1
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Zhu Y, Burg T, Neyrinck K, Vervliet T, Nami F, Vervoort E, Ahuja K, Sassano ML, Chai YC, Tharkeshwar AK, De Smedt J, Hu H, Bultynck G, Agostinis P, Swinnen JV, Van Den Bosch L, da Costa RFM, Verfaillie C. Disruption of MAM integrity in mutant FUS oligodendroglial progenitors from hiPSCs. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:6. [PMID: 38170217 PMCID: PMC10764485 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02666-x] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by selective loss of motor neurons (MNs). A number of causative genetic mutations underlie the disease, including mutations in the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene, which can lead to both juvenile and late-onset ALS. Although ALS results from MN death, there is evidence that dysfunctional glial cells, including oligodendroglia, contribute to neurodegeneration. Here, we used human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) with a R521H or a P525L mutation in FUS and their isogenic controls to generate oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) by inducing SOX10 expression from a TET-On SOX10 cassette. Mutant and control iPSCs differentiated efficiently into OPCs. RNA sequencing identified a myelin sheath-related phenotype in mutant OPCs. Lipidomic studies demonstrated defects in myelin-related lipids, with a reduction of glycerophospholipids in mutant OPCs. Interestingly, FUSR521H OPCs displayed a decrease in the phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine ratio, known to be associated with maintaining membrane integrity. A proximity ligation assay further indicated that mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAM) were diminished in both mutant FUS OPCs. Moreover, both mutant FUS OPCs displayed increased susceptibility to ER stress when exposed to thapsigargin, and exhibited impaired mitochondrial respiration and reduced Ca2+ signaling from ER Ca2+ stores. Taken together, these results demonstrate a pathological role of mutant FUS in OPCs, causing defects in lipid metabolism associated with MAM disruption manifested by impaired mitochondrial metabolism with increased susceptibility to ER stress and with suppressed physiological Ca2+ signaling. As such, further exploration of the role of oligodendrocyte dysfunction in the demise of MNs is crucial and will provide new insights into the complex cellular mechanisms underlying ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingli Zhu
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Thibaut Burg
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien Neyrinck
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tim Vervliet
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Signalling, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Fatemeharefeh Nami
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen Vervoort
- Laboratory of Cell Death Research and Therapy, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Karan Ahuja
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Section, Department of Biology, Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maria Livia Sassano
- Laboratory of Cell Death Research and Therapy, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yoke Chin Chai
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Arun Kumar Tharkeshwar
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonathan De Smedt
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Haibo Hu
- National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Hakka Medical Resources Branch, School of Pharmacy, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Geert Bultynck
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Signalling, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrizia Agostinis
- Laboratory of Cell Death Research and Therapy, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johannes V Swinnen
- Laboratory of Lipid Metabolism and Cancer, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB, Center for Brain and Disease Research, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Catherine Verfaillie
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
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Kim SC, Mitchell SJ, Qamar S, Whitcomb DJ, Ruepp MD, St George-Hyslop P, Cho K. Mimicking hypomethylation of FUS requires liquid-liquid phase separation to induce synaptic dysfunctions. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:199. [PMID: 38105257 PMCID: PMC10726623 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01703-w] [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: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The hypomethylation of fused in sarcoma (FUS) in frontotemporal lobar degeneration promotes the formation of irreversible condensates of FUS. However, the mechanisms by which these hypomethylated FUS condensates cause neuronal dysfunction are unknown. Here we report that expression of FUS constructs mimicking hypomethylated FUS causes aberrant dendritic FUS condensates in CA1 neurons. These hypomethylated FUS condensates exhibit spontaneous, and activity induced movement within the dendrite. They impair excitatory synaptic transmission, postsynaptic density-95 expression, and dendritic spine plasticity. These neurophysiological defects are dependent upon both the dendritic localisation of the condensates, and their ability to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation. These results indicate that the irreversible liquid-liquid phase separation is a key component of hypomethylated FUS pathophysiology in sporadic FTLD, and this can cause synapse dysfunction in sporadic FTLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Chan Kim
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, UK-Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Scott J Mitchell
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, UK-Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Seema Qamar
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, UK
| | | | - Marc-David Ruepp
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, UK-Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Peter St George-Hyslop
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, UK
- Department of Medicine (Division of Neurology), University Health Network and Tanz Centre for Research In Neurodegenerative Diseases, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H2, Canada
- Taub Institute For Research On Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 630 West 168 Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Kwangwook Cho
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, UK-Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK.
