1
|
Wang XX, Chen WZ, Li C, Xu RS. Current potential pathogenic mechanisms of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Rev Neurosci 2024; 0:revneuro-2024-0010. [PMID: 38381656 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2024-0010] [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: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disease which damages upper and lower motor neurons (UMN and LMN) innervating the muscles of the trunk, extremities, head, neck and face in cerebrum, brain stem and spinal cord, which results in the progressive weakness, atrophy and fasciculation of muscle innervated by the related UMN and LMN, accompanying with the pathological signs leaded by the cortical spinal lateral tract lesion. The pathogenesis about ALS is not fully understood, and no specific drugs are available to cure and prevent the progression of this disease at present. In this review, we reviewed the structure and associated functions of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), discuss why SOD1 is crucial to the pathogenesis of ALS, and outline the pathogenic mechanisms of SOD1 in ALS that have been identified at recent years, including glutamate-related excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, axonal transport disruption, prion-like propagation, and the non-cytologic toxicity of glial cells. This review will help us to deeply understand the current progression in this field of SOD1 pathogenic mechanisms in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Xin Wang
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, The Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
- Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Wen-Zhi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, The Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Cheng Li
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, The Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Ren-Shi Xu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, The Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
- Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Yuan Y, Bailey JM, Rivera-Lopez GM, Atchison WD. Preferential potentiation of AMPA-mediated currents in brainstem hypoglossal motoneurons by subchronic exposure of mice expressing the human superoxide dismutase 1 G93A gene mutation to neurotoxicant methylmercury in vivo. Neurotoxicology 2024; 100:72-84. [PMID: 38065418 PMCID: PMC10877233 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
The exact causes of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive and fatal neurological disorder due to loss of upper and/or lower motoneurons, remain elusive. Gene-environment interactions are believed to be an important factor in the development of ALS. We previously showed that in vivo exposure of mice overexpressing the human superoxide dismutase 1 (hSOD1) gene mutation (hSOD1G93A; G93A), a mouse model for ALS, to environmental neurotoxicant methylmercury (MeHg) accelerated the onset of ALS-like phenotype. Here we examined the time-course of effects of MeHg on AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated currents in hypoglossal motoneurons in brainstem slices prepared from G93A, hSOD1wild-type (hWT) and non-carrier WT mice following in vivo exposure to MeHg. Mice were exposed daily to 3 ppm (approximately 0.7 mg/kg/day) MeHg via drinking water beginning at postnatal day 28 (P28) and continued until P47, 64 or 84, then acute brainstem slices were prepared, and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) or AMPA-evoked currents were examined using whole cell patch-clamp recording technique. Brainstem slices of untreated littermates were prepared at the same time points to serve as control. MeHg exposure had no significant effect on either sEPSCs or AMPA-evoked currents in slices from hWT or WT mice during any of those exposure time periods under our experimental conditions. MeHg also did not cause any significant effect on sEPSCs or AMPA-currents in G93A hypoglossal motoneurons at P47 and P64. However, at P84, MeHg significantly increased amplitudes of both sEPSCs and AMPA-evoked currents in hypoglossal motineurons from G93A mice (p < 0.05), but not the sEPSC frequency, suggesting a postsynaptic action on AMPARs. MeHg exposure did not cause any significant effect on GABAergic spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). Therefore, MeHg exposure in vivo caused differential effects on AMPARs in hypoglossal motoneurons from mice with different genetic backgrounds. MeHg appears to preferentially stimulate the AMPAR-mediated currents in G93A hypoglossal motoneurons in an exposure time-dependent manner, which may contribute to the AMPAR-mediated motoneuron excitotoxicity, thereby facilitating development of ALS-like phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yukun Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Michigan State University, Life Sciences Building, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA.
| | - Jordan M Bailey
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Michigan State University, Life Sciences Building, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA
| | - Gretchen M Rivera-Lopez
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Michigan State University, Life Sciences Building, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA
| | - William D Atchison
- Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, Michigan State University, Life Sciences Building, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824-1317, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Latif S, Kang YS. Protective Effects of Choline against Inflammatory Cytokines and Characterization of Transport in Motor Neuron-like Cell Lines (NSC-34). Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2374. [PMID: 36365192 PMCID: PMC9699384 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Choline, a component of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, is essential for nervous system functions, brain development, and gene expression. In our study, we investigated the protective effect and transport characteristics of choline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) model cell lines. We used the wild-type (WT) motor neuron-like hybrid cell line (NSC-34/hSOD1WT) as a control and the mutant-type (MT; NSC-34/hSOD1G93A) as a disease model. The uptake of [3H]choline was time-, pH-, and concentration-dependent. [3H]Choline transport was sodium-dependent, and, upon pretreatment with valinomycin, induced membrane depolarization. Gene knockdown of Slc44a1 revealed that choline-like transporter 1 (CTL1) mediates the transport of choline. In NSC-34 cell lines, the specific choline transporter inhibitor, hemicholinium-3 demonstrated significant inhibition. Donepezil and nifedipine caused dose-dependent inhibition of [3H]choline uptake by the MT cell line with minimal half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 0.14 mM and 3.06 mM, respectively. Four-day pretreatment with nerve growth factor (NGF) resulted in an inhibitory effect on [3H]choline uptake. Choline exerted protective and compensatory effects against cytokines mediators. Hence, the choline transport system CLT1 may act as a potential target for the delivery of novel pharmacological drugs, and the combination of drugs with choline can help treat symptoms related to ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Young-Sook Kang
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women’s University, 100 Cheongpa-ro 47-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04310, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Widagdo J, Udagedara S, Bhembre N, Tan JZA, Neureiter L, Huang J, Anggono V, Lee M. Familial ALS-associated SFPQ variants promote the formation of SFPQ cytoplasmic aggregates in primary neurons. Open Biol 2022; 12:220187. [PMID: 36168806 PMCID: PMC9516340 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Splicing factor proline- and glutamine-rich (SFPQ) is a nuclear RNA-binding protein that is involved in a wide range of physiological processes including neuronal development and homeostasis. However, the mislocalization and cytoplasmic aggregation of SFPQ are associated with the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We have previously reported that zinc mediates SFPQ polymerization and promotes the formation of cytoplasmic aggregates in neurons. Here we characterize two familial ALS (fALS)-associated SFPQ variants, which cause amino acid substitutions in the proximity of the SFPQ zinc-coordinating centre (N533H and L534I). Both mutants display increased zinc-binding affinities, which can be explained by the presence of a second zinc-binding site revealed by the 1.83 Å crystal structure of the human SFPQ L534I mutant. Overexpression of these fALS-associated mutants significantly increases the number of SFPQ cytoplasmic aggregates in primary neurons. Although they do not affect the density of dendritic spines, the presence of SFPQ cytoplasmic aggregates causes a marked reduction in the levels of the GluA1, but not the GluA2 subunit of AMPA-type glutamate receptors on the neuronal surface. Taken together, our data demonstrate that fALS-associated mutations enhance the propensity of SFPQ to bind zinc and form aggregates, leading to the dysregulation of AMPA receptor subunit composition, which may contribute to neuronal dysfunction in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn Widagdo
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Saumya Udagedara
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Nishita Bhembre
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jing Zhi Anson Tan
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Lara Neureiter
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jie Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| | - Victor Anggono
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Mihwa Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yelshanskaya MV, Singh AK, Narangoda C, Williams RSB, Kurnikova MG, Sobolevsky AI. Structural basis of AMPA receptor inhibition by trans-4-butylcyclohexane carboxylic acid. Br J Pharmacol 2022; 179:3628-3644. [PMID: 32959886 PMCID: PMC10693435 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE AMPA receptors, which shape excitatory postsynaptic currents and are directly involved in overactivation of synaptic function during seizures, represent a well-accepted target for anti-epileptic drugs. Trans-4-butylcyclohexane carboxylic acid (4-BCCA) has emerged as a new promising anti-epileptic drug in several in vitro and in vivo seizure models, but the mechanism of its action remained unknown. The purpose of this study is to characterize structure and dynamics of 4-BCCA interaction with AMPA receptors. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We studied the molecular mechanism of AMPA receptor inhibition by 4-BCCA using a combination of X-ray crystallography, mutagenesis, electrophysiological assays, and molecular dynamics simulations. KEY RESULTS We identified 4-BCCA binding sites in the transmembrane domain (TMD) of AMPA receptor, at the lateral portals formed by transmembrane segments M1-M4. At this binding site, 4-BCCA is very dynamic, assumes multiple poses, and can enter the ion channel pore. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS 4-BCCA represents a low-affinity inhibitor of AMPA receptors that acts at the TMD sites distinct from non-competitive inhibitors, such as the anti-epileptic drug perampanel and the ion channel blockers. Further studies might examine the possibsility of synergistic use of these inhibitors in treatment of epilepsy and a wide range of neurological disorders and gliomas. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed issue on Structure Guided Pharmacology of Membrane Proteins (BJP 75th Anniversary). To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v179.14/issuetoc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria V Yelshanskaya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Appu K Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India
| | - Chamali Narangoda
- Chemistry Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robin S B Williams
- Centre for Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Maria G Kurnikova
- Chemistry Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alexander I Sobolevsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
SOD1 in ALS: Taking Stock in Pathogenic Mechanisms and the Role of Glial and Muscle Cells. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11040614. [PMID: 35453299 PMCID: PMC9032988 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11040614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. While the exact causes of ALS are still unclear, the discovery that familial cases of ALS are related to mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), a key antioxidant enzyme protecting cells from the deleterious effects of superoxide radicals, suggested that alterations in SOD1 functionality and/or aberrant SOD1 aggregation strongly contribute to ALS pathogenesis. A new scenario was opened in which, thanks to the generation of SOD1 related models, different mechanisms crucial for ALS progression were identified. These include excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunctions, and non-cell autonomous toxicity, also implicating altered Ca2+ metabolism. While most of the literature considers motor neurons as primary target of SOD1-mediated effects, here we mainly discuss the effects of SOD1 mutations in non-neuronal cells, such as glial and skeletal muscle cells, in ALS. Attention is given to the altered redox balance and Ca2+ homeostasis, two processes that are strictly related with each other. We also provide original data obtained in primary myocytes derived from hSOD1(G93A) transgenic mice, showing perturbed expression of Ca2+ transporters that may be responsible for altered mitochondrial Ca2+ fluxes. ALS-related SOD1 mutants are also responsible for early alterations of fundamental biological processes in skeletal myocytes that may impinge on skeletal muscle functions and the cross-talk between muscle cells and motor neurons during disease progression.
