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McGuinness HY, Gu W, Shi Y, Kobe B, Ve T. SARM1-Dependent Axon Degeneration: Nucleotide Signaling, Neurodegenerative Disorders, Toxicity, and Therapeutic Opportunities. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:473-492. [PMID: 37002660 PMCID: PMC11282687 DOI: 10.1177/10738584231162508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Axons are an essential component of the nervous system, and axon degeneration is an early feature of many neurodegenerative disorders. The NAD+ metabolome plays an essential role in regulating axonal integrity. Axonal levels of NAD+ and its precursor NMN are controlled in large part by the NAD+ synthesizing survival factor NMNAT2 and the pro-neurodegenerative NADase SARM1, whose activation triggers axon destruction. SARM1 has emerged as a promising axon-specific target for therapeutic intervention, and its function, regulation, structure, and role in neurodegenerative diseases have been extensively characterized in recent years. In this review, we first introduce the key molecular players involved in the SARM1-dependent axon degeneration program. Next, we summarize recent major advances in our understanding of how SARM1 is kept inactive in healthy neurons and how it becomes activated in injured or diseased neurons, which has involved important insights from structural biology. Finally, we discuss the role of SARM1 in neurodegenerative disorders and environmental neurotoxicity and its potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Y. McGuinness
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Australia
| | - Weixi Gu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Australia
| | - Yun Shi
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Bostjan Kobe
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Saint Lucia, Australia
| | - Thomas Ve
- Institute for Glycomics, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
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2
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Gómez-Deza J, Nebiyou M, Alkaslasi MR, Nadal-Nicolás FM, Somasundaran P, Slavutsky AL, Ward ME, Li W, Watkins TA, Le Pichon CE. DLK-dependent axonal mitochondrial fission drives degeneration following axotomy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.01.30.526132. [PMID: 36778383 PMCID: PMC9915495 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.30.526132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Currently there are no effective treatments for an array of neurodegenerative disorders to a large part because cell-based models fail to recapitulate disease. Here we developed a reproducible human iPSC-based model where laser axotomy causes retrograde axon degeneration leading to neuronal cell death. Time-lapse confocal imaging revealed that damage triggers an apoptotic wave of mitochondrial fission proceeding from the site of injury to the soma. We demonstrated that this apoptotic wave is locally initiated in the axon by dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK). We found that mitochondrial fission and resultant cell death are entirely dependent on phosphorylation of dynamin related protein 1 (DRP1) downstream of DLK, revealing a new mechanism by which DLK can drive apoptosis. Importantly, we show that CRISPR mediated Drp1 depletion protected mouse retinal ganglion neurons from degeneration after optic nerve crush. Our results provide a powerful platform for studying degeneration of human neurons, pinpoint key early events in damage related neural death and new focus for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Gómez-Deza
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Matthew Nebiyou
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Mor R Alkaslasi
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | | | | | - Anastasia L Slavutsky
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Michael E Ward
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Wei Li
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Trent A Watkins
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Neurology, University of California at San Francisco
| | - Claire E Le Pichon
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
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3
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Ma Y, Jia T, Qin F, He Y, Han F, Zhang C. Abnormal Brain Protein Abundance and Cross-tissue mRNA Expression in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:510-518. [PMID: 37639066 PMCID: PMC10791788 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03587-2] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Due to the limitations of the present risk genes in understanding the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), it is necessary to find additional causative genes utilizing novel approaches. In this study, we conducted a two-stage proteome-wide association study (PWAS) using ALS genome-wide association study (GWAS) data (N = 152,268) and two distinct human brain protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) datasets (ROSMAP N = 376 and Banner N = 152) to identify ALS risk genes and prioritized candidate genes with Mendelian randomization (MR) and Bayesian colocalization analysis. Next, we verified the aberrant expression of risk genes in multiple tissues, including lower motor neurons, skeletal muscle, and whole blood. Six ALS risk genes (SCFD1, SARM1, TMEM175, BCS1L, WIPI2, and DHRS11) were found during the PWAS discovery phase, and SARM1 and BCS1L were confirmed during the validation phase. The following MR (p = 2.10 × 10-7) and Bayesian colocalization analysis (ROSMAP PP4 = 0.999, Banner PP4 = 0.999) confirmed the causal association between SARM1 and ALS. Further differential expression analysis revealed that SARM1 was markedly downregulated in lower motor neurons (p = 7.64 × 10-3), skeletal muscle (p = 9.34 × 10-3), and whole blood (p = 1.94 × 10-3). Our findings identified some promising protein candidates for future investigation as therapeutic targets. The dysregulation of SARM1 in multiple tissues provides a new way to explain ALS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanni Ma
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Tingting Jia
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Fengqin Qin
- Department of Neurology, The 3Rd Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yongji He
- Clinical Trial Center, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drugs, West China Hospital Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Han
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Hainan General Hospital, Hainan Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Chengcheng Zhang
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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4
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Dogan EO, Bouley J, Zhong J, Harkins AL, Keeler AM, Bosco DA, Brown RH, Henninger N. Genetic ablation of Sarm1 attenuates expression and mislocalization of phosphorylated TDP-43 after mouse repetitive traumatic brain injury. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:206. [PMID: 38124145 PMCID: PMC10731794 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01709-4] [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: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI), particularly when moderate-to-severe and repetitive, is a strong environmental risk factor for several progressive neurodegenerative disorders. Mislocalization and deposition of transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) has been reported in both TBI and TBI-associated neurodegenerative diseases. It has been hypothesized that axonal pathology, an early event after TBI, may promote TDP-43 dysregulation and serve as a trigger for neurodegenerative processes. We sought to determine whether blocking the prodegenerative Sarm1 (sterile alpha and TIR motif containing 1) axon death pathway attenuates TDP-43 pathology after TBI. We subjected 111 male Sarm1 wild type, hemizygous, and knockout mice to moderate-to-severe repetitive TBI (rTBI) using a previously established injury paradigm. We conducted serial neurological assessments followed by histological analyses (NeuN, MBP, Iba-1, GFAP, pTDP-43, and AT8) at 1 month after rTBI. Genetic ablation of the Sarm1 gene attenuated the expression and mislocalization of phosphorylated TDP-43 (pTDP-43) and accumulation of pTau. In addition, Sarm1 knockout mice had significantly improved cortical neuronal and axonal integrity, functional deficits, and improved overall survival after rTBI. In contrast, removal of one Sarm1 allele delayed, but did not prevent, neurological deficits and neuroaxonal loss. Nevertheless, Sarm1 haploinsufficient mice showed significantly less microgliosis, pTDP-43 pathology, and pTau accumulation when compared to wild type mice. These data indicate that the Sarm1-mediated prodegenerative pathway contributes to pathogenesis in rTBI including the pathological accumulation of pTDP-43. This suggests that anti-Sarm1 therapeutics are a viable approach for preserving neurological function after moderate-to-severe rTBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif O Dogan
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
| | - James Bouley
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
| | - Jianjun Zhong
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ashley L Harkins
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Allison M Keeler
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Daryl A Bosco
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA
| | - Nils Henninger
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 Lake Ave, North, Worcester, MA, 01655, USA.
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Funakoshi M, Araki T. Mechanism of initiation and regulation of axonal degeneration with special reference to NMNATs and Sarm1. Neurosci Res 2023; 197:3-8. [PMID: 34767875 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2021.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Axonal degeneration is observed in a variety of contexts in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Pathological signaling to regulate the progression of axonal degeneration has long been studied using Wallerian degeneration, the prototypical axonal degradation observed after injury, as a representative model. Understanding metabolism of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and the functional regulation of Sarm1 has generated great progress in this field, but there are a number of remaining questions. Here, in this short review, we describe our current understanding of the axonal degeneration mechanism, with special reference to the biology related to wlds mice and Sarm1. Furthermore, variations of axonal degeneration initiation are discussed in order to address the remaining questions needed for mechanistic clarification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masabumi Funakoshi
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Araki
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, 4-1-1 Ogawa-Higashi, Kodaira, Tokyo, 187-8502, Japan.
