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Duarte-Silva S, Da Silva JD, Monteiro-Fernandes D, Costa MD, Neves-Carvalho A, Raposo M, Soares-Cunha C, Correia JS, Nogueira-Goncalves G, Fernandes HS, Oliveira S, Ferreira-Fernandes AR, Rodrigues F, Pereira-Sousa J, Vilasboas-Campos D, Guerreiro S, Campos J, Meireles-Costa L, Rodrigues CM, Cabantous S, Sousa SF, Lima M, Teixeira-Castro A, Maciel P. Glucocorticoid receptor-dependent therapeutic efficacy of tauroursodeoxycholic acid in preclinical models of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e162246. [PMID: 38227368 PMCID: PMC10904051 DOI: 10.1172/jci162246] [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: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the ataxin-3 (ATXN3) gene. No effective treatment is available for this disorder, other than symptom-directed approaches. Bile acids have shown therapeutic efficacy in neurodegenerative disease models. Here, we pinpointed tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) as an efficient therapeutic, improving the motor and neuropathological phenotype of SCA3 nematode and mouse models. Surprisingly, transcriptomic and functional in vivo data showed that TUDCA acts in neuronal tissue through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), but independently of its canonical receptor, the farnesoid X receptor (FXR). TUDCA was predicted to bind to the GR, in a similar fashion to corticosteroid molecules. GR levels were decreased in disease-affected brain regions, likely due to increased protein degradation as a consequence of ATXN3 dysfunction being restored by TUDCA treatment. Analysis of a SCA3 clinical cohort showed intriguing correlations between the peripheral expression of GR and the predicted age at disease onset in presymptomatic subjects and FKBP5 expression with disease progression, suggesting this pathway as a potential source of biomarkers for future study. We have established a novel in vivo mechanism for the neuroprotective effects of TUDCA in SCA3 and propose this readily available drug for clinical trials in SCA3 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Duarte-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Jorge Diogo Da Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Medical Genetics Center Dr. Jacinto de Magalhães, Santo António University Hospital Center, Porto, Portugal
- Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, Porto University, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniela Monteiro-Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marta Daniela Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Neves-Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Mafalda Raposo
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Carina Soares-Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana S. Correia
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Gonçalo Nogueira-Goncalves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Henrique S. Fernandes
- UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, BioSIM – Departamento de Biomedicina and
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Stephanie Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Ferreira-Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Fernando Rodrigues
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Pereira-Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Daniela Vilasboas-Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Guerreiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Jonas Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Liliana Meireles-Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Cecilia M.P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Stephanie Cabantous
- Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Inserm, Université de Toulouse, UPS, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Sergio F. Sousa
- UCIBIO – Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, BioSIM – Departamento de Biomedicina and
- Associate Laboratory i4HB – Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Manuela Lima
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patricia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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2
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Pohl F, Lindsay-McGee V, Kong Thoo Lin P, Maciel P, Teixeira-Castro A. Pharmacological inhibition of acetylcholinesterase improves the locomotion defective phenotype of a SCA3 C. elegans model. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2024; 2024:10.17912/micropub.biology.001086. [PMID: 38404918 PMCID: PMC10884831 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.001086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a common used treatment option for Alzheimer's disease. However, there has been limited research on the potential use of AChE inhibitors for the treatment of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)/Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3 (SCA3), in spite of the positive results using AChE inhibitors in patients with other inherited ataxias. MJD/SCA3, the most common form of dominant Spinocerebellar Ataxia worldwide, is caused by an expansion of the polyglutamine tract within the ataxin-3 protein, and is characterized by motor impairments. Our study shows that administration of the AChE inhibitor neostigmine is beneficial in treating the locomotion defective phenotype of a SCA3/MJD model of C. elegans and highlights the potential contribution of AChE enzymes to mutant ataxin-3-mediated toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Pohl
- School of Pharmacy and Life Science, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
- Oncology/Dev. Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - Victoria Lindsay-McGee
- School of Pharmacy and Life Science, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
- The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Kong Thoo Lin
- School of Pharmacy and Life Science, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Maciel
- Life and Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Braga/Guimarães, Portugal, ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- Braga/Guimarães, Portugal, ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory
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3
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Watchon M, Robinson KJ, Luu L, An Y, Yuan KC, Plenderleith SK, Cheng F, Don EK, Nicholson GA, Lee A, Laird AS. Treatment with sodium butyrate induces autophagy resulting in therapeutic benefits for spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23429. [PMID: 38258931 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202300963rr] [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: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3, also known as Machado Joseph disease) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of the trinucleotide repeat region within the ATXN3/MJD gene. Mutation of ATXN3 causes formation of ataxin-3 protein aggregates, neurodegeneration, and motor deficits. Here we investigated the therapeutic potential and mechanistic activity of sodium butyrate (SB), the sodium salt of butyric acid, a metabolite naturally produced by gut microbiota, on cultured SH-SY5Y cells and transgenic zebrafish expressing human ataxin-3 containing 84 glutamine (Q) residues to model SCA3. SCA3 SH-SY5Y cells were found to contain high molecular weight ataxin-3 species and detergent-insoluble protein aggregates. Treatment with SB increased the activity of the autophagy protein quality control pathway in the SCA3 cells, decreased the presence of ataxin-3 aggregates and presence of high molecular weight ataxin-3 in an autophagy-dependent manner. Treatment with SB was also beneficial in vivo, improving swimming performance, increasing activity of the autophagy pathway, and decreasing the presence of insoluble ataxin-3 protein species in the transgenic SCA3 zebrafish. Co-treating the SCA3 zebrafish with SB and chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, prevented the beneficial effects of SB on zebrafish swimming, indicating that the improved swimming performance was autophagy-dependent. To understand the mechanism by which SB induces autophagy we performed proteomic analysis of protein lysates from the SB-treated and untreated SCA3 SH-SY5Y cells. We found that SB treatment had increased activity of Protein Kinase A and AMPK signaling, with immunoblot analysis confirming that SB treatment had increased levels of AMPK protein and its substrates. Together our findings indicate that treatment with SB can increase activity of the autophagy pathway process and that this has beneficial effects in vitro and in vivo. While our results suggested that this activity may involve activity of a PKA/AMPK-dependent process, this requires further confirmation. We propose that treatment with sodium butyrate warrants further investigation as a potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases underpinned by mechanisms relating to protein aggregation including SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxinne Watchon
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katherine J Robinson
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Luan Luu
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yousun An
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kristy C Yuan
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stuart K Plenderleith
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Flora Cheng
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emily K Don
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Garth A Nicholson
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Repatriation Hospital, Concord, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Albert Lee
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Angela S Laird
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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4
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Wu Y, Chen Y, Yu X, Zhang M, Li Z. Towards Understanding Neurodegenerative Diseases: Insights from Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:443. [PMID: 38203614 PMCID: PMC10778690 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010443] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The elevated occurrence of debilitating neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), demands urgent disease-modifying therapeutics. Owing to the evolutionarily conserved molecular signalling pathways with mammalian species and facile genetic manipulation, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) emerges as a powerful and manipulative model system for mechanistic insights into neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we review several representative C. elegans models established for five common neurodegenerative diseases, which closely simulate disease phenotypes specifically in the gain-of-function aspect. We exemplify applications of high-throughput genetic and drug screenings to illustrate the potential of C. elegans to probe novel therapeutic targets. This review highlights the utility of C. elegans as a comprehensive and versatile platform for the dissection of neurodegenerative diseases at the molecular level.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Zhaoyu Li
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; (Y.W.); (Y.C.); (X.Y.); (M.Z.)