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3
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Shimizu T, Nakayama Y, Hayashi K, Mochizuki Y, Matsuda C, Haraguchi M, Bokuda K, Komori T, Takahashi K. Somatosensory pathway dysfunction in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in a completely locked-in state. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 156:253-261. [PMID: 37827876 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate somatosensory pathway function in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) dependent on invasive ventilation and in a completely locked-in state (CLIS). METHODS We examined median nerve somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) in 17 ALS patients in a CLIS, including 11 patients with sporadic ALS, one with familial ALS with genes not examined, four with a Cu/Zn superoxide-dismutase-1 (SOD1) gene variant (Val118Leu, Gly93Ser, Cys146Arg), and one with a fused-in-sarcoma gene variant (P525L). We evaluated N9, N13, N20 and P25, and central conduction time (CCT); the data were compared with those of 73 healthy controls. RESULTS N20 and N13 were abolished in 12 and 10 patients, and their latencies was prolonged in four and three patients, respectively. The CCT was prolonged in five patients with measurable N13 and N20. Two patients with SOD1 gene mutations had absent or slightly visible N9. Compared to the CCT and latencies and amplitudes of N13 and N20 in the controls, those in the patient cohort were significantly abnormal. CONCLUSIONS The central somatosensory pathway is severely involved in patients with ALS in a CLIS. SIGNIFICANCE Our findings suggest that median nerve SEP cannot be utilized for communication in patients with ALS in a CLIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshio Shimizu
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Yuki Nakayama
- Unit for Intractable Disease Nursing Care, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Hayashi
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoko Mochizuki
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Kita Medical and Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chiharu Matsuda
- Unit for Intractable Disease Nursing Care, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Michiko Haraguchi
- Unit for Intractable Disease Nursing Care, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kota Bokuda
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Komori
- Department of Neuropathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazushi Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
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Pelaez MC, Desmeules A, Gelon PA, Glasson B, Marcadet L, Rodgers A, Phaneuf D, Pozzi S, Dutchak PA, Julien JP, Sephton CF. Neuronal dysfunction caused by FUSR521G promotes ALS-associated phenotypes that are attenuated by NF-κB inhibition. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:182. [PMID: 37974279 PMCID: PMC10652582 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01671-1] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are related neurodegenerative diseases that belong to a common disease spectrum based on overlapping clinical, pathological and genetic evidence. Early pathological changes to the morphology and synapses of affected neuron populations in ALS/FTD suggest a common underlying mechanism of disease that requires further investigation. Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is a DNA/RNA-binding protein with known genetic and pathological links to ALS/FTD. Expression of ALS-linked FUS mutants in mice causes cognitive and motor defects, which correlate with loss of motor neuron dendritic branching and synapses, in addition to other pathological features of ALS/FTD. The role of ALS-linked FUS mutants in causing ALS/FTD-associated disease phenotypes is well established, but there are significant gaps in our understanding of the cell-autonomous role of FUS in promoting structural changes to motor neurons, and how these changes relate to disease progression. Here we generated a neuron-specific FUS-transgenic mouse model expressing the ALS-linked human FUSR521G variant, hFUSR521G/Syn1, to investigate the cell-autonomous role of FUSR521G in causing loss of dendritic branching and synapses of motor neurons, and to understand how these changes relate to ALS-associated phenotypes. Longitudinal analysis of mice revealed that cognitive impairments in juvenile hFUSR521G/Syn1 mice coincide with reduced dendritic branching of cortical motor neurons in the absence of motor impairments or changes in the neuromorphology of spinal motor neurons. Motor impairments and dendritic attrition of spinal motor neurons developed later in aged hFUSR521G/Syn1 mice, along with FUS cytoplasmic mislocalisation, mitochondrial abnormalities and glial activation. Neuroinflammation promotes neuronal dysfunction and drives disease progression in ALS/FTD. The therapeutic effects of inhibiting the pro-inflammatory nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway with an analog of Withaferin A, IMS-088, were assessed in symptomatic hFUSR521G/Syn1 mice and were found to improve cognitive and motor function, increase dendritic branches and synapses of motor neurons, and attenuate other ALS/FTD-associated pathological features. Treatment of primary cortical neurons expressing FUSR521G with IMS-088 promoted the restoration of dendritic mitochondrial numbers and mitochondrial activity to wild-type levels, suggesting that inhibition of NF-κB permits the restoration of mitochondrial stasis in our models. Collectively, this work demonstrates that FUSR521G has a cell-autonomous role in causing early pathological changes to dendritic and synaptic structures of motor neurons, and that these changes precede motor defects and other well-known pathological features of ALS/FTD. Finally, these findings provide further support that modulation of the NF-κB pathway in ALS/FTD is an important therapeutic approach to attenuate disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari Carmen Pelaez
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Antoine Desmeules
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Pauline A Gelon
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Bastien Glasson
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Laetitia Marcadet
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Alicia Rodgers
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Daniel Phaneuf