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Yang S, Park JH, Lu HC. Axonal energy metabolism, and the effects in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:49. [PMID: 37475056 PMCID: PMC10357692 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00634-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Human studies consistently identify bioenergetic maladaptations in brains upon aging and neurodegenerative disorders of aging (NDAs), such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Glucose is the major brain fuel and glucose hypometabolism has been observed in brain regions vulnerable to aging and NDAs. Many neurodegenerative susceptible regions are in the topological central hub of the brain connectome, linked by densely interconnected long-range axons. Axons, key components of the connectome, have high metabolic needs to support neurotransmission and other essential activities. Long-range axons are particularly vulnerable to injury, neurotoxin exposure, protein stress, lysosomal dysfunction, etc. Axonopathy is often an early sign of neurodegeneration. Recent studies ascribe axonal maintenance failures to local bioenergetic dysregulation. With this review, we aim to stimulate research in exploring metabolically oriented neuroprotection strategies to enhance or normalize bioenergetics in NDA models. Here we start by summarizing evidence from human patients and animal models to reveal the correlation between glucose hypometabolism and connectomic disintegration upon aging/NDAs. To encourage mechanistic investigations on how axonal bioenergetic dysregulation occurs during aging/NDAs, we first review the current literature on axonal bioenergetics in distinct axonal subdomains: axon initial segments, myelinated axonal segments, and axonal arbors harboring pre-synaptic boutons. In each subdomain, we focus on the organization, activity-dependent regulation of the bioenergetic system, and external glial support. Second, we review the mechanisms regulating axonal nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) homeostasis, an essential molecule for energy metabolism processes, including NAD+ biosynthetic, recycling, and consuming pathways. Third, we highlight the innate metabolic vulnerability of the brain connectome and discuss its perturbation during aging and NDAs. As axonal bioenergetic deficits are developing into NDAs, especially in asymptomatic phase, they are likely exaggerated further by impaired NAD+ homeostasis, the high energetic cost of neural network hyperactivity, and glial pathology. Future research in interrogating the causal relationship between metabolic vulnerability, axonopathy, amyloid/tau pathology, and cognitive decline will provide fundamental knowledge for developing therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Yang
- The Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Jung Hyun Park
- The Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA
| | - Hui-Chen Lu
- The Linda and Jack Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
- Program in Neuroscience, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA.
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7
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Gu XJ, Su WM, Dou M, Jiang Z, Duan QQ, Wang H, Ren YL, Cao B, Wang Y, Chen YP. Identifying novel genes for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by integrating human brain proteomes with genome-wide association data. J Neurol 2023:10.1007/s00415-023-11757-4. [PMID: 37148340 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11757-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) have identified numerous risk genes for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS); however, the mechanisms by which these loci confer ALS risk are uncertain. This study aims to identify novel causal proteins in the brains of patients with ALS using an integrative analytical pipeline. METHODS Using the datasets of Protein Quantitative Trait Loci (pQTL) (NpQTL1 = 376, NpQTL2 = 152), expression QTL (eQTL) (N = 452), and the largest ALS GWAS (NALS=27,205, NControls = 110,881), we performed a systematic analytical pipeline including Proteome-Wide Association Study (PWAS), Mendelian Randomization (MR), Bayesian colocalization, and Transcriptome-Wide Association Study (TWAS) to identify novel causal proteins for ALS in the brain. RESULTS Using PWAS, we found that the altered protein abundance of 12 genes in the brain was associated with ALS. Three genes (SCFD1, SARM1 and CAMLG) were identified as lead causal genes for ALS with solid evidence (False discovery rate < 0.05, in MR analysis; PPH4 > 80% for Bayesian colocalization). Specifically, an increased abundance of SCFD1 and CAMLG led to an increased risk of ALS, whereas a higher abundance of SARM1 led to a decreased risk of developing ALS. TWAS showed that SCFD1 and CAMLG were related to ALS at the transcriptional level. CONCLUSIONS SCFD1, CAMLG, and SARM1 exhibited robust associations and causality with ALS. The study findings provide novel clues for identifying potential therapeutic targets in ALS. Further studies are required to explore the mechanisms underlying the identified genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jing Gu
- Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Wei-Ming Su
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Institute of Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Centre for Rare Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Meng Dou
- Chengdu Institute of Computer Application, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Zheng Jiang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Institute of Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Centre for Rare Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Qing-Qing Duan
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Institute of Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Centre for Rare Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Han Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China College of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yan-Ling Ren
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China College of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Bei Cao
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Institute of Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
- Centre for Rare Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China College of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yong-Ping Chen
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
- Institute of Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Technology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
- Centre for Rare Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China.
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Zhang J, Jin L, Hua X, Wang M, Wang J, Xu X, Liu H, Qiu H, Sun H, Dong T, Yang D, Zhang X, Wang Y, Huang Z. SARM1 promotes the neuroinflammation and demyelination through IGFBP2/NF-κB pathway in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis mice. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2023; 238:e13974. [PMID: 37186158 DOI: 10.1111/apha.13974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
AIM Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease, and its typical characteristics are neuroinflammation and the demyelination of neurons in the central nervous system (CNS). Sterile alpha and TIR motif containing 1 (SARM1) is an essential factor mediating axonal degeneration and SARM1 deletion reduces the neuroinflammation in spinal cord injury. This study aimed to explore the roles of SARM1 and its underlying mechanisms in MS. METHODS Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE, a model of MS) model was established. Immunostaining, western blot, electron microscope, and HE staining were used to examine the pathological manifestations such as inflammation, demyelination, and neuronal death in SARM1f/f EAE mice and SARM1Nestin -CKO EAE mice. In addition, RNA-seq, real-time PCR and double-immunostaining were used to examine the underlying mechanism of SARM1 in EAE mice. RESULTS SARM1 was upregulated in neurons of the spinal cords of EAE mice. SARM1 knockout in CNS ameliorated EAE with less neuroinflammation, demyelination, and dead neurons. Mechanically, SARM1 knockout resulted in the reduction of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) in neurons of EAE mice, which might inhibit the neuroinflammation through inhibiting NF-κB signaling. Finally, activation of NF-κB partially aggravated the neuroinflammation and demyelination deficits of SARM1Nestin -CKO EAE mice. CONCLUSIONS These results identified the unknown role of SARM1 in the promotion of neuroinflammation and demyelination and revealed a novel drug target pathway of SARM1/IGFBP2/NF-κB for MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Zhejiang, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lingting Jin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin Hua
- College of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mianxian Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiaojiao Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xingxing Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huitao Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haoyu Qiu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huankun Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tianyingying Dong
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Danlu Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Clinical Research Center, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhihui Huang
- College of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Zhejiang, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
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9
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Sankar S, Dhakshinamoorthy V, Rajakumar G. PARP in the neuropathogenesis of cytomegalovirus infection - Possible role and therapeutic perspective. Microb Pathog 2023; 176:106018. [PMID: 36736800 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus infects the majority of the population globally. Congenital CMV infection acquired through primary maternal infection in pregnancy is the most common intrauterine infection with a high mortality rate due to severe long-term neurodevelopmental sequelae. The demyelination and neuroinflammation during CMV infection have been attributed to altered immune response and ROS-mediated apoptosis. PARP-1 protein is linked to apoptotic neuronal loss with subsequent neurotoxicity and CNS injury as a result of PARP hyperactivation. PARP-1 play a critical role in the establishment of latency including EBV, HHV-8 and HIV. Research on PARP inhibitors recently shows significant progress against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and cancer therapy including malignant lymphoma and hepatitis B virus-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. The role of PARP1 in the neuropathogenesis of CMV and the potential of PARP inhibitors in the prevention of neurological sequelae is still elusive. Further studies on the role of PARP on the neuropathogenesis of CMV infection can help thwart neurodegeneration through the potential development of PARP inhibitors such as small molecule inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sathish Sankar
- Department of Microbiology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, 600 077, India.
| | - Vasanth Dhakshinamoorthy
- PG Research & Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, National College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, 620 001, India
| | - Govindasamy Rajakumar
- Department of Orthodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077, Tamil Nadu, India.