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5
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Pohl F, Germann AL, Mao J, Hou S, Bakare B, Kong Thoo Lin P, Yates K, Nonet ML, Akk G, Kornfeld K, Held JM. UNC-49 is a redox-sensitive GABA A receptor that regulates the mitochondrial unfolded protein response cell nonautonomously. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadh2584. [PMID: 37910615 PMCID: PMC10619936 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adh2584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
The γ-aminobutyric acid-mediated (GABAergic) system participates in many aspects of organismal physiology and disease, including proteostasis, neuronal dysfunction, and life-span extension. Many of these phenotypes are also regulated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), but the redox mechanisms linking the GABAergic system to these phenotypes are not well defined. Here, we report that GABAergic redox signaling cell nonautonomously activates many stress response pathways in Caenorhabditis elegans and enhances vulnerability to proteostasis disease in the absence of oxidative stress. Cell nonautonomous redox activation of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mitoUPR) proteostasis network requires UNC-49, a GABAA receptor that we show is activated by hydrogen peroxide. MitoUPR induction by a spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) C. elegans neurodegenerative disease model was similarly dependent on UNC-49 in C. elegans. These results demonstrate a multi-tissue paradigm for redox signaling in the GABAergic system that is transduced via a GABAA receptor to function in cell nonautonomous regulation of health, proteostasis, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Pohl
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Allison L. Germann
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jack Mao
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sydney Hou
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Bayode Bakare
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Paul Kong Thoo Lin
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Kyari Yates
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Michael L. Nonet
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gustav Akk
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Taylor Family Institute for Innovative Psychiatric Research, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kerry Kornfeld
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jason M. Held
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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6
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Figueiredo F, Sárkány Z, Silva A, Vilasboas-Campos D, Maciel P, Teixeira-Castro A, Martins PM, Macedo-Ribeiro S. Drug repurposing of dopaminergic drugs to inhibit ataxin-3 aggregation. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115258. [PMID: 37549460 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of mutant ataxin-3 (Atx3) in neuronal nuclear inclusions is a pathological hallmark of Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Decreasing the protein aggregation burden is a possible disease-modifying strategy to tackle MJD and other neurodegenerative disorders for which only symptomatic treatments are currently available. We performed a drug repurposing screening to identify inhibitors of Atx3 aggregation with known toxicological and pharmacokinetic profiles. Interestingly, dopamine hydrochloride and other catecholamines are among the most potent inhibitors of Atx3 aggregation in vitro. Our results indicate that low micromolar concentrations of dopamine markedly delay the formation of mature amyloid fibrils of mutant Atx3 through the inhibition of the earlier oligomerization steps. Although dopamine itself does not cross the blood-brain barrier, dopamine levels in the brain can be increased by low doses of dopamine precursors and dopamine agonists commonly used to treat Parkinsonian symptoms. In agreement, treatment with levodopa ameliorated motor symptoms in a C. elegans model of MJD. These findings suggest a possible application of dopaminergic drugs to halt or reduce Atx3 accumulation in the brains of MJD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Figueiredo
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Zsuzsa Sárkány
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Silva
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Daniela Vilasboas-Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Pedro M Martins
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Sandra Macedo-Ribeiro
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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7
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Watabe K, Niida-Kawaguchi M, Tada M, Kato Y, Murata M, Tanji K, Wakabayashi K, Yamada M, Kakita A, Shibata N. Praja1 RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligase is a common suppressor of neurodegenerative disease-associated protein aggregation. Neuropathology 2022; 42:488-504. [PMID: 35701899 PMCID: PMC10084124 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The formation of misfolded protein aggregates is one of the pathological hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. We have previously demonstrated the cytoplasmic aggregate formation of adenovirally expressed transactivation response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43), the main constituent of neuronal cytoplasmic aggregates in cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), in cultured neuronal cells under the condition of proteasome inhibition. The TDP-43 aggregate formation was markedly suppressed by co-infection of adenoviruses expressing heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), a master regulator of heat shock response, and Praja1 RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligase (PJA1) located downstream of the HSF1 pathway. In the present study, we examined other reportedly known E3 ubiquitin ligases for TDP-43, i.e. Parkin, RNF112 and RNF220, but failed to find their suppressive effects on neuronal cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregate formation, although they all bind to TDP-43 as verified by co-immunoprecipitation. In contrast, PJA1 also binds to adenovirally expressed wild-type and mutated fused in sarcoma, superoxide dismutase 1, α-synuclein and ataxin-3, and huntingtin polyglutamine proteins in neuronal cultures and suppressed the aggregate formation of these proteins. These results suggest that PJA1 is a common sensing factor for aggregate-prone proteins to counteract their aggregation propensity, and could be a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases that include ALS, FTLD, Parkinson's disease and polyglutamine diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiko Watabe
- Department of Medical Technology (Neuropathology), Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan.,Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motoko Niida-Kawaguchi
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mari Tada
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yoichiro Kato
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makiko Murata
- Department of Medical Technology (Neuropathology), Faculty of Health Sciences, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kunikazu Tanji
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Koichi Wakabayashi
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Mitsunori Yamada
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Brain Disease Research, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Shibata
- Division of Pathological Neuroscience, Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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8
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The Thermal Stress Coping Network of the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314907. [PMID: 36499234 PMCID: PMC9737000 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Response to hyperthermia, highly conserved from bacteria to humans, involves transcriptional upregulation of genes involved in battling the cytotoxicity caused by misfolded and denatured proteins, with the aim of proteostasis restoration. C. elegans senses and responds to changes in growth temperature or noxious thermal stress by well-defined signaling pathways. Under adverse conditions, regulation of the heat shock response (HSR) in C. elegans is controlled by a single transcription factor, heat-shock factor 1 (HSF-1). HSR and HSF-1 in particular are proven to be central to survival under proteotoxic stress, with additional roles in normal physiological processes. For years, it was a common belief that upregulation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) by HSF-1 was the main and most important step toward thermotolerance. However, an ever-growing number of studies have shown that targets of HSF-1 involved in cytoskeletal and exoskeletal integrity preservation as well as other HSF-1 dependent and independent pathways are equally important. In this review, we follow the thermal stimulus from reception by the nematode nerve endings till the activation of cellular response programs. We analyze the different HSF-1 functions in HSR as well as all the recently discovered mechanisms that add to the knowledge of the heat stress coping network of C. elegans.
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9
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Mayoral-Palarz K, Neves-Carvalho A, Duarte-Silva S, Monteiro-Fernandes D, Maciel P, Khodakhah K. Cerebellar neuronal dysfunction accompanies early motor symptoms in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:275597. [PMID: 35660856 PMCID: PMC9367011 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is an adult-onset, progressive ataxia. SCA3 presents with ataxia before any gross neuropathology. A feature of many cerebellar ataxias is aberrant cerebellar output that contributes to motor dysfunction. We examined whether abnormal cerebellar output was present in the CMVMJD135 SCA3 mouse model and, if so, whether it correlated with the disease onset and progression. In vivo recordings showed that the activity of deep cerebellar nuclei neurons, the main output of the cerebellum, was altered. The aberrant activity correlated with the onset of ataxia. However, although the severity of ataxia increased with age, the severity of the aberrant cerebellar output was not progressive. The abnormal cerebellar output, however, was accompanied by non-progressive abnormal activity of their upstream synaptic inputs, the Purkinje cells. In vitro recordings indicated that alterations in intrinsic Purkinje cell pacemaking and in their synaptic inputs contributed to abnormal Purkinje cell activity. These findings implicate abnormal cerebellar physiology as an early, consistent contributor to pathophysiology in SCA3, and suggest that the aberrant cerebellar output could be an appropriate therapeutic target in SCA3. Summary: In a mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), aberrant cerebellar physiology is apparent early in disease, prior to cerebellar neuronal pathology. Aberrant cerebellar output could be a therapeutic target in SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Mayoral-Palarz
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Andreia Neves-Carvalho
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.,Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Duarte-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Daniela Monteiro-Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Kamran Khodakhah
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
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10
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Andersen N, Veuthey T, Blanco MG, Silbestri GF, Rayes D, De Rosa MJ. 1-Mesityl-3-(3-Sulfonatopropyl) Imidazolium Protects Against Oxidative Stress and Delays Proteotoxicity in C. elegans. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:908696. [PMID: 35685626 PMCID: PMC9171001 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.908696] [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: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the increase in life expectancy worldwide, age-related disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) have become more prevalent. Conventional treatments comprise drugs that only attenuate some of the symptoms, but fail to arrest or delay neuronal proteotoxicity that characterizes these diseases. Due to their diverse biological activities, imidazole rings are intensively explored as powerful scaffolds for the development of new bioactive molecules. By using C. elegans, our work aims to explore novel biological roles for these compounds. To this end, we have tested the in vivo anti-proteotoxic effects of imidazolium salts. Since NDs have been largely linked to impaired antioxidant defense mechanisms, we focused on 1-Mesityl-3-(3-sulfonatopropyl) imidazolium (MSI), one of the imidazolium salts that we identified as capable of improving iron-induced oxidative stress resistance in wild-type animals. By combining mutant and gene expression analysis we have determined that this protective effect depends on the activation of the Heat Shock Transcription Factor (HSF-1), whereas it is independent of other canonical cytoprotective molecules such as abnormal Dauer Formation-16 (DAF-16/FOXO) and Skinhead-1 (SKN-1/Nrf2). To delve deeper into the biological roles of MSI, we analyzed the impact of this compound on previously established C. elegans models of protein aggregation. We found that MSI ameliorates β-amyloid-induced paralysis in worms expressing the pathological protein involved in Alzheimer’s Disease. Moreover, this compound also delays age-related locomotion decline in other proteotoxic C. elegans models, suggesting a broad protective effect. Taken together, our results point to MSI as a promising anti-proteotoxic compound and provide proof of concept of the potential of imidazole derivatives in the development of novel therapies to retard age-related proteotoxic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Andersen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Tania Veuthey
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - María Gabriela Blanco
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Fabian Silbestri
- Departamento de Química, INQUISUR, Universidad Nacional Del Sur, UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Diego Rayes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Diego Rayes, ; María José De Rosa,
| | - María José De Rosa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS-CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional Del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
- *Correspondence: Diego Rayes, ; María José De Rosa,
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11
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Costa MD, Maciel P. Modifier pathways in polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases: from genetic screens to drug targets. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:274. [PMID: 35503478 PMCID: PMC11071829 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04280-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases include a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders caused by unstable expansions of CAG trinucleotide repeats in the coding region of specific genes. Such genetic alterations produce abnormal proteins containing an unusually long PolyQ tract that renders them more prone to aggregate and cause toxicity. Although research in the field in the last years has contributed significantly to the knowledge of the biological mechanisms implicated in these diseases, effective treatments are still lacking. In this review, we revisit work performed in models of PolyQ diseases, namely the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, and provide a critical overview of the high-throughput unbiased genetic screens that have been performed using these systems to identify novel genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases. These approaches have revealed a wide variety of cellular processes that modulate the toxicity and aggregation of mutant PolyQ proteins, reflecting the complexity of these disorders and demonstrating how challenging the development of therapeutic strategies can be. In addition to the unbiased large-scale genetic screenings in non-vertebrate models, complementary studies in mammalian systems, closer to humans, have contributed with novel genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases, revealing neuronal function and inflammation as key disease modulators. A pathway enrichment analysis, using the human orthologues of genetic modifiers of PolyQ diseases clustered modifier genes into major themes translatable to the human disease context, such as protein folding and transport as well as transcription regulation. Innovative genetic strategies of genetic manipulation, together with significant advances in genomics and bioinformatics, are taking modifier genetic studies to more realistic disease contexts. The characterization of PolyQ disease modifier pathways is of extreme relevance to reveal novel therapeutic possibilities to delay disease onset and progression in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Daniela Costa
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
- ICVS/3Bs-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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12
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Aripiprazole Offsets Mutant ATXN3-Induced Motor Dysfunction by Targeting Dopamine D2 and Serotonin 1A and 2A Receptors in C. elegans. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020370. [PMID: 35203579 PMCID: PMC8962381 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The atypical antipsychotic aripiprazole is a Food and Drug Administration-approved drug for the treatment of psychotic, mood, and other psychiatric disorders. Previous drug discovery efforts pinpointed aripiprazole as an effective suppressor of Machado–Joseph disease (MJD) pathogenesis, as its administration resulted in a reduced abundance and aggregation of mutant Ataxin-3 (ATXN3) proteins. Dopamine partial agonism and functional selectivity have been proposed as the main pharmacological mechanism of action of aripiprazole in the treatment of psychosis; however, this mechanism remains to be determined in the context of MJD. Here, we focus on confirming the efficacy of aripiprazole to reduce motor dysfunction in vivo, using a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model of MJD, and on unveiling the drug targets required for its positive action against mutant ATXN3 pathogenesis. We employed pharmacogenetics and pharmacological approaches to identify which dopamine and serotonin receptors are critical for aripiprazole-mediated improvements in motor function. We demonstrated that dopamine D2-like and serotonin 5-HT1A and 5-HT2A receptors play important roles in this process. Our findings strengthen the relevance of dopaminergic and serotoninergic signaling modulation against mutant ATXN3-mediated pathogenesis. The identification of aripiprazole’s cellular targets, relevant for MJD and perhaps other neurodegenerative diseases, may pave the way for prospective drug discovery and development campaigns aiming to improve the features of this prototypical compound and reduce side effects not negligible in the case of aripiprazole.