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Silvia Pozzi
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Paul A Dutchak
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Chantelle F Sephton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
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5
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Suzuki N, Nishiyama A, Warita H, Aoki M. Genetics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: seeking therapeutic targets in the era of gene therapy. J Hum Genet 2023; 68:131-152. [PMID: 35691950 PMCID: PMC9968660 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-022-01055-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an intractable disease that causes respiratory failure leading to mortality. The main locus of ALS is motor neurons. The success of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a motor neuron disease, has triggered a paradigm shift in developing ALS therapies. The causative genes of ALS and disease-modifying genes, including those of sporadic ALS, have been identified one after another. Thus, the freedom of target choice for gene therapy has expanded by ASO strategy, leading to new avenues for therapeutic development. Tofersen for superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was a pioneer in developing ASO for ALS. Improving protocols and devising early interventions for the disease are vital. In this review, we updated the knowledge of causative genes in ALS. We summarized the genetic mutations identified in familial ALS and their clinical features, focusing on SOD1, fused in sarcoma (FUS), and transacting response DNA-binding protein. The frequency of the C9ORF72 mutation is low in Japan, unlike in Europe and the United States, while SOD1 and FUS are more common, indicating that the target mutations for gene therapy vary by ethnicity. A genome-wide association study has revealed disease-modifying genes, which could be the novel target of gene therapy. The current status and prospects of gene therapy development were discussed, including ethical issues. Furthermore, we discussed the potential of axonal pathology as new therapeutic targets of ALS from the perspective of early intervention, including intra-axonal transcription factors, neuromuscular junction disconnection, dysregulated local translation, abnormal protein degradation, mitochondrial pathology, impaired axonal transport, aberrant cytoskeleton, and axon branching. We simultaneously discuss important pathological states of cell bodies: persistent stress granules, disrupted nucleocytoplasmic transport, and cryptic splicing. The development of gene therapy based on the elucidation of disease-modifying genes and early intervention in molecular pathology is expected to become an important therapeutic strategy in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Ayumi Nishiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Warita
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
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Gelon PA, Dutchak PA, Sephton CF. Synaptic dysfunction in ALS and FTD: anatomical and molecular changes provide insights into mechanisms of disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1000183. [PMID: 36263379 PMCID: PMC9575515 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1000183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptic loss is a pathological feature of all neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). ALS is a disease of the cortical and spinal motor neurons resulting in fatal paralysis due to denervation of muscles. FTD is a form of dementia that primarily affects brain regions controlling cognition, language and behavior. Once classified as two distinct diseases, ALS and FTD are now considered as part of a common disease spectrum based on overlapping clinical, pathological and genetic evidence. At the cellular level, aggregation of common proteins and overlapping gene susceptibilities are shared in both ALS and FTD. Despite the convergence of these two fields of research, the underlying disease mechanisms remain elusive. However, recent discovers from ALS and FTD patient studies and models of ALS/FTD strongly suggests that synaptic dysfunction is an early event in the disease process and a unifying hallmark of these diseases. This review provides a summary of the reported anatomical and cellular changes that occur in cortical and spinal motor neurons in ALS and FTD tissues and models of disease. We also highlight studies that identify changes in the proteome and transcriptome of ALS and FTD models and provide a conceptual overview of the processes that contribute to synaptic dysfunction in these diseases. Due to space limitations and the vast number of publications in the ALS and FTD fields, many articles have not been discussed in this review. As such, this review focuses on the three most common shared mutations in ALS and FTD, the hexanucleuotide repeat expansion within intron 1 of chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72), transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TARDBP or TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS), with the intention of highlighting common pathways that promote synaptic dysfunction in the ALS-FTD disease spectrum.
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7
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Jensen BK, McAvoy KJ, Heinsinger NM, Lepore AC, Ilieva H, Haeusler AR, Trotti D, Pasinelli P. Targeting TNFα produced by astrocytes expressing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked mutant fused in sarcoma prevents neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction in mice. Glia 2022; 70:1426-1449. [PMID: 35474517 PMCID: PMC9540310 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Genetic mutations that cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressively lethal motor neuron disease, are commonly found in ubiquitously expressed genes. In addition to direct defects within motor neurons, growing evidence suggests that dysfunction of non-neuronal cells is also an important driver of disease. Previously, we demonstrated that mutations in DNA/RNA binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) induce neurotoxic phenotypes in astrocytes in vitro, via activation of the NF-κB pathway and release of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα. Here, we developed an intraspinal cord injection model to test whether astrocyte-specific