GTPase activating protein catalytic subunit 1; RAB3GAP2: RAB3 GTPase activating non-catalytic protein subunit 2; RB1: RB1-inducible coiled-coil protein 1; RHEB: ras homolog, mTORC1 binding; SCAR20: SNX14-related ataxia; SENDA: static encephalopathy of childhood with neurodegeneration in adulthood; SNX14: sorting nexin 14; SPG11: SPG11 vesicle trafficking associated, spatacsin; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TBC1D20: TBC1 domain family member 20; TECPR2: tectonin beta-propeller repeat containing 2; TSC1: TSC complex subunit 1; TSC2: TSC complex subunit 2; UBQLN2: ubiquilin 2; VCP: valosin-containing protein; VMA21: vacuolar ATPase assembly factor VMA21; WDFY3/ALFY: WD repeat and FYVE domain containing protein 3; WDR45: WD repeat domain 45; WDR47: WD repeat domain 47; WMS: Warburg Micro syndrome; XLMTM: X-linked myotubular myopathy; ZFYVE26: zinc finger FYVE-type containing 26.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Deneubourg
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, IoPPN, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Mauricio Ramm
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Luke J. Smith
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Muscle Signalling Section, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Olga Baron
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Kritarth Singh
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Susan C. Byrne
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Neuromuscular Service, Evelina’s Children Hospital, Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Michael R. Duchen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mathias Gautel
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Muscle Signalling Section, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Eeva-Liisa Eskelinen
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Programme, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Manolis Fanto
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, IoPPN, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Heinz Jungbluth
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, IoPPN, King’s College London, London, UK
- Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, Muscle Signalling Section, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Neuromuscular Service, Evelina’s Children Hospital, Guy’s & St. Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Miccio A, Antoniou P, Ciura S, Kabashi E. Novel genome-editing-based approaches to treat motor neuron diseases: Promises and challenges. Mol Ther 2022; 30:47-53. [PMID: 33823304 PMCID: PMC8753272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases are untreatable with common pharmacological approaches. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by SMN1 gene mutations leading to lowered SMN expression. Symptoms are alleviated in infants with a higher copy number of the SMN2 gene, which, however, displays a splicing defect resulting in low SMN levels. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is caused by a number of mutations, with C9orf72 repeat expansions the most common genetic cause and SOD1 gain-of-function mutations the first genetic cause identified for this disease. Genetic therapies based on oligonucleotides that enhance SMN2 splicing and SMN production or lower SOD1 expression have shown promise in initial clinical trials for individuals with SMA and ALS harboring SOD1 mutations, respectively. Gene addition/silencing approaches using adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are also currently under clinical investigation in trials for SMA and ALS. Here we provide a brief overview of these efforts and their advantages and challenges. We also review genome editing approaches aimed at correcting the disease-causing mutations or modulating the expression of genetic modifiers, e.g., by repairing SOD1 mutations or the SMN2 splicing defect or deleting C9orf72 expanded repeats. These studies have shown promising results to approach therapeutic trials that should significantly lower the progression of these deadly disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annarita Miccio
- Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Regulation during Development, Imagine Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM UMR 1163, 75015, Paris, France,Corresponding author: Annarita Miccio, Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Regulation during Development, Imagine Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM UMR 1163, 75015, Paris, France.
| | - Panagiotis Antoniou
- Laboratory of Chromatin and Gene Regulation during Development, Imagine Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM UMR 1163, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Sorana Ciura
- Laboratory of Translational Research for Neurological Disorders, Imagine Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM UMR 1163, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Edor Kabashi
- Laboratory of Translational Research for Neurological Disorders, Imagine Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM UMR 1163, 75015, Paris, France,Corresponding author: Edor Kabashi, Laboratory of Translational Research for Neurological Disorders, Imagine Institute, Université de Paris, INSERM UMR 1163, 75015, Paris, France.
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Braems E, Tziortzouda P, Van Den Bosch L. Exploring the alternative: Fish, flies and worms as preclinical models for ALS. Neurosci Lett 2021; 759:136041. [PMID: 34118308 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons. In general, patients succumb to respiratory insufficiency due to respiratory muscle weakness. Despite many promising therapeutic strategies primarily identified in rodent models, patient trials remain rather unsuccessful. There is a clear need for alternative approaches, which could provide directions towards the justified use of rodents and which increase the likelihood to identify new promising clinical candidates. In the last decades, the use of fast genetic approaches and the development of high-throughput screening platforms in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, in the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) and in zebrafish (Danio rerio) have contributed to new insights into ALS pathomechanisms, disease modifiers and therapeutic targets. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of these alternative small animal studies, modeling the most common ALS genes and discuss the most recent preclinical discoveries. We conclude that small animal models will not replace rodent models, yet they clearly represent an important asset for preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Braems
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paraskevi Tziortzouda
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Leuven, Belgium.