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13
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Karwacka M, Olejniczak M. Advances in Modeling Polyglutamine Diseases Using Genome Editing Tools. Cells 2022; 11:cells11030517. [PMID: 35159326 PMCID: PMC8834129 DOI: 10.3390/cells11030517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, including Huntington’s disease, are a group of late-onset progressive neurological disorders caused by CAG repeat expansions. Although recently, many studies have investigated the pathological features and development of polyQ diseases, many questions remain unanswered. The advancement of new gene-editing technologies, especially the CRISPR-Cas9 technique, has undeniable value for the generation of relevant polyQ models, which substantially support the research process. Here, we review how these tools have been used to correct disease-causing mutations or create isogenic cell lines with different numbers of CAG repeats. We characterize various cellular models such as HEK 293 cells, patient-derived fibroblasts, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and animal models generated with the use of genome-editing technology.
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14
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Robinson KJ, Yuan K, Plenderleith SK, Watchon M, Laird AS. A Novel Calpain Inhibitor Compound Has Protective Effects on a Zebrafish Model of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Cells 2021; 10:cells10102592. [PMID: 34685571 PMCID: PMC8533844 DOI: 10.3390/cells10102592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a hereditary ataxia caused by inheritance of a mutated form of the human ATXN3 gene containing an expanded CAG repeat region, encoding a human ataxin-3 protein with a long polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat region. Previous studies have demonstrated that ataxin-3 containing a long polyQ length is highly aggregation prone. Cleavage of the ataxin-3 protein by calpain proteases has been demonstrated to be enhanced in SCA3 models, leading to an increase in the aggregation propensity of the protein. Here, we tested the therapeutic potential of a novel calpain inhibitor BLD-2736 for the treatment of SCA3 by testing its efficacy on a transgenic zebrafish model of SCA3. We found that treatment with BLD-2736 from 1 to 6 days post-fertilisation (dpf) improves the swimming of SCA3 zebrafish larvae and decreases the presence of insoluble protein aggregates. Furthermore, delaying the commencement of treatment with BLD-2736, until a timepoint when protein aggregates were already known to be present in the zebrafish larvae, was still successful at removing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) fused-ataxin-3 aggregates and improving the zebrafish swimming. Finally, we demonstrate that treatment with BLD-2736 increased the synthesis of LC3II, increasing the activity of the autophagy protein quality control pathway. Together, these findings suggest that BLD-2736 warrants further investigation as a treatment for SCA3 and related neurodegenerative diseases.
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15
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Abstract
Sustaining a healthy proteome is a lifelong challenge for each individual cell of an organism. However, protein homeostasis or proteostasis is constantly jeopardized since damaged proteins accumulate under proteotoxic stress that originates from ever-changing metabolic, environmental, and pathological conditions. Proteostasis is achieved via a conserved network of quality control pathways that orchestrate the biogenesis of correctly folded proteins, prevent proteins from misfolding, and remove potentially harmful proteins by selective degradation. Nevertheless, the proteostasis network has a limited capacity and its collapse deteriorates cellular functionality and organismal viability, causing metabolic, oncological, or neurodegenerative disorders. While cell-autonomous quality control mechanisms have been described intensely, recent work on Caenorhabditis elegans has demonstrated the systemic coordination of proteostasis between distinct tissues of an organism. These findings indicate the existence of intricately balanced proteostasis networks important for integration and maintenance of the organismal proteome, opening a new door to define novel therapeutic targets for protein aggregation diseases. Here, we provide an overview of individual protein quality control pathways and the systemic coordination between central proteostatic nodes. We further provide insights into the dynamic regulation of cellular and organismal proteostasis mechanisms that integrate environmental and metabolic changes. The use of C. elegans as a model has pioneered our understanding of conserved quality control mechanisms important to safeguard the organismal proteome in health and disease.
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16
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Grushko D, Boocholez H, Levine A, Cohen E. Temporal requirements of SKN-1/NRF as a regulator of lifespan and proteostasis in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0243522. [PMID: 34197476 PMCID: PMC8248617 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lowering the activity of the Insulin/IGF-1 Signaling (IIS) cascade results in elevated stress resistance, enhanced protein homeostasis (proteostasis) and extended lifespan of worms, flies and mice. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), the longevity phenotype that stems from IIS reduction is entirely dependent upon the activities of a subset of transcription factors including the Forkhead factor DAF-16/FOXO (DAF-16), Heat Shock Factor-1 (HSF-1), SKiNhead/Nrf (SKN-1) and ParaQuat Methylviologen responsive (PQM-1). While DAF-16 determines lifespan exclusively during early adulthood and governs proteostasis in early adulthood and midlife, HSF-1 executes these functions foremost during development. Despite the central roles of SKN-1 as a regulator of lifespan and proteostasis, the temporal requirements of this transcription factor were unknown. Here we employed conditional knockdown techniques and discovered that in C. elegans, SKN-1 is primarily important for longevity and proteostasis during late larval development through early adulthood. Our findings indicate that events that occur during late larval developmental through early adulthood affect lifespan and proteostasis and suggest that subsequent to HSF-1, SKN-1 sets the conditions, partially overlapping temporally with DAF-16, that enable IIS reduction to promote longevity and proteostasis. Our findings raise the intriguing possibility that HSF-1, SKN-1 and DAF-16 function in a coordinated and sequential manner to promote healthy aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Grushko
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute for Medical Research Israel–Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hana Boocholez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute for Medical Research Israel–Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Amir Levine
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute for Medical Research Israel–Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Ehud Cohen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute for Medical Research Israel–Canada (IMRIC), The Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
- * E-mail:
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17
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Fardghassemi Y, Maios C, Parker JA. Small Molecule Rescue of ATXN3 Toxicity in C. elegans via TFEB/HLH-30. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:1151-1165. [PMID: 33782863 PMCID: PMC8423969 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00993-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), is a polyglutamine expansion disease arising from a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion in exon 10 of the gene ATXN3. There are no effective pharmacological treatments for MJD, thus the identification of new pathogenic mechanisms, and the development of novel therapeutics is urgently needed. In this study, we performed a comprehensive, blind drug screen of 3942 compounds (many FDA approved) and identified small molecules that rescued the motor-deficient phenotype in transgenic ATXN3 Caenorhabditis elegans strain. Out of this screen, five lead compounds restoring motility, protecting against neurodegeneration, and increasing the lifespan in ATXN3-CAG89 mutant worms were identified. These compounds were alfacalcidol, chenodiol, cyclophosphamide, fenbufen, and sulfaphenazole. We then investigated how these molecules might exert their neuroprotective properties. We found that three of these compounds, chenodiol, fenbufen, and sulfaphenazole, act as modulators for TFEB/HLH-30, a key transcriptional regulator of the autophagy process, and require this gene for their neuroprotective activities. These genetic-chemical approaches, using genetic C. elegans models for MJD and the screening, are promising tools to understand the mechanisms and pathways causing neurodegeneration, leading to MJD. Positively acting compounds may be promising candidates for investigation in mammalian models of MJD and preclinical applications in the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Fardghassemi
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec H2X 0A9 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Claudia Maios
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec H2X 0A9 Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - J. Alex Parker
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec H2X 0A9 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4 Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4 Canada
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18
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Giunti S, Andersen N, Rayes D, De Rosa MJ. Drug discovery: Insights from the invertebrate Caenorhabditis elegans. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00721. [PMID: 33641258 PMCID: PMC7916527 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic drug development is a long, expensive, and complex process that usually takes 12-15 years. In the early phases of drug discovery, in particular, there is a growing need for animal models that ensure the reduction in both cost and time. Caenorhabditis elegans has been traditionally used to address fundamental aspects of key biological processes, such as apoptosis, aging, and gene expression regulation. During the last decade, with the advent of large-scale platforms for screenings, this invertebrate has also emerged as an essential tool in the pharmaceutical research industry to identify novel drugs and drug targets. In this review, we discuss the reasons why C. elegans has been positioned as an outstanding cost-effective option for drug discovery, highlighting both the advantages and drawbacks of this model. Particular attention is paid to the suitability of this nematode in large-scale genetic and pharmacological screenings. High-throughput screenings in C. elegans have indeed contributed to the breakthrough of a wide variety of candidate compounds involved in extensive fields including neurodegeneration, pathogen infections and metabolic disorders. The versatility of this nematode, which enables its instrumentation as a model of human diseases, is another attribute also herein underscored. As illustrative examples, we discuss the utility of C. elegans models of both human neurodegenerative diseases and parasitic nematodes in the drug discovery industry. Summing up, this review aims to demonstrate the impact of C. elegans models on the drug discovery pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Giunti
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - Natalia Andersen
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - Diego Rayes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
| | - María José De Rosa
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB) CCT UNS‐CONICETBahía BlancaArgentina
- Dpto de Biología, Bioquímica y FarmaciaUniversidad Nacional del SurBahía BlancaArgentina
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19
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Pereira-Sousa J, Ferreira-Lomba B, Bellver-Sanchis A, Vilasboas-Campos D, Fernandes JH, Costa MD, Varney MA, Newman-Tancredi A, Maciel P, Teixeira-Castro A. Identification of the 5-HT 1A serotonin receptor as a novel therapeutic target in a C. elegans model of Machado-Joseph disease. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 152:105278. [PMID: 33516872 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) or Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement coordination leading to a premature death. Despite several efforts, no disease-modifying treatment is yet available for this disease. Previous studies pinpointed the modulation of serotonergic signaling, through pharmacological inhibition of the serotonin transporter SERT, as a promising therapeutic approach for MJD/SCA3. Here, we describe the 5-HT1A receptor as a novel therapeutic target in MJD, using a C. elegans model of ATXN3 proteotoxicity. Chronic and acute administration of befiradol (also known as NLX-112), a highly specific 5-HT1A agonist, rescued motor function and suppressed mutant ATXN3 aggregation. This action required the 5-HT1A receptor orthologue in the nematode, SER-4. Tandospirone, a clinically tested 5-HT1A receptor partial agonist, showed a limited impact on animals' motor dysfunction on acute administration and a broader receptor activation profile upon chronic treatment, its effect depending on 5-HT1A but also on the 5-HT6/SER-5 and 5-HT7/SER-7 receptors. Our results support high potency and specificity of befiradol for activation of 5-HT1A/SER-4 receptors and highlight the contribution of the auto- and hetero-receptor function to the therapeutic outcome in this MJD model. Our study deepens the understanding of serotonergic signaling modulation in the suppression of ATXN3 proteotoxicity and suggests that a potent and selective 5-HT1A receptor agonist such as befiradol could constitute a promising therapeutic agent for MJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Pereira-Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal; Behavioral & Molecular Lab (Bn'ML), University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Bruna Ferreira-Lomba
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Aina Bellver-Sanchis
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Daniela Vilasboas-Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Jorge H Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marta D Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | | | | | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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20
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Vilasboas-Campos D, Costa MD, Teixeira-Castro A, Rios R, Silva FG, Bessa C, Dias ACP, Maciel P. Neurotherapeutic effect of Hyptis spp. leaf extracts in Caenorhabditis elegans models of tauopathy and polyglutamine disease: Role of the glutathione redox cycle. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 162:202-215. [PMID: 33096249 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Hyptis suaveolens (HS), Hyptis pectinata (HP) and Hyptis marrubioides (HM) are plants used in folk medicine for treatment of several diseases. Here, we tested the in vivo antioxidant and neuroprotective potential of methanolic extracts from these plants, containing several rosmarinic acid derivatives and isoquercetin. In C. elegans, HS, HP and HM leaf extracts enhanced the antioxidant responses through the induction of specific antioxidant enzymes and demonstrated neurotherapeutic potential in transgenic models of genetically determined human neurodegenerative diseases - Frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 and Machado-Joseph disease. Chronic treatment of disease models with HS, HP and HM leaf extracts improved the animals' motor function and increased their tolerance to an oxidative insult. The restorative effect of HM extract in motor performance of both disease models required the presence of glutathione reductase (gsr-1), an enzyme that assures the glutathione redox cycle, highlighting the role of this pathway and unveiling a common candidate therapeutic target for these diseases. Our findings strengthen the relevance of plant-derived bioactive compound discovery for neurodegenerative disorders that remain without effective treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vilasboas-Campos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal; Biology Department - University of Minho, School of Sciences (DB-ECUM), Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Marta Daniela Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rejaine Rios
- Biology Department - University of Minho, School of Sciences (DB-ECUM), Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Goiano, Biology Departament, Campus Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Fabiano Guimarães Silva
- Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Goiano, Biology Departament, Campus Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Carlos Bessa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Alberto C P Dias
- Biology Department - University of Minho, School of Sciences (DB-ECUM), Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) - University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; CITAB-UM, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Guimarães, Portugal.