Collapse
|
7
|
Interaction of Mitochondrial Calcium and ROS in Neurodegeneration. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040706. [PMID: 35203354 PMCID: PMC8869783 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are currently incurable devastating diseases which are characterized by the slow and progressive loss of neurons in specific brain regions. Progress in the investigation of the mechanisms of these disorders helped to identify a number of genes associated with familial forms of these diseases and a number of toxins and risk factors which trigger sporadic and toxic forms of these diseases. Recently, some similarities in the mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases were identified, including the involvement of mitochondria, oxidative stress, and the abnormality of Ca2+ signaling in neurons and astrocytes. Thus, mitochondria produce reactive oxygen species during metabolism which play a further role in redox signaling, but this may also act as an additional trigger for abnormal mitochondrial calcium handling, resulting in mitochondrial calcium overload. Combinations of these factors can be the trigger of neuronal cell death in some pathologies. Here, we review the latest literature on the crosstalk of reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ in brain mitochondria in physiology and beyond, considering how changes in mitochondrial metabolism or redox signaling can convert this interaction into a pathological event.
Collapse
|
8
|
Zanganeh PF, Barton SK, Lim K, Qian EL, Crombie DE, Bye CR, Turner BJ. OUP accepted manuscript. Brain Commun 2022; 4:fcac081. [PMID: 35445192 PMCID: PMC9016138 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a late-onset adult neurodegenerative disease, although there is mounting electrophysiological and pathological evidence from patients and animal models for a protracted preclinical period of motor neuron susceptibility and dysfunction, long before clinical diagnosis. The key molecular mechanisms linked to motor neuron vulnerability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis have been extensively studied using transcriptional profiling in motor neurons isolated from adult mutant superoxide dismutase 1 mice. However, neonatal and embryonic motor neurons from mutant superoxide dismutase 1 mice show abnormal morphology and hyperexcitability, suggesting preceding transcriptional dysregulation. Here, we used RNA sequencing on motor neurons isolated from embryonic superoxide dismutase 1G93A mice to determine the earliest molecular mechanisms conferring neuronal susceptibility and dysfunction known in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Transgenic superoxide dismutase 1G93A mice expressing the spinal motor neuron homeobox HB9:green fluorescent protein reporter allowed unambiguous identification and isolation of motor neurons using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Gene expression profiling of isolated motor neurons revealed transcriptional dysregulation in superoxide dismutase 1G93A mice as early as embryonic Day 12.5 with the majority of differentially expressed genes involved in RNA processing and α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate-mediated glutamate receptor signalling. We confirmed dysregulation of the α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptor Subunit 2, at transcript and protein levels, in embryonic superoxide dismutase 1G93A mouse motor neurons and human motor neurons derived from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient induced pluripotent stem cells harbouring pathogenic superoxide dismutase 1 mutations. Mutant superoxide dismutase 1 induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons showed greater vulnerability to α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate-mediated excitotoxicity, consistent with α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptor Subunit 2 downregulation. Thus, α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptor Subunit 2 deficiency leading to enhanced α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate receptor signalling, calcium influx, hyperexcitability, and chronic excitotoxicity is a very early and intrinsic property of spinal motor neurons that may trigger amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis later in life. This study reinforces the concept of therapeutic targeting of hyperexcitability and excitotoxicity as potential disease-modifying approaches for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pardis F. Zanganeh
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Samantha K. Barton
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Katherine Lim
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Elizabeth L. Qian
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Duncan E. Crombie
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Christopher R. Bye
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
- Correspondence may also be addressed to: Christopher Bye E-mail:
| | - Bradley J. Turner
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
- The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA 6150, Australia
- Correspondence to: Bradley Turner Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health 30 Royal Parade University of Melbourne Parkville, VIC 3052 Australia E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Guo C, Ma YY. Calcium Permeable-AMPA Receptors and Excitotoxicity in Neurological Disorders. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:711564. [PMID: 34483848 PMCID: PMC8416103 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.711564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitotoxicity is one of the primary mechanisms of cell loss in a variety of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Other than the previously established signaling pathways of excitotoxicity, which depend on the excessive release of glutamate from axon terminals or over-activation of NMDA receptors (NMDARs), Ca2+ influx-triggered excitotoxicity through Ca2+-permeable (CP)-AMPA receptors (AMPARs) is detected in multiple disease models. In this review, both acute brain insults (e.g., brain trauma or spinal cord injury, ischemia) and chronic neurological disorders, including Epilepsy/Seizures, Huntington’s disease (HD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chronic pain, and glaucoma, are discussed regarding the CP-AMPAR-mediated excitotoxicity. Considering the low expression or absence of CP-AMPARs in most cells, specific manipulation of the CP-AMPARs might be a more plausible strategy to delay the onset and progression of pathological alterations with fewer side effects than blocking NMDARs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Changyong Guo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Yao-Ying Ma
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States.,Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Anzilotti S, Valsecchi V, Brancaccio P, Guida N, Laudati G, Tedeschi V, Petrozziello T, Frecentese F, Magli E, Hassler B, Cuomo O, Formisano L, Secondo A, Annunziato L, Pignataro G. Prolonged NCX activation prevents SOD1 accumulation, reduces neuroinflammation, ameliorates motor behavior and prolongs survival in a ALS mouse model. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 159:105480. [PMID: 34411705 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Imbalance in cellular ionic homeostasis is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) is a membrane antiporter that, operating in a bidirectional way, couples the exchange of Ca2+ and Na + ions in neurons and glial cells, thus controlling the intracellular homeostasis of these ions. Among the three NCX genes, NCX1 and NCX2 are widely expressed within the CNS, while NCX3 is present only in skeletal muscles and at lower levels of expression in selected brain regions. ALS mice showed a reduction in the expression and activity of NCX1 and NCX2 consistent with disease progression, therefore we aimed to investigate their role in ALS pathophysiology. Notably, we demonstrated that the pharmacological activation of NCX1 and NCX2 by the prolonged treatment of SOD1G93A mice with the newly synthesized compound neurounina: (1) prevented the reduction in NCX activity observed in spinal cord; (2) preserved motor neurons survival in the ventral spinal horn of SOD1G93A mice; (3) prevented the spinal cord accumulation of misfolded SOD1; (4) reduced astroglia and microglia activation and spared the resident microglia cells in the spinal cord; (5) improved the lifespan and mitigated motor symptoms of ALS mice. The present study highlights the significant role of NCX1 and NCX2 in the pathophysiology of this neurodegenerative disorder and paves the way for the design of a new pharmacological approach for ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Valeria Valsecchi
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Brancaccio
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Giusy Laudati
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Tedeschi
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Tiziana Petrozziello
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Frecentese
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Elisa Magli
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Brenda Hassler
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Ornella Cuomo
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Formisano
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Agnese Secondo
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Pignataro
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Nahm M, Lim SM, Kim YE, Park J, Noh MY, Lee S, Roh JE, Hwang SM, Park CK, Kim YH, Lim G, Lee J, Oh KW, Ki CS, Kim SH. ANXA11 mutations in ALS cause dysregulation of calcium homeostasis and stress granule dynamics. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/566/eaax3993. [PMID: 33087501 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aax3993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Dysregulation of calcium ion homeostasis and abnormal protein aggregation have been proposed as major pathogenic hallmarks underpinning selective degeneration of motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Recently, mutations in annexin A11 (ANXA11), a gene encoding a Ca2+-dependent phospholipid-binding protein, have been identified in familial and sporadic ALS. However, the physiological and pathophysiological roles of ANXA11 remain unknown. Here, we report functions of ANXA11 related to intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and stress granule dynamics. We analyzed the exome sequences of 500 Korean patients with sALS and identified nine ANXA11 variants in 13 patients. The amino-terminal variants p.G38R and p.D40G within the low-complexity domain of ANXA11 enhanced aggregation propensity, whereas the carboxyl-terminal ANX domain variants p.H390P and p.R456H altered Ca2+ responses. Furthermore, all four variants in ANXA11 underwent abnormal phase separation to form droplets with aggregates and led to the alteration of the biophysical properties of ANXA11. These functional defects caused by ALS-linked variants induced alterations in both intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and stress granule disassembly. We also revealed that p.G228Lfs*29 reduced ANXA11 expression and impaired Ca2+ homeostasis, as caused by missense variants. Ca2+-dependent interaction and coaggregation between ANXA11 and ALS-causative RNA-binding proteins, FUS and hnRNPA1, were observed in motor neuron cells and brain from a patient with ALS-FUS. The expression of ALS-linked ANXA11 variants in motor neuron cells caused cytoplasmic sequestration of endogenous FUS and triggered neuronal apoptosis. Together, our findings suggest that disease-associated ANXA11 mutations can contribute to ALS pathogenesis through toxic gain-of-function mechanisms involving abnormal protein aggregation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minyeop Nahm
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea.,Biomedical Research Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Su Min Lim
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea.,Biomedical Research Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Young-Eun Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Jinseok Park
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Min-Young Noh
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea.,Biomedical Research Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Sanggon Lee
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Ju Eun Roh
- Gachon Pain Center and Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Korea
| | - Sung-Min Hwang
- Gachon Pain Center and Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Korea