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Quelle-Regaldie A, Sobrido-Cameán D, Barreiro-Iglesias A, Sobrido MJ, Sánchez L. Zebrafish Models of Autosomal Dominant Ataxias. Cells 2021; 10:421. [PMID: 33671313 PMCID: PMC7922657 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020421] [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: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary dominant ataxias are a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative conditions causing cerebellar dysfunction and characterized by progressive motor incoordination. Despite many efforts put into the study of these diseases, there are no effective treatments yet. Zebrafish models are widely used to characterize neuronal disorders due to its conserved vertebrate genetics that easily support genetic edition and their optic transparency that allows observing the intact CNS and its connections. In addition, its small size and external fertilization help to develop high throughput assays of candidate drugs. Here, we discuss the contributions of zebrafish models to the study of dominant ataxias defining phenotypes, genetic function, behavior and possible treatments. In addition, we review the zebrafish models created for X-linked repeat expansion diseases X-fragile/fragile-X tremor ataxia. Most of the models reviewed here presented neuronal damage and locomotor deficits. However, there is a generalized lack of zebrafish adult heterozygous models and there are no knock-in zebrafish models available for these diseases. The models created for dominant ataxias helped to elucidate gene function and mechanisms that cause neuronal damage. In the future, the application of new genetic edition techniques would help to develop more accurate zebrafish models of dominant ataxias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Quelle-Regaldie
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidade of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.Q.-R.); (L.S.)
| | - Daniel Sobrido-Cameán
- Department of Functional Biology, CIBUS, Faculty of Biology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - Antón Barreiro-Iglesias
- Department of Functional Biology, CIBUS, Faculty of Biology, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain;
| | - María Jesús Sobrido
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), Servicio Galego de Saúde, 15006 Coruña, Spain;
| | - Laura Sánchez
- Department of Zoology, Genetics and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Universidade of Santiago de Compostela, 27002 Lugo, Spain; (A.Q.-R.); (L.S.)
- Preclinical Animal Models Group, Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela (IDIS), 15706 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
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10
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Laffita-Mesa JM, Nennesmo I, Paucar M, Svenningsson P. A Novel Duplication in ATXN2 as Modifier for Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3 (SCA3) and C9ORF72-ALS. Mov Disord 2020; 36:508-514. [PMID: 33058338 PMCID: PMC7983901 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The ataxin‐2 (ATXN2) gene contains a cytosine‐adenine‐guanine repeat sequence ranging from 13 to 31 repeats, but when surpassing certain thresholds causes neurodegeneration. Genetic alterations in ATXN2 other than pathological cytosine adenine guanine (CAG) repeats are unknown. Methods/Results We have identified a 9–base pair duplication in the 2‐gene ATXN2 sense/antisense region. The duplication was found in a Swedish family with spinocerebellar ataxia 3 with parkinsonism, conferring a deviated age at onset unexplained by the concomitant presence of ATXN2 intermediate alleles. Similarly, C9ORF72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases bearing the same duplication had earlier age at onset than those with C9ORF72 and ATXN2 intermediate alleles. No effect was evident in Parkinson's disease (PD) cases without known PD gene mutations. Conclusions We describe the first genetic alteration other than the known intermediate‐range CAG repeats in ATXN2. This 9–base pair duplication may act as an additional hit among carriers of pathological nucleotide expansions in ATXN3 and C9ORF72 with ATXN2 intermediate. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose Miguel Laffita-Mesa
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Neuro Svenningsson, J5:20 Bioclinicum, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Inger Nennesmo
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Neuro Svenningsson, J5:20 Bioclinicum, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Paucar
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Neuro Svenningsson, J5:20 Bioclinicum, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Svenningsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience (CNS), Neuro Svenningsson, J5:20 Bioclinicum, Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Goodier JL, Soares AO, Pereira GC, DeVine LR, Sanchez L, Cole RN, García-Pérez JL. C9orf72-associated SMCR8 protein binds in the ubiquitin pathway and with proteins linked with neurological disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:110. [PMID: 32678027 PMCID: PMC7364817 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-00982-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A pathogenic GGGCCC hexanucleotide expansion in the first intron/promoter region of the C9orf72 gene is the most common mutation associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The C9orf72 gene product forms a complex with SMCR8 (Smith-Magenis Syndrome Chromosome Region, Candidate 8) and WDR41 (WD Repeat domain 41) proteins. Recent studies have indicated roles for the complex in autophagy regulation, vesicle trafficking, and immune response in transgenic mice, however a direct connection with ALS etiology remains unclear. With the aim of increasing understanding of the multi-functional C9orf72-SMCR8-WDR41 complex, we determined by mass spectrometry analysis the proteins that directly associate with SMCR8. SMCR8 protein binds many components of the ubiquitin-proteasome system, and we demonstrate its poly-ubiquitination without obvious degradation. Evidence is also presented for localization of endogenous SMCR8 protein to cytoplasmic stress granules. However, in several cell lines we failed to reproduce previous observations that C9orf72 protein enters these granules. SMCR8 protein associates with many products of genes associated with various Mendelian neurological disorders in addition to ALS, implicating SMCR8-containing complexes in a range of neuropathologies. We reinforce previous observations that SMCR8 and C9orf72 protein levels are positively linked, and now show in vivo that SMCR8 protein levels are greatly reduced in brain tissues of C9orf72 gene expansion carrier individuals. While further study is required, these data suggest that SMCR8 protein level might prove a useful biomarker for the C9orf72 expansion in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L. Goodier
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Alisha O. Soares
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Gavin C. Pereira
- McKusick-Nathans Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Lauren R. DeVine
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Laura Sanchez
- GENYO. Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer, University of Granada, Andalusian Regional Government, Granada, Spain
| | - Robert N. Cole
- Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Jose Luis García-Pérez
- GENYO. Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer, University of Granada, Andalusian Regional Government, Granada, Spain