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21
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Fardghassemi Y, Parker JA. Overexpression of FKH-2/FOXG1 is neuroprotective in a C. elegans model of Machado-Joseph disease. Exp Neurol 2020; 337:113544. [PMID: 33290777 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2020.113544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), is the most common form of dominantly inherited ataxia worldwide. This disease is caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the coding region of ATXN3. Due to our incomplete understanding of mechanisms and molecular pathways related to this disease, there are no therapies that successfully treat core MJD patients. Therefore, the identification of new candidate targets related to this disease is needed. In this study, we performed a large-scale RNA interference (RNAi) screen of 387 transcription factor genes leading to the identification of several modifiers (suppressors and enhancers) of impaired motility phenotypes in a mutant ATXN3 transgenic C. elegans model. We showed that inactivation of one particular gene, fkh-2/FOXG1, enhanced the motility defect, neurodegeneration and reduced longevity in our MJD models. Opposite to genetic inactivation, the overexpression of fkh-2 rescued the impaired motility, shortened-lifespan, and neurodegeneration phenotypes of mutant ATXN3 transgenics. We found that overexpression of FKH-2/FOXG1 in ATXN3 mutant worms is neuroprotective. Using our transgenic ATXN3 C. elegans models and the screening of an RNAi library, we gained insights into the pathways contributing to neurodegeneration, and found that FKH-2/FOXG1 has neuroprotective activity. These findings may aid the development of novel therapeutic interventions for MJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Fardghassemi
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), 900 St-Denis Street, Montreal, Quebec H2X 0A9, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Montreal, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - J Alex Parker
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), 900 St-Denis Street, Montreal, Quebec H2X 0A9, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Montreal, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, 2900 Edouard Montpetit Blvd, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4, Canada.
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22
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Vilasboas-Campos D, Costa MD, Teixeira-Castro A, Rios R, Silva FG, Aierken A, Zhang X, Bessa C, Dias AC, Maciel P. Data on the effects of Hyptis spp. and Lycium spp. plant extracts in C. elegans models of genetically determined neurodegenerative diseases. Data Brief 2020; 33:106598. [PMID: 33318982 PMCID: PMC7725741 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.106598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we present the data on the biological effects of Hyptis spp. and Lycium spp. plant extracts in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) models of neurodegenerative diseases, which is related to the work presented in the article "Neurotherapeutic effect of Hyptis spp. leaf extracts in C. elegans models of tauopathy and polyglutamine disease: role of the glutathione redox cycle" [1]. This dataset was generated to define non-toxic concentrations of these plant extracts and to assess their impact on the motor phenotype and oxidative stress resistance of transgenic C. elegans models of two genetically defined neurodegenerative diseases: Machado-Joseph disease and Frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism associated to the chromosome 17. The impact of the plant extracts on toxicity was assessed using the food-clearance assay, absorbance being measured daily for seven days at 595 nm to quantify Escherichia coli (E. coli) strain OP50 bacteria consumption. Worm length and motor behaviour, including spontaneous and stimulated movement, were analysed using videos acquired with an Olympus SZX7 stereomicroscope with an integrated camera (Olympus SC30) and processed using the Image J® software and the Wrmtrck plugin. The resistance to oxidative stress induced by 240 µM juglone was assessed by determining the percentage of live animals after 1 hour of exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Vilasboas-Campos
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho-Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Biology Department, School of Sciences, (DB-ECUM), University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Marta Daniela Costa
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho-Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho-Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Rejaine Rios
- Biology Department, School of Sciences, (DB-ECUM), University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Biology Departament, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, Campus Rio Verde, Goiás, Brasil
| | - Fabiano Guimarães Silva
- Biology Departament, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, Campus Rio Verde, Goiás, Brasil
| | - Aili Aierken
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Chinese-German Joint Laboratory for Natural Product Research, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, East on the 1st Ring Road, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China
| | - Xiaoying Zhang
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Chinese-German Joint Laboratory for Natural Product Research, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, East on the 1st Ring Road, Hanzhong, Shaanxi 723000, China
| | - Carlos Bessa
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho-Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Alberto C.P. Dias
- Biology Department, School of Sciences, (DB-ECUM), University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- CITAB-UM, University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- Centre of Biological Engineering (CEB), University of Minho-Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- School of Medicine, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), University of Minho-Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
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23
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Luo Q, Liu J, Wang H, Zhou Y, Liu X, Liu Z. Structural characterization of ginseng oligopeptides and anti-aging potency evaluation in Caenorhabditis elegans. RSC Adv 2020; 10:39485-39494. [PMID: 35515402 PMCID: PMC9057432 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra06093c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The functions of ginseng polysaccharide have been widely explored, yet, the antiaging activity of ginseng oligopeptides (GOPs) has not been well explored. In the current study, seven novel GOPs were isolated, and their antiaging activity was explored in a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. Of interest, all the GOPs showed lifespan extending effects in C. elegans models. Out of the GOPs treatments, 0.75 mM GOP-1 (EHGEYE) prolonged the N2 nematodes lifespan by 42.5%. Additionally, GOP-1 had a strong free radical-scavenging activity, and up-regulated the survival of the N2 C. elegans under oxidative and thermal stresses. Further study revealed that GOP-1 up-regulated the transcription factor daf-16 and jnk-1 expressions, thus we inferred that GOP-1 promotes the lifespan and stress resistances through a JNK-1-DAF-16 pathway. The current study revealed that the ginseng oligopeptides are potential antiaging agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine Shenzhen 518071 China +86 755-86671911
| | - Jie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine Shenzhen 518071 China +86 755-86671911
| | - Huailing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine Shenzhen 518071 China +86 755-86671911
| | - Yi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine Shenzhen 518071 China +86 755-86671911
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine Shenzhen 518071 China +86 755-86671911
| | - Zhigang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease for Allergy at Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Allergy & Immunology, Shenzhen University School of Medicine Shenzhen 518071 China +86 755-86671911
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24
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Neves-Carvalho A, Duarte-Silva S, Teixeira-Castro A, Maciel P. Polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias: emerging therapeutic targets. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:1099-1119. [PMID: 32962458 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1827394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Six of the most frequent dominantly inherited spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) worldwide - SCA1, SCA2, SCA3, SCA6, SCA7, and SCA17 - are caused by an expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the corresponding proteins. While the identification of the causative mutation has advanced knowledge on the pathogenesis of polyQ SCAs, effective therapeutics able to mitigate the severe clinical manifestation of these highly incapacitating disorders are not yet available. AREAS COVERED This review provides a comprehensive and critical perspective on well-established and emerging therapeutic targets for polyQ SCAs; it aims to inspire prospective drug discovery efforts. EXPERT OPINION The landscape of polyQ SCAs therapeutic targets and strategies includes (1) the mutant genes and proteins themselves, (2) enhancement of endogenous protein quality control responses, (3) abnormal protein-protein interactions of the mutant proteins, (4) disturbed neuronal function, (5) mitochondrial function, energy availability and oxidative stress, and (6) glial dysfunction, growth factor or hormone imbalances. Challenges include gaining a clearer definition of therapeutic targets for the drugs in clinical development, the discovery of novel drug-like molecules for challenging key targets, and the attainment of a stronger translation of preclinical findings to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Neves-Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho , Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Sara Duarte-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho , Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho , Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho , Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory , Braga, Guimarães, Portugal
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25
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Kim T, Song B, Lee IS. Drosophila Glia: Models for Human Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4859. [PMID: 32660023 PMCID: PMC7402321 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21144859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cells are key players in the proper formation and maintenance of the nervous system, thus contributing to neuronal health and disease in humans. However, little is known about the molecular pathways that govern glia-neuron communications in the diseased brain. Drosophila provides a useful in vivo model to explore the conserved molecular details of glial cell biology and their contributions to brain function and disease susceptibility. Herein, we review recent studies that explore glial functions in normal neuronal development, along with Drosophila models that seek to identify the pathological implications of glial defects in the context of various central nervous system disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Im-Soon Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for CHANS, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; (T.K.); (B.S.)