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10
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Lassetter AP, Corty MM, Barria R, Sheehan AE, Hill JQ, Aicher SA, Fox AN, Freeman MR. Glial TGFβ activity promotes neuron survival in peripheral nerves. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202111053. [PMID: 36399182 PMCID: PMC9679965 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202111053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Maintaining long, energetically demanding axons throughout the life of an animal is a major challenge for the nervous system. Specialized glia ensheathe axons and support their function and integrity throughout life, but glial support mechanisms remain poorly defined. Here, we identified a collection of secreted and transmembrane molecules required in glia for long-term axon survival in vivo. We showed that the majority of components of the TGFβ superfamily are required in glia for sensory neuron maintenance but not glial ensheathment of axons. In the absence of glial TGFβ signaling, neurons undergo age-dependent degeneration that can be rescued either by genetic blockade of Wallerian degeneration or caspase-dependent death. Blockade of glial TGFβ signaling results in increased ATP in glia that can be mimicked by enhancing glial mitochondrial biogenesis or suppressing glial monocarboxylate transporter function. We propose that glial TGFβ signaling supports axon survival and suppresses neurodegeneration through promoting glial metabolic support of neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan M. Corty
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Romina Barria
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Amy E. Sheehan
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Jo Q. Hill
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - Sue A. Aicher
- Department of Chemical Physiology & Biochemistry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
| | - A. Nicole Fox
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
| | - Marc R. Freeman
- Vollum Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR
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11
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Lépine S, Castellanos-Montiel MJ, Durcan TM. TDP-43 dysregulation and neuromuscular junction disruption in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Transl Neurodegener 2022; 11:56. [PMID: 36575535 PMCID: PMC9793560 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-022-00331-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease characterized by upper and lower motor neuron (MN) loss with a signature feature of cytoplasmic aggregates containing TDP-43, which are detected in nearly all patients. Mutations in the gene that encodes TDP-43 (TARBDP) are known to result in both familial and sporadic ALS. In ALS, disruption of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) constitutes a critical event in disease pathogenesis, leading to denervation atrophy, motor impairments and disability. Morphological defects and impaired synaptic transmission at NMJs have been reported in several TDP-43 animal models and in vitro, linking TDP-43 dysregulation to the loss of NMJ integrity in ALS. Through the lens of the dying-back and dying-forward hypotheses of ALS, this review discusses the roles of TDP-43 related to synaptic function, with a focus on the potential molecular mechanisms occurring within MNs, skeletal muscles and glial cells that may contribute to NMJ disruption in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Lépine
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4 Canada ,grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, 3605 De La Montagne, Montreal, QC H3G 2M1 Canada
| | - Maria José Castellanos-Montiel
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4 Canada
| | - Thomas Martin Durcan
- grid.14709.3b0000 0004 1936 8649The Neuro’s Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital, McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4 Canada
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12
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Collins JM, Atkinson RAK, Matthews LM, Murray IC, Perry SE, King AE. Sarm1 knockout modifies biomarkers of neurodegeneration and spinal cord circuitry but not disease progression in the mSOD1 G93A mouse model of ALS. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 172:105821. [PMID: 35863521 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105821] [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: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the loss of motor neuron axon integrity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are unclear. SARM1 has been identified as a genetic risk variant in sporadic ALS, and the SARM1 protein is a key mediator of axon degeneration. To investigate the role of SARM1 in ALS-associated axon degeneration, we knocked out Sarm1 (Sarm1KO) in mSOD1G93ATg (mSOD1) mice. Animals were monitored for ALS disease onset and severity, with motor function assessed at pre-symptomatic and late-stage disease and lumbar spinal cord and sciatic nerve harvested for immunohistochemistry at endpoint (20 weeks). Serum was collected monthly to assess protein concentrations of biomarkers linked to axon degeneration (neurofilament light (NFL) and tau), and astrogliosis (glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)), using single molecule array (Simoa®) technology. Overall, loss of Sarm1 in mSOD1 mice did not slow or delay symptom onset, failed to improve functional declines, and failed to protect motor neurons. Serum NFL levels in mSOD1 mice increased between 8 -12 and 16-20 weeks of age, with the later increase significantly reduced by loss of SARM1. Similarly, loss of SARM1 significantly reduced an increase in serum GFAP between 16 and 20 weeks of age in mSOD1 mice, indicating protection of both global axon degeneration and astrogliosis. In the spinal cord, Sarm1 deletion protected against loss of excitatory VGluT2-positive puncta and attenuated astrogliosis in mSOD1 mice. In the sciatic nerve, absence of SARM1 in mSOD1 mice restored the average area of phosphorylated neurofilament reactivity towards WT levels. Together these data suggest that Sarm1KO in mSOD1 mice is not sufficient to ameliorate functional decline or motor neuron loss but does alter serum biomarker levels and provide protection to axons and glutamatergic synapses. This indicates that treatments targeting SARM1 could warrant further investigation in ALS, potentially as part of a combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Collins
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 143, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia.
| | - Rachel A K Atkinson
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 143, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia.
| | - Lyzette M Matthews
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 143, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia.
| | - Isabella C Murray
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 143, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia.
| | - Sharn E Perry
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 143, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia.
| | - Anna E King
- Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 143, Hobart, Tas, 7001, Australia.
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13
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Coleman MP. Axon Biology in ALS: Mechanisms of Axon Degeneration and Prospects for Therapy. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1133-1144. [PMID: 36207571 PMCID: PMC9587191 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01297-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/10/2022] Open
Abstract
This review addresses the longstanding debate over whether amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a 'dying back' or 'dying forward' disorder in the light of new gene identifications and the increased understanding of mechanisms of action for previously identified ALS genes. While the topological pattern of pathology in animal models, and more anecdotally in patients is indeed 'dying back', this review discusses how this fits with the fact that many of the major initiating events are thought to occur within the soma. It also discusses how widely varying ALS risk factors, including some impacting axons directly, may combine to drive a common pathway involving TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) denervation. The emerging association between sterile alpha and TIR motif-containing 1 (SARM1), a protein so far mostly associated with axon degeneration, and sporadic ALS is another major theme. The strengths and limitations of the current evidence supporting an association are considered, along with ways in which SARM1 could become activated in ALS. The final section addresses SARM1-based therapies along with the prospects for targeting other axonal steps in ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Coleman
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK.