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM), University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK
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12
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Limanaqi F, Busceti CL, Biagioni F, Cantini F, Lenzi P, Fornai F. Cell-Clearing Systems Bridging Repeat Expansion Proteotoxicity and Neuromuscular Junction Alterations in ALS and SBMA. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21114021. [PMID: 32512809 PMCID: PMC7312203 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21114021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The coordinated activities of autophagy and the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) are key to preventing the aggregation and toxicity of misfold-prone proteins which manifest in a number of neurodegenerative disorders. These include proteins which are encoded by genes containing nucleotide repeat expansions. In the present review we focus on the overlapping role of autophagy and the UPS in repeat expansion proteotoxicity associated with chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72) and androgen receptor (AR) genes, which are implicated in two motor neuron disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), respectively. At baseline, both C9ORF72 and AR regulate autophagy, while their aberrantly-expanded isoforms may lead to a failure in both autophagy and the UPS, further promoting protein aggregation and toxicity within motor neurons and skeletal muscles. Besides proteotoxicity, autophagy and UPS alterations are also implicated in neuromuscular junction (NMJ) alterations, which occur early in both ALS and SBMA. In fact, autophagy and the UPS intermingle with endocytic/secretory pathways to regulate axonal homeostasis and neurotransmission by interacting with key proteins which operate at the NMJ, such as agrin, acetylcholine receptors (AChRs), and adrenergic beta2 receptors (B2-ARs). Thus, alterations of autophagy and the UPS configure as a common hallmark in both ALS and SBMA disease progression. The findings here discussed may contribute to disclosing overlapping molecular mechanisms which are associated with a failure in cell-clearing systems in ALS and SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Limanaqi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (F.C.); (P.L.)
| | | | - Francesca Biagioni
- I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (C.L.B.); (F.B.)
| | - Federica Cantini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (F.C.); (P.L.)
| | - Paola Lenzi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (F.C.); (P.L.)
| | - Francesco Fornai
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (F.L.); (F.C.); (P.L.)
- I.R.C.C.S. Neuromed, Via Atinense, 18, 86077 Pozzilli, Italy; (C.L.B.); (F.B.)
- Correspondence:
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13
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Finkbeiner S. The Autophagy Lysosomal Pathway and Neurodegeneration. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2020; 12:cshperspect.a033993. [PMID: 30936119 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a033993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The autophagy lysosomal pathway (ALP) is a major mechanism for degrading intracellular macromolecules. The catabolic products can then be used by the cell for energy or as building blocks to make other macromolecules. Since its discovery, a variety of cellular pathways have emerged that target components with varying specificity for lysosomal degradation. Under some circumstances, lysosomes may release their contents into the extracellular space where they may serve signaling or pathogenic functions. The ALP is active in healthy cells, and the level of activity can be regulated by nutrient-sensing and metabolic signaling pathways. The ALP is the primary pathway by which lipids and damaged organelles are degraded and may be the only pathway capable of degrading aggregated proteins. As such, there has been intense interest in understanding the role of the ALP in the accumulation of aggregated misfolded proteins characteristic of many of the major adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the ALP and its potential relationship to the pathogenesis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Finkbeiner
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, California 94158.,Departments of Neurology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158
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14
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Strohm L, Behrends C. Glia-specific autophagy dysfunction in ALS. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2020; 99:172-182. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2019.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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15
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Cali CP, Patino M, Tai YK, Ho WY, McLean CA, Morris CM, Seeley WW, Miller BL, Gaig C, Vonsattel JPG, White CL, Roeber S, Kretzschmar H, Troncoso JC, Troakes C, Gearing M, Ghetti B, Van Deerlin VM, Lee VMY, Trojanowski JQ, Mok KY, Ling H, Dickson DW, Schellenberg GD, Ling SC, Lee EB. C9orf72 intermediate repeats are associated with corticobasal degeneration, increased C9orf72 expression and disruption of autophagy. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 138:795-811. [PMID: 31327044 PMCID: PMC6802287 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02045-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Microsatellite repeat expansion disease loci can exhibit pleiotropic clinical and biological effects depending on repeat length. Large expansions in C9orf72 (100s-1000s of units) are the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD). However, whether intermediate expansions also contribute to neurodegenerative disease is not well understood. Several studies have identified intermediate repeats in Parkinson's disease patients, but the association was not found in autopsy-confirmed cases. We hypothesized that intermediate C9orf72 repeats are a genetic risk factor for corticobasal degeneration (CBD), a neurodegenerative disease that can be clinically similar to Parkinson's but has distinct tau protein pathology. Indeed, intermediate C9orf72 repeats were significantly enriched in autopsy-proven CBD (n = 354 cases, odds ratio = 3.59, p = 0.00024). While large C9orf72 repeat expansions are known to decrease C9orf72 expression, intermediate C9orf72 repeats result in increased C9orf72 expression in human brain tissue and CRISPR/cas9 knockin iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells. In contrast to cases of FTD/ALS with large C9orf72 expansions, CBD with intermediate C9orf72 repeats was not associated with pathologic RNA foci or dipeptide repeat protein aggregates. Knock-in cells with intermediate repeats exhibit numerous changes in gene expression pathways relating to vesicle trafficking and autophagy. Additionally, overexpression of C9orf72 without the repeat expansion leads to defects in autophagy under nutrient starvation conditions. These results raise the possibility that therapeutic strategies to reduce C9orf72 expression may be beneficial for the treatment of CBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher P Cali
- Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 613A Stellar Chance Laboratories, 422 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Maribel Patino
- Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 613A Stellar Chance Laboratories, 422 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yee Kit Tai