| | - Chul-Kyu Park
- Gachon Pain Center and Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Korea
| | - Yong Ho Kim
- Gachon Pain Center and Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon 21999, Korea
| | - GyuTae Lim
- Genome Editing Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea.,Department of Bioinformatics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Jinhyuk Lee
- Genome Editing Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon 34141, Korea.,Department of Bioinformatics, KRIBB School of Bioscience, University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon 34113, Korea
| | - Ki-Wook Oh
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | | | - Seung Hyun Kim
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea. .,Biomedical Research Institute, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Tedeschi V, Petrozziello T, Secondo A. Ca 2+ dysregulation in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 363:21-47. [PMID: 34392931 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2021.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease without appropriate cure. One of the main reasons for the lack of a proper pharmacotherapy in ALS is the narrow knowledge on the molecular causes of the disease. In this respect, the identification of dysfunctional pathways in ALS is now considered a critical medical need. Among the causative factors involved in ALS, Ca2+ dysregulation is one of the most important pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease. Of note, Ca2+ dysfunction may induce, directly or indirectly, motor neuron degeneration and loss. Interestingly, both familial (fALS) and sporadic ALS (sALS) share the progressive dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis as a common noxious mechanism. Mechanicistically, Ca2+ dysfunction involves both plasma membrane and intracellular mechanisms, including AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated excitotoxicity, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) and Ca2+ transporter dysregulation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ deregulation, mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs) dysfunction, lysosomal Ca2+ leak, etc. Here, a comprehensive analysis of the main pathways involved in the dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis has been reported with the aim to focus the attention on new putative druggable targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Tedeschi
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Tiziana Petrozziello
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Agnese Secondo
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Choi ES, Dokholyan NV. SOD1 oligomers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2021; 66:225-230. [PMID: 33465527 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2020.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Identifying nonnative, trimeric forms of SOD1 trimers as the toxic species, rather than large aggregates revolutionizes our understanding of ALS pathophysiology. Large protein aggregates, what was previously thought as the central cause of neurodegeneration, play protective role and are not responsible for neuronal death. SOD1 trimers are implicated at the molecular, cellular, and organismal level. Understanding the formation of the nonnative trimer and its role in the cell, leading to cell death, holds the key to developing a new standard of therapeutics for ALS and for other neurodegenerative diseases. This review highlights recent advances of knowledge for the role of SOD1 oligomers in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther S Choi
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Ruiz-Ruiz C, Calzaferri F, García AG. P2X7 Receptor Antagonism as a Potential Therapy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2020; 13:93. [PMID: 32595451 PMCID: PMC7303288 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2020.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on the purinergic ionotropic receptor P2X7 (P2X7R) as a potential target for developing drugs that delay the onset and/or disease progression in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Description of clinical and genetic ALS features is followed by an analysis of advantages and drawbacks of transgenic mouse models of disease based on mutations in a bunch of proteins, particularly Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), TAR-DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43), Fused in Sarcoma/Translocated in Sarcoma (FUS), and Chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72). Though of limited value, these models are however critical to study the proof of concept of new compounds, before reaching clinical trials. The authors also provide a description of ALS pathogenesis including protein aggregation, calcium-dependent excitotoxicity, dysfunction of calcium-binding proteins, ultrastructural mitochondrial alterations, disruption of mitochondrial calcium handling, and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Understanding disease pathogenic pathways may ease the identification of new drug targets. Subsequently, neuroinflammation linked with P2X7Rs in ALS pathogenesis is described in order to understand the rationale of placing the use of P2X7R antagonists as a new therapeutic pharmacological approach to ALS. This is the basis for the hypothesis that a P2X7R blocker could mitigate the neuroinflammatory state, indirectly leading to neuroprotection and higher motoneuron survival in ALS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Ruiz-Ruiz
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando and Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francesco Calzaferri
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando and Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio G García
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando and Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Synaptic Actions of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Associated G85R-SOD1 in the Squid Giant Synapse. eNeuro 2020; 7:ENEURO.0369-19.2020. [PMID: 32188708 PMCID: PMC7177748 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0369-19.2020] [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: 09/14/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered synaptic function is thought to play a role in many neurodegenerative diseases, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms for synaptic dysfunction. The squid giant synapse (SGS) is a classical model for studying synaptic electrophysiology and ultrastructure, as well as molecular mechanisms of neurotransmission. Here, we conduct a multidisciplinary study of synaptic actions of misfolded human G85R-SOD1 causing familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). G85R-SOD1, but not WT-SOD1, inhibited synaptic transmission, altered presynaptic ultrastructure, and reduced both the size of the readily releasable pool (RRP) of synaptic vesicles and mobility from the reserved pool (RP) to the RRP. Unexpectedly, intermittent high-frequency stimulation (iHFS) blocked inhibitory effects of G85R-SOD1 on synaptic transmission, suggesting aberrant Ca2+ signaling may underlie G85R-SOD1 toxicity. Ratiometric Ca2+ imaging showed significantly increased presynaptic Ca2+ induced by G85R-SOD1 that preceded synaptic dysfunction. Chelating Ca2+ using EGTA prevented synaptic inhibition by G85R-SOD1, confirming the role of aberrant Ca2+ in mediating G85R-SOD1 toxicity. These results extended earlier findings in mammalian motor neurons and advanced our understanding by providing possible molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets for synaptic dysfunctions in ALS as well as a unique model for further studies.
Collapse
|
16
|
Kiyosue K, Miwa Y. Epstein-Barr virus-derived vector suitable for long-term expression in neurons. Heliyon 2020; 6:e03504. [PMID: 32190754 PMCID: PMC7068671 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Revised: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Exogenous gene expression is a fundamental and indispensable technique for testing gene function in neurons. Several ways to express exogenous genes in neurons are available, but each method has pros and cons. The lentivirus vector is useful for high efficiency gene transfer to neurons and stabilizes gene expression via genome integration, but this integration may destroy the host genome. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-derived vector (EB vector) is an accessible and useful vector in human cell lines because the vector is not integrated into the host genome but stays in the nucleus as an episome. However, there has been no report on this process in rodent neurons. We examined the usefulness of the EB vector for testing gene function in neurons. We found that EB vector-derived exogenous proteins such as green fluorescent protein (GFP) and GFP-tagged actin were easily detectable even after three weeks of transfection. Second, a tetracycline-induced gene expression system in the EB vector was active after three weeks of transfection, indicating that plasmids were retained in neurons for up to three weeks. Third, we determined that only Family of repeat element of the plasmid vector is essential for its long-term presence in neurons. These results show that the modified EB vector is a useful tool for examining gene function in neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuyuki Kiyosue
- Functional Biomolecule Research Group and DAILAB, Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Osaka 563-8577, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Miwa
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhang X, Chen S, Lu K, Wang F, Deng J, Xu Z, Wang X, Zhou Q, Le W, Zhao Y. Verapamil Ameliorates Motor Neuron Degeneration and Improves Lifespan in the SOD1 G93A Mouse Model of ALS by Enhancing Autophagic Flux. Aging Dis 2019; 10:1159-1173. [PMID: 31788329 PMCID: PMC6844595 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2019.0228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, paralytic disorder caused by selective degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Our previous studies indicated that abnormal protein aggregation and dysfunctional autophagic flux might contribute to the disease pathogenesis. In this study, we have detected the role of the Ca2+ dependent autophagic pathway in ALS by using the L-type channel Ca2+ blocker, verapamil. We have found that verapamil significantly delayed disease onset, prolonged the lifespan and extended disease duration in SOD1G93A mice. Furthermore, verapamil administration rescued motor neuron survival and ameliorated skeletal muscle denervation in SOD1G93A mice. More interestingly, verapamil significantly reduced SOD1 aggregation and improved autophagic flux, which might be mediated the inhibition of calpain 1 activation in the spinal cord of SOD1G93A mice. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that verapamil reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress and suppressed glia activation in SOD1G93A mice. Collectively, our study indicated that verapamil is neuroprotective in the ALS mouse model and the Ca2+-dependent autophagic pathway is a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojie Zhang
- 1Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Chen
- 2Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaili Lu
- 1Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Wang
- 1Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangshan Deng
- 1Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhouwei Xu
- 1Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiuzhe Wang
- 1Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinming Zhou
- 2Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weidong Le
- 3Liaoning Provincial Center for Clinical Research on Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,4Liaoning Provincial Kay Laboratory for Research on the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Neurological Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,5Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, the First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yuwu Zhao