expression of ALS-causative FUSR521G variant (mtFUS) causes neuronal damage in vivo. We show that restricted expression of mtFUS in astrocytes is sufficient to induce death of spinal motor neurons leading to motor deficits through upregulation of TNFα. We further demonstrate that TNFα is a key toxic molecule as expression of mtFUS in TNFα knockout animals does not induce pathogenic changes. Accordingly, in mtFUS-transduced animals, administration of TNFα neutralizing antibodies prevents neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction. Together, these studies strengthen evidence that astrocytes contribute to disease in ALS and establish, for the first time, that FUS-ALS astrocytes induce pathogenic changes to motor neurons in vivo. Our work identifies TNFα as the critical driver of mtFUS-astrocytic toxicity and demonstrates therapeutic success of targeting TNFα to attenuate motor neuron dysfunction and death. Ultimately, through defining and subsequently targeting this toxic mechanism, we provide a viable FUS-ALS specific therapeutic strategy, which may also be applicable to sporadic ALS where FUS activity and cellular localization are frequently perturbed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigid K. Jensen
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Kevin J. McAvoy
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Present address:
Manfredi LaboratoryWeill Cornell Medicine, Cornell UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Nicolette M. Heinsinger
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Angelo C. Lepore
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Hristelina Ilieva
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Aaron R. Haeusler
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Davide Trotti
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Piera Pasinelli
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
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8
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Nogami M, Ishikawa M, Doi A, Sano O, Sone T, Akiyama T, Aoki M, Nakanishi A, Ogi K, Yano M, Okano H. Identification of hub molecules of FUS-ALS by Bayesian gene regulatory network analysis of iPSC model: iBRN. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 155:105364. [PMID: 33857636 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fused in sarcoma/translated in liposarcoma (FUS) is a causative gene of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutated FUS causes accumulation of DNA damage and cytosolic stress granule (SG) formation, thereby motor neuron (MN) death. However, key molecular aetiology remains unclear. Here, we applied a novel platform technology, iBRN, "Non- biased" Bayesian gene regulatory network analysis based on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell model, to elucidate the molecular aetiology using transcriptome of iPSC-derived MNs harboring FUSH517D. iBRN revealed "hub molecules", which strongly influenced transcriptome network, such as miR-125b-5p-TIMELESS axis and PRKDC for the molecular aetiology. Next, we confirmed miR-125b-5p-TIMELESS axis in FUSH517D MNs such that miR-125b-5p regulated several DNA repair-related genes including TIMELESS. In addition, we validated both introduction of miR-125b-5p and knocking down of TIMELESS caused DNA damage in the cell culture model. Furthermore, PRKDC was strongly associated with FUS mis-localization into SGs by DNA damage under impaired DNA-PK activity. Collectively, our iBRN strategy provides the first compelling evidence to elucidate molecular aetiology in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Nogami
- Innovative Biology Laboratories, Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa 251-8555, Japan; Shonan Incubation Laboratories, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa 251-8555, Japan.
| | - Mitsuru Ishikawa
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | | | - Osamu Sano
- Innovative Biology Laboratories, Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Takefumi Sone
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Akiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Atsushi Nakanishi
- Shonan Incubation Laboratories, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa 251-8555, Japan; T-CiRA Discovery, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Ogi
- Innovative Biology Laboratories, Neuroscience Drug Discovery Unit, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa 251-8555, Japan; Shonan Incubation Laboratories, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Masato Yano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Division of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata 951-8510, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
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9
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Ishigaki S, Riku Y, Fujioka Y, Endo K, Iwade N, Kawai K, Ishibashi M, Yokoi S, Katsuno M, Watanabe H, Mori K, Akagi A, Yokota O, Terada S, Kawakami I, Suzuki N, Warita H, Aoki M, Yoshida M, Sobue G. Aberrant interaction between FUS and SFPQ in neurons in a wide range of FTLD spectrum diseases. Brain 2020; 143:2398-2405. [PMID: 32770214 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is genetically and clinicopathologically linked to frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We have previously reported that intranuclear interactions of FUS and splicing factor, proline- and glutamine-rich (SFPQ) contribute to neuronal homeostasis. Disruption of the FUS-SFPQ interaction leads to an increase in the ratio of 4-repeat tau (4R-tau)/3-repeat tau (3R-tau), which manifests in FTLD-like phenotypes in mice. Here, we examined FUS-SFPQ interactions in 142 autopsied individuals with FUS-related ALS/FTLD (ALS/FTLD-FUS), TDP-43-related ALS/FTLD (ALS/FTLD-TDP), progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, or Pick's disease as well as controls. Immunofluorescent imaging showed impaired intranuclear co-localization of FUS and SFPQ in neurons of ALS/FTLD-FUS, ALS/FTLD-TDP, progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration cases, but not in Alzheimer's disease or Pick's disease cases. Immunoprecipitation analyses of FUS and SFPQ revealed reduced interactions between the two proteins in ALS/FTLD-TDP and progressive supranuclear palsy cases, but not in those with Alzheimer disease. Furthermore, the ratio of 4R/3R-tau was elevated in cases with ALS/FTLD-TDP and progressive supranuclear palsy, but was largely unaffected in cases with Alzheimer disease. We concluded that impaired interactions between intranuclear FUS and SFPQ and the subsequent increase in the ratio of 4R/3R-tau constitute a common pathogenesis pathway in FTLD spectrum diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsuke Ishigaki