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Wan Yun Ho
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Catriona A McLean
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Alfred Health and Victorian Brain Bank, Florey Neurosciences, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Christopher M Morris
- Newcastle Brain Tissue Resource, Edwardson Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE4 5PL, UK
| | - William W Seeley
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Carles Gaig
- Universitat de Barcelona Hospital Clínic and Banc de Teixits Neurològics, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Charles L White
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sigrun Roeber
- Institute for Neuropathology and Prion Research and Brain Net Germany, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Hans Kretzschmar
- Institute for Neuropathology and Prion Research and Brain Net Germany, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, Germany
| | - Juan C Troncoso
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Claire Troakes
- London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Marla Gearing
- Department of Pathology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Vivianna M Van Deerlin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Virginia M-Y Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kin Y Mok
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience and Molecular Neuroscience Center, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Helen Ling
- Reta Lila Weston Institute of Neurological Studies, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | - Gerard D Schellenberg
- Penn Neurodegeneration Genomics Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shuo-Chien Ling
- Department of Physiology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Edward B Lee
- Translational Neuropathology Research Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 613A Stellar Chance Laboratories, 422 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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16
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Xu F, Kula-Eversole E, Iwanaszko M, Lim C, Allada R. Ataxin2 functions via CrebA to mediate Huntingtin toxicity in circadian clock neurons. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1008356. [PMID: 31593562 PMCID: PMC6782096 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Disrupted circadian rhythms is a prominent and early feature of neurodegenerative diseases including Huntington’s disease (HD). In HD patients and animal models, striatal and hypothalamic neurons expressing molecular circadian clocks are targets of mutant Huntingtin (mHtt) pathogenicity. Yet how mHtt disrupts circadian rhythms remains unclear. In a genetic screen for modifiers of mHtt effects on circadian behavior in Drosophila, we discovered a role for the neurodegenerative disease gene Ataxin2 (Atx2). Genetic manipulations of Atx2 modify the impact of mHtt on circadian behavior as well as mHtt aggregation and demonstrate a role for Atx2 in promoting mHtt aggregation as well as mHtt-mediated neuronal dysfunction. RNAi knockdown of the Fragile X mental retardation gene, dfmr1, an Atx2 partner, also partially suppresses mHtt effects and Atx2 effects depend on dfmr1. Atx2 knockdown reduces the cAMP response binding protein A (CrebA) transcript at dawn. CrebA transcript level shows a prominent diurnal regulation in clock neurons. Loss of CrebA also partially suppresses mHtt effects on behavior and cell loss and restoration of CrebA can suppress Atx2 effects. Our results indicate a prominent role of Atx2 in mediating mHtt pathology, specifically via its regulation of CrebA, defining a novel molecular pathway in HD pathogenesis. Circadian clocks evolved to anticipate 24 h environmental rhythms driven by the earth’s daily rotation and regulate nearly all aspects of behavior, physiology and the genome. Disruptions of the circadian clock have been associated with a wide range of human diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington’s disease (HD). Using an HD animal model in which a mutant Huntingtin (mHtt) protein is expressed, we identify a role for the RNA binding protein and neurodegenerative disease gene Ataxin-2 (Atx2) in mediating mHtt effects on circadian behavioral rhythms. Using transcriptomics, we identify the transcription factor CrebA as a potential target of both Atx2 and the circadian clock. Finally, we demonstrate a role for CrebA in mediating mHtt effects on circadian behavior, defining a novel Atx2-CrebA pathway in a neurodegenerative disease model. These studies define the molecular mechanisms by which mHtt can disrupt circadian rhythms identifying potential novel therapeutic targets for this uniformly fatal disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangke Xu
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Elzbieta Kula-Eversole
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Marta Iwanaszko
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Chunghun Lim
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Ravi Allada
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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17
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Hor CHH, Tang BL. Beta-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN) as a genetically simple model of multifaceted neuropathology resulting from defects in autophagy. Rev Neurosci 2019; 30:261-277. [DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2018-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AbstractAutophagy is an essential and conserved cellular homeostatic process. Defects in the core and accessory components of the autophagic machinery would most severely impact terminally differentiated cells, such as neurons. The neurodevelopmental/neurodegenerative disorder β-propeller protein-associated neurodegeneration (BPAN) resulted from heterozygous or hemizygous germline mutations/pathogenic variant of the X chromosome geneWDR45, encoding WD40 repeat protein interacting with phosphoinositides 4 (WIPI4). This most recently identified subtype of the spectrum of neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation diseases is characterized by a biphasic mode of disease manifestation and progression. The first phase involves early-onset of epileptic seizures, global developmental delay, intellectual disability and autistic syndrome. Subsequently, Parkinsonism and dystonia, as well as dementia, emerge in a subacute manner in adolescence or early adulthood. BPAN disease phenotypes are thus complex and linked to a wide range of other neuropathological disorders. WIPI4/WDR45 has an essential role in autophagy, acting as a phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate binding effector that participates in autophagosome biogenesis and size control. Here, we discuss recent updates on WIPI4’s mechanistic role in autophagy and link the neuropathological manifestations of BPAN’s biphasic infantile onset (epilepsy, autism) and adolescent onset (dystonic, Parkinsonism, dementia) phenotypes to neurological consequences of autophagy impairment that are now known or emerging in many other neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. As monogenicWDR45mutations in BPAN result in a large spectrum of disease phenotypes that stem from autophagic dysfunctions, it could potentially serve as a simple and unique genetic model to investigate disease pathology and therapeutics for a wider range of neuropathological conditions with autophagy defects.