- 1Department of Neurology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Gregory JM, Livesey MR, McDade K, Selvaraj BT, Barton SK, Chandran S, Smith C. Dysregulation of AMPA receptor subunit expression in sporadic ALS post-mortem brain. J Pathol 2019; 250:67-78. [PMID: 31579943 PMCID: PMC6973025 DOI: 10.1002/path.5351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by progressive motor neuron degeneration. Although there are over 40 genes associated with causal monogenetic mutations, the majority of ALS patients are not genetically determined. Causal ALS mutations are being increasingly mechanistically studied, though how these mechanisms converge and diverge between the multiple known familial causes of ALS (fALS) and sporadic forms of ALS (sALS) and furthermore between different neuron types, is poorly understood. One common pathway that is implicated in selective motor neuron death is enhanced α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPAR)-mediated excitoxicity. Specifically, human in vitro and pathological evidence has linked the C9orf72 repeat expansion mutation to a relative increase in the Ca2+ -permeable AMPAR population due to AMPAR subunit dysregulation. Here, we provide the first comparative quantitative assessment of the expression profile of AMPAR subunit transcripts, using BaseScope, in post-mortem lower motor neurons (spinal cord, anterior horn), upper motor neurons (motor cortex) and neurons of the pre-frontal cortex in sALS and fALS due to mutations in SOD1 and C9orf72. Our data indicated that AMPAR dysregulation is prominent in lower motor neurons in all ALS cases. However, sALS and mutant C9orf72 cases exhibited GluA1 upregulation whereas mutant SOD1 cases displayed GluA2 down regulation. We also showed that sALS cases exhibited widespread AMPAR dysregulation in the motor and pre-frontal cortex, though the exact identity of the AMPAR subunit being dysregulated was dependent on brain region. In contrast, AMPAR dysregulation in mutant SOD1 and C9orf72 cases was restricted to lower motor neurons only. Our data highlight the complex dysregulation of AMPAR subunit expression that reflects both converging and diverging mechanisms at play between different brain regions and between ALS cohorts. © 2019 Authors. Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M Gregory
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Matthew R Livesey
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Karina McDade
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Bhuvaneish T Selvaraj
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Samantha K Barton
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin Smith
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Carbone E, Borges R, Eiden LE, García AG, Hernández‐Cruz A. Chromaffin Cells of the Adrenal Medulla: Physiology, Pharmacology, and Disease. Compr Physiol 2019; 9:1443-1502. [DOI: 10.1002/cphy.c190003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
20
|
Ragagnin AMG, Shadfar S, Vidal M, Jamali MS, Atkin JD. Motor Neuron Susceptibility in ALS/FTD. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:532. [PMID: 31316328 PMCID: PMC6610326 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the death of both upper and lower motor neurons (MNs) in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord. The neurodegenerative mechanisms leading to MN loss in ALS are not fully understood. Importantly, the reasons why MNs are specifically targeted in this disorder are unclear, when the proteins associated genetically or pathologically with ALS are expressed ubiquitously. Furthermore, MNs themselves are not affected equally; specific MNs subpopulations are more susceptible than others in both animal models and human patients. Corticospinal MNs and lower somatic MNs, which innervate voluntary muscles, degenerate more readily than specific subgroups of lower MNs, which remain resistant to degeneration, reflecting the clinical manifestations of ALS. In this review, we discuss the possible factors intrinsic to MNs that render them uniquely susceptible to neurodegeneration in ALS. We also speculate why some MN subpopulations are more vulnerable than others, focusing on both their molecular and physiological properties. Finally, we review the anatomical network and neuronal microenvironment as determinants of MN subtype vulnerability and hence the progression of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Audrey M G Ragagnin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sina Shadfar
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marta Vidal
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Md Shafi Jamali
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Chandran R, Kumar M, Kesavan L, Jacob RS, Gunasekaran S, Lakshmi S, Sadasivan C, Omkumar R. Cellular calcium signaling in the aging brain. J Chem Neuroanat 2019; 95:95-114. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 09/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
22
|
Jordan K, Murphy J, Singh A, Mitchell CS. Astrocyte-Mediated Neuromodulatory Regulation in Preclinical ALS: A Metadata Analysis. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:491. [PMID: 30618638 PMCID: PMC6305074 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degradation of motoneurons in the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes are key regulators for inflammation and neuromodulatory signaling, both of which contribute to ALS. The study goal was to ascertain potential temporal changes in astrocyte-mediated neuromodulatory regulation with transgenic ALS model progression: glutamate, GTL-1, GluR1, GluR2, GABA, ChAT activity, VGF, TNFα, aspartate, and IGF-1. We examine neuromodulatory changes in data aggregates from 42 peer-reviewed studies derived from transgenic ALS mixed cell cultures (neurons + astrocytes). For each corresponding experimental time point, the ratio of transgenic to wild type (WT) was found for each compound. ANOVA and a student's t-test were performed to compare disease stages (early, post-onset, and end stage). Glutamate in transgenic SOD1-G93A mixed cell cultures does not change over time (p > 0.05). GLT-1 levels were found to be decreased 23% over WT but only at end-stage (p < 0.05). Glutamate receptors (GluR1, GluR2) in SOD1-G93A were not substantially different from WT, although SOD1-G93A GluR1 decreased by 21% from post-onset to end-stage (p < 0.05). ChAT activity was insignificantly decreased. VGF is decreased throughout ALS (p < 0.05). Aspartate is elevated by 25% in SOD1-G93A but only during end-stage (p < 0.05). TNFα is increased by a dramatic 362% (p < 0.05). Furthermore, principal component analysis identified TNFα as contributing to 55% of the data variance in the first component. Thus, TNFα, which modulates astrocyte regulation via multiple pathways, could be a strategic treatment target. Overall results suggest changes in neuromodulator levels are subtle in SOD1-G93A ALS mixed cell cultures. If excitotoxicity is present as is often presumed, it could be due to ALS cells being more sensitive to small changes in neuromodulation. Hence, seemingly unsubstantial or oscillatory changes in neuromodulators could wreak havoc in ALS cells, resulting in failed microenvironment homeostasis whereby both hyperexcitability and hypoexcitability can coexist. Future work is needed to examine local, spatiotemporal neuromodulatory homeostasis and assess its functional impact in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Jordan
- Laboratory for Pathology Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Joseph Murphy
- Laboratory for Pathology Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Anjanya Singh
- Laboratory for Pathology Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Cassie S. Mitchell
- Laboratory for Pathology Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
de Diego AMG, García AG. Altered exocytosis in chromaffin cells from mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2018; 224:e13090. [PMID: 29742321 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Chromaffin cells from the adrenal gland (CCs) have extensively been used to explore the molecular structure and function of the exocytotic machinery, neurotransmitter release and synaptic transmission. The CC is integrated in the sympathoadrenal axis that helps the body maintain homoeostasis during both routine life and in acute stress conditions. This function is exquisitely controlled by the cerebral cortex and the hypothalamus. We propose the hypothesis that damage undergone by the brain during neurodegenerative diseases is also affecting the neurosecretory function of adrenal medullary CCs. In this context, we review here the following themes: (i) How the discharge of catecholamines is centrally and peripherally regulated at the sympathoadrenal axis; (ii) which are the intricacies of the amperometric techniques used to study the quantal release of single-vesicle exocytotic events; (iii) which are the alterations of the exocytotic fusion pore so far reported, in CCs of mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases; (iv) how some proteins linked to neurodegenerative pathologies affect the kinetics of exocytotic events; (v) finally, we try to integrate available data into a hypothesis to explain how the centrally originated neurodegenerative diseases may alter the kinetics of single-vesicle exocytotic events in peripheral adrenal medullary CCs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A. M. García de Diego
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Madrid Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria; Hospital Universitario de la Princesa; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Madrid Spain
- DNS Neuroscience; Parque Científico de Madrid; Madrid Spain
| | - A. García García
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Madrid Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria; Hospital Universitario de la Princesa; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Madrid Spain
- DNS Neuroscience; Parque Científico de Madrid; Madrid Spain
- Departamento de Farmacología y Terapéutica; Facultad de Medicina; Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; Madrid Spain
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Twomey EC, Yelshanskaya MV, Vassilevski AA, Sobolevsky AI. Mechanisms of Channel Block in Calcium-Permeable AMPA Receptors. Neuron 2018; 99:956-968.e4. [PMID: 30122377 PMCID: PMC6181147 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2018.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
AMPA receptors mediate fast excitatory neurotransmission and are critical for CNS development and function. Calcium-permeable subsets of AMPA receptors are strongly implicated in acute and chronic neurological disorders. However, despite the clinical importance, the therapeutic landscape for specifically targeting them, and not the calcium-impermeable AMPA receptors, remains largely undeveloped. To address this problem, we used cryo-electron microscopy and electrophysiology to investigate the mechanisms by which small-molecule blockers selectively inhibit ion channel conductance in calcium-permeable AMPA receptors. We determined the structures of calcium-permeable GluA2 AMPA receptor complexes with the auxiliary subunit stargazin bound to channel blockers, including the orb weaver spider toxin AgTx-636, the spider toxin analog NASPM, and the adamantane derivative IEM-1460. Our structures provide insights into the architecture of the blocker binding site and the mechanism of trapping, which are critical for development of small molecules that specifically target calcium-permeable AMPA receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edward C Twomey
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Maria V Yelshanskaya
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Alexander A Vassilevski
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (State University), Dolgoprudny, Moscow Oblast 141700, Russia
| | - Alexander I Sobolevsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Sirabella R, Valsecchi V, Anzilotti S, Cuomo O, Vinciguerra A, Cepparulo P, Brancaccio P, Guida N, Blondeau N, Canzoniero LMT, Franco C, Amoroso S, Annunziato L, Pignataro G. Ionic Homeostasis Maintenance in ALS: Focus on New Therapeutic Targets. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:510. [PMID: 30131665 PMCID: PMC6090999 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of the most threatening neurodegenerative disease since it causes muscular paralysis for the loss of Motor Neurons in the spinal cord, brainstem and motor cortex. Up until now, no effective pharmacological treatment is available. Two forms of ALS have been described so far: 90% of the cases presents the sporadic form (sALS) whereas the remaining 10% of the cases displays the familiar form (fALS). Approximately 20% of fALS is associated with inherited mutations in the Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene. In the last decade, ionic homeostasis dysregulation has been proposed as the main trigger of the pathological cascade that brings to motor-neurons loss. In the light of these premises, the present review will analyze the involvement in ALS pathophysiology of the most well studied metal ions, i.e., calcium, sodium, iron, copper and zinc, with particular focus to the role of ionic channels and transporters able to contribute in the regulation of ionic homeostasis, in order to propose new putative molecular targets for future therapeutic strategies to ameliorate the progression of this devastating neurodegenerative disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rossana Sirabella
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.,Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne, France
| | - Valeria Valsecchi
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Ornella Cuomo
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Vinciguerra
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Cepparulo
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Paola Brancaccio
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Nicolas Blondeau
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne, France
| | - Lorella M T Canzoniero
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, Benevento, Italy
| | - Cristina Franco
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Science and Technology, University of Sannio, Benevento, Italy
| | - Salvatore Amoroso
- Department of Neuroscience, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Pignataro
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Tortarolo M, Lo Coco D, Veglianese P, Vallarola A, Giordana MT, Marcon G, Beghi E, Poloni M, Strong MJ, Iyer AM, Aronica E, Bendotti C. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a Multisystem Pathology: Insights into the Role of TNF α. Mediators Inflamm 2017; 2017:2985051. [PMID: 29081600 PMCID: PMC5610855 DOI: 10.1155/2017/2985051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is considered a multifactorial, multisystem disease in which inflammation and the immune system play important roles in development and progression. The pleiotropic cytokine TNFα is one of the major players governing the inflammation in the central nervous system and peripheral districts such as the neuromuscular and immune system. Changes in TNFα levels are reported in blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and nerve tissues of ALS patients and animal models. However, whether they play a detrimental or protective role on the disease progression is still not clear. Our group and others have recently reported opposite involvements of TNFR1 and TNFR2 in motor neuron death. TNFR2 mediates TNFα toxic effects on these neurons presumably through the activation of MAP kinase-related pathways. On the other hand, TNFR2 regulates the function and proliferation of regulatory T cells (Treg) whose expression is inversely correlated with the disease progression rate in ALS patients. In addition, TNFα is considered a procachectic factor with a direct catabolic effect on skeletal muscles, causing wasting. We review and discuss the role of TNFα in ALS in the light of its multisystem nature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Tortarolo
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Lo Coco
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
- ALS Research Center, Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale e Neuroscienze Cliniche (BioNeC), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Pietro Veglianese
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Vallarola
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Gabriella Marcon
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
- DAME, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Ettore Beghi
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Poloni
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Michael J. Strong
- Cell Biology Research Group, Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada
| | - Anand M. Iyer
- Department of Neuropathology, Academisch Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of Neuropathology, Academisch Medisch Centrum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Danziger SA, Miller LR, Singh K, Whitney GA, Peskind ER, Li G, Lipshutz RJ, Aitchison JD, Smith JJ. An indicator cell assay for blood-based diagnostics. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178608. [PMID: 28594877 PMCID: PMC5464608 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
We have established proof of principle for the Indicator Cell Assay Platform™ (iCAP™), a broadly applicable tool for blood-based diagnostics that uses specifically-selected, standardized cells as biosensors, relying on their innate ability to integrate and respond to diverse signals present in patients' blood. To develop an assay, indicator cells are exposed in vitro to serum from case or control subjects and their global differential response patterns are used to train reliable, disease classifiers based on a small number of features. In a feasibility study, the iCAP detected pre-symptomatic disease in a murine model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with 94% accuracy (p-Value = 3.81E-6) and correctly identified samples from a murine Huntington's disease model as non-carriers of ALS. Beyond the mouse model, in a preliminary human disease study, the iCAP detected early stage Alzheimer's disease with 72% cross-validated accuracy (p-Value = 3.10E-3). For both assays, iCAP features were enriched for disease-related genes, supporting the assay's relevance for disease research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel A. Danziger
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Disease Research (formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute), Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Leslie R. Miller
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Karanbir Singh
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | | | - Elaine R. Peskind
- Northwest Network (VISN-20) Mental Illness, Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Ge Li
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Health Care System (VA Puget Sound), Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Robert J. Lipshutz
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- PreCyte Inc., Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - John D. Aitchison
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Disease Research (formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute), Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Jennifer J. Smith
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, United States of America
- Center for Infectious Disease Research (formerly Seattle Biomedical Research Institute), Seattle, WA, United States of America
- PreCyte Inc., Seattle, WA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Nijssen J, Comley LH, Hedlund E. Motor neuron vulnerability and resistance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 133:863-885. [PMID: 28409282 PMCID: PMC5427160 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1708-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the fatal disease-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-upper (corticospinal) motor neurons (MNs) and lower somatic MNs, which innervate voluntary muscles, degenerate. Importantly, certain lower MN subgroups are relatively resistant to degeneration, even though pathogenic proteins are typically ubiquitously expressed. Ocular MNs (OMNs), including the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nuclei (CNIII, IV and VI), which regulate eye movement, persist throughout the disease. Consequently, eye-tracking devices are used to enable paralysed ALS patients (who can no longer speak) to communicate. Additionally, there is a gradient of vulnerability among spinal MNs. Those innervating fast-twitch muscle are most severely affected and degenerate first. MNs innervating slow-twitch muscle can compensate temporarily for the loss of their neighbours by re-innervating denervated muscle until later in disease these too degenerate. The resistant OMNs and the associated extraocular muscles (EOMs) are anatomically and functionally very different from other motor units. The EOMs have a unique set of myosin heavy chains, placing them outside the classical characterization spectrum of all skeletal muscle. Moreover, EOMs have multiple neuromuscular innervation sites per single myofibre. Spinal fast and slow motor units show differences in their dendritic arborisations and the number of myofibres they innervate. These motor units also differ in their functionality and excitability. Identifying the molecular basis of cell-intrinsic pathways that are differentially activated between resistant and vulnerable MNs could reveal mechanisms of selective neuronal resistance, degeneration and regeneration and lead to therapies preventing progressive MN loss in ALS. Illustrating this, overexpression of OMN-enriched genes in spinal MNs, as well as suppression of fast spinal MN-enriched genes can increase the lifespan of ALS mice. Here, we discuss the pattern of lower MN degeneration in ALS and review the current literature on OMN resistance in ALS and differential spinal MN vulnerability. We also reflect upon the non-cell autonomous components that are involved in lower MN degeneration in ALS.
Collapse
|
29
|
Imaging of glial cell morphology, SOD1 distribution and elemental composition in the brainstem and hippocampus of the ALS hSOD1 G93A rat. Neuroscience 2017; 357:37-55. [PMID: 28576725 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.05.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting motor and cognitive domains of the CNS. Mutations in the Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause 20% of familial ALS and provoke formation of intracellular aggregates and copper and zinc unbinding, leading to glial activation and neurodegeneration. Therefore, we investigated glial cell morphology, intracellular SOD1 distribution, and elemental composition in the brainstem and hippocampus of the hSOD1G93A transgenic rat model of ALS. Immunostaining for astrocytes, microglia and SOD1 revealed glial proliferation and progressive tissue accumulation of SOD1 in both brain regions of ALS rats starting already at the presymptomatic stage. Glial cell morphology analysis in the brainstem of ALS rats revealed astrocyte activation occurring before disease symptoms onset, followed by activation of microglia. Hippocampal ALS astrocytes exhibited an identical reactive profile, while microglial morphology was unchanged. Additionally, ALS brainstem astrocytes demonstrated progressive SOD1 accumulation in the cell body and processes, while microglial SOD1 levels were reduced and its distribution limited to distal cell processes. In the hippocampus both glial cell types exhibited SOD1 accumulation in the cell body. X-ray fluorescence imaging revealed decreased P and increased Ca, Cl, K, Ni, Cu and Zn in the brainstem, and higher levels of Cl, Ni and Cu, but lower levels of Zn in the hippocampus of symptomatic ALS rats. These results bring new insights into the glial response during disease development and progression in motor as well as in non-motor CNS structures, and indicate disturbed tissue elemental homeostasis as a prominent hallmark of disease pathology.
Collapse
|
30
|
Selection and Prioritization of Candidate Drug Targets for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Through a Meta-Analysis Approach. J Mol Neurosci 2017; 61:563-580. [PMID: 28236105 PMCID: PMC5359376 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-017-0898-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and incurable neurodegenerative disease. Although several compounds have shown promising results in preclinical studies, their translation into clinical trials has failed. This clinical failure is likely due to the inadequacy of the animal models that do not sufficiently reflect the human disease. Therefore, it is important to optimize drug target selection by identifying those that overlap in human and mouse pathology. We have recently characterized the transcriptional profiles of motor cortex samples from sporadic ALS (SALS) patients and differentiated these into two subgroups based on differentially expressed genes, which encode 70 potential therapeutic targets. To prioritize drug target selection, we investigated their degree of conservation in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) G93A transgenic mice, the most widely used ALS animal model. Interspecies comparison of our human expression data with those of eight different SOD1G93A datasets present in public repositories revealed the presence of commonly deregulated targets and related biological processes. Moreover, deregulated expression of the majority of our candidate targets occurred at the onset of the disease, offering the possibility to use them for an early and more effective diagnosis and therapy. In addition to highlighting the existence of common key drivers in human and mouse pathology, our study represents the basis for a rational preclinical drug development.
Collapse
|
31
|
Corsini S, Tortora M, Nistri A. Nicotinic receptor activation contrasts pathophysiological bursting and neurodegeneration evoked by glutamate uptake block on rat hypoglossal motoneurons. J Physiol 2016; 594:6777-6798. [PMID: 27374167 PMCID: PMC5108918 DOI: 10.1113/jp272591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Impaired uptake of glutamate builds up the extracellular level of this excitatory transmitter to trigger rhythmic neuronal bursting and delayed cell death in the brainstem motor nucleus hypoglossus. This process is the expression of the excitotoxicity that underlies motoneuron degeneration in diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis affecting bulbar motoneurons. In a model of motoneuron excitotoxicity produced by pharmacological block of glutamate uptake in vitro, rhythmic bursting is suppressed by activation of neuronal nicotinic receptors with their conventional agonist nicotine. Emergence of bursting is facilitated by nicotinic receptor antagonists. Following excitotoxicity, nicotinic receptor activity decreases mitochondrial energy dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress and production of toxic radicals. Globally, these phenomena synergize to provide motoneuron protection. Nicotinic receptors may represent a novel target to contrast pathological overactivity of brainstem motoneurons and therefore to prevent their metabolic distress and death. ABSTRACT Excitotoxicity is thought to be one of the early processes in the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) because high levels of glutamate have been detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of such patients due to dysfunctional uptake of this transmitter that gradually damages brainstem and spinal motoneurons. To explore potential mechanisms to arrest ALS onset, we used an established in vitro model of rat brainstem slice preparation in which excitotoxicity is induced by the glutamate uptake blocker dl-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartate (TBOA). Because certain brain neurons may be neuroprotected via activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) by nicotine, we investigated if nicotine could arrest excitotoxic damage to highly ALS-vulnerable hypoglossal motoneurons (HMs). On 50% of patch-clamped HMs, TBOA induced intense network bursts that were inhibited by 1-10 μm nicotine, whereas nAChR antagonists facilitated burst emergence in non-burster cells. Furthermore, nicotine inhibited excitatory transmission and enhanced synaptic inhibition. Strong neuroprotection by nicotine prevented the HM loss observed after 4 h of TBOA exposure. This neuroprotective action was due to suppression of downstream effectors of neurotoxicity such as increased intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species, impaired energy metabolism and upregulated genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In addition, HMs surviving TBOA toxicity often expressed UDP-glucose glycoprotein glucosyltransferase, a key element in repair of misfolded proteins: this phenomenon was absent after nicotine application, indicative of ER stress prevention. Our results suggest nAChRs to be potential targets for inhibiting excitotoxic damage of motoneurons at an early stage of the neurodegenerative process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Corsini
- Department of NeuroscienceInternational School for Advanced Studies (SISSA)TriesteItaly
| | - Maria Tortora
- Department of NeuroscienceInternational School for Advanced Studies (SISSA)TriesteItaly
| | - Andrea Nistri
- Department of NeuroscienceInternational School for Advanced Studies (SISSA)TriesteItaly
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Chang Q, Martin LJ. Voltage-gated calcium channels are abnormal in cultured spinal motoneurons in the G93A-SOD1 transgenic mouse model of ALS. Neurobiol Dis 2016; 93:78-95. [PMID: 27151771 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2016.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2014] [Revised: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of motoneurons. Hyperexcitability and excitotoxicity have been implicated in the early pathogenesis of ALS. Studies addressing excitotoxic motoneuron death and intracellular Ca(2+) overload have mostly focused on Ca(2+) influx through AMPA glutamate receptors. However, intrinsic excitability of motoneurons through voltage-gated ion channels may also have a role in the neurodegeneration. In this study we examined the function and localization of voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels in cultured spinal cord motoneurons from mice expressing a mutant form of human superoxide dismutase-1 with a Gly93→Ala substitution (G93A-SOD1). Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, we showed that high voltage activated (HVA) Ca(2+) currents are increased in G93A-SOD1 motoneurons, but low voltage activated Ca(2+) currents are not affected. G93A-SOD1 motoneurons also have altered persistent Ca(2+) current mediated by L-type Ca(2+) channels. Quantitative single-cell RT-PCR revealed higher levels of Ca1a, Ca1b, Ca1c, and Ca1e subunit mRNA expression in G93A-SOD1 motoneurons, indicating that the increase of HVA Ca(2+) currents may result from upregulation of Ca(2+) channel mRNA expression in motoneurons. The localizations of the Ca1B N-type and Ca1D L-type Ca(2+) channels in motoneurons were examined by immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. G93A-SOD1 motoneurons had increased Ca1B channels on the plasma membrane of soma and dendrites. Ca1D channels are similar on the plasma membrane of soma and lower on the plasma membrane of dendrites of G93A-SOD1 motoneurons. Our study demonstrates that voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels have aberrant functions and localizations in ALS mouse motoneurons. The increased HVA Ca(2+) currents and PCCa current could contribute to early pathogenesis of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing Chang
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MD 21205, United States.
| | - Lee J Martin
- Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MD 21205, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, MD 21205, United States
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
King AE, Woodhouse A, Kirkcaldie MT, Vickers JC. Excitotoxicity in ALS: Overstimulation, or overreaction? Exp Neurol 2016; 275 Pt 1:162-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2015.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2015] [Revised: 08/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
34
|
Leal SS, Gomes CM. Calcium dysregulation links ALS defective proteins and motor neuron selective vulnerability. Front Cell Neurosci 2015; 9:225. [PMID: 26136661 PMCID: PMC4468822 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2015.00225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 05/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 20 distinct gene loci have so far been implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive neurodegeneration of motor neurons (MN) and death. Most of this distinct set of ALS-related proteins undergoes toxic deposition specifically in MN for reasons which remain unclear. Here we overview a recent body of evidence indicative that mutations in ALS-related proteins can disrupt fundamental Ca2+ signalling pathways in MN, and that Ca2+ itself impacts both directly or indirectly in many ALS critical proteins and cellular processes that result in MN neurodegeneration. We argue that the inherent vulnerability of MN to dysregulation of intracellular Ca2+ is deeply associated with discriminating pathogenicity and aberrant crosstalk of most of the critical proteins involved in ALS. Overall, Ca2+ deregulation in MN is at the cornerstone of different ALS processes and is likely one of the factors contributing to the selective susceptibility of these cells to this particular neurodegenerative disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sónia S Leal
- Faculdade de Ciências, Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Universidade de Lisboa Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal ; Instituto Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Cláudio M Gomes
- Faculdade de Ciências, Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute and Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Universidade de Lisboa Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal ; Instituto Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa Oeiras, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Combs-Bachmann RE, Johnson JN, Vytla D, Hussey AM, Kilfoil ML, Chambers JJ. Ligand-directed delivery of fluorophores to track native calcium-permeable AMPA receptors in neuronal cultures. J Neurochem 2015; 133:320-9. [PMID: 25640258 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2014] [Revised: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Subcellular trafficking of neuronal receptors is known to play a key role in synaptic development, homeostasis, and plasticity. We have developed a ligand-targeted and photo-cleavable probe for delivering a synthetic fluorophore to AMPA receptors natively expressed in neurons. After a receptor is bound to the ligand portion of the probe molecule, a proteinaceous nucleophile reacts with an electrophile on the probe, covalently bonding the two species. The ligand may then be removed by photolysis, returning the receptor to its non-liganded state while leaving intact the new covalent bond between the receptor and the fluorophore. This strategy was used to label polyamine-sensitive receptors, including calcium-permeable AMPA receptors, in live hippocampal neurons from rats. Here, we describe experiments where we examined specificity, competition, and concentration on labeling efficacy as well as quantified receptor trafficking. Pharmacological competition during the labeling step with either a competitive or non-competitive glutamate receptor antagonist prevented the majority of labeling observed without a blocker. In other experiments, labeled receptors were observed to alter their locations and we were able to track and quantify their movements. We used a small molecule, ligand-directed probe to deliver synthetic fluorophores to endogenously expressed glutamate receptors for the purpose of tracking these receptors on live, hippocampal neurons. We found that clusters of receptors appear to move at similar rates to previous studies. We also found that the polyamine toxin pharmacophore likely binds to receptors in addition to calcium-permeable AMPA receptors.
Collapse
|
36
|
Estácio SG, Leal SS, Cristóvão JS, Faísca PFN, Gomes CM. Calcium binding to gatekeeper residues flanking aggregation-prone segments underlies non-fibrillar amyloid traits in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2014; 1854:118-26. [PMID: 25463043 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2014.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Revised: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Calcium deregulation is a central feature among neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Calcium accumulates in the spinal and brain stem motor neurons of ALS patients triggering multiple pathophysiological processes which have been recently shown to include direct effects on the aggregation cascade of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). SOD1 is a Cu/Zn enzyme whose demetallated form is implicated in ALS protein deposits, contributing to toxic gain of function phenotypes. Here we undertake a combined experimental and computational study aimed at establishing the molecular details underlying the regulatory effects of Ca(2+) over SOD1 aggregation potential. Isothermal titration calorimetry indicates entropy driven low affinity association of Ca(2+) ions to apo SOD1, at pH7.5 and 37°C. Molecular dynamics simulations denote a noticeable loss of native structure upon Ca(2+) association that is especially prominent at the zinc-binding and electrostatic loops, whose decoupling is known to expose the central SOD1 β-barrel triggering aggregation. Structural mapping of the preferential apo SOD1 Ca(2+) binding locations reveals that among the most frequent ligands for Ca(2+) are negatively-charged gatekeeper residues located in boundary positions with respect to segments highly prone to edge-to-edge aggregation. Calcium interactions thus diminish gatekeeping roles of these residues, by shielding repulsive interactions via stacking between aggregating β-sheets, partly blocking fibril formation and promoting amyloidogenic oligomers such as those found in ALS inclusions. Interestingly, many fALS mutations occur at these positions, disclosing how Ca(2+) interactions recreate effects similar to those of genetic defects, a finding with relevance to understand sporadic ALS pathomechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sílvia G Estácio
- Centro de Física da Matéria Condensada, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Sónia S Leal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Joana S Cristóvão
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Patrícia F N Faísca
- Centro de Física da Matéria Condensada, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Cláudio M Gomes
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Calvo-Gallardo E, de Pascual R, Fernández-Morales JC, Arranz-Tagarro JA, Maroto M, Nanclares C, Gandía L, de Diego AMG, Padín JF, García AG. Depressed excitability and ion currents linked to slow exocytotic fusion pore in chromaffin cells of the SOD1(G93A) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2014; 308:C1-19. [PMID: 25377090 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00272.2014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Altered synaptic transmission with excess glutamate release has been implicated in the loss of motoneurons occurring in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Hyperexcitability or hypoexcitability of motoneurons from mice carrying the ALS mutation SOD1(G93A) (mSOD1) has also been reported. Here we have investigated the excitability, the ion currents, and the kinetics of the exocytotic fusion pore in chromaffin cells from postnatal day 90 to postnatal day 130 mSOD1 mice, when motor deficits are already established. With respect to wild-type (WT), mSOD1 chromaffin cells had a decrease in the following parameters: 95% in spontaneous action potentials, 70% in nicotinic current for acetylcholine (ACh), 35% in Na(+) current, 40% in Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) current, and 53% in voltage-dependent K(+) current. Ca(2+) current was increased by 37%, but the ACh-evoked elevation of cytosolic Ca(2+) was unchanged. Single exocytotic spike events triggered by ACh had the following differences (mSOD1 vs. WT): 36% lower rise rate, 60% higher decay time, 51% higher half-width, 13% lower amplitude, and 61% higher quantal size. The expression of the α3-subtype of nicotinic receptors and proteins of the exocytotic machinery was unchanged in the brain and adrenal medulla of mSOD1, with respect to WT mice. A slower fusion pore opening, expansion, and closure are likely linked to the pronounced reduction in cell excitability and in the ion currents driving action potentials in mSOD1, compared with WT chromaffin cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ricardo de Pascual
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Marcos Maroto
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Nanclares
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Gandía
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Juan-Fernando Padín
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio G García
- Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Servicio de Farmacología Clínica, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain; and Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Jaiswal MK. Selective vulnerability of motoneuron and perturbed mitochondrial calcium homeostasis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: implications for motoneurons specific calcium dysregulation. MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR THERAPIES 2014; 2:26. [PMID: 26056593 PMCID: PMC4452055 DOI: 10.1186/2052-8426-2-26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective degeneration of defined subgroups of motoneuron in the brainstem, spinal cord and motor cortex with signature hallmarks of mitochondrial Ca2+ overload, free radical damage, excitotoxicity and impaired axonal transport. Although intracellular disruptions of cytosolic and mitochondrial calcium, and in particular low cytosolic calcium ([Ca2+]c) buffering and a strong interaction between metabolic mechanisms and [Ca2+]i have been identified predominantly in motoneuron impairment, the causes of these disruptions are unknown. The existing evidence suggests that the mutant superoxide dismutase1 (mtSOD1)-mediated toxicity in ALS acts through mitochondria, and that alteration in cytosolic and mitochondria-ER microdomain calcium accumulation are critical to the neurodegenerative process. Furthermore, chronic excitotoxcity mediated by Ca2+-permeable AMPA and NMDA receptors seems to initiate vicious cycle of intracellular calcium dysregulation which leads to toxic Ca2+ overload and thereby selective neurodegeneration. Recent advancement in the experimental analysis of calcium signals with high spatiotemporal precision has allowed investigations of calcium regulation in-vivo and in-vitro in different cell types, in particular selectively vulnerable/resistant cell types in different animal models of this motoneuron disease. This review provides an overview of latest advances in this field, and focuses on details of what has been learned about disrupted Ca2+ homeostasis and mitochondrial degeneration. It further emphasizes the critical role of mitochondria in preventing apoptosis by acting as a Ca2+ buffers, especially in motoneurons, in pathophysiological conditions such as ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manoj Kumar Jaiswal
- Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, 20814 Bethesda, MD USA ; Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, School of Medicine, USUHS, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, 20814 Bethesda, MD USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Tumor necrosis factor alpha: a link between neuroinflammation and excitotoxicity. Mediators Inflamm 2014; 2014:861231. [PMID: 24966471 PMCID: PMC4055424 DOI: 10.1155/2014/861231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 438] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) is a proinflammatory cytokine that exerts both homeostatic and pathophysiological roles in the central nervous system. In pathological conditions, microglia release large amounts of TNF-α; this de novo production of TNF-α is an important component of the so-called neuroinflammatory response that is associated with several neurological disorders. In addition, TNF-α can potentiate glutamate-mediated cytotoxicity by two complementary mechanisms: indirectly, by inhibiting glutamate transport on astrocytes, and directly, by rapidly triggering the surface expression of Ca+2 permeable-AMPA receptors and NMDA receptors, while decreasing inhibitory GABAA receptors on neurons. Thus, the net effect of TNF-α is to alter the balance of excitation and inhibition resulting in a higher synaptic excitatory/inhibitory ratio. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which TNF-α links the neuroinflammatory and excitotoxic processes that occur in several neurodegenerative diseases, but with a special emphasis on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As microglial activation and upregulation of TNF-α expression is a common feature of several CNS diseases, as well as chronic opioid exposure and neuropathic pain, modulating TNF-α signaling may represent a valuable target for intervention.
Collapse
|
40
|
Tran LT, Gentil BJ, Sullivan KE, Durham HD. The voltage-gated calcium channel blocker lomerizine is neuroprotective in motor neurons expressing mutant SOD1, but not TDP-43. J Neurochem 2014; 130:455-66. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2013] [Revised: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Luan T. Tran
- Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery; Montreal Neurological Institute; McGill University; Montreal QC Canada
| | - Benoit J. Gentil
- Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery; Montreal Neurological Institute; McGill University; Montreal QC Canada
| | - Kathleen E. Sullivan
- Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery; Montreal Neurological Institute; McGill University; Montreal QC Canada
| | - Heather D. Durham
- Department of Neurology/Neurosurgery; Montreal Neurological Institute; McGill University; Montreal QC Canada
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Affiliation(s)
- Laura K. Wood
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Steven J. Langford
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Muyderman H, Chen T. Mitochondrial dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - a valid pharmacological target? Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:2191-205. [PMID: 24148000 PMCID: PMC3976630 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2013] [Revised: 09/10/2013] [Accepted: 09/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective death of upper and lower motor neurons which ultimately leads to paralysis and ultimately death. Pathological changes in ALS are closely associated with pronounced and progressive changes in mitochondrial morphology, bioenergetics and calcium homeostasis. Converging evidence suggests that impaired mitochondrial function could be pivotal in the rapid neurodegeneration of this condition. In this review, we provide an update of recent advances in understanding mitochondrial biology in the pathogenesis of ALS and highlight the therapeutic value of pharmacologically targeting mitochondrial biology to slow disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- H Muyderman
- Centre for Neuroscience, Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, Flinders Medical Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Flinders UniversityAdelaide, SA, Australia
| | - T Chen
- Centre for Neuroscience, Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, Flinders Medical Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Flinders UniversityAdelaide, SA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
de Oliveira GP, Alves CJ, Chadi G. Early gene expression changes in spinal cord from SOD1(G93A) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis animal model. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:216. [PMID: 24302897 PMCID: PMC3831149 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/29/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset and fast progression neurodegenerative disease that leads to the loss of motor neurons. Mechanisms of selective motor neuron loss in ALS are unknown. The early events occurring in the spinal cord that may contribute to motor neuron death are not described, neither astrocytes participation in the pre-symptomatic phases of the disease. In order to identify ALS early events, we performed a microarray analysis employing a whole mouse genome platform to evaluate the gene expression pattern of lumbar spinal cords of transgenic SOD1G93A mice and their littermate controls at pre-symptomatic ages of 40 and 80 days. Differentially expressed genes were identified by means of the Bioconductor packages Agi4×44Preprocess and limma. FunNet web based tool was used for analysis of over-represented pathways. Furthermore, immunolabeled astrocytes from 40 and 80 days old mice were submitted to laser microdissection and RNA was extracted for evaluation of a selected gene by qPCR. Statistical analysis has pointed to 492 differentially expressed genes (155 up and 337 down regulated) in 40 days and 1105 (433 up and 672 down) in 80 days old ALS mice. KEGG analysis demonstrated the over-represented pathways tight junction, antigen processing and presentation, oxidative phosphorylation, endocytosis, chemokine signaling pathway, ubiquitin mediated proteolysis and glutamatergic synapse at both pre-symptomatic ages. Ube2i gene expression was evaluated in astrocytes from both transgenic ages, being up regulated in 40 and 80 days astrocytes enriched samples. Our data points to important early molecular events occurring in pre-symptomatic phases of ALS in mouse model. Early SUMOylation process linked to astrocytes might account to non-autonomous cell toxicity in ALS. Further studies on the signaling pathways presented here may provide new insights to better understand the events triggering motor neuron death in this devastating disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela P de Oliveira
- Department of Neurology, Neuroregeneration Center, University of São Paulo School of Medicine São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Prell T, Lautenschläger J, Grosskreutz J. Calcium-dependent protein folding in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell Calcium 2013; 54:132-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceca.2013.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2013] [Revised: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
|
45
|
Leal SS, Cardoso I, Valentine JS, Gomes CM. Calcium ions promote superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) aggregation into non-fibrillar amyloid: a link to toxic effects of calcium overload in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)? J Biol Chem 2013; 288:25219-25228. [PMID: 23861388 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.470740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Imbalance in metal ion homeostasis is a hallmark in neurodegenerative conditions involving protein deposition, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is no exception. In particular, Ca(2+) dysregulation has been shown to correlate with superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) aggregation in a cellular model of ALS. Here we present evidence that SOD1 aggregation is enhanced and modulated by Ca(2+). We show that at physiological pH, Ca(2+) induces conformational changes that increase SOD1 β-sheet content, as probed by far UV CD and attenuated total reflectance-FTIR, and enhances SOD1 hydrophobicity, as probed by ANS fluorescence emission. Moreover, dynamic light scattering analysis showed that Ca(2+) boosts the onset of SOD1 aggregation. In agreement, Ca(2+) decreases SOD1 critical concentration and nucleation time during aggregation kinetics, as evidenced by thioflavin T fluorescence emission. Attenuated total reflectance FTIR analysis showed that Ca(2+) induced aggregates consisting preferentially of antiparallel β-sheets, thus suggesting a modulation effect on the aggregation pathway. Transmission electron microscopy and analysis with conformational anti-fibril and anti-oligomer antibodies showed that oligomers and amyloidogenic aggregates constitute the prevalent morphology of Ca(2+)-induced aggregates, thus indicating that Ca(2+) diverts SOD1 aggregation from fibrils toward amorphous aggregates. Interestingly, the same heterogeneity of conformations is found in ALS-derived protein inclusions. We thus hypothesize that transient variations and dysregulation of cellular Ca(2+) levels contribute to the formation of SOD1 aggregates in ALS patients. In this scenario, Ca(2+) may be considered as a pathogenic effector in the formation of ALS proteinaceous inclusions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sónia S Leal
- From the Instituto Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. República 127, 2780-756 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Isabel Cardoso
- the Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Instituto Biologia Molecular e Celular, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal, and
| | - Joan S Valentine
- the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Cláudio M Gomes
- From the Instituto Tecnologia Química e Biológica, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. República 127, 2780-756 Oeiras, Portugal,.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Convertini P, Zhang J, de la Grange P, Hayward LJ, Zhu H, Stamm S. Genome wide array analysis indicates that an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutation of FUS causes an early increase of CAMK2N2 in vitro. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2013; 1832:1129-35. [PMID: 23545117 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2013.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2012] [Revised: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 03/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the RNA binding protein FUS (fused in sarcoma) have been linked to a subset of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases. The mutations are clustered in the C-terminal nuclear localization sequence (NLS). Various FUS mutants accumulate in the cytoplasm whereas wild-type (WT) FUS is mainly nuclear. Here we investigate the effect of one ALS causing mutant (FUS-ΔNLS, also known as R495X) on pre-mRNA splicing and RNA expression using genome wide exon-junction arrays. Using a non-neuronal stable cell line with inducible FUS expression, we detected early changes in RNA composition. In particular, mutant FUS-ΔNLS increased calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II inhibitor 2 (CAMK2N2) at both mRNA and protein levels, whereas WT-FUS had no effect. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that FUS-ΔNLS accumulated at the CAMK2N2 promoter region, whereas promoter occupation by WT-FUS remained constant. Given the loss of FUS-ΔNLS in the nucleus through the mutation-induced translocation, this increase of promoter occupancy is surprising. It indicates that, despite the obvious cytoplasmic accumulation, FUS-ΔNLS can act through a nuclear gain of function mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Convertini
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, 741 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536-0509, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Parone PA, Da Cruz S, Han JS, McAlonis-Downes M, Vetto AP, Lee SK, Tseng E, Cleveland DW. Enhancing mitochondrial calcium buffering capacity reduces aggregation of misfolded SOD1 and motor neuron cell death without extending survival in mouse models of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurosci 2013; 33:4657-71. [PMID: 23486940 PMCID: PMC3711648 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1119-12.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2012] [Revised: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria have been proposed as targets for toxicity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive, fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the selective loss of motor neurons. A decrease in the capacity of spinal cord mitochondria to buffer calcium (Ca(2+)) has been observed in mice expressing ALS-linked mutants of SOD1 that develop motor neuron disease with many of the key pathological hallmarks seen in ALS patients. In mice expressing three different ALS-causing SOD1 mutants, we now test the contribution of the loss of mitochondrial Ca(2+)-buffering capacity to disease mechanism(s) by eliminating ubiquitous expression of cyclophilin D, a critical regulator of Ca(2+)-mediated opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore that determines mitochondrial Ca(2+) content. A chronic increase in mitochondrial buffering of Ca(2+) in the absence of cyclophilin D was maintained throughout disease course and was associated with improved mitochondrial ATP synthesis, reduced mitochondrial swelling, and retention of normal morphology. This was accompanied by an attenuation of glial activation, reduction in levels of misfolded SOD1 aggregates in the spinal cord, and a significant suppression of motor neuron death throughout disease. Despite this, muscle denervation, motor axon degeneration, and disease progression and survival were unaffected, thereby eliminating mutant SOD1-mediated loss of mitochondrial Ca(2+) buffering capacity, altered mitochondrial morphology, motor neuron death, and misfolded SOD1 aggregates, as primary contributors to disease mechanism for fatal paralysis in these models of familial ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philippe A. Parone
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Sandrine Da Cruz
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Joo Seok Han
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Melissa McAlonis-Downes
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Anne P. Vetto
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Sandra K. Lee
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Eva Tseng
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Don W. Cleveland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Brockington A, Ning K, Heath PR, Wood E, Kirby J, Fusi N, Lawrence N, Wharton SB, Ince PG, Shaw PJ. Unravelling the enigma of selective vulnerability in neurodegeneration: motor neurons resistant to degeneration in ALS show distinct gene expression characteristics and decreased susceptibility to excitotoxicity. Acta Neuropathol 2013; 125:95-109. [PMID: 23143228 PMCID: PMC3535376 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-012-1058-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Revised: 10/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A consistent clinical feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the sparing of eye movements and the function of external sphincters, with corresponding preservation of motor neurons in the brainstem oculomotor nuclei, and of Onuf’s nucleus in the sacral spinal cord. Studying the differences in properties of neurons that are vulnerable and resistant to the disease process in ALS may provide insights into the mechanisms of neuronal degeneration, and identify targets for therapeutic manipulation. We used microarray analysis to determine the differences in gene expression between oculomotor and spinal motor neurons, isolated by laser capture microdissection from the midbrain and spinal cord of neurologically normal human controls. We compared these to transcriptional profiles of oculomotor nuclei and spinal cord from rat and mouse, obtained from the GEO omnibus database. We show that oculomotor neurons have a distinct transcriptional profile, with significant differential expression of 1,757 named genes (q < 0.001). Differentially expressed genes are enriched for the functional categories of synaptic transmission, ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis, mitochondrial function, transcriptional regulation, immune system functions, and the extracellular matrix. Marked differences are seen, across the three species, in genes with a function in synaptic transmission, including several glutamate and GABA receptor subunits. Using patch clamp recording in acute spinal and brainstem slices, we show that resistant oculomotor neurons show a reduced AMPA-mediated inward calcium current, and a higher GABA-mediated chloride current, than vulnerable spinal motor neurons. The findings suggest that reduced susceptibility to excitotoxicity, mediated in part through enhanced GABAergic transmission, is an important determinant of the relative resistance of oculomotor neurons to degeneration in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Brockington
- Academic Neurology Unit, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ UK
| | - Ke Ning
- Academic Neurology Unit, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ UK
| | - Paul R. Heath
- Academic Neurology Unit, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ UK
| | - Elizabeth Wood
- Academic Neurology Unit, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ UK
| | - Janine Kirby
- Academic Neurology Unit, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ UK
| | - Nicolò Fusi
- Computational Biology Unit, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ UK
| | - Neil Lawrence
- Computational Biology Unit, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ UK
| | - Stephen B. Wharton
- Academic Neuropathology Unit, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ UK
| | - Paul G. Ince
- Academic Neuropathology Unit, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ UK
| | - Pamela J. Shaw
- Academic Neurology Unit, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2HQ UK
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Yin HZ, Hsu CI, Yu S, Rao SD, Sorkin LS, Weiss JH. TNF-α triggers rapid membrane insertion of Ca(2+) permeable AMPA receptors into adult motor neurons and enhances their susceptibility to slow excitotoxic injury. Exp Neurol 2012; 238:93-102. [PMID: 22921461 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2012.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2012] [Revised: 07/25/2012] [Accepted: 08/03/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Excitotoxicity (caused by over-activation of glutamate receptors) and inflammation both contribute to motor neuron (MN) damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other diseases of the spinal cord. Microglial and astrocytic activation in these conditions results in release of inflammatory mediators, including the cytokine, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). TNF-α has complex effects on neurons, one of which is to trigger rapid membrane insertion of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) type glutamate receptors, and in some cases, specific insertion of GluA2 lacking, Ca(2+) permeable AMPA receptors (Ca-perm AMPAr). In the present study, we use a histochemical stain based upon kainate stimulated uptake of cobalt ions ("Co(2+) labeling") to provide the first direct demonstration of the presence of substantial numbers of Ca-perm AMPAr in ventral horn MNs of adult rats under basal conditions. We further find that TNF-α exposure causes a rapid increase in the numbers of these receptors, via a phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) and protein kinase A (PKA) dependent mechanism. Finally, to assess the relevance of TNF-α to slow excitotoxic MN injury, we made use of organotypic spinal cord slice cultures. Co(2+) labeling revealed that MNs in these cultures possess Ca-perm AMPAr. Addition of either a low level of TNF-α, or of the glutamate uptake blocker, trans-pyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid (PDC) to the cultures for 48 h resulted in little MN injury. However, when combined, TNF-α+PDC caused considerable MN degeneration, which was blocked by the AMPA/kainate receptor blocker, 2,3-Dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoylbenzo (F) quinoxaline (NBQX), or the Ca-perm AMPAr selective blocker, 1-naphthyl acetylspermine (NASPM). Thus, these data support the idea that prolonged TNF-α elevation, as may be induced by glial activation, acts in part by increasing the numbers of Ca-perm AMPAr on MNs to enhance injurious excitotoxic effects of deficient astrocytic glutamate transport.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hong Z Yin
- Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697‐4292, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Redler RL, Dokholyan NV. The complex molecular biology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2012; 107:215-62. [PMID: 22482452 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-385883-2.00002-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder that causes selective death of motor neurons followed by paralysis and death. A subset of ALS cases is caused by mutations in the gene for Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1), which impart a toxic gain of function to this antioxidant enzyme. This neurotoxic property is widely believed to stem from an increased propensity to misfold and aggregate caused by decreased stability of the native homodimer or a tendency to lose stabilizing posttranslational modifications. Study of the molecular mechanisms of SOD1-related ALS has revealed a complex array of interconnected pathological processes, including glutamate excitotoxicity, dysregulation of neurotrophic factors and axon guidance proteins, axonal transport defects, mitochondrial dysfunction, deficient protein quality control, and aberrant RNA processing. Many of these pathologies are directly exacerbated by misfolded and aggregated SOD1 and/or cytosolic calcium overload, suggesting the primacy of these events in disease etiology and their potential as targets for therapeutic intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Redler
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|