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14
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Ubiquitin Proteasome System and Microtubules Are Master Regulators of Central and Peripheral Nervous System Axon Degeneration. Cells 2022; 11:cells11081358. [PMID: 35456037 PMCID: PMC9033047 DOI: 10.3390/cells11081358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Axonal degeneration is an active process that differs from neuronal death, and it is the hallmark of many disorders affecting the central and peripheral nervous system. Starting from the analyses of Wallerian degeneration, the simplest experimental model, here we describe how the long projecting neuronal populations affected in Parkinson’s disease and chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies share commonalities in the mechanisms and molecular players driving the earliest phase of axon degeneration. Indeed, both dopaminergic and sensory neurons are particularly susceptible to alterations of microtubules and axonal transport as well as to dysfunctions of the ubiquitin proteasome system and protein quality control. Finally, we report an updated review on current knowledge of key molecules able to modulate these targets, blocking the on-going axonal degeneration and inducing neuronal regeneration. These molecules might represent good candidates for disease-modifying treatment, which might expand the window of intervention improving patients’ quality of life.
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15
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Cao Y, Wang Y, Yang J. NAD +-dependent mechanism of pathological axon degeneration. CELL INSIGHT 2022; 1:100019. [PMID: 37193131 PMCID: PMC10120281 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellin.2022.100019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Pathological axon degeneration is broadly observed in neurodegenerative diseases. This unique process of axonal pathology could directly interfere with the normal functions of neurocircuitries and contribute to the onset of clinical symptoms in patients. It has been increasingly recognized that functional preservation of axonal structures is an indispensable part of therapeutic strategies for treating neurological disorders. In the past decades, the research field has witnessed significant breakthroughs in understanding the stereotyped self-destruction of axons upon neurodegenerative insults, which is distinct from all the known types of programmed cell death. In particular, the novel NAD+-dependent mechanism involving the WLDs, NMNAT2, and SARM1 proteins has emerged. This review summarizes the landmark discoveries elucidating the molecular pathway of pathological axon degeneration and highlights the evolving concept that neurodegeneration would be intrinsically linked to NAD+ and energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cao
- Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, 102206, China
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518055, China
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16
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Moss KR, Johnson AE, Bopp TS, Yu ATY, Perry K, Chung T, Höke A. SARM1 knockout does not rescue neuromuscular phenotypes in a Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Type 1A mouse model. J Peripher Nerv Syst 2022; 27:58-66. [PMID: 35137510 PMCID: PMC8940700 DOI: 10.1111/jns.12483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Type 1A (CMT1A) is caused by duplication of the PMP22 gene and is the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy. Although CMT1A is a dysmyelinating peripheral neuropathy, secondary axon degeneration has been suggested to drive functional deficits in patients. Given that SARM1 knockout is a potent inhibitor of the programmed axon degeneration pathway, we asked whether SARM1 knockout rescues neuromuscular phenotypes in CMT1A model (C3-PMP) mice. CMT1A mice were bred with SARM1 knockout mice to generate CMT1A/SARM1-/- mice. A series of behavioral assays were employed to evaluate motor and sensorimotor function. Electrophysiological and histological studies of the tibial branch of the sciatic nerve were performed. Additionally, gastrocnemius and soleus muscle morphology were evaluated histologically. Although clear behavioral and electrophysiological deficits were observed in CMT1A model mice, genetic deletion of SARM1 conferred no significant improvement. Nerve morphometry revealed predominantly myelin deficits in CMT1A model mice and SARM1 knockout yielded no improvement in all nerve morphometry measures. Similarly, muscle morphometry deficits in CMT1A model mice were not improved by SARM1 knockout. Our findings demonstrate that programmed axon degeneration pathway inhibition does not provide therapeutic benefit in C3-PMP CMT1A model mice. Our results indicate that the clinical phenotypes observed in CMT1A mice are likely caused primarily by prolonged dysmyelination, motivate further investigation into mechanisms of dysmyelination in these mice and necessitate the development of improved CMT1A rodent models that recapitulate the secondary axon degeneration observed in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn R. Moss
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Division, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Anna E. Johnson
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Division, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Taylor S. Bopp
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Andrew T-Y. Yu
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Division, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ken Perry
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Division, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Tae Chung
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Ahmet Höke
- Department of Neurology, Neuromuscular Division, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,Corresponding Author: Ahmet Höke MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 855 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205, Tel: 410-955-2227, Fax: 410-502-5459,
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17
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Lu Q, Botchway BOA, Zhang Y, Jin T, Liu X. SARM1 can be a potential therapeutic target for spinal cord injury. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:161. [PMID: 35224705 PMCID: PMC11072485 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04195-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Injury to the spinal cord is devastating. Studies have implicated Wallerian degeneration as the main cause of axonal destruction in the wake of spinal cord injury. Therefore, the suppression of Wallerian degeneration could be beneficial for spinal cord injury treatment. Sterile alpha and armadillo motif-containing protein 1 (SARM1) is a key modulator of Wallerian degeneration, and its impediment can improve spinal cord injury to a significant degree. In this report, we analyze the various signaling domains of SARM1, the recent findings on Wallerian degeneration and its relation to axonal insults, as well as its connection to SARM1, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and the survival factor, nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 2 (NMNAT2). We then elaborate on the possible role of SARM1 in spinal cord injury and explicate how its obstruction could potentially alleviate the injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qicheng Lu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Benson O A Botchway
- Institute of Neuroscience, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Tian Jin
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China
| | - Xuehong Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical College, Shaoxing University, Shaoxing, China.
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18
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Bloom AJ, Mao X, Strickland A, Sasaki Y, Milbrandt J, DiAntonio A. Constitutively active SARM1 variants that induce neuropathy are enriched in ALS patients. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:1. [PMID: 34991663 PMCID: PMC8739729 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00511-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In response to injury, neurons activate a program of organized axon self-destruction initiated by the NAD+ hydrolase, SARM1. In healthy neurons SARM1 is autoinhibited, but single amino acid changes can abolish autoinhibition leading to constitutively active SARM1 enzymes that promote degeneration when expressed in cultured neurons. Methods To investigate whether naturally occurring human variants might disrupt SARM1 autoinhibition and potentially contribute to risk for neurodegenerative disease, we assayed the enzymatic activity of all 42 rare SARM1 alleles identified among 8507 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and 9671 controls. We then intrathecally injected mice with virus expressing SARM1 constructs to test the capacity of an ALS-associated constitutively active SARM1 variant to promote neurodegeneration in vivo. Results Twelve out of 42 SARM1 missense variants or small in-frame deletions assayed exhibit constitutive NADase activity, including more than half of those that are unique to the ALS patients or that occur in multiple patients. There is a > 5-fold enrichment of constitutively active variants among patients compared to controls. Expression of constitutively active ALS-associated SARM1 alleles in cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons is pro-degenerative and cytotoxic. Intrathecal injection of an AAV expressing the common SARM1 reference allele is innocuous to mice, but a construct harboring SARM1V184G, the constitutively active variant found most frequently among the ALS patients, causes axon loss, motor dysfunction, and sustained neuroinflammation. Conclusions These results implicate rare hypermorphic SARM1 alleles as candidate genetic risk factors for ALS and other neurodegenerative conditions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13024-021-00511-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Joseph Bloom
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Xianrong Mao
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Amy Strickland
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yo Sasaki
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jeffrey Milbrandt
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics and Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| | - Aaron DiAntonio
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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19