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18
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Walters R, Manion J, Neely GG. Dissecting Motor Neuron Disease With Drosophila melanogaster. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:331. [PMID: 31031583 PMCID: PMC6473072 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor Neuron Disease (MND) typically affects patients during the later stages of life, and thus, MND is having an increasingly devastating impact on diagnosed individuals, their families and society. The umbrella term MND refers to diseases which cause the progressive loss of upper and/or lower motor neurons and a subsequent decrease in motor ability such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The study of these diseases is complex and has recently involved the use of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, in the case of MND, it has been difficult to identify the complex genetics involved in subtypes, and functional investigation of new candidate disease genes is warranted. Drosophila is a powerful model for addressing these complex diseases. The UAS/Gal4/Gal80 system allows for the upregulation of Drosophila genes, the “knockdown” of genes and the ectopic expression of human genes or mutations in a tissue-specific manner; often resulting in Drosophila models which exhibit typical MND disease pathologies. These can then be further interrogated to identify disease-modifying genes or mutations and disease pathways. This review will discuss two common MNDs and the current Drosophila models which are being used to research their genetic basis and the different pathologies of MND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Walters
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John Manion
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - G Gregory Neely
- Dr. John and Anne Chong Lab for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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19
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West RJH, Ugbode C, Gao FB, Sweeney ST. The pro-apoptotic JNK scaffold POSH/SH3RF1 mediates CHMP2BIntron5-associated toxicity in animal models of frontotemporal dementia. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:1382-1395. [PMID: 29432529 PMCID: PMC6454437 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the most prevalent forms of early-onset dementia. However, the pathological mechanisms driving neuronal atrophy in FTD remain poorly understood. Here we identify a conserved role for the novel pro-apoptotic protein plenty of SH3s (POSH)/SH3 domain containing ring finger 1 in mediating neuropathology in Drosophila and mammalian models of charged multivesicular body protein 2B (CHMP2BIntron5) associated FTD. Aberrant, AKT dependent, accumulation of POSH was observed throughout the nervous system of both Drosophila and mice expressing CHMP2BIntron5. Knockdown of POSH was shown to be neuroprotective and sufficient to alleviate aberrant neuronal morphology, behavioral deficits and premature-lethality in Drosophila models, as well as dendritic collapse and cell death in CHMP2BIntron5expressing rat primary neurons. POSH knockdown also ameliorated elevated markers of Jun N-terminal kinase and apoptotic cascades in both Drosophila and mammalian models. This study provides the first characterization of POSH as a potential component of an FTD neuropathology, identifying a novel apoptotic pathway with relevance to the FTD spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J H West
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Chris Ugbode
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Fen-Biao Gao
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Sean T Sweeney
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
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20
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Campanari ML, Bourefis AR, Kabashi E. Diagnostic Challenge and Neuromuscular Junction Contribution to ALS Pathogenesis. Front Neurol 2019; 10:68. [PMID: 30787905 PMCID: PMC6372519 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) represents the major adult-onset motor neuron disease. Both human and animal studies reveal the critical implication of muscle and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in the initial phase of this disease. Despite the common efforts, ALS diagnosis remains particularly challenging since many other disorders can overlap yielding similar clinical phenotypic features. A combination of further research on the NMJ parameters that are specific for this disease and laboratory tests are crucial for the early determination of specific changes in the muscle, as well as in motor neuron and the prediction of ALS progression. Also, it could provide a powerful tool in the discrimination of particular ALS and ALS-mimic cases and increase the efficacy of therapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Letizia Campanari
- Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université de Paris 06, Unité Mixte 75, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225 Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, Paris, France.,Imagine Institute, INSERM Unité 1163, Paris Descartes Université, Paris, France
| | - Annis-Rayan Bourefis
- Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université de Paris 06, Unité Mixte 75, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225 Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, Paris, France.,Imagine Institute, INSERM Unité 1163, Paris Descartes Université, Paris, France
| | - Edor Kabashi
- Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université de Paris 06, Unité Mixte 75, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225 Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, Paris, France.,Imagine Institute, INSERM Unité 1163, Paris Descartes Université, Paris, France
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21
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Santos D, Coelho T, Alves-Ferreira M, Sequeiros J, Mendonça D, Alonso I, Sousa A, Lemos C. Large normal alleles of ATXN2
decrease age at onset in transthyretin familial amyloid polyneuropathy Val30Met patients. Ann Neurol 2019; 85:251-258. [DOI: 10.1002/ana.25409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Santos
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto
- UnIGENe, IBMC, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology; Universidade do Porto
- ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar; Universidade do Porto
| | - Teresa Coelho
- UCA, Unidade Corino de Andrade; Centro Hospitalar do Porto (CHP)
| | - Miguel Alves-Ferreira
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto
- UnIGENe, IBMC, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology; Universidade do Porto
- ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar; Universidade do Porto