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Research Division of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuichi Riku
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yusuke Fujioka
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kuniyuki Endo
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Iwade
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kaori Kawai
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Research Division of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Minaka Ishibashi
- Research Division of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yokoi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Watanabe
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
| | - Keiko Mori
- Department of Neurology, Oyamada Memorial Spa Hospital, Yokkaichi, Mie, Japan
| | - Akio Akagi
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Osamu Yokota
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Kinoko Espoir Hospital, Kasaoka, Okayama, Japan
| | - Seishi Terada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Ito Kawakami
- Dementia Research project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Sciences, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Warita
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Research Division of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
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10
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Nolan M, Scott C, Gamarallage MP, Lunn D, Carpenter K, McDonough E, Meyer D, Kaanumalle S, Santamaria-Pang A, Turner MR, Talbot K, Ansorge O. Quantitative patterns of motor cortex proteinopathy across ALS genotypes. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:98. [PMID: 32616036 PMCID: PMC7331195 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-00961-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Degeneration of the primary motor cortex is a defining feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is associated with the accumulation of microscopic protein aggregates in neurons and glia. However, little is known about the quantitative burden and pattern of motor cortex proteinopathies across ALS genotypes. We combined quantitative digital image analysis with multi-level generalized linear modelling in an independent cohort of 82 ALS cases to explore the relationship between genotype, total proteinopathy load and cellular vulnerability to aggregate formation. Primary motor cortex phosphorylated (p)TDP-43 burden and microglial activation were more severe in sporadic ALS-TDP disease than C9-ALS. Oligodendroglial pTDP-43 pathology was a defining feature of ALS-TDP in sporadic ALS, C9-ALS and ALS with OPTN, HNRNPA1 or TARDBP mutations. ALS-FUS and ALS-SOD1 showed less cortical proteinopathy in relation to spinal cord pathology than ALS-TDP, where pathology was more evenly spread across the motor cortex-spinal cord axis. Neuronal pTDP-43 aggregates were rare in GAD67+ and Parvalbumin+ inhibitory interneurons, consistent with predominant accumulation in excitatory neurons. Finally, we show that cortical microglia, but not astrocytes, contain pTDP-43. Our findings suggest divergent quantitative, genotype-specific vulnerability of the ALS primary motor cortex to proteinopathies, which may have implications for our understanding of disease pathogenesis and the development of genotype-specific therapies.
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11
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Anesthetic management of a parturient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis undergoing cesarean section. Chin Med J (Engl) 2020; 133:1371-1372. [PMID: 32398520 PMCID: PMC7289292 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000000809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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12
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Aberrant axon branching via Fos-B dysregulation in FUS-ALS motor neurons. EBioMedicine 2019; 45:362-378. [PMID: 31262712 PMCID: PMC6642224 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The characteristic structure of motor neurons (MNs), particularly of the long axons, becomes damaged in the early stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the molecular pathophysiology of axonal degeneration remains to be fully elucidated. Method Two sets of isogenic human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSCs)-derived MNs possessing the single amino acid difference (p.H517D) in the fused in sarcoma (FUS) were constructed. By combining MN reporter lentivirus, MN specific phenotype was analyzed. Moreover, RNA profiling of isolated axons were conducted by applying the microfluidic devices that enable axon bundles to be produced for omics analysis. The relationship between the target gene, which was identified as a pathological candidate in ALS with RNA-sequencing, and the MN phenotype was confirmed by intervention with si-RNA or overexpression to hiPSCs-derived MNs and even in vivo. The commonality was further confirmed with other ALS-causative mutant hiPSCs-derived MNs and human pathology. Findings We identified aberrant increasing of axon branchings in FUS-mutant hiPSCs-derived MN axons compared with isogenic controls as a novel phenotype. We identified increased level of Fos-B mRNA, the binding target of FUS, in FUS-mutant MNs. While Fos-B reduction using si-RNA or an inhibitor ameliorated the observed aberrant axon branching, Fos-B overexpression resulted in aberrant axon branching even in vivo. The commonality of those phenotypes was further confirmed with other ALS causative mutation than FUS. Interpretation Analyzing the axonal fraction of hiPSC-derived MNs using microfluidic devices revealed that Fos-B is a key regulator of FUS-mutant axon branching. Fund Japan Agency for Medical Research and development; Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Clinical Research, Innovation and Education Center, Tohoku University Hospital; Japan Intractable Diseases (Nanbyo) Research Foundation; the Kanae Foundation for the Promotion of Medical Science; and “Inochi-no-Iro” ALS research grant.
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13
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Hoch-Kraft P, Trotter J, Gonsior C. Missing in Action: Dysfunctional RNA Metabolism in Oligodendroglial Cells as a Contributor to Neurodegenerative Diseases? Neurochem Res 2019; 45:566-579. [PMID: 30843138 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-019-02763-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The formation of myelin around axons by oligodendrocytes (OL) poses an enormous synthetic and energy challenge for the glial cell. Local translation of transcripts, including the mRNA for the essential myelin protein Myelin Basic Protein (MBP) at the site of myelin deposition has been recognised as an efficient mechanism to assure proper myelin sheath assembly. Oligodendroglial precursor cells (OPCs) form synapses with neurons and may localise many additional mRNAs in a similar fashion to synapses between neurons. In some diseases in which demyelination occurs, an abundance of OPCs is present but there is a failure to efficiently remyelinate and to synthesise MBP. This compromises axonal survival and function. OPCs are especially sensitive to cellular stress as occurring in neurodegenerative diseases, which can impinge on their ability to translate mRNAs into protein. Stress causes the build up of cytoplasmic stress granules (SG) in which many RNAs are sequestered and translationally stalled until the stress ceases. Chronic stress in particular could convert this initially protective reaction of the cell into damage, as persistence of SG may lead to pathological aggregate formation or long-term translation block of SG-associated RNAs. The recent recognition that many neurodegenerative diseases often exhibit an early white matter pathology with a proliferation of surviving OPCs, renders a study of the stress-associated processes in oligodendrocytes and OPCs especially relevant. Here, we discuss a potential dysfunction of RNA regulation in myelin diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Vanishing white matter disease (VWM) and potential contributions of OL dysfunction to neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Fragile X syndrome (FXS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hoch-Kraft
- Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Anselm-Franz-von-Bentzelweg 3, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jacqueline Trotter
- Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Anselm-Franz-von-Bentzelweg 3, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Constantin Gonsior
- Cellular Neurobiology, Institute for Developmental Biology and Neurobiology, Johannes Gutenberg-University of Mainz, Anselm-Franz-von-Bentzelweg 3, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
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14
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Eura N, Sugie K, Suzuki N, Kiriyama T, Izumi T, Shimakura N, Kato M, Aoki M. A juvenile sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis case with P525L mutation in the FUS gene: A rare co-occurrence of autism spectrum disorder and tremor. J Neurol Sci 2019; 398:67-68. [PMID: 30684766 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2019.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyuki Eura
- Department of Neurology, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.
| | - Kazuma Sugie
- Department of Neurology, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.
| | - Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
| | - Takao Kiriyama
- Department of Neurology, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.
| | - Tesseki Izumi
- Department of Neurology, Nara Medical University School of Medicine, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.
| | - Naoko Shimakura
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
| | - Masaaki Kato
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan.
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15
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Kia A, McAvoy K, Krishnamurthy K, Trotti D, Pasinelli P. Astrocytes expressing ALS-linked mutant FUS induce motor neuron death through release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Glia 2018; 66:1016-1033. [PMID: 29380416 PMCID: PMC5873384 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in fused in sarcoma (FUS) are linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons. While it is established that astrocytes contribute to the death of motor neurons in ALS, the specific contribution of mutant FUS (mutFUS) through astrocytes has not yet been studied. Here, we used primary astrocytes expressing a N‐terminally GFP tagged R521G mutant or wild‐type FUS (WTFUS) and show that mutFUS‐expressing astrocytes undergo astrogliosis, damage co‐cultured motor neurons via activation of an inflammatory response and produce conditioned medium (ACM) that is toxic to motor neurons in isolation. Time lapse imaging shows that motor neuron cultures exposed to mutFUS ACM, but not WTFUS ACM, undergo significant cell loss, which is preceded by progressive degeneration of neurites. We found that Tumor Necrosis Factor‐Alpha (TNFα) is secreted into ACM of mutFUS‐expressing astrocytes. Accordingly, mutFUS astrocyte‐mediated motor neuron toxicity is blocked by targeting soluble TNFα with neutralizing antibodies. We also found that mutant astrocytes trigger changes to motor neuron AMPA receptors (AMPAR) that render them susceptible to excitotoxicity and AMPAR‐mediated cell death. Our data provide the first evidence of astrocytic involvement in FUS‐ALS, identify TNFα as a mediator of this toxicity, and provide several potential therapeutic targets to protect motor neurons in FUS‐linked ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azadeh Kia
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, 19107
| | - Kevin McAvoy
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, 19107
| | - Karthik Krishnamurthy
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, 19107
| | - Davide Trotti
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, 19107
| | - Piera Pasinelli
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie & Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, 19107
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16
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Mackenzie IRA, Neumann M. Fused in Sarcoma Neuropathology in Neurodegenerative Disease. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2017; 7:cshperspect.a024299. [PMID: 28096243 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a024299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal intracellular accumulation of the fused in sarcoma (FUS) protein is the characteristic pathological feature of cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by FUS mutations (ALS-FUS) and several uncommon disorders that may present with sporadic frontotemporal dementia (FTLD-FUS). Although these findings provide further support for the concept that ALS and FTD are closely related clinical syndromes with an overlapping molecular basis, important differences in the pathological features and results from experimental models indicate that ALS-FUS and FTLD-FUS have distinct pathogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian R A Mackenzie
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Manuela Neumann
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Tübingen and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen 72076, Germany
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17
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Kapeli K, Martinez FJ, Yeo GW. Genetic mutations in RNA-binding proteins and their roles in ALS. Hum Genet 2017; 136:1193-1214. [PMID: 28762175 PMCID: PMC5602095 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-017-1830-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in genes that encode RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) have emerged as critical determinants of neurological diseases, especially motor neuron disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). RBPs are involved in all aspects of RNA processing, controlling the life cycle of RNAs from synthesis to degradation. Hallmark features of RBPs in neuron dysfunction include misregulation of RNA processing, mislocalization of RBPs to the cytoplasm, and abnormal aggregation of RBPs. Much progress has been made in understanding how ALS-associated mutations in RBPs drive pathogenesis. Here, we focus on several key RBPs involved in ALS—TDP-43, HNRNP A2/B1, HNRNP A1, FUS, EWSR1, and TAF15—and review our current understanding of how mutations in these proteins cause disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katannya Kapeli
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore
| | - Fernando J Martinez
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program and Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Gene W Yeo
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117593, Singapore.
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program and Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
- Molecular Engineering Laboratory, A*STAR, Singapore, 138673, Singapore.
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18
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Scekic-Zahirovic J, Oussini HE, Mersmann S, Drenner K, Wagner M, Sun Y, Allmeroth K, Dieterlé S, Sinniger J, Dirrig-Grosch S, René F, Dormann D, Haass C, Ludolph AC, Lagier-Tourenne C, Storkebaum E, Dupuis L. Motor neuron intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms contribute to the pathogenesis of FUS-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 133:887-906. [PMID: 28243725 PMCID: PMC5427169 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1687-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2016] [Revised: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Motor neuron-extrinsic mechanisms have been shown to participate in the pathogenesis of ALS-SOD1, one familial form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It remains unclear whether such mechanisms contribute to other familial forms, such as TDP-43 and FUS-associated ALS. Here, we characterize a single-copy mouse model of ALS-FUS that conditionally expresses a disease-relevant truncating FUS mutant from the endogenous murine Fus gene. We show that these mice, but not mice heterozygous for a Fus null allele, develop similar pathology as ALS-FUS patients and a mild motor neuron phenotype. Most importantly, CRE-mediated rescue of the Fus mutation within motor neurons prevented degeneration of motor neuron cell bodies, but only delayed appearance of motor symptoms. Indeed, we observed downregulation of multiple myelin-related genes, and increased numbers of oligodendrocytes in the spinal cord supporting their contribution to behavioral deficits. In all, we show that mutant FUS triggers toxic events in both motor neurons and neighboring cells to elicit motor neuron disease.
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19
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Ichiyanagi N, Fujimori K, Yano M, Ishihara-Fujisaki C, Sone T, Akiyama T, Okada Y, Akamatsu W, Matsumoto T, Ishikawa M, Nishimoto Y, Ishihara Y, Sakuma T, Yamamoto T, Tsuiji H, Suzuki N, Warita H, Aoki M, Okano H. Establishment of In Vitro FUS-Associated Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Model Using Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2016; 6:496-510. [PMID: 26997647 PMCID: PMC4834049 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2015] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a late-onset motor neuron disorder. Although its neuropathology is well understood, the cellular and molecular mechanisms are yet to be elucidated due to limitations in the currently available human genetic data. In this study, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) from two familial ALS (FALS) patients with a missense mutation in the fused-in sarcoma (FUS) gene carrying the heterozygous FUS H517D mutation, and isogenic iPSCs with the homozygous FUS H517D mutation by genome editing technology. These cell-derived motor neurons mimicked several neurodegenerative phenotypes including mis-localization of FUS into cytosolic and stress granules under stress conditions, and cellular vulnerability. Moreover, exon array analysis using motor neuron precursor cells (MPCs) combined with CLIP-seq datasets revealed aberrant gene expression and/or splicing pattern in FALS MPCs. These results suggest that iPSC-derived motor neurons are a useful tool for analyzing the pathogenesis of human motor neuron disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Ichiyanagi
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Koki Fujimori
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Masato Yano
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Division of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757, Asahimachidori, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8510, Japan.
| | - Chikako Ishihara-Fujisaki
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Takefumi Sone
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Akiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan
| | - Yohei Okada
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan; Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, 1-1 Yazako Karimata, Nagakute, Aichi 480-1195, Japan
| | - Wado Akamatsu
- Center for Genomic and Regenerative Medicine, Graduated School of Medicine, Juntendo University, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Takuya Matsumoto
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Ishikawa
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Nishimoto
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Ishihara
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Sakuma
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamamoto
- Department of Mathematical and Life Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1 Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
| | - Hitomi Tsuiji
- Department of Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University, 3-1 Tanabe-dori, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8603, Japan
| | - Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Warita
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
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20
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Akiyama T, Warita H, Kato M, Nishiyama A, Izumi R, Ikeda C, Kamada M, Suzuki N, Aoki M. Genotype-phenotype relationships in familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with FUS/TLS mutations in Japan. Muscle Nerve 2016; 54:398-404. [PMID: 26823199 DOI: 10.1002/mus.25061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We investigated possible genotype-phenotype correlations in Japanese patients with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS) carrying fused in sarcoma/translated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS) gene mutations. METHODS A consecutive series of 111 Japanese FALS pedigrees were screened for copper/zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and FUS/TLS gene mutations. Clinical data, including onset age, onset site, disease duration, and extramotor symptoms, were collected. RESULTS Nine different FUS/TLS mutations were found in 12 pedigrees. Most of the patients with FUS/TLS-linked FALS demonstrated early onset in the brainstem/upper cervical region, and relatively short disease duration. A few mutations exhibited phenotypes that were distinct from typical cases. Frontotemporal dementia was present in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed a characteristic phenotype in FUS/TLS-linked FALS patients in Japan. FUS/TLS screening is recommended in patients with FALS with this phenotype. Muscle Nerve 54: 398-404, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Akiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Warita
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kato
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Ayumi Nishiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Rumiko Izumi
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Chikako Ikeda
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Masaki Kamada
- Department of Neurological Intractable Disease Research, Kagawa University Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa, Japan
| | - Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8574, Japan
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FUS/TLS-Immunoreactive Neuronal and Glial Cell Inclusions Increase With Disease Duration in Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis With an R521C FUS/TLS Mutation: Erratum. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2015. [DOI: 10.1097/nen.0000000000000237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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22
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Stepwise acquirement of hallmark neuropathology in FUS-ALS iPSC models depends on mutation type and neuronal aging. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 82:420-429. [PMID: 26253605 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2015] [Revised: 07/25/2015] [Accepted: 07/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Autosomal-dominant mutations within the gene FUS (fused in sarcoma) are responsible for 5% of familial cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The FUS protein is physiologically mainly located in the nucleus, while cytoplasmic FUS aggregates are pathological hallmarks of FUS-ALS. Data from non-neuronal cell models and/or models using heterologous expression of FUS mutants suggest cytoplasmic FUS translocation as a pivotal initial event which leads to neurodegeneration depending on a second hit. Here we present the first human model of FUS-ALS using patient-derived neurons carrying endogenous FUS mutations leading to a benign (R521C) or a more severe clinical phenotype (frameshift mutation R495QfsX527). We thereby showed that the severity of the underlying FUS mutation determines the amount of cytoplasmic FUS accumulation and cellular vulnerability to exogenous stress. Cytoplasmic FUS inclusions formed spontaneously depending on both, severity of FUS mutation and neuronal aging. These aggregates showed typical characteristics of FUS-ALS including methylated FUS. Finally, neurodegeneration was not specific to layer V cortical neurons perfectly in line with the current model of disease spreading in ALS. Our study highlights the value and usefulness of patient-derived cell models in FUS-ALS.
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23
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Matsumoto A, Suzuki H, Fukatsu R, Shimizu H, Suzuki Y, Hisanaga K. An autopsy case of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with the appearance of fused in sarcoma inclusions (basophilic inclusion body disease) clinically presenting corticobasal syndrome. Neuropathology 2015; 36:77-87. [PMID: 26227957 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2015] [Revised: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 06/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
We describe an autopsy case of basophilic inclusion body disease (BIBD), a subtype of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) with the appearance of fused in sarcoma (FUS) inclusions (FTLD-FUS), clinically presenting corticobasal syndrome (CBS). A 54-year-old man initially developed worsening of stuttering and right hand clumsiness. Neurological examinations revealed rigidity in the right upper and lower extremities, buccofacial apraxia, and right-side dominant limb-kinetic and ideomotor apraxia. Neuroimaging showed asymmetric left-dominant brain atrophy and a cerebral blood flow reduction in the ipsilateral frontal region. At 56 years, his apraxia had advanced, and ideational apraxia was observed. Furthermore, the asymmetry in the limb-kinetic and ideomotor apraxia had disappeared, and both conditions had become bilateral. He had a new onset of aphasia. His symptoms progressed and he died 9 years after the initial symptoms. The brain weighed 955 g. Diffuse brain atrophy was most obvious in the bilateral frontotemporal regions. The atrophy of the left superior frontal and precentral gyri and bilateral basal ganglia was remarkable. Histologically, there was a marked loss of neurons with gliosis in the affected areas, where basophilic neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions were observed. The inclusions were immunoreactive for FUS, p62, and TATA-binding protein-associated factor 15 (TAF15), but not for phosphorylated tau, transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43), neurofilament protein, or Ewing sarcoma (EWS). From these pathological findings, this case was diagnosed as having BIBD as an FTLD-FUS variant. Spinal cord lower motor neurons were spared in number, similar to primary lateral sclerosis. Mutations in FUS were undetectable. Common background pathologies for CBS include corticobasal degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, PSP, FTLD with phosphorylated TDP-43 inclusions (FTLD-TDP), Pick's disease, Lewy body disease and CJD. However, FTLD-FUS (BIBD) has been rarely reported. Our case suggested further pathological heterogeneity in CBS than had previously been reported. It is necessary to consider FTLD-FUS (BIBD) as a background pathology for CBS in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arifumi Matsumoto
- Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization, Miyagi Hospital, Watari-gun, Miyagi
| | - Hiroyoshi Suzuki
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization, Sendai Medical