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Ding C, Wu Y, Dabas H, Hammarlund M. Activation of the CaMKII-Sarm1-ASK1-p38 MAP kinase pathway protects against axon degeneration caused by loss of mitochondria. eLife 2022; 11:73557. [PMID: 35285800 PMCID: PMC8920508 DOI: 10.7554/elife.73557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial defects are tightly linked to axon degeneration, yet the underlying cellular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, PVQ axons that lack mitochondria degenerate spontaneously with age. Using an unbiased genetic screen, we found that cell-specific activation of CaMKII/UNC-43 suppresses axon degeneration due to loss of mitochondria. Unexpectedly, CaMKII/UNC-43 activates the conserved Sarm1/TIR-1-ASK1/NSY-1-p38 MAPK pathway and eventually the transcription factor CEBP-1 to protect against degeneration. In addition, we show that disrupting a trafficking complex composed of calsyntenin/CASY-1, Mint/LIN-10, and kinesin suppresses axon degeneration. Further analysis indicates that disruption of this trafficking complex activates the CaMKII-Sarm1-MAPK pathway through L-type voltage-gated calcium channels. Our findings identify CaMKII as a pivot point between mitochondrial defects and axon degeneration, describe how it is regulated, and uncover a surprising neuroprotective role for the Sarm1-p38 MAPK pathway in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Ding
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Youjun Wu
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Hadas Dabas
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
| | - Marc Hammarlund
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States,Department of Genetics, Yale University School of MedicineNew HavenUnited States
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20
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Gilley J, Jackson O, Pipis M, Estiar MA, Al-Chalabi A, Danzi MC, van Eijk KR, Goutman SA, Harms MB, Houlden H, Iacoangeli A, Kaye J, Lima L, Ravits J, Rouleau GA, Schüle R, Xu J, Züchner S, Cooper-Knock J, Gan-Or Z, Reilly MM, Coleman MP. Enrichment of SARM1 alleles encoding variants with constitutively hyperactive NADase in patients with ALS and other motor nerve disorders. eLife 2021; 10:e70905. [PMID: 34796871 PMCID: PMC8735862 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
SARM1, a protein with critical NADase activity, is a central executioner in a conserved programme of axon degeneration. We report seven rare missense or in-frame microdeletion human SARM1 variant alleles in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other motor nerve disorders that alter the SARM1 auto-inhibitory ARM domain and constitutively hyperactivate SARM1 NADase activity. The constitutive NADase activity of these seven variants is similar to that of SARM1 lacking the entire ARM domain and greatly exceeds the activity of wild-type SARM1, even in the presence of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), its physiological activator. This rise in constitutive activity alone is enough to promote neuronal degeneration in response to otherwise non-harmful, mild stress. Importantly, these strong gain-of-function alleles are completely patient-specific in the cohorts studied and show a highly significant association with disease at the single gene level. These findings of disease-associated coding variants that alter SARM1 function build on previously reported genome-wide significant association with ALS for a neighbouring, more common SARM1 intragenic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) to support a contributory role of SARM1 in these disorders. A broad phenotypic heterogeneity and variable age-of-onset of disease among patients with these alleles also raises intriguing questions about the pathogenic mechanism of hyperactive SARM1 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Gilley
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Oscar Jackson
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Menelaos Pipis
- Department of Neuromuscular Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Mehrdad A Estiar
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), McGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, King’s College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Matt C Danzi
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics and John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineMiamiUnited States
| | - Kristel R van Eijk
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht UniversityUtrechtNetherlands
| | - Stephen A Goutman
- Department of Neurology, University of MichiganAnn ArborUnited States
| | - Matthew B Harms
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia UniversityNew YorkUnited States
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Neuromuscular Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Alfredo Iacoangeli
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Julia Kaye
- Center for Systems and Therapeutics, Gladstone InstitutesSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Leandro Lima
- Center for Systems and Therapeutics, Gladstone InstitutesSan FranciscoUnited States
- Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology, Gladstone InstitutesSan FranciscoUnited States
| | - Queen Square Genomics
- Department of Neuromuscular Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - John Ravits
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San DiegoLa JollaUnited States
| | - Guy A Rouleau
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), McGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Rebecca Schüle
- Center for Neurology and Hertie Institute für Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesTübingenGermany
| | - Jishu Xu
- Center for Neurology and Hertie Institute für Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, German Center for Neurodegenerative DiseasesTübingenGermany
| | - Stephan Züchner
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Department of Human Genetics and John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of MedicineMiamiUnited States
| | - Johnathan Cooper-Knock
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Ziv Gan-Or
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital), McGill UniversityMontrealCanada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill UniversityMontrealCanada
| | - Mary M Reilly
- Department of Neuromuscular Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for NeurologyLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Michael P Coleman
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of CambridgeCambridgeUnited Kingdom
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21
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Lundt S, Ding S. NAD + Metabolism and Diseases with Motor Dysfunction. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1776. [PMID: 34828382 PMCID: PMC8625820 DOI: 10.3390/genes12111776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases result in the progressive deterioration of the nervous system, with motor and cognitive impairments being the two most observable problems. Motor dysfunction could be caused by motor neuron diseases (MNDs) characterized by the loss of motor neurons, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, or other neurodegenerative diseases with the destruction of brain areas that affect movement, such as Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is one of the most abundant metabolites in the human body and is involved with numerous cellular processes, including energy metabolism, circadian clock, and DNA repair. NAD+ can be reversibly oxidized-reduced or directly consumed by NAD+-dependent proteins. NAD+ is synthesized in cells via three different paths: the de novo, Preiss-Handler, or NAD+ salvage pathways, with the salvage pathway being the primary producer of NAD+ in mammalian cells. NAD+ metabolism is being investigated for a role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss cellular NAD+ homeostasis, looking at NAD+ biosynthesis and consumption, with a focus on the NAD+ salvage pathway. Then, we examine the research, including human clinical trials, focused on the involvement of NAD+ in MNDs and other neurodegenerative diseases with motor dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Lundt
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA;
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Shinghua Ding
- Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA;
- Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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22
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Arthur-Farraj P, Coleman MP. Lessons from Injury: How Nerve Injury Studies Reveal Basic Biological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities for Peripheral Nerve Diseases. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:2200-2221. [PMID: 34595734 PMCID: PMC8804151 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-021-01125-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Since Waller and Cajal in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, laboratory traumatic peripheral nerve injury studies have provided great insight into cellular and molecular mechanisms governing axon degeneration and the responses of Schwann cells, the major glial cell type of peripheral nerves. It is now evident that pathways underlying injury-induced axon degeneration and the Schwann cell injury-specific state, the repair Schwann cell, are relevant to many inherited and acquired disorders of peripheral nerves. This review provides a timely update on the molecular understanding of axon degeneration and formation of the repair Schwann cell. We discuss how nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 2 (NMNAT2) and sterile alpha TIR motif containing protein 1 (SARM1) are required for axon survival and degeneration, respectively, how transcription factor c-JUN is essential for the Schwann cell response to nerve injury and what each tells us about disease mechanisms and potential therapies. Human genetic association with NMNAT2 and SARM1 strongly suggests aberrant activation of programmed axon death in polyneuropathies and motor neuron disorders, respectively, and animal studies suggest wider involvement including in chemotherapy-induced and diabetic neuropathies. In repair Schwann cells, cJUN is aberrantly expressed in a wide variety of human acquired and inherited neuropathies. Animal models suggest it limits axon loss in both genetic and traumatic neuropathies, whereas in contrast, Schwann cell secreted Neuregulin-1 type 1 drives onion bulb pathology in CMT1A. Finally, we discuss opportunities for drug-based and gene therapies to prevent axon loss or manipulate the repair Schwann cell state to treat acquired and inherited neuropathies and neuronopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Arthur-Farraj
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK.
| | - Michael P Coleman
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, University of Cambridge, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK.
