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Broce IJ, Sirkis DW, Nillo RM, Bonham LW, Lee SE, Miller BL, Castruita PA, Sturm VE, Sugrue LS, Desikan RS, Yokoyama JS. C9orf72 gene networks in the human brain correlate with cortical thickness in C9-FTD and implicate vulnerable cell types. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1258996. [PMID: 38469573 PMCID: PMC10925697 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1258996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction A hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) intronic to chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) is recognized as the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and ALS-FTD. Identifying genes that show similar regional co-expression patterns to C9orf72 may help identify novel gene targets and biological mechanisms that mediate selective vulnerability to ALS and FTD pathogenesis. Methods We leveraged mRNA expression data in healthy brain from the Allen Human Brain Atlas to evaluate C9orf72 co-expression patterns. To do this, we correlated average C9orf72 expression values in 51 regions across different anatomical divisions (cortex, subcortex, and cerebellum) with average gene expression values for 15,633 protein-coding genes, including 54 genes known to be associated with ALS, FTD, or ALS-FTD. We then performed imaging transcriptomic analyses to evaluate whether the identified C9orf72 co-expressed genes correlated with patterns of cortical thickness in symptomatic C9orf72 pathogenic HRE carriers (n = 19) compared to controls (n = 23). Lastly, we explored whether genes with significant C9orf72 imaging transcriptomic correlations (i.e., "C9orf72 imaging transcriptomic network") were enriched in specific cell populations in the brain and enriched for specific biological and molecular pathways. Results A total of 2,120 genes showed an anatomical distribution of gene expression in the brain similar to C9orf72 and significantly correlated with patterns of cortical thickness in C9orf72 HRE carriers. This C9orf72 imaging transcriptomic network was differentially expressed in cell populations previously implicated in ALS and FTD, including layer 5b cells, cholinergic neurons in the spinal cord and brainstem and medium spiny neurons of the striatum, and was enriched for biological and molecular pathways associated with protein ubiquitination, autophagy, cellular response to DNA damage, endoplasmic reticulum to Golgi vesicle-mediated transport, among others. Conclusion Considered together, we identified a network of C9orf72 associated genes that may influence selective regional and cell-type-specific vulnerabilities in ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris J. Broce
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Daniel W. Sirkis
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Ryan M. Nillo
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Luke W. Bonham
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Suzee E. Lee
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Bruce L. Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Patricia A. Castruita
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Virginia E. Sturm
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Leo S. Sugrue
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Rahul S. Desikan
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer S. Yokoyama
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Broce IJ, Sirkis DW, Nillo RM, Bonham LW, Lee SE, Miller B, Castruita P, Sturm VE, Sugrue LS, Desikan RS, Yokoyama JS. C9orf72 gene networks in the human brain correlate with cortical thickness in C9-FTD and implicate vulnerable cell types. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.17.549377. [PMID: 37503230 PMCID: PMC10370095 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.17.549377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Introduction A hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) intronic to chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) is recognized as the most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and ALS-FTD. Identifying genes that show similar regional co-expression patterns to C9orf72 may help identify novel gene targets and biological mechanisms that mediate selective vulnerability to ALS and FTD pathogenesis. Methods We leveraged mRNA expression data in healthy brain from the Allen Human Brain Atlas to evaluate C9orf72 co-expression patterns. To do this, we correlated average C9orf72 expression values in 51 regions across different anatomical divisions (cortex, subcortex, cerebellum) with average gene expression values for 15,633 protein-coding genes, including 50 genes known to be associated with ALS, FTD, or ALS-FTD. We then evaluated whether the identified C9orf72 co-expressed genes correlated with patterns of cortical thickness in symptomatic C9orf72 pathogenic HRE carriers (n=19). Lastly, we explored whether genes with significant C9orf72 radiogenomic correlations (i.e., 'C9orf72 gene network') were enriched in specific cell populations in the brain and enriched for specific biological and molecular pathways. Results A total of 1,748 genes showed an anatomical distribution of gene expression in the brain similar to C9orf72 and significantly correlated with patterns of cortical thickness in C9orf72 HRE carriers. This C9orf72 gene network was differentially expressed in cell populations previously implicated in ALS and FTD, including layer 5b cells, cholinergic motor neurons in the spinal cord, and medium spiny neurons of the striatum, and was enriched for biological and molecular pathways associated with multiple neurotransmitter systems, protein ubiquitination, autophagy, and MAPK signaling, among others. Conclusions Considered together, we identified a network of C9orf72-associated genes that may influence selective regional and cell-type-specific vulnerabilities in ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris J. Broce