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26
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Van Pelt KM, Truttmann MC. Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system for studying aging-associated neurodegenerative diseases. TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE OF AGING 2020; 4:60-72. [PMID: 34327290 PMCID: PMC8317484 DOI: 10.1016/j.tma.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a heterogeneous group of aging-associated disorders characterized by the disruption of cellular proteostasis machinery and the misfolding of distinct protein species to form toxic aggregates in neurons. The increasing prevalence of NDs represents a growing healthcare burden worldwide, a concern compounded by the fact that few, if any, treatments exist to target the underlying cause of these diseases. Consequently, the application of a high-throughput, physiologically relevant model system to studies dissecting the molecular mechanisms governing ND pathology is crucial for identifying novel avenues for the development of targeted therapeutics. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) has emerged as a powerful tool for the study of disease mechanisms due to its ease of genetic manipulation and swift cultivation, while providing a whole-animal system amendable to numerous molecular and biochemical techniques. To date, numerous C. elegans models have been generated for a variety of NDs, allowing for the large-scale in vivo study of protein-conformation disorders. Furthermore, the comparatively low barriers to entry in the development of transgenic worm models have facilitated the modeling of rare or "orphan" NDs, thereby providing unparalleled insight into the shared mechanisms underlying these pathologies. In this review, we summarize findings from a comprehensive collection of C. elegans neurodegenerative disease models of varying prevalence to emphasize shared mechanisms of proteotoxicity, and highlight the utility of these models in elucidating the molecular basis of ND pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M. Van Pelt
- Cellular & Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Matthias C. Truttmann
- Cellular & Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Geriatrics Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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27
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Wong SQ, Kumar AV, Mills J, Lapierre LR. C. elegans to model autophagy-related human disorders. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 172:325-373. [PMID: 32620247 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy is a highly conserved degradation process that clears damaged intracellular macromolecules and organelles in order to maintain cellular health. Dysfunctional autophagy is fundamentally linked to the development of various human disorders and pathologies. The use of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system to study autophagy has improved our understanding of its regulation and function in organismal physiology. Here, we review the genetic, functional, and regulatory conservation of the autophagy pathway in C. elegans and we describe tools to quantify and study the autophagy process in this incredibly useful model organism. We further discuss how these nematodes have been modified to model autophagy-related human diseases and underscore the important insights obtained from such models. Altogether, we highlight the strengths of C. elegans as an exceptional tool to understand the genetic and molecular foundations underlying autophagy-related human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi Quan Wong
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Anita V Kumar
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Joslyn Mills
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States
| | - Louis R Lapierre
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States.
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28
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Morimoto RI. Cell-Nonautonomous Regulation of Proteostasis in Aging and Disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2020; 12:cshperspect.a034074. [PMID: 30962274 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a034074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The functional health of the proteome is determined by properties of the proteostasis network (PN) that regulates protein synthesis, folding, macromolecular assembly, translocation, and degradation. In eukaryotes, the PN also integrates protein biogenesis across compartments within the cell and between tissues of metazoans for organismal health and longevity. Additionally, in metazoans, proteome stability and the functional health of proteins is optimized for development and yet declines throughout aging, accelerating the risk for misfolding, aggregation, and cellular dysfunction. Here, I describe the cell-nonautonomous regulation of organismal PN by tissue communication and cell stress-response pathways. These systems are robust from development through reproductive maturity and are genetically programmed to decline abruptly in early adulthood by repression of the heat shock response and other cell-protective stress responses, thus compromising the ability of cells and tissues to properly buffer against the cumulative stress of protein damage during aging. While the failure of multiple protein quality control processes during aging challenges cellular function and tissue health, genetic studies, and the identification of small-molecule proteostasis regulators suggests strategies that can be employed to reset the PN with potential benefit on cellular health and organismal longevity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard I Morimoto
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Rice Institute for Biomedical Research, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208
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29
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Alexander-Floyd J, Haroon S, Ying M, Entezari AA, Jaeger C, Vermulst M, Gidalevitz T. Unexpected cell type-dependent effects of autophagy on polyglutamine aggregation revealed by natural genetic variation in C. elegans. BMC Biol 2020; 18:18. [PMID: 32093691 PMCID: PMC7038566 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-0750-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monogenic protein aggregation diseases, in addition to cell selectivity, exhibit clinical variation in the age of onset and progression, driven in part by inter-individual genetic variation. While natural genetic variants may pinpoint plastic networks amenable to intervention, the mechanisms by which they impact individual susceptibility to proteotoxicity are still largely unknown. RESULTS We have previously shown that natural variation modifies polyglutamine (polyQ) aggregation phenotypes in C. elegans muscle cells. Here, we find that a genomic locus from C. elegans wild isolate DR1350 causes two genetically separable aggregation phenotypes, without changing the basal activity of muscle proteostasis pathways known to affect polyQ aggregation. We find that the increased aggregation phenotype was due to regulatory variants in the gene encoding a conserved autophagy protein ATG-5. The atg-5 gene itself conferred dosage-dependent enhancement of aggregation, with the DR1350-derived allele behaving as hypermorph. Surprisingly, increased aggregation in animals carrying the modifier locus was accompanied by enhanced autophagy activation in response to activating treatment. Because autophagy is expected to clear, not increase, protein aggregates, we activated autophagy in three different polyQ models and found a striking tissue-dependent effect: activation of autophagy decreased polyQ aggregation in neurons and intestine, but increased it in the muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that cryptic natural variants in genes encoding proteostasis components, although not causing detectable phenotypes in wild-type individuals, can have profound effects on aggregation-prone proteins. Clinical applications of autophagy activators for aggregation diseases may need to consider the unexpected divergent effects of autophagy in different cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alexander-Floyd
- Biology Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Present Address: Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - S Haroon
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - M Ying
- Biology Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - A A Entezari
- Biology Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Current Address: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - C Jaeger
- Biology Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Current Address: Department of Neuroradiology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - M Vermulst
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Current Address: Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - T Gidalevitz
- Biology Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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30
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Da Silva JD, Oliveira S, Pereira-Sousa J, Teixeira-Castro A, Costa MD, Maciel P. Loss of egli-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans Orthologue of a Downstream Target of SMN, Leads to Abnormalities in Sensorimotor Integration. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 57:1553-1569. [PMID: 31797327 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01833-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The connectome of Caenorhabditis elegans has been extensively studied and fully mapped, allowing researchers to more confidently conclude on the impact of any change in neuronal circuits based on behavioral data. One of the more complex sensorimotor circuits in nematodes is the one that regulates the integration of feeding status with the subsequent behavioral responses that allow animals to adapt to environmental conditions. Here, we have characterized a Caenorhabditis elegans knockout model of the egli-1 gene (previously known as tag-175). This is an orthologue of the stasimon/tmem41b gene, a downstream target of SMN, the depleted protein in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which partially recapitulates the SMA phenotype in fly and zebrafish models when mutated. Surprisingly, egli-1 mutants reveal no deficits in motor function. Instead, they show functional impairment of a specific neuronal circuit, leading to defects in the integration of sensorial information related to food abundance, with consequences at the level of locomotion adaptation, egg laying, and the response to aversive chemical stimuli. This work has demonstrated for the first time the relevance of egli-1 in the nervous system, as well as revealed a function for this gene, which had remained elusive so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Diogo Da Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Stéphanie Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Joana Pereira-Sousa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Marta Daniela Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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31
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Roitenberg N, Cohen E. Lipid Assemblies at the Crossroads of Aging, Proteostasis, and Neurodegeneration. Trends Cell Biol 2019; 29:954-963. [PMID: 31669295 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2019.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The proteostasis network (PN) is a nexus of mechanisms that act in concert to maintain the integrity of the proteome. Efficiency of the PN declines with age, resulting in the accumulation of misfolded proteins, and in some cases in the development of neurodegenerative disorders. Thus, maintaining an active and efficient PN through the late stages of life could delay or prevent neurodegeneration. Indeed, altering the activity of aging-regulating pathways protects model organisms from neurodegeneration-linked toxic protein aggregation. Here, we delineate evidence that the formation and integrity of lipid assemblies are affected by aging-regulating pathways, and describe the roles of these structures in proteostasis maintenance. We also highlight future research directions and discuss the possibility that compounds which modulate lipid assemblies could be used for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Roitenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Institute for Medical Research Israel - Canada (IMRIC), the Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Ehud Cohen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Institute for Medical Research Israel - Canada (IMRIC), the Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
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32
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Pohl F, Teixeira-Castro A, Costa MD, Lindsay V, Fiúza-Fernandes J, Goua M, Bermano G, Russell W, Maciel P, Kong Thoo Lin P. GST-4-Dependent Suppression of Neurodegeneration in C. elegans Models of Parkinson's and Machado-Joseph Disease by Rapeseed Pomace Extract Supplementation. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1091. [PMID: 31680826 PMCID: PMC6811615 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic mutations and aging-associated oxidative damage underlie the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases, like Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD). Natural products derived from plants have been regarded as important sources of novel bioactive compounds to counteract neurodegeneration. Here, we tested the neuroprotective effect of an ethanolic extract of rapeseed pomace (RSP), a rapeseed (canola) oil production by-product, in C. elegans models of MJD and PD. The extract, containing sinapine and other phenolics, restored motor function of mutant ataxin-3 (ATXN3) animals (MJD) and prevented degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in one toxin-induced and two genetic models of PD. Whole-organism sensors of antioxidant and xenobiotic response activation revealed the induction of phase II detoxification enzymes, including glutathione S- transferase (GST-4) upon RSP extract supplementation. Furthermore in vivo pharmacogenetic studies confirmed gst-4 is required for the therapeutic effect of RSP extract in the two disease models. The results suggest that GST-4-mediated antioxidant pathways may constitute promising therapeutic co-targets for neurodegenerative diseases and confirm the utility of searching for bioactive compounds in novel sources, including food and agricultural waste/by-products, such as RSP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Pohl
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Marta Daniela Costa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Victoria Lindsay
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Juliana Fiúza-Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Marie Goua
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanna Bermano
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Wendy Russell
- Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Paul Kong Thoo Lin
- School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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33
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Guerrero-Gómez D, Mora-Lorca JA, Sáenz-Narciso B, Naranjo-Galindo FJ, Muñoz-Lobato F, Parrado-Fernández C, Goikolea J, Cedazo-Minguez Á, Link CD, Neri C, Sequedo MD, Vázquez-Manrique RP, Fernández-Suárez E, Goder V, Pané R, Cabiscol E, Askjaer P, Cabello J, Miranda-Vizuete A. Loss of glutathione redox homeostasis impairs proteostasis by inhibiting autophagy-dependent protein degradation. Cell Death Differ 2019; 26:1545-1565. [PMID: 30770874 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-018-0270-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In the presence of aggregation-prone proteins, the cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) undergo a dramatic shift in their respective redox status, with the cytosol becoming more oxidized and the ER more reducing. However, whether and how changes in the cellular redox status may affect protein aggregation is unknown. Here, we show that C. elegans loss-of-function mutants for the glutathione reductase gsr-1 gene enhance the deleterious phenotypes of heterologous human, as well as endogenous worm aggregation-prone proteins. These effects are phenocopied by the GSH-depleting agent diethyl maleate. Additionally, gsr-1 mutants abolish the nuclear translocation of HLH-30/TFEB transcription factor, a key inducer of autophagy, and strongly impair the degradation of the autophagy substrate p62/SQST-1::GFP, revealing glutathione reductase may have a role in the clearance of protein aggregates by autophagy. Blocking autophagy in gsr-1 worms expressing aggregation-prone proteins results in strong synthetic developmental phenotypes and lethality, supporting the physiological importance of glutathione reductase in the regulation of misfolded protein clearance. Furthermore, impairing redox homeostasis in both yeast and mammalian cells induces toxicity phenotypes associated with protein aggregation. Together, our data reveal that glutathione redox homeostasis may be central to proteostasis maintenance through autophagy regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Guerrero-Gómez
- Redox Homeostasis Group, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José Antonio Mora-Lorca
- Redox Homeostasis Group, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.,Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Francisco José Naranjo-Galindo
- Redox Homeostasis Group, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Fernando Muñoz-Lobato
- Redox Homeostasis Group, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Cristina Parrado-Fernández
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Stockholm, SE-14186, Sweden
| | - Julen Goikolea
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Stockholm, SE-14186, Sweden
| | - Ángel Cedazo-Minguez
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, Stockholm, SE-14186, Sweden
| | - Christopher D Link
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Christian Neri
- Sorbonnes Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Research Unit Biology of Adaptation and Aging (B2A), Team Compensation in Neurodegenerative and Aging (Brain-C), F-75252, Paris, France
| | - María Dolores Sequedo
- Research Group in Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Health Research Institute-La Fe, 46026, Valencia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Rafael P Vázquez-Manrique
- Research Group in Molecular, Cellular and Genomic Biomedicine, Health Research Institute-La Fe, 46026, Valencia, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Valencia, Spain
| | - Elena Fernández-Suárez
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Veit Goder
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Roser Pané
- Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, IRB Lleida, Universitat de Lleida, Av. Rovira Roure, 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Elisa Cabiscol
- Departament de Ciències Mèdiques Bàsiques, IRB Lleida, Universitat de Lleida, Av. Rovira Roure, 80, 25198, Lleida, Spain
| | - Peter Askjaer
- Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology (CABD), CSIC/JA/Universidad Pablo de Olavide, 41013, Seville, Spain
| | - Juan Cabello
- CIBIR (Center for Biomedical Research of La Rioja), 26006, Logroño, Spain.
| | - Antonio Miranda-Vizuete
- Redox Homeostasis Group, Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío/CSIC/Universidad de Sevilla, 41013, Sevilla, Spain.
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Krauss S, Nalavade R, Weber S, Carter K, Evert BO. Upregulation of miR-25 and miR-181 Family Members Correlates with Reduced Expression of ATXN3 in Lymphocytes from SCA3 Patients. Microrna 2019; 8:76-85. [PMID: 30147021 DOI: 10.2174/2211536607666180821162403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), the most common spinocerebellar ataxia, is caused by a polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the protein ataxin-3 (ATXN3). Silencing the expression of polyQ-expanded ATXN3 rescues the cellular disease phenotype. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the differential expression of microRNAs (miRNAs), small noncoding RNAs targeting gene expression, in lymphoblastoid cells (LCs) from SCA3 patients and the capability of identified deregulated miRNAs to target and alter ATXN3 expression. METHODS MiRNA profiling was performed by microarray hybridization of total RNA from control and SCA3-LCs. The capability of the identified miRNAs and their target sites to suppress ATXN3 expression was analyzed using mutagenesis, reverse transcription PCR, immunoblotting, luciferase reporter assays, mimics and precursors of the identified miRNAs. RESULTS SCA3-LCs showed significantly decreased expression levels of ATXN3 and a significant upregulation of the ATXN3-3'UTR targeting miRNAs, miR-32 and miR-181c and closely related members of the miR-25 and miR-181 family, respectively. MiR-32 and miR-181c effectively targeted the 3'UTR of ATXN3 and suppressed the expression of ATXN3. CONCLUSIONS The simultaneous upregulation of closely related miRNAs targeting the 3'UTR of ATXN3 and the significantly reduced ATXN3 expression levels in SCA3-LCs suggests that miR-25 and miR-181 family members cooperatively bind to the 3'UTR to suppress the expression of ATXN3. The findings further suggest that the upregulation of miR-25 and miR-181 family members in SCA3- LCs reflects a cell type-specific, protective mechanism to diminish polyQ-mediated cytotoxic effects. Thus, miRNA mimics of miR-25 and miR-181 family members may prove useful for the treatment of SCA3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sybille Krauss
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Sigmund-Freud-Street 27, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Rohit Nalavade
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Sigmund-Freud-Street 27, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Stephanie Weber
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Sigmund-Freud-Street 27, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Katlynn Carter
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Street 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Bernd O Evert
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Street 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany
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35
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Ashraf NS, Duarte-Silva S, Shaw ED, Maciel P, Paulson HL, Teixeira-Castro A, Costa MDC. Citalopram Reduces Aggregation of ATXN3 in a YAC Transgenic Mouse Model of Machado-Joseph Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:3690-3701. [PMID: 30187384 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1331-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease, also known as spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, is a fatal polyglutamine disease with no disease-modifying treatment. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram was shown in nematode and mouse models to be a compelling repurposing candidate for Machado-Joseph disease therapeutics. We sought to confirm the efficacy of citalopram to decrease ATXN3 aggregation in an unrelated mouse model of Machado-Joseph disease. Four-week-old YACMJD84.2 mice and non-transgenic littermates were given citalopram 8 mg/kg in drinking water or water for 10 weeks. At the end of treatment, brains were collected for biochemical and pathological analyses. Brains of citalopram-treated YACMJD84.2 mice showed an approximate 50% decrease in the percentage of cells containing ATXN3-positive inclusions in the substantia nigra and three examined brainstem nuclei compared to controls. No differences in ATXN3 inclusion load were observed in deep cerebellar nuclei of mice. Citalopram effect on ATXN3 aggregate burden was corroborated by immunoblotting analysis. While lysates from the brainstem and cervical spinal cord of citalopram-treated mice showed a decrease in all soluble forms of ATXN3 and a trend toward reduction of insoluble ATXN3, no differences in ATXN3 levels were found between cerebella of citalopram-treated and vehicle-treated mice. Citalopram treatment altered levels of select components of the cellular protein homeostatic machinery that may be expected to enhance the capacity to refold and/or degrade mutant ATXN3. The results here obtained in a second independent mouse model of Machado-Joseph disease further support citalopram as a potential drug to be repurposed for this fatal disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naila S Ashraf
- Department of Neurology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Sciences Research Building, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Sara Duarte-Silva
- School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Emily D Shaw
- Department of Neurology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Sciences Research Building, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Henry L Paulson
- Department of Neurology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Sciences Research Building, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA
| | - Andreia Teixeira-Castro
- School of Medicine, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Braga, Portugal. .,ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal. .,Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
| | - Maria do Carmo Costa
- Department of Neurology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Sciences Research Building, 109 Zina Pitcher Place, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2200, USA.
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36
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37
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Rudich P, Lamitina T. Models and mechanisms of repeat expansion disorders: a worm's eye view. J Genet 2018; 97:665-677. [PMID: 30027902 PMCID: PMC6482835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The inappropriate genetic expansion of various repetitive DNA sequences underlies over 20 distinct inherited diseases. The genetic context of these repeats in exons, introns and untranslated regions has played a major role in thinking about the mechanisms by which various repeat expansions might cause disease. Repeat expansions in exons are thought to give rise to expanded toxic protein repeats (i.e. polyQ). Repeat expansions in introns and UTRs (i.e. FXTAS) are thought to produce aberrant repeat-bearing RNAs that interact with and sequester a wide variety of essential proteins, resulting in cellular toxicity. However, a new phenomenon termed 'repeat-associated nonAUG dependent (RAN) translation' paints a new and unifying picture of how distinct repeat expansion-bearing RNAs might act as substrates for this noncanonical form of translation, leading to the production of a wide range of repeat sequence-specific-encoded toxic proteins. Here, we review how the model system Caenorhabditis elegans has been utilized to model many repeat disorders and discuss how RAN translation could be a previously unappreciated contributor to the toxicity associated with these different models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige Rudich
- Graduate Program in Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA.
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38
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Wang X, Cao M, Dong Y. Royal jelly promotes DAF-16-mediated proteostasis to tolerate β-amyloid toxicity in C. elegans model of Alzheimer's disease. Oncotarget 2018; 7:54183-54193. [PMID: 27472466 PMCID: PMC5342333 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have demonstrated that dietary intervention may promote health and help prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD). We recently reported that bee products of royal jelly (RJ) and enzyme-treated royal jelly (eRJ) were potent to promote healthy aging in C. elegans. Here, we examined whether RJ/eRJ consumption may benefit to mitigate the AD symptom in the disease model of C. elegans. Our results showed that RJ/eRJ supplementation significantly delayed the body paralysis in AD worms, suggesting the β-amyloid (Aβ) toxicity attenuation effects of RJ/eRJ. Genetic analyses suggested that RJ/eRJ-mediated alleviation of Aβ toxicity in AD worms required DAF-16, rather than HSF-1 and SKN-1, in an insulin/IGF signaling dependent manner. Moreover, RJ/eRJ modulated the transactivity of DAF-16 and dramatically improved the protein solubility in aged worms. Given protein solubility is a hallmark of healthy proteostasis, our findings demonstrated that RJ/eRJ supplementation improved proteostasis, and this promotion depended on the transactivity of DAF-16. Collectively, the present study not only elucidated the possible anti-AD mechanism of RJ/eRJ, but also provided evidence from a practical point of view to shed light on the extensive correlation of proteostasis and the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Min Cao
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.,Institute for Engaged Aging, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Yuqing Dong
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.,Institute for Engaged Aging, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
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39
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Fardghassemi Y, Tauffenberger A, Gosselin S, Parker JA. Rescue of ATXN3 neuronal toxicity in Caenorhabditiselegans by chemical modification of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Dis Model Mech 2017; 10:1465-1480. [PMID: 29061563 PMCID: PMC5769603 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.029736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion diseases are a group of hereditary neurodegenerative disorders that develop when a CAG repeat in the causative genes is unstably expanded above a certain threshold. The expansion of trinucleotide CAG repeats causes hereditary adult-onset neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington's disease, dentatorubral–pallidoluysian atrophy, spinobulbar muscular atrophy and multiple forms of spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA). The most common dominantly inherited SCA is the type 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado–Joseph disease (MJD), which is an autosomal dominant, progressive neurological disorder. The gene causatively associated with MJD is ATXN3. Recent studies have shown that this gene modulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We generated transgenic Caenorhabditiselegans strains expressing human ATXN3 genes in motoneurons, and animals expressing mutant ATXN3-CAG89 alleles showed decreased lifespan, impaired movement, and rates of neurodegeneration greater than wild-type ATXN3-CAG10 controls. We tested three neuroprotective compounds (Methylene Blue, guanabenz and salubrinal) believed to modulate ER stress and observed that these molecules rescued ATXN3-CAG89 phenotypes. Furthermore, these compounds required specific branches of the ER unfolded protein response (UPRER), reduced global ER and oxidative stress, and polyglutamine aggregation. We introduce new C. elegans models for MJD based on the expression of full-length ATXN3 in a limited number of neurons. Using these models, we discovered that chemical modulation of the UPRER reduced neurodegeneration and warrants investigation in mammalian models of MJD. Summary: We introduce a novel C. elegans model for Machado–Joseph disease for use in preclinical drug discovery and identified guanabenz as a potent neuroprotective molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Fardghassemi
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) Montréal, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada.,Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Arnaud Tauffenberger
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) Montréal, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada.,Département de pathologie et biologie cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Sarah Gosselin
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) Montréal, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada.,Département de neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - J Alex Parker
- Centre de recherche du Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM) Montréal, Québec H2X 0A9, Canada .,Département de biochimie et médecine moléculaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada.,Département de pathologie et biologie cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada.,Département de neurosciences, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec H3T 1J4, Canada
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40
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Wang Z. Experimental and Clinical Strategies for Treating Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3. Neuroscience 2017; 371:138-154. [PMID: 29229556 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.11.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), or Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract in the ataxin-3 protein. To date, there is no effective therapy available to prevent progression of this disease. However, clinical strategies for alleviating various symptoms are imperative to promote a better quality of life for SCA3/MJD patients. Furthermore, experimental therapeutic strategies, including gene silencing or mutant protein clearance, mutant polyQ protein modification, stabilizing the native protein conformation, rescue of cellular dysfunction and neuromodulation to slow the progression of SCA3/MJD, have been developed. In this study, based on the current knowledge, I detail the clinical and experimental therapeutic strategies for treating SCA3/MJD, paying particular attention to drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Wang
- Genetic Engineering Laboratory, College of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710065, China.
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41
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Costa MDC, Ashraf NS, Fischer S, Yang Y, Schapka E, Joshi G, McQuade TJ, Dharia RM, Dulchavsky M, Ouyang M, Cook D, Sun D, Larsen MJ, Gestwicki JE, Todi SV, Ivanova MI, Paulson HL. Unbiased screen identifies aripiprazole as a modulator of abundance of the polyglutamine disease protein, ataxin-3. Brain 2017; 139:2891-2908. [PMID: 27645800 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aww228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
No disease-modifying treatment exists for the fatal neurodegenerative polyglutamine disease known both as Machado-Joseph disease and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. As a potential route to therapy, we identified small molecules that reduce levels of the mutant disease protein, ATXN3. Screens of a small molecule collection, including 1250 Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, in a novel cell-based assay, followed by secondary screens in brain slice cultures from transgenic mice expressing the human disease gene, identified the atypical antipsychotic aripiprazole as one of the hits. Aripiprazole increased longevity in a Drosophila model of Machado-Joseph disease and effectively reduced aggregated ATXN3 species in flies and in brains of transgenic mice treated for 10 days. The aripiprazole-mediated decrease in ATXN3 abundance may reflect a complex response culminating in the modulation of specific components of cellular protein homeostasis. Aripiprazole represents a potentially promising therapeutic drug for Machado-Joseph disease and possibly other neurological proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Naila S Ashraf
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Svetlana Fischer
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yemen Yang
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emily Schapka
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gnanada Joshi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Thomas J McQuade
- Center for Chemical Genomics, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rahil M Dharia
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mark Dulchavsky
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michelle Ouyang
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - David Cook
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Duxin Sun
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Martha J Larsen
- Center for Chemical Genomics, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jason E Gestwicki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sokol V Todi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.,Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Magdalena I Ivanova
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Department of Biophysics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Henry L Paulson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Van Assche R, Borghgraef C, Vaneyck J, Dumoulin M, Schoofs L, Temmerman L. In vitro aggregating β-lactamase-polyQ chimeras do not induce toxic effects in an in vivo Caenorhabditis elegans model. J Negat Results Biomed 2017; 16:14. [PMID: 28830560 PMCID: PMC5568214 DOI: 10.1186/s12952-017-0080-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A series of human diseases are caused by the misfolding and aggregation of specific proteins or peptides into amyloid fibrils; nine of these diseases, referred to as polyglutamine diseases, are associated with proteins carrying an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) region. While the presence of this latter is thought to be the determinant factor for the development of polyQ diseases, the non-polyQ regions of the host proteins are thought to play a significant modulating role. METHOD In order to better understand the role of non-polyQ regions, the toxic effects of model proteins bearing different polyQ regions (containing up to 79 residues) embedded at two distinct locations within the β-lactamase (BlaP) host enzyme were evaluated in Caenorhabditis elegans. This small organism can be advantageous for the validation of in vitro findings, as it provides a multicellular context yet avoids the typical complexity of common studies relying on vertebrate models. Several phenotypic assays were performed in order to screen for potential toxic effects of the different BlaP-polyQ proteins. RESULTS Despite the significant in vitro aggregation of BlaP-polyQ proteins with long polyQ regions, none of the BlaP-polyQ chimeras aggregated in the generated transgenic in vivo models. CONCLUSION The absence of a toxic effect of the expression of BlaP-polyQ chimeras may find its cause in biochemical mechanisms present in vivo to cope with protein aggregation (e.g. presence of chaperones) or in C. elegans' limitations such as its short lifespan. It is plausible that the aggregation propensities of the different BlaP chimeras containing embedded polyQ sequences are too low in this in vivo environment to permit their aggregation. These experiments emphasize the need for several comparative and in vivo verification studies of biologically relevant in vitro findings, which reveal both the strengths and limitations of widely used model systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roel Van Assche
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Zoological Institute, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Charline Borghgraef
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Zoological Institute, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Vaneyck
- Enzymology and Protein Folding, Center for Protein Engineering, InBioS, Institute of Chemistry, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Mireille Dumoulin
- Enzymology and Protein Folding, Center for Protein Engineering, InBioS, Institute of Chemistry, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Liliane Schoofs
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Zoological Institute, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbet Temmerman
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology, Department of Biology, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Zoological Institute, Naamsestraat 59, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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43
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Mucke HA. Drug Repurposing Patent Applications July–September 2016. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2016; 14:577-582. [DOI: 10.1089/adt.2016.29053.pq3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Esteves S, Duarte-Silva S, Maciel P. Discovery of Therapeutic Approaches for Polyglutamine Diseases: A Summary of Recent Efforts. Med Res Rev 2016; 37:860-906. [PMID: 27870126 DOI: 10.1002/med.21425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders caused by the expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats in the coding region of specific genes. This leads to the production of pathogenic proteins containing critically expanded tracts of glutamines. Although polyQ diseases are individually rare, the fact that these nine diseases are irreversibly progressive over 10 to 30 years, severely impairing and ultimately fatal, usually implicating the full-time patient support by a caregiver for long time periods, makes their economic and social impact quite significant. This has led several researchers worldwide to investigate the pathogenic mechanism(s) and therapeutic strategies for polyQ diseases. Although research in the field has grown notably in the last decades, we are still far from having an effective treatment to offer patients, and the decision of which compounds should be translated to the clinics may be very challenging. In this review, we provide a comprehensive and critical overview of the most recent drug discovery efforts in the field of polyQ diseases, including the most relevant findings emerging from two different types of approaches-hypothesis-based candidate molecule testing and hypothesis-free unbiased drug screenings. We hereby summarize and reflect on the preclinical studies as well as all the clinical trials performed to date, aiming to provide a useful framework for increasingly successful future drug discovery and development efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Esteves
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal
| | - Sara Duarte-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.,ICVS/3B's PT Government Associate Laboratory, University of Minho, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal
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45
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Kikis EA. The struggle by Caenorhabditis elegans to maintain proteostasis during aging and disease. Biol Direct 2016; 11:58. [PMID: 27809888 PMCID: PMC5093949 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-016-0161-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of only small amounts of misfolded protein is an indication of a healthy proteome. Maintaining proteome health, or more specifically, “proteostasis,” is the purview of the “proteostasis network.” This network must respond to constant fluctuations in the amount of destabilized proteins caused by errors in protein synthesis and exposure to acute proteotoxic conditions. Aging is associated with a gradual increase in damaged and misfolded protein, which places additional stress on the machinery of the proteostasis network. In fact, despite the ability of the proteostasis machinery to readjust its stoichiometry in an attempt to maintain homeostasis, the capacity of cells to buffer against misfolding is strikingly limited. Therefore, subtle changes in the folding environment that occur during aging can significantly impact the health of the proteome. This decline and eventual collapse in proteostasis is most pronounced in individuals with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Huntington’s Disease that are caused by the misfolding, aggregation, and toxicity of certain proteins. This review discusses how C. elegans models of protein misfolding have contributed to our current understanding of the proteostasis network, its buffering capacity, and its regulation. Reviewers: This article was reviewed by Luigi Bubacco, Patrick Lewis and Xavier Roucou.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise A Kikis
- Biology Department, The University of the South, 735 University Avenue, Sewanee, TN, 37383, USA.
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46
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Naia L, Ribeiro M, Rodrigues J, Duarte AI, Lopes C, Rosenstock TR, Hayden MR, Rego AC. Insulin and IGF-1 regularize energy metabolites in neural cells expressing full-length mutant huntingtin. Neuropeptides 2016; 58:73-81. [PMID: 26876526 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2016.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder linked to the expression of mutant huntingtin. Bioenergetic dysfunction has been described to contribute to HD pathogenesis. Thus, treatment paradigms aimed to ameliorate energy deficits appear to be suitable candidates in HD. In previous studies, we observed protective effects of insulin growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in YAC128 and R6/2 mice, two HD mouse models, whereas IGF-1 and/or insulin halted mitochondrial-driven oxidative stress in mutant striatal cells and mitochondrial dysfunction in HD human lymphoblasts. Here, we analyzed the effect of IGF-1 versus insulin on energy metabolic parameters using striatal cells derived from HD knock-in mice and primary cortical cultures from YAC128 mice. STHdh(Q111/Q111) cells exhibited decreased ATP/ADP ratio and increased phosphocreatine levels. Moreover, pyruvate levels were increased in mutant cells, most probably in consequence of a decrease in pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) protein expression and increased PDH phosphorylation, reflecting its inactivation. Insulin and IGF-1 treatment significantly decreased phosphocreatine levels, whereas IGF-1 only decreased pyruvate levels in mutant cells. In a different scenario, primary cortical cultures derived from YAC128 mice also displayed energetic abnormalities. We observed a decrease in both ATP/ADP and phosphocreatine levels, which were prevented following exposure to insulin or IGF-1. Furthermore, decreased lactate levels in YAC128 cultures occurred concomitantly with a decline in lactate dehydrogenase activity, which was ameliorated with both insulin and IGF-1. These data demonstrate differential HD-associated metabolic dysfunction in striatal cell lines and primary cortical cultures, both of which being alleviated by insulin and IGF-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luana Naia
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal
| | - Márcio Ribeiro
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal
| | - Joana Rodrigues
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal
| | - Ana I Duarte
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (IIIUC), Polo II, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carla Lopes
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (IIIUC), Polo II, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Tatiana R Rosenstock
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra (IIIUC), Polo II, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Michael R Hayden
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - A Cristina Rego
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal.
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Therrien M, Rouleau GA, Dion PA, Parker JA. FET proteins regulate lifespan and neuronal integrity. Sci Rep 2016; 6:25159. [PMID: 27117089 PMCID: PMC4846834 DOI: 10.1038/srep25159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The FET protein family includes FUS, EWS and TAF15 proteins, all of which have been linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. Here, we show that a reduction of FET proteins in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans causes synaptic dysfunction accompanied by impaired motor phenotypes. FET proteins are also involved in the regulation of lifespan and stress resistance, acting partially through the insulin/IGF-signalling pathway. We propose that FET proteins are involved in the maintenance of lifespan, cellular stress resistance and neuronal integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Therrien
- CHUM Research Center, Montreal, H2X 3H8, Canada
- Pathology and Cell biology department, University of Montreal, Montreal, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Guy A. Rouleau
- Neurology and Neurosurgery department, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 0G4, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Hospital, Montreal, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Patrick A. Dion
- Neurology and Neurosurgery department, McGill University, Montreal, H3A 0G4, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Hospital, Montreal, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - J. Alex Parker
- CHUM Research Center, Montreal, H2X 3H8, Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, H3T 1J4, Canada
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48
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Moll L, Ben-Gedalya T, Reuveni H, Cohen E. The inhibition of IGF-1 signaling promotes proteostasis by enhancing protein aggregation and deposition. FASEB J 2015; 30:1656-69. [PMID: 26722006 DOI: 10.1096/fj.15-281675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The discovery that the alteration of aging by reducing the activity of the insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IIS) cascade protects nematodes and mice from neurodegeneration-linked, toxic protein aggregation (proteotoxicity) raises the prospect that IIS inhibitors bear therapeutic potential to counter neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, we reported that NT219, a highly efficient IGF-1 signaling inhibitor, protects model worms from the aggregation of amyloid β peptide and polyglutamine peptides that are linked to the manifestation of Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases, respectively. Here, we employed cultured cell systems to investigate whether NT219 promotes protein homeostasis (proteostasis) in mammalian cells and to explore its underlying mechanisms. We found that NT219 enhances the aggregation of misfolded prion protein and promotes its deposition in quality control compartments known as "aggresomes." NT219 also elevates the levels of certain molecular chaperones but, surprisingly, reduces proteasome activity and impairs autophagy. Our findings show that IGF-1 signaling inhibitors in general and NT219 in particular can promote proteostasis in mammalian cells by hyperaggregating hazardous proteins, thereby bearing the potential to postpone the onset and slow the progression of neurodegenerative illnesses in the elderly.-Moll, L., Ben-Gedalya, T., Reuveni, H., Cohen, E. The inhibition of IGF-1 signaling promotes proteostasis by enhancing protein aggregation and deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna Moll
- *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel; and TyrNovo Limited, Herzliya Pituach, Israel
| | - Tziona Ben-Gedalya
- *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel; and TyrNovo Limited, Herzliya Pituach, Israel
| | - Hadas Reuveni
- *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel; and TyrNovo Limited, Herzliya Pituach, Israel
| | - Ehud Cohen
- *Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel; and TyrNovo Limited, Herzliya Pituach, Israel
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49
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Chen X, Barclay JW, Burgoyne RD, Morgan A. Using C. elegans to discover therapeutic compounds for ageing-associated neurodegenerative diseases. Chem Cent J 2015; 9:65. [PMID: 26617668 PMCID: PMC4661952 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-015-0143-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-associated neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease are a major public health challenge, due to the demographic increase in the proportion of older individuals in society. However, the relatively few currently approved drugs for these conditions provide only symptomatic relief. A major goal of neurodegeneration research is therefore to identify potential new therapeutic compounds that can slow or even reverse disease progression, either by impacting directly on the neurodegenerative process or by activating endogenous physiological neuroprotective mechanisms that decline with ageing. This requires model systems that can recapitulate key features of human neurodegenerative diseases that are also amenable to compound screening approaches. Mammalian models are very powerful, but are prohibitively expensive for high-throughput drug screens. Given the highly conserved neurological pathways between mammals and invertebrates, Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a powerful tool for neuroprotective compound screening. Here we describe how C. elegans has been used to model various human ageing-associated neurodegenerative diseases and provide an extensive list of compounds that have therapeutic activity in these worm models and so may have translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 3BX UK ; Centre for Neurodegenerative Science, Van Andel Research Institute, 333 Bostwick Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, Michigan, MI 49503 USA
| | - Jeff W Barclay
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 3BX UK
| | - Robert D Burgoyne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 3BX UK
| | - Alan Morgan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown St, Liverpool, L69 3BX UK
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50
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Duarte-Silva S, Silva-Fernandes A, Neves-Carvalho A, Soares-Cunha C, Teixeira-Castro A, Maciel P. Combined therapy with m-TOR-dependent and -independent autophagy inducers causes neurotoxicity in a mouse model of Machado-Joseph disease. Neuroscience 2015; 313:162-73. [PMID: 26601773 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2015.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2015] [Revised: 11/09/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
A major pathological hallmark in several neurodegenerative disorders, like polyglutamine disorders (polyQ), including Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), is the formation of protein aggregates. MJD is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the ATXN3 gene, resulting in an abnormal protein, which is prone to misfolding and forms cytoplasmic and nuclear aggregates within neurons, ultimately inducing neurodegeneration. Treatment of proteinopathies with drugs that up-regulate autophagy has shown promising results in models of polyQ diseases. Temsirolimus (CCI-779) inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (m-TOR), while lithium chloride (LiCl) acts by inhibiting inositol monophosphatase, both being able to induce autophagy. We have previously shown that chronic treatment with LiCl (10.4 mg/kg) had limited effects in a transgenic MJD mouse model. Also, others have shown that CCI-779 had mild positive effects in a different mouse model of the disease. It has been suggested that the combination of mTOR-dependent and -independent autophagy inducers could be a more effective therapeutic approach. To further explore this avenue toward therapy, we treated CMVMJD135 transgenic mice with a conjugation of CCI-779 and LiCl, both at concentrations known to induce autophagy and not to be toxic. Surprisingly, this combined treatment proved to be deleterious to both wild-type (wt) and transgenic animals, failing to rescue their neurological symptoms and actually exerting neurotoxic effects. These results highlight the possible dangers of manipulating autophagy in the nervous system and suggest that a better understanding of the potential disruption in the autophagy pathway in MJD is required before successful long-term autophagy modulating therapies can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Duarte-Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A Silva-Fernandes
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A Neves-Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - C Soares-Cunha
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - A Teixeira-Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - P Maciel
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal; ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
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