| | - Jorge Sequeiros
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto
- UnIGENe, IBMC, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology; Universidade do Porto
- ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar; Universidade do Porto
| | - Denisa Mendonça
- ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar; Universidade do Porto
- ISPUP, Instituto de Saúde Pública; Universidade do Porto; Porto Portugal
| | - Isabel Alonso
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto
- UnIGENe, IBMC, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology; Universidade do Porto
- ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar; Universidade do Porto
| | - Alda Sousa
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto
- UnIGENe, IBMC, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology; Universidade do Porto
- ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar; Universidade do Porto
| | - Carolina Lemos
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde; Universidade do Porto
- UnIGENe, IBMC, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology; Universidade do Porto
- ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar; Universidade do Porto
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22
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Davis AA, Leyns CEG, Holtzman DM. Intercellular Spread of Protein Aggregates in Neurodegenerative Disease. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol 2018; 34:545-568. [PMID: 30044648 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100617-062636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Most neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the accumulation of protein aggregates, some of which are toxic to cells. Mounting evidence demonstrates that in several diseases, protein aggregates can pass from neuron to neuron along connected networks, although the role of this spreading phenomenon in disease pathogenesis is not completely understood. Here we briefly review the molecular and histopathological features of protein aggregation in neurodegenerative disease, we summarize the evidence for release of proteins from donor cells into the extracellular space, and we highlight some other mechanisms by which protein aggregates might be transmitted to recipient cells. We also discuss the evidence that supports a role for spreading of protein aggregates in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis and some limitations of this model. Finally, we consider potential therapeutic strategies to target spreading of protein aggregates in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert A Davis
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA; .,Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - Cheryl E G Leyns
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA; .,Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.,Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
| | - David M Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA; .,Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA.,Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA
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23
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Zhang Y, Burberry A, Wang JY, Sandoe J, Ghosh S, Udeshi ND, Svinkina T, Mordes DA, Mok J, Charlton M, Li QZ, Carr SA, Eggan K. The C9orf72-interacting protein Smcr8 is a negative regulator of autoimmunity and lysosomal exocytosis. Genes Dev 2018; 32:929-943. [PMID: 29950492 PMCID: PMC6075033 DOI: 10.1101/gad.313932.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
A mutation in C9ORF72 is the most common genetic contributor to ALS. Zhang et al. found that C9ORF72's long isoform complexes with and stabilizes SMCR8. Smcr8 loss-of-function mutant mice exhibit a loss of tolerance for many nervous system autoantigens and increased lysosomal exocytosis in mutant macrophages. While a mutation in C9ORF72 is the most common genetic contributor to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), much remains to be learned concerning the function of the protein normally encoded at this locus. To elaborate further on functions for C9ORF72, we used quantitative mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify interacting proteins in motor neurons and found that its long isoform complexes with and stabilizes SMCR8, which further enables interaction with WDR41. To study the organismal and cellular functions for this tripartite complex, we generated Smcr8 loss-of-function mutant mice and found that they developed phenotypes also observed in C9orf72 loss-of-function animals, including autoimmunity. Along with a loss of tolerance for many nervous system autoantigens, we found increased lysosomal exocytosis in Smcr8 mutant macrophages. In addition to elevated surface Lamp1 (lysosome-associated membrane protein 1) expression, we also observed enhanced secretion of lysosomal components—phenotypes that we subsequently observed in C9orf72 loss-of-function macrophages. Overall, our findings demonstrate that C9ORF72 and SMCR8 have interdependent functions in suppressing autoimmunity as well as negatively regulating lysosomal exocytosis—processes of potential importance to ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Zhang
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Aaron Burberry
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Jin-Yuan Wang
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Jackson Sandoe
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Sulagna Ghosh
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Namrata D Udeshi
- Proteomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Tanya Svinkina
- Proteomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Daniel A Mordes
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.,Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA
| | - Joanie Mok
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Maura Charlton
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Quan-Zhen Li
- Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
| | - Steven A Carr
- Proteomics Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Kevin Eggan
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.,Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
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24