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Daniel W. Sirkis
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Ryan M. Nillo
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Luke W. Bonham
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Suzee E. Lee
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Bruce Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Patricia Castruita
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Virginia E. Sturm
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Leo S. Sugrue
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Rahul S. Desikan
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jennifer S. Yokoyama
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, and Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Hsueh S, Chao C, Chen T, Chen Y, Hsueh H, Tsai L, Wu W, Hsieh S. Brain imaging signatures in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Correlation with peripheral motor degeneration. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023; 10:1456-1466. [PMID: 37340732 PMCID: PMC10424648 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to explore the clinical significance of brain imaging signatures in the context of clinical neurological deficits in association with upper and lower motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHODS We performed brain MRI examinations to quantitatively evaluate (1) gray matter volume and (2) white matter tract fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), and mean diffusivity (MD). Image-derived indices were correlated with (1) global neurological deficits of MRC muscle strength sum score, revised amyotrophic lateral sclerosis functional rating scale (ALSFRS-R), and forced vital capacity (FVC), and (2) focal scores of University of Pennsylvania Upper motor neuron score (Penn score) and the summation of compound muscle action potential Z scores (CMAP Z sum score). RESULTS There were 39 ALS patients and 32 control subjects matched for age and gender. Compared to controls, ALS patients had a lower gray matter volume in the precentral gyrus of the primary motor cortex, which was correlated with FA of corticofugal tracts. The gray matter volume of the precentral gyrus was correlated with FVC, MRC sum score, and CMAP Z sum score, while the FA of the corticospinal tract was linearly associated with CMAP Z sum score and Penn score on multivariate linear regression model. INTERPRETATION This study indicated that clinical assessment of muscle strength and routine measurements on nerve conduction studies provided surrogate markers of brain structural changes for ALS. Furthermore, these findings suggested parallel involvement of both upper and lower motor neurons in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung‐Ju Hsueh
- Department of NeurologyNational Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin BranchDouliu CityYunlin CountyTaiwan
- Department of NeurologyNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chi‐Chao Chao
- Department of NeurologyNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ta‐Fu Chen
- Department of NeurologyNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ya‐Fang Chen
- Department of Medical ImagingNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Hsueh‐Wen Hsueh
- Department of NeurologyNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyNational Taiwan University College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Li‐Kai Tsai
- Department of NeurologyNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of NeurologyNational Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu BranchZhubei CityHsinchu CountyTaiwan
| | - Wen‐Chau Wu
- Department of Medical ImagingNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medical Device and ImagingCollege of MedicineNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Sung‐Tsang Hsieh
- Department of NeurologyNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell BiologyNational Taiwan University College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical MedicineNational Taiwan University College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
- Center of Precision MedicineNational Taiwan University College of MedicineTaipeiTaiwan
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Riku Y, Yoshida M, Iwasaki Y, Sobue G, Katsuno M, Ishigaki S. TDP-43 Proteinopathy and Tauopathy: Do They Have Pathomechanistic Links? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415755. [PMID: 36555399 PMCID: PMC9779029 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Transactivation response DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) and tau are major pathological proteins of neurodegenerative disorders, of which neuronal and glial aggregates are pathological hallmarks. Interestingly, accumulating evidence from neuropathological studies has shown that comorbid TDP-43 pathology is observed in a subset of patients with tauopathies, and vice versa. The concomitant pathology often spreads in a disease-specific manner and has morphological characteristics in each primary disorder. The findings from translational studies have suggested that comorbid TDP-43 or tau pathology has clinical impacts and that the comorbid pathology is not a bystander, but a part of the disease process. Shared genetic risk factors or molecular abnormalities between TDP-43 proteinopathies and tauopathies, and direct interactions between TDP-43 and tau aggregates, have been reported. Further investigations to clarify the pathogenetic factors that are shared by a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders will establish key therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Riku
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 744-8550, Japan
- Correspondence: or
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan
| | - Yasushi Iwasaki
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Graduate School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute 480-1195, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 744-8550, Japan
- Department of Clinical Research Education, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya 744-8550, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Ishigaki
- Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu 520-2192, Japan
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Riku Y, Iwasaki Y, Ishigaki S, Akagi A, Hasegawa M, Nishioka K, Li Y, Riku M, Ikeuchi T, Fujioka Y, Miyahara H, Sone J, Hattori N, Yoshida M, Katsuno M, Sobue G. Motor neuron TDP-43 proteinopathy in progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration. Brain 2022; 145:2769-2784. [PMID: 35274674 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) is mislocalized from the nucleus and aggregates within the cytoplasm of affected neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases. TDP-43 pathology has also been found in brain tissues under non-ALS conditions, suggesting mechanistic links between TDP-43-related ALS (ALS-TDP) and various neurological disorders. This study aimed to assess TDP-43 pathology in the spinal cord motor neurons of tauopathies. We examined 106 spinal cords from consecutively autopsied cases with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP, n = 26), corticobasal degeneration (CBD, n = 12), globular glial tauopathy (GGT, n = 5), Alzheimer's disease (AD, n = 21), or Pick disease (PiD, n = 6) and neurologically healthy controls (n = 36). Ten of the PSP cases (38%) and seven of the CBD cases (58%) showed mislocalization and cytoplasmic aggregation of TDP-43 in spinal cord motor neurons, which was prominent in the cervical cord. TDP-43-aggregates were found to be skein-like, round-shaped, granular, or dot-like and contained insoluble C-terminal fragments showing blotting pattern of ALS or frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The lower motor neurons also showed cystatin-C aggregates, although Bunina bodies were absent in hematoxylin-eosin staining. The spinal cord TDP-43 pathology was often associated with TDP-43 pathology of the primary motor cortex. Positive correlations were shown between the severities of TDP-43 and 4-repeat (4R)-tau aggregates in the cervical cord. TDP-43 and 4R-tau aggregates burdens positively correlated with microglial burden in anterior horn. TDP-43 pathology of spinal cord motor neuron did not develop in an age-dependent manner and was not found in the AD, PiD, GGT, and control groups. Next, we assessed splicing factor proline/glutamine rich (SFPQ) expression in spinal cord motor neurons; SFPQ is a recently-identified regulator of ALS/FTLD pathogenesis, and it is also reported that interaction between SFPQ and fused-in-sarcoma (FUS) regulates splicing of microtubule-associated protein tau exon 10. Immunofluorescent and proximity-ligation assays revealed altered SFPQ/FUS-interactions in the neuronal nuclei of PSP, CBD, and ALS-TDP cases but not in AD, PiD, and GGT cases. Moreover, SFPQ expression was depleted in neurons containing TDP-43 or 4R-tau aggregates of PSP and CBD cases. Our results indicate that PSP and CBD may have properties of systematic motor neuron TDP-43 proteinopathy, suggesting mechanistic links with ALS-TDP. SFPQ dysfunction, arising from altered interaction with FUS, may be a candidate of the common pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Riku
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yasushi Iwasaki
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Ishigaki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akio Akagi
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenya Nishioka
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuanzhe Li
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miho Riku
- Department of Pathology, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ikeuchi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Yusuke Fujioka
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Miyahara
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Jun Sone
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Hattori
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan.,Aichi Medical University, Aichi, Japan
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Pathway from TDP-43-Related Pathology to Neuronal Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22083843. [PMID: 33917673 PMCID: PMC8068029 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transactivation response DNA binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) is known to be a pathologic protein in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). TDP-43 is normally a nuclear protein, but affected neurons of ALS or FTLD patients exhibit mislocalization of nuclear TDP-43 and cytoplasmic inclusions. Basic studies have suggested gain-of-neurotoxicity of aggregated TDP-43 or loss-of-function of intrinsic, nuclear TDP-43. It has also been hypothesized that the aggregated TDP-43 functions as a propagation seed of TDP-43 pathology. However, a mechanistic discrepancy between the TDP-43 pathology and neuronal dysfunctions remains. This article aims to review the observations of TDP-43 pathology in autopsied ALS and FTLD patients and address pathways of neuronal dysfunction related to the neuropathological findings, focusing on impaired clearance of TDP-43 and synaptic alterations in TDP-43-related ALS and FTLD. The former may be relevant to intraneuronal aggregation of TDP-43 and exocytosis of propagation seeds, whereas the latter may be related to neuronal dysfunction induced by TDP-43 pathology. Successful strategies of disease-modifying therapy might arise from further investigation of these subcellular alterations.
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Imai K, Masuda M, Watanabe H, Ogura A, Ohdake R, Tanaka Y, Kato T, Kawabata K, Riku Y, Hara K, Nakamura R, Atsuta N, Bagarinao E, Katahira K, Ohira H, Katsuno M, Sobue G. The neural network basis of altered decision-making in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:2115-2126. [PMID: 33089973 PMCID: PMC7664284 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem disorder associated with motor impairment and behavioral/cognitive involvement. We examined decision-making features and changes in the neural hub network in patients with ALS using a probabilistic reversal learning task and resting-state network analysis, respectively. METHODS Ninety ALS patients and 127 cognitively normal participants performed this task. Data from 62 ALS patients and 63 control participants were fitted to a Q-learning model. RESULTS ALS patients had anomalous decision-making features with little shift in choice until they thought the value of the two alternatives had become equal. The quantified parameters (Pαβ) calculated by logistic regression analysis with learning rate and inverse temperature well represented the unique choice pattern of ALS patients. Resting-state network analysis demonstrated a strong correlation between Pαβ and decreased degree centrality in the anterior cingulate gyrus and frontal pole. INTERPRETATION Altered decision-making in ALS patients may be related to the decreased hub function of medial prefrontal areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazunori Imai
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Michihito Masuda
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | | | - Aya Ogura
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Reiko Ohdake
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tanaka
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Toshiyasu Kato
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuya Kawabata
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yuichi Riku
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Hara
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ryoichi Nakamura
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Naoki Atsuta
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | | | - Kentaro Katahira
- Department of Psychology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hideki Ohira
- Department of Psychology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Informatics, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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8
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Riku Y. Reappraisal of the anatomical spreading and propagation hypothesis about TDP-43 aggregation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Neuropathology 2020; 40:426-435. [PMID: 32157757 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal inclusion of transactivation response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43) is known to be a pathologic hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). TDP-43, which is physiologically a nuclear protein, is mislocalized from the nucleus and aggregated within the cytoplasm of affected neurons in ALS and FTLD patients. Neuropathologic or experimental studies have addressed mechanisms underlying spreading of TDP-43 inclusions in the central nervous system of ALS and FTLD patients. On the basis of postmortem observations, it is hypothesized that TDP-43 inclusions spread along the neural projections. A centrifugal gradient of TDP-43 pathology in certain anatomical systems and axonal or synaptic aggregation of TDP-43 may support the hypothesis. Experimental studies have revealed cell-to-cell propagation of aggregated or truncated TDP-43, which indicates a direct transmission of TDP-43 inclusions to contiguous cells. However, discrepancies remain between the cell-to-cell propagation suggested in the experimental models and the anatomical spreading of TDP-43 aggregations based on postmortem observations. Trans-synaptic transmission, rather than the direct cell-to-cell transmission, may be consistent with the anatomical spreading of TDP-43 aggregations, but cellular mechanisms of trans-synaptic transmission of aggregated proteins remain to be elucidated. Moreover, the spreading of TDP-43 inclusions varies among patients and genetic backgrounds, which indicates host-dependent factors for spreading of TDP-43 aggregations. Perturbation of cellular TDP-43 clearance may be a possible factor modifying the aggregation and spreading. This review discusses postmortem and experimental evidence that address mechanisms of spreading of TDP-43 pathology in the central nervous system of ALS and FTLD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Riku
- Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Neuropathology Raymond Escourolle, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière Charles Foix, Paris, France
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Increased prevalence of granulovacuolar degeneration in C9orf72 mutation. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 138:783-793. [PMID: 31144027 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02028-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Granulovacuolar degeneration (GVD) is usually found in Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases or in elderly individuals. Its severity correlates positively with the density of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Mechanisms underlying GVD formation are unknown. We assessed the prevalence and distribution of GVD in cases with TDP-43-related frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-TDP) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS-TDP). Consecutively autopsied cases with FTLD/ALS-TDP and C9orf72 mutations (FTLD/ALS-C9; N = 29), cases with FTLD/ALS-TDP without C9orf72 mutations (FTLD/ALS-nonC9; N = 46), and age-matched healthy controls (N = 40) were studied. The prevalence of GVD was significantly higher in the FTLD/ALS-C9 cases (26/29 cases) than in the FTLD/ALS-nonC9 cases (15/46 cases; Fisher exact test; p < 2×10-6) or in the control group (12/40 individuals; p < 1×10-6). Average Braak stages and ages of death were not significantly different among the groups. The CA2 sector was most frequently affected in the FTLD/ALS-C9 group, whereas the CA1/subiculum was the most vulnerable area in the other groups. Extension of GVD correlated with the clinical duration of the disease in the FTLD/ALS-C9 cases but not in the FTLD/ALS-nonC9 cases. The GVD-containing neurons frequently had dipeptide repeat (DPR) protein inclusions. GVD granules labeled with antibodies directed against charged multivesicular body protein 2B or casein kinase 1δ were attached to DPR inclusions within GVD. Our results suggest that development of GVD and DPR inclusions is related to common pathogenic mechanisms and that GVD is not only associated with NFTs seen in AD cases or aging individuals.
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Masuda M, Watanabe H, Tanaka Y, Ohdake R, Ogura A, Yokoi T, Imai K, Kawabata K, Riku Y, Hara K, Nakamura R, Atsuta N, Katsuno M, Sobue G. Age-related impairment in Addenbrooke's cognitive examination revised scores in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2018; 19:578-584. [PMID: 30379106 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2018.1510009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Older age is thought to be a risk factor for cognitive impairment in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, very few clinical studies have investigated this relationship using sufficient numbers of healthy controls that correspond to each generation. The purpose of this study was to determine the age-related changes of Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) score in ALS patients by comparing healthy controls of various ages. METHODS 131 ALS patients (86 males, 45 females; mean age: 64.8 ± 10.2; mean education: 12.5 ± 2.7) and 151 age-, gender-, and education-matched healthy controls were enrolled. We applied ACE-R, which could evaluate not only global cognition but five cognitive subdomains that included orientation/attention, memory, verbal fluency, language, and visuospatial ability. RESULTS ALS patients had significantly lower total and subdomain scores of ACE-R than healthy controls. Multiple regression analysis suggested that age at examination and age at onset had significant influence on ACE-R scores. When we divided ALS patients and healthy controls into 4 groups according to age at examination for ALS, total and each subdomain scores were significantly lower with age, particularly in the older-middle and the oldest group (66.31 years or more) of ALS compared with healthy controls. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing analysis supported that these reductions of ACE-R total and subdomain scores in ALS patients were more accelerated by approximately 60 years as compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSION ALS patients showed accelerated age-related ACE-R score reduction beyond normal ageing processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michihito Masuda
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Hirohisa Watanabe
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan.,b Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Tanaka
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan.,b Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Reiko Ohdake
- b Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Aya Ogura
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Takamasa Yokoi
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Kazunori Imai
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Kazuya Kawabata
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Yuichi Riku
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Hara
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Ryoichi Nakamura
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Naoki Atsuta
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- a Department of Neurology , Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine , Nagoya , Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- b Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University , Nagoya , Japan
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Sobue G, Ishigaki S, Watanabe H. Pathogenesis of Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: Insights From Loss of Function Theory and Early Involvement of the Caudate Nucleus. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:473. [PMID: 30050404 PMCID: PMC6052086 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a group of clinically, pathologically and genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders that involve the frontal and temporal lobes. Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), semantic dementia (SD), and progressive non-fluent aphasia (PNFA) are three major clinical syndromes. TDP-43, FUS, and tau are three major pathogenetic proteins. In this review, we first discuss the loss-of-function mechanism of FTLD. We focus on FUS-associated pathogenesis in which FUS is linked to tau by regulating its alternative splicing machinery. Moreover, FUS is associated with abnormalities in post-synaptic formation, which can be an early disease marker of FTLD. Second, we discuss clinical and pathological aspects of FTLD. Recently, FTLD and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been recognized as the same disease entity; indeed, nearly all sporadic ALS cases show TDP-43 pathology irrespective of FTD phenotype. Thus, investigating early structural and network changes in the FTLD/ALS continuum can be useful for developing early diagnostic markers of FTLD. MRI studies have revealed the involvement of the caudate nucleus and its anatomical networks in association with the early phase of behavioral/cognitive decline in FTLD/ALS. In particular, even ALS patients with normal cognition have shown a significant decrease in structural connectivity between the caudate head networks. In pathological studies, FTLD/ALS has shown striatal involvement of both efferent system components and glutamatergic inputs from the cerebral cortices even in ALS patients. Thus, the caudate nucleus may be primarily associated with behavioral abnormality and cognitive involvement in FTLD/ALS. Although several clinical trials have been conducted, there is still no therapy that can change the disease course in patients with FTLD. Therefore, there is an urgent need to establish a strategy for predominant sporadic FTLD cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gen Sobue
- Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Brain and Mind Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Ishigaki
- Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Brain and Mind Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Watanabe
- Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Brain and Mind Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
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Synapse loss in the prefrontal cortex is associated with cognitive decline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2018; 135:213-226. [PMID: 29273900 PMCID: PMC5773656 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1797-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In addition to motor neurone degeneration, up to 50% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients present with cognitive decline. Understanding the neurobiological changes underlying these cognitive deficits is critical, as cognitively impaired patients exhibit a shorter survival time from symptom onset. Given the pathogenic role of synapse loss in other neurodegenerative diseases in which cognitive decline is apparent, such as Alzheimer’s disease, we aimed to assess synaptic integrity in the ALS brain. Here, we have applied a unique combination of high-resolution imaging of post-mortem tissue with neuropathology, genetic screening and cognitive profiling of ALS cases. Analyses of more than 1 million synapses using two complimentary high-resolution techniques (electron microscopy and array tomography) revealed a loss of synapses from the prefrontal cortex of ALS patients. Importantly, synapse loss was significantly greater in cognitively impaired cases and was not due to cortical atrophy, nor associated with dementia-associated neuropathology. Interestingly, we found a trend between pTDP-43 pathology and synapse loss in the frontal cortex and discovered pTDP-43 puncta at a subset of synapses in the ALS brains. From these data, we postulate that synapse loss in the prefrontal cortex represents an underlying neurobiological substrate of cognitive decline in ALS.
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