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23
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Hopkins EL, Gu W, Kobe B, Coleman MP. A Novel NAD Signaling Mechanism in Axon Degeneration and its Relationship to Innate Immunity. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:703532. [PMID: 34307460 PMCID: PMC8295901 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.703532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Axon degeneration represents a pathological feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease where axons die before the neuronal soma, and axonopathies, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and hereditary spastic paraplegia. Over the last two decades, it has slowly emerged that a central signaling pathway forms the basis of this process in many circumstances. This is an axonal NAD-related signaling mechanism mainly regulated by the two key proteins with opposing roles: the NAD-synthesizing enzyme NMNAT2, and SARM1, a protein with NADase and related activities. The crosstalk between the axon survival factor NMNAT2 and pro-degenerative factor SARM1 has been extensively characterized and plays an essential role in maintaining the axon integrity. This pathway can be activated in necroptosis and in genetic, toxic or metabolic disorders, physical injury and neuroinflammation, all leading to axon pathology. SARM1 is also known to be involved in regulating innate immunity, potentially linking axon degeneration to the response to pathogens and intercellular signaling. Understanding this NAD-related signaling mechanism enhances our understanding of the process of axon degeneration and enables a path to the development of drugs for a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor L. Hopkins
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Weixi Gu
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Bostjan Kobe
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Michael P. Coleman
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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24
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Peters OM, Weiss A, Metterville J, Song L, Logan R, Smith GA, Schwarzschild MA, Mueller C, Brown RH, Freeman M. Genetic diversity of axon degenerative mechanisms in models of Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 155:105368. [PMID: 33892050 PMCID: PMC8292971 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the most common form of neurodegenerative movement disorder, associated with profound loss of dopaminergic neurons from the basal ganglia. Though loss of dopaminergic neuron cell bodies from the substantia nigra pars compacta is a well-studied feature, atrophy and loss of their axons within the nigrostriatal tract is also emerging as an early event in disease progression. Genes that drive the Wallerian degeneration, like Sterile alpha and toll/interleukin-1 receptor motif containing (Sarm1), are excellent candidates for driving this axon degeneration, given similarities in the morphology of axon degeneration after axotomy and in PD. In the present study we assessed whether Sarm1 contributes to loss of dopaminergic projections in mouse models of PD. In Sarm1 deficient mice, we observed a significant delay in the degeneration of severed dopaminergic axons distal to a 6-OHDA lesion of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) in the nigrostriatal tract, and an accompanying rescue of morphological, biochemical and behavioural phenotypes. However, we observed no difference compared to controls when striatal terminals were lesioned with 6-OHDA to induce a dying back form of neurodegeneration. Likewise, when PD phenotypes were induced using AAV-induced alpha-synuclein overexpression, we observed similar modest loss of dopaminergic terminals in Sarm1 knockouts and controls. Our data argues that axon degeneration after MFB lesion is Sarm1-dependent, but that other models for PD do not require Sarm1, or that Sarm1 acts with other redundant genetic pathways. This work adds to a growing body of evidence indicating Sarm1 contributes to some, but not all types of neurodegeneration, and supports the notion that while axon degeneration in many context appears morphologically similar, a diversity of axon degeneration programs exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen M Peters
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
| | - Alexandra Weiss
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Jake Metterville
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Lina Song
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Robert Logan
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Eastern Nazarene College, Quincy, MA 02170, USA
| | - Gaynor A Smith
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Michael A Schwarzschild
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Christian Mueller
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Marc Freeman
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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25
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von Saucken VE, Simon DJ. A good gut feeling on Sarm1-mediated axon degeneration. Protein Cell 2021; 12:596-598. [PMID: 33900577 PMCID: PMC8310545 DOI: 10.1007/s13238-021-00842-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria E von Saucken
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.,Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, Rockefeller University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - David J Simon
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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26
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Liu H, Zhang J, Xu X, Lu S, Yang D, Xie C, Jia M, Zhang W, Jin L, Wang X, Shen X, Li F, Wang W, Bao X, Li S, Zhu M, Wang W, Wang Y, Huang Z, Teng H. SARM1 promotes neuroinflammation and inhibits neural regeneration after spinal cord injury through NF-κB signaling. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:4187-4206. [PMID: 33754056 PMCID: PMC7977471 DOI: 10.7150/thno.49054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Axonal degeneration is a common pathological feature in many acute and chronic neurological diseases such as spinal cord injury (SCI). SARM1 (sterile alpha and TIR motif-containing 1), the fifth TLR (Toll-like receptor) adaptor, has diverse functions in the immune and nervous systems, and recently has been identified as a key mediator of Wallerian degeneration (WD). However, the detailed functions of SARM1 after SCI still remain unclear. Methods: Modified Allen's method was used to establish a contusion model of SCI in mice. Furthermore, to address the function of SARM1 after SCI, conditional knockout (CKO) mice in the central nervous system (CNS), SARM1Nestin-CKO mice, and SARM1GFAP-CKO mice were successfully generated by Nestin-Cre and GFAP-Cre transgenic mice crossed with SARM1flox/flox mice, respectively. Immunostaining, Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining, Nissl staining and behavioral test assays such as footprint and Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) scoring were used to examine the roles of SARM1 pathway in SCI based on these conditional knockout mice. Drugs such as FK866, an inhibitor of SARM1, and apoptozole, an inhibitor of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), were used to further explore the molecular mechanism of SARM1 in neural regeneration after SCI. Results: We found that SARM1 was upregulated in neurons and astrocytes at early stage after SCI. SARM1Nestin-CKO and SARM1GFAP-CKO mice displayed normal development of the spinal cords and motor function. Interestingly, conditional deletion of SARM1 in neurons and astrocytes promoted the functional recovery of behavior performance after SCI. Mechanistically, conditional deletion of SARM1 in neurons and astrocytes promoted neuronal regeneration at intermediate phase after SCI, and reduced neuroinflammation at SCI early phase through downregulation of NF-κB signaling after SCI, which may be due to upregulation of HSP70. Finally, FK866, an inhibitor of SARM1, reduced the neuroinflammation and promoted the neuronal regeneration after SCI. Conclusion: Our results indicate that SARM1-mediated prodegenerative pathway and neuroinflammation promotes the pathological progress of SCI and anti-SARM1 therapeutics are viable and promising approaches for preserving neuronal function after SCI.
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27
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A glycolytic shift in Schwann cells supports injured axons. Nat Neurosci 2020; 23:1215-1228. [PMID: 32807950 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-0689-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Axon degeneration is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders. The current assumption is that the decision of injured axons to degenerate is cell-autonomously regulated. Here we show that Schwann cells (SCs), the glia of the peripheral nervous system, protect injured axons by virtue of a dramatic glycolytic upregulation that arises in SCs as an inherent adaptation to axon injury. This glycolytic response, paired with enhanced axon-glia metabolic coupling, supports the survival of axons. The glycolytic shift in SCs is largely driven by the metabolic signaling hub, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1, and the downstream transcription factors hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha and c-Myc, which together promote glycolytic gene expression. The manipulation of glial glycolytic activity through this pathway enabled us to accelerate or delay the degeneration of perturbed axons in acute and subacute rodent axon degeneration models. Thus, we demonstrate a non-cell-autonomous metabolic mechanism that controls the fate of injured axons.
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28
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Figley MD, DiAntonio A. The SARM1 axon degeneration pathway: control of the NAD + metabolome regulates axon survival in health and disease. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2020; 63:59-66. [PMID: 32311648 PMCID: PMC7483800 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Axons are essential for nervous system function and axonal pathology is a common hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. Over a century and a half after the original description of Wallerian axon degeneration, advances over the past five years have heralded the emergence of a comprehensive, mechanistic model of an endogenous axon degenerative process that can be activated by both injury and disease. Axonal integrity is maintained by the opposing actions of the survival factors NMNAT2 and STMN2 and pro-degenerative molecules DLK and SARM1. The balance between axon survival and self-destruction is intimately tied to axonal NAD+ metabolism. These mechanistic insights may enable axon-protective therapies for a variety of human neurodegenerative diseases including peripheral neuropathy, traumatic brain injury and potentially ALS and Parkinson's.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Figley
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Aaron DiAntonio
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 660 Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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29
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Baloh RH. The Nerve to Give BACE Inhibitors a Second Chance? Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:966-967. [PMID: 32514890 PMCID: PMC7609629 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00876-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Baloh
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA.