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Nguyen HP, Van Broeckhoven C, van der Zee J. ALS Genes in the Genomic Era and their Implications for FTD. Trends Genet 2018; 34:404-423. [PMID: 29605155 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2018.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex neurodegenerative disease, characterized genetically by a disproportionately large contribution of rare genetic variation. Driven by advances in massive parallel sequencing and applied on large patient-control cohorts, systematic identification of these rare variants that make up the genetic architecture of ALS became feasible. In this review paper, we present a comprehensive overview of recently proposed ALS genes that were identified based on rare genetic variants (TBK1, CHCHD10, TUBA4A, CCNF, MATR3, NEK1, C21orf2, ANXA11, TIA1) and their potential relevance to frontotemporal dementia genetic etiology. As more causal and risk genes are identified, it has become apparent that affected individuals can carry multiple disease-associated variants. In light of this observation, we discuss the oligogenic architecture of ALS. To end, we highlight emerging key molecular processes and opportunities for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung Phuoc Nguyen
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium; Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Christine Van Broeckhoven
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium; Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Julie van der Zee
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium; Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
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25
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High frequency of C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients from two founder populations sharing the same risk haplotype. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 64:160.e1-160.e7. [PMID: 29352617 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
We characterized the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion (RE) mutation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients of 2 distinct origins, Ashkenazi and North Africa Jews (AJ, NAJ), its frequency, and genotype-phenotype correlations. In AJ, 80% of familial ALS (fALS) and 11% of sporadic ALS carried the RE, a total of 12.9% of all AJ-ALS compared to 0.3% in AJ controls (odds ratio [OR] = 44.3, p < 0.0001). In NAJ, 10% of fALS and 9% of sporadic ALS carried the RE, a total of 9.1% of all NAJ-ALS compared to 1% in controls (OR = 9.9, p = 0.0006). We identified a risk haplotype shared among all ALS patients, although an association with age at disease onset, fALS, and dementia were observed only in AJ. Variations were identified downstream the repeats. The risk haplotype and these polymorphisms were at high frequencies in alleles with 8 repeats or more, suggesting sequence instability. The different genotype-phenotype correlations and OR, together with the large range in age at onset, suggest that other modifiers and risk factors may affect penetrance and phenotype in ALS.
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26
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Wiesner D, Tar L, Linkus B, Chandrasekar A, Olde Heuvel F, Dupuis L, Tsao W, Wong PC, Ludolph A, Roselli F. Reversible induction of TDP-43 granules in cortical neurons after traumatic injury. Exp Neurol 2017; 299:15-25. [PMID: 28941811 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2017.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been proposed as a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To determine whether TBI might trigger or exacerbate ALS-relevant pathology, we delivered a mild stab-wound injury to the motor cortex of three different ALS mouse models expressing mutations in SOD1, TDP-43 or FUS and scrutinized the effects on the formation of phospho-TDP-43 (pTDP-43) cytoplasmic granules. Stab-injury induced the formation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 granules in wt animals, peaking at 3dpi; a much larger response was seen in mutant TDP-43 mice, whose response peaked at 7dpi. The pTDP-43 granules did not colocalize with the stress markers TIAR-1 and FUS but colocalized with FMRP (35%) and with p62 (65%), suggesting their involvement in transport granules and their clearance by autophagy. A similar, albeit smaller effect, was seen in mutant FUS mice. In the SOD1G93A mouse model, neither increase in pTDP-43 granules nor in SOD1 aggregates were detected. In all cases, pTDP-43 granules were cleared and the number of pTDP-43-positive neurons returned to baseline by 40dpi. Neither injury-related neuronal loss nor motor performance or survival was significantly different in transgenic mice receiving injury vs sham mice. Thus, trauma can trigger ALS-related TDP-43 pathology, the extent of which is modulated by ALS-related mutations. However, the pathological findings prove reversible and do not affect disease progression and neuronal vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Wiesner
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Ulm School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lilla Tar
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Ulm School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Birgit Linkus
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Ulm School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Luc Dupuis
- Inserm U1118, Mécanismes centraux et périphétiques de la neurodégénérescence, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Médecine, Strasbourg, France
| | - William Tsao
- Dept. of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Philip C Wong
- Dept. of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States; Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, United States
| | - Albert Ludolph
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Ulm School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Ulm School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany; Dept. of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Ulm School of Medicine, Germany.
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27
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Michaelson N, Facciponte D, Bradley W, Stommel E. Cytokine expression levels in ALS: A potential link between inflammation and BMAA-triggered protein misfolding. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2017; 37:81-88. [PMID: 28532674 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Recently, it has been shown that proinflammatory cytokines play a complex and important role in the pathogenesis of many neurological disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To help facilitate future discoveries and more effective treatment strategies, we highlight the role that both innate and adaptive immune systems play in ALS and summarize the main observations that relate to cytokine expression levels in this disease. Furthermore, we propose a mechanism by which a known neurotoxin, β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA), may trigger this cytokine expression profile through motor neuron protein misfolding and subsequent NLRP3 (nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3) inflammasome activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nara Michaelson
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA.
| | | | - Walter Bradley
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Elijah Stommel
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA; Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
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28
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Abstract
Rab proteins are the major regulators of vesicular trafficking in eukaryotic cells. Their activity can be tightly controlled within cells: Regulated by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase activating proteins (GAPs), they switch between an active GTP-bound state and an inactive GDP-bound state, interacting with downstream effector proteins only in the active state. Additionally, they can bind to membranes via C-terminal prenylated cysteine residues and they can be solubilized and shuttled between membranes by chaperone-like molecules called GDP dissociation inhibitors (GDIs). In this review we give an overview of Rab proteins with a focus on the current understanding of their regulation by GEFs, GAPs and GDI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias P Müller
- a Department of Structural Biochemistry , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology , Dortmund , Germany
| | - Roger S Goody
- a Department of Structural Biochemistry , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology , Dortmund , Germany
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29
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Elevated TMEM106B levels exaggerate lipofuscin accumulation and lysosomal dysfunction in aged mice with progranulin deficiency. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2017; 5:9. [PMID: 28126008 PMCID: PMC5270347 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-017-0412-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 01/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations resulting in haploinsufficiency of progranulin (PGRN) cause frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43-positive inclusions (FTLD-TDP), a devastating neurodegenerative disease. Accumulating evidence suggest a crucial role of progranulin in maintaining proper lysosomal function during aging. TMEM106B has been identified as a risk factor for frontotemporal lobar degeneration with progranulin mutations and elevated mRNA and protein levels of TMEM106B are associated with increased risk for frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Increased levels of TMEM106B alter lysosomal morphology and interfere with lysosomal degradation. However, how progranulin and TMEM106B interact to regulate lysosomal function and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) disease progression is still unclear. Here we report that progranulin deficiency leads to increased TMEM106B protein levels in the mouse cortex with aging. To mimic elevated levels of TMEM106B in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) cases, we generated transgenic mice expressing TMEM106B under the neuronal specific promoter, CamKII. Surprisingly, we found that the total protein levels of TMEM106B are not altered despite the expression of the TMEM106B transgene at mRNA and protein levels, suggesting a tight regulation of TMEM106B protein levels in the mouse brain. However, progranulin deficiency results in accumulation of TMEM106B protein from the transgene expression during aging, which is accompanied by exaggerated lysosomal abnormalities and increased lipofuscin accumulation. In summary, our mouse model nicely recapitulates the interaction between progranulin and TMEM106B in human patients and supports a critical role of lysosomal dysfunction in the frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) disease progression.
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30
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Tang BL. Rabs, Membrane Dynamics, and Parkinson's Disease. J Cell Physiol 2016; 232:1626-1633. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.25713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bor Luen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine; National University of Singapore; Singapore 117597
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering; National University of Singapore; Singapore 117456
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31
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Tang BL. C9orf72's Interaction with Rab GTPases-Modulation of Membrane Traffic and Autophagy. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:228. [PMID: 27774051 PMCID: PMC5053994 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hexanucleotide repeat expansion in an intron of Chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) is the most common genetic cause of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD). While functional haploinsufficiency of C9orf72 resulting from the mutation may play a role in ALS/FTD, the actual cellular role of the protein has been unclear. Recent findings have now shown that C9orf72 physically and functionally interacts with multiple members of the Rab small GTPases family, consequently exerting important influences on cellular membrane traffic and the process of autophagy. Loss of C9orf72 impairs endocytosis in neuronal cell lines, and attenuated autophagosome formation. Interestingly, C9orf72 could influence autophagy both as part of a Guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) complex, or as a Rab effector that facilitates transport of the Unc-51-like Autophagy Activating Kinase 1 (Ulk1) autophagy initiation complex. The cellular function of C9orf72 is discussed in the light of these recent findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bor L Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeSingapore, Singapore; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of SingaporeSingapore, Singapore
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32
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Weinreb RN, Leung CKS, Crowston JG, Medeiros FA, Friedman DS, Wiggs JL, Martin KR. Primary open-angle glaucoma. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2016; 2:16067. [PMID: 27654570 DOI: 10.1038/nrdp.2016.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 272] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy that is characterized by the progressive degeneration of the optic nerve, leading to visual impairment. Glaucoma is the main cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, but typically remains asymptomatic until very severe. Open-angle glaucoma comprises the majority of cases in the United States and western Europe, of which, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type. By contrast, in China and other Asian countries, angle-closure glaucoma is highly prevalent. These two types of glaucoma are characterized based on the anatomic configuration of the aqueous humour outflow pathway. The pathophysiology of POAG is not well understood, but it is an optic neuropathy that is thought to be associated with intraocular pressure (IOP)-related damage to the optic nerve head and resultant loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). POAG is generally diagnosed during routine eye examination, which includes fundoscopic evaluation and visual field assessment (using perimetry). An increase in IOP, measured by tonometry, is not essential for diagnosis. Management of POAG includes topical drug therapies and surgery to reduce IOP, although new therapies targeting neuroprotection of RGCs and axonal regeneration are under development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert N Weinreb
- Shiley Eye Institute, Hamilton Glaucoma Center, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Christopher K S Leung
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jonathan G Crowston
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Felipe A Medeiros
- Shiley Eye Institute, Hamilton Glaucoma Center, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - David S Friedman
- Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Janey L Wiggs
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Keith R Martin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Cambridge NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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