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30
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Viar K, Njoku D, Secor McVoy J, Oh U. Sarm1 knockout protects against early but not late axonal degeneration in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235110. [PMID: 32584865 PMCID: PMC7316289 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Programmed axonal degeneration, also known as Wallerian degeneration, occurs in immune-mediated central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory disorders such as multiple sclerosis and the animal model experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). Sterile alpha and TIR domain containing protein 1 (SARM1) functions to promote programmed axonal degeneration. To test the hypothesis that loss of SARM1 will reduce axonal degeneration in immune-mediated CNS inflammatory disorders, the course and pathology of EAE was compared in Sarm1 knockout mice and wild type littermates. The clinical course of EAE was similar in Sarm1 knockout and wild type. Analysis of EAE in mice expressing neuronal yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) showed significantly less axonal degeneration in Sarm1 knockout mice compared to wild type littermates at 14 days post-induction of EAE. At 21 days post-induction, however, difference in axonal degeneration was not significant. At 42 days post-induction, Sarm1 knockout mice were indistinguishable from wild type with respect to markers of axonal injury, and were similar with respect to axonal density in the lumbar cords. There was no significant change in peripheral immune activation or CNS inflammatory cell infiltration associated with EAE in Sarm1 knockout mice. In conclusion, Sarm1 deletion delayed axonal degeneration early in the course of CNS inflammation, but did not confer long-term protection from axonal degeneration in an animal model of immune-mediated CNS inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Viar
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Daniel Njoku
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Julie Secor McVoy
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
| | - Unsong Oh
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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31
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Krauss R, Bosanac T, Devraj R, Engber T, Hughes RO. Axons Matter: The Promise of Treating Neurodegenerative Disorders by Targeting SARM1-Mediated Axonal Degeneration. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2020; 41:281-293. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2020.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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32
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Programmed axon degeneration: from mouse to mechanism to medicine. Nat Rev Neurosci 2020; 21:183-196. [PMID: 32152523 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-020-0269-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Wallerian degeneration is a widespread mechanism of programmed axon degeneration. In the three decades since the discovery of the Wallerian degeneration slow (WldS) mouse, research has generated extensive knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying Wallerian degeneration, demonstrated its involvement in non-injury disorders and found multiple ways to block it. Recent developments have included: the detection of NMNAT2 mutations that implicate Wallerian degeneration in rare human diseases; the capacity for lifelong rescue of a lethal condition related to Wallerian degeneration in mice; the discovery of 'druggable' enzymes, including SARM1 and MYCBP2 (also known as PHR1), in Wallerian pathways; and the elucidation of protein structures to drive further understanding of the underlying mechanisms and drug development. Additionally, new data have indicated the potential of these advances to alleviate a number of common disorders, including chemotherapy-induced and diabetic peripheral neuropathies, traumatic brain injury, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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33
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McReynolds MR, Chellappa K, Baur JA. Age-related NAD + decline. Exp Gerontol 2020; 134:110888. [PMID: 32097708 PMCID: PMC7442590 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2020.110888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is an essential metabolite that is reported to decline in concentration in tissues of aged animals. Strategies to increase NAD+ availability have shown promise in treating many conditions in rodents, including age-related degeneration, which has in turn driven intense interest in the effects of supplements on human health. However, many aspects of NAD+ metabolism remain poorly understood, and human data are limited. Here, we discuss the state of the evidence for an age-related decline in NAD+, along with potential mechanistic explanations, including increased consumption or decreased synthesis of NAD+ and changes in the composition of cells or tissues with age. Key challenges for the field involve the development of better tools to resolve information on the NAD+ content of specific cells and subcellular compartments as well as determining the threshold levels at which NAD+ depletion triggers physiological consequences in different tissues. Understanding how NAD+ metabolism changes with age in humans may ultimately allow the design of more targeted strategies to maintain its availability, such as inhibition of key consumers in specific tissues or direct delivery of precursors to sites of deficiency. In the meantime, human clinical trials with oral supplements are poised to provide some of the first direct evidence as to whether increasing NAD+ availability can impact human physiology. Thus, it is an exciting time for NAD+ research, with much remaining to be learned in terms of both basic biology and potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie R McReynolds
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States of America
| | - Karthikeyani Chellappa
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Joseph A Baur
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
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34
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White MA, Lin Z, Kim E, Henstridge CM, Pena Altamira E, Hunt CK, Burchill E, Callaghan I, Loreto A, Brown-Wright H, Mead R, Simmons C, Cash D, Coleman MP, Sreedharan J. Sarm1 deletion suppresses TDP-43-linked motor neuron degeneration and cortical spine loss. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:166. [PMID: 31661035 PMCID: PMC6819591 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0800-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative condition that primarily affects the motor system and shares many features with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Evidence suggests that ALS is a 'dying-back' disease, with peripheral denervation and axonal degeneration occurring before loss of motor neuron cell bodies. Distal to a nerve injury, a similar pattern of axonal degeneration can be seen, which is mediated by an active axon destruction mechanism called Wallerian degeneration. Sterile alpha and TIR motif-containing 1 (Sarm1) is a key gene in the Wallerian pathway and its deletion provides long-term protection against both Wallerian degeneration and Wallerian-like, non-injury induced axonopathy, a retrograde degenerative process that occurs in many neurodegenerative diseases where axonal transport is impaired. Here, we explored whether Sarm1 signalling could be a therapeutic target for ALS by deleting Sarm1 from a mouse model of ALS-FTD, a TDP-43Q331K, YFP-H double transgenic mouse. Sarm1 deletion attenuated motor axon degeneration and neuromuscular junction denervation. Motor neuron cell bodies were also significantly protected. Deletion of Sarm1 also attenuated loss of layer V pyramidal neuronal dendritic spines in the primary motor cortex. Structural MRI identified the entorhinal cortex as the most significantly atrophic region, and histological studies confirmed a greater loss of neurons in the entorhinal cortex than in the motor cortex, suggesting a prominent FTD-like pattern of neurodegeneration in this transgenic mouse model. Despite the reduction in neuronal degeneration, Sarm1 deletion did not attenuate age-related behavioural deficits caused by TDP-43Q331K. However, Sarm1 deletion was associated with a significant increase in the viability of male TDP-43Q331K mice, suggesting a detrimental role of Wallerian-like pathways in the earliest stages of TDP-43Q331K-mediated neurodegeneration. Collectively, these results indicate that anti-SARM1 strategies have therapeutic potential in ALS-FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A White
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Ziqiang Lin
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
- West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Eugene Kim
- BRAIN Centre (Biomarker Research And Imaging for Neuroscience), Department of Neuroimaging, IoPPN, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Emiliano Pena Altamira
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Camille K Hunt
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Ella Burchill
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Isobel Callaghan
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK
| | - Andrea Loreto
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Heledd Brown-Wright
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Richard Mead
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Camilla Simmons
- BRAIN Centre (Biomarker Research And Imaging for Neuroscience), Department of Neuroimaging, IoPPN, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Diana Cash
- BRAIN Centre (Biomarker Research And Imaging for Neuroscience), Department of Neuroimaging, IoPPN, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Michael P Coleman
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Signalling Programme, Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jemeen Sreedharan
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN), King's College London, London, SE5 9RT, UK.
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35
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Llobet Rosell A, Neukomm LJ. Axon death signalling in Wallerian degeneration among species and in disease. Open Biol 2019; 9:190118. [PMID: 31455157 PMCID: PMC6731592 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.190118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Axon loss is a shared feature of nervous systems being challenged in neurological disease, by chemotherapy or mechanical force. Axons take up the vast majority of the neuronal volume, thus numerous axonal intrinsic and glial extrinsic support mechanisms have evolved to promote lifelong axonal survival. Impaired support leads to axon degeneration, yet underlying intrinsic signalling cascades actively promoting the disassembly of axons remain poorly understood in any context, making the development to attenuate axon degeneration challenging. Wallerian degeneration serves as a simple model to study how axons undergo injury-induced axon degeneration (axon death). Severed axons actively execute their own destruction through an evolutionarily conserved axon death signalling cascade. This pathway is also activated in the absence of injury in diseased and challenged nervous systems. Gaining insights into mechanisms underlying axon death signalling could therefore help to define targets to block axon loss. Herein, we summarize features of axon death at the molecular and subcellular level. Recently identified and characterized mediators of axon death signalling are comprehensively discussed in detail, and commonalities and differences across species highlighted. We conclude with a summary of engaged axon death signalling in humans and animal models of neurological conditions. Thus, gaining mechanistic insights into axon death signalling broadens our understanding beyond a simple injury model. It harbours the potential to define targets for therapeutic intervention in a broad range of human axonopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnau Llobet Rosell
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 9, 1005 Lausanne, VD, Switzerland
| | - Lukas J Neukomm
- Department of Fundamental Neurosciences, University of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 9, 1005 Lausanne, VD, Switzerland
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36
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Ding C, Hammarlund M. Mechanisms of injury-induced axon degeneration. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 57:171-178. [PMID: 31071521 PMCID: PMC6629473 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Injury-induced axon degeneration in model organisms and cell culture has emerged as an area of growing interest due to its experimental tractability and to the promise of identifying conserved mechanisms that mediate axon loss in human disease. Injury-induced axon degeneration is also observed within the well-studied process of Wallerian degeneration, a complex phenomenon triggered by axon injury to peripheral nerves in mammals. Recent studies have led to the identification of key molecular components of injury-induced axon degeneration. Axon survival factors, such as NMNAT2, act to protect injured axons from degeneration. By contrast, factors such as SARM1, MAPK, and PHR1 act to promote degeneration. The coordinated activity of these factors determines axon fate after injury. Since axon loss is an early feature of neurodegenerative diseases, it is possible that understanding the molecular mechanism of injury-induced degeneration will lead to new treatments for axon loss in neurodegenerative disease. Here, we discuss the critical pathways for injury-induced axon degeneration across species with an emphasis on their interactions in an integrated signaling network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Ding
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, United States
| | - Marc Hammarlund
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, United States; Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, United States.
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Gentile F, Scarlino S, Falzone YM, Lunetta C, Tremolizzo L, Quattrini A, Riva N. The Peripheral Nervous System in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Opportunities for Translational Research. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:601. [PMID: 31293369 PMCID: PMC6603245 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been considered as a disorder of the motor neuron (MN) cell body, recent evidences show the non-cell-autonomous pathogenic nature of the disease. Axonal degeneration, loss of peripheral axons and destruction of nerve terminals are early events in the disease pathogenic cascade, anticipating MN degeneration, and the onset of clinical symptoms. Therefore, although ALS and peripheral axonal neuropathies should be differentiated in clinical practice, they also share damage to common molecular pathways, including axonal transport, RNA metabolism and proteostasis. Thus, an extensive evaluation of the molecular events occurring in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) could be fundamental to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of ALS, favoring the discovery of potential disease biomarkers, and new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Gentile
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology – San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Scarlino
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology – San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Yuri Matteo Falzone
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology – San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- Neurology Unit, ALS Clinic, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology – San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology – San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The current review analyzes recent findings that suggest that axon degeneration is a druggable process in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and a subset of traumas. RECENT FINDINGS Emerging evidence reveals that axon degeneration is an active and regulated process in the early progression of some neurodegenerative diseases and acute traumas, which is orchestrated through a combination of axon-intrinsic and somatically derived signaling events. The identification of these pathways has presented appealing drug targets whose specificity for the nervous system and phenotypes in mouse models offers significant clinical opportunity. SUMMARY As the biology of axon degeneration becomes clear, so too has the realization that the pathways driving axon degeneration overlap in part with those that drive neuronal apoptosis and, importantly, axon regeneration. Axon-specific disorders like those seen in CIPN, where injury signaling to the nucleus is not a prominent feature, have been shown to benefit from disruption of Sarm1. In injury and disease contexts, where involvement of somatic events is prominent, inhibition of the MAP Kinase DLK exhibits promise for neuroprotection. Here, however, interfering with somatic signaling may preclude the ability of an axon or a circuit to regenerate or functionally adapt following acute injuries.
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Pieper AA, McKnight SL. Benefits of Enhancing Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Levels in Damaged or Diseased Nerve Cells. COLD SPRING HARBOR SYMPOSIA ON QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGY 2019; 83:207-217. [PMID: 30787047 DOI: 10.1101/sqb.2018.83.037622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Three unbiased lines of research have commonly pointed to the benefits of enhanced levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to diseased or damaged neurons. Mice carrying a triplication of the gene encoding the culminating enzyme in NAD+ salvage from nicotinamide, NMNAT, are protected from a variety of insults to axons. Protection from Wallerian degeneration of axons is also observed in flies and mice bearing inactivating mutations in the SARM1 gene. Functional studies of the SARM1 gene product have revealed the presence of an enzymatic activity directed toward the hydrolysis of NAD+ Finally, an unbiased drug screen performed in living mice led to the discovery of a neuroprotective chemical designated P7C3. Biochemical studies of the P7C3 chemical show that it can enhance recovery of NAD+ from nicotinamide by activating NAMPT, the first enzyme in the salvage pathway. In combination, these three unrelated research endeavors offer evidence of the benefits of enhanced NAD+ levels to damaged neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Pieper
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
- Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers, Louis Stokes Cleveland VAMC, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA
| | - Steven L McKnight
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA
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Carty M, Bowie AG. SARM: From immune regulator to cell executioner. Biochem Pharmacol 2019; 161:52-62. [PMID: 30633870 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
SARM is the fifth and most conserved member of the Toll/Il-1 Receptor (TIR) adaptor family. However, unlike the other TIR adaptors, MyD88, Mal, TRIF and TRAM, SARM does not participate in transducing signals downstream of TLRs. By contrast SARM inhibits TLR signalling by interacting with the adaptors TRIF and MyD88. In addition, SARM also has positive roles in innate immunity by activating specific transcriptional programs following immune challenge. SARM has a pivotal role in activating different forms of cell death following cellular stress and viral infection. Many of these functions of mammalian SARM are also reflected in SARM orthologues in lower organisms such as C. elegans and Drosophila. SARM expression is particularly enriched in neurons of the CNS and SARM has a critical role in neuronal death and in axon degeneration. Recent fascinating molecular insights have been revealed as to the molecular mechanism of SARM mediated axon degeneration. SARM has been shown to deplete NAD+ by possessing intrinsic NADase activity in the TIR domain of the protein. This activity can be activated experimentally by forced dimerization of the TIR domain. It is thought that this activity of SARM is normally switched off by the axo-protective activities of NMNAT2 which maintain low levels of the NAD+ precursor NMN. Therefore, there is now great excitement in the field of SARM research as targeting this enzymatic activity of SARM may lead to the development of new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis and motor neuron disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Carty
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
| | - Andrew G Bowie
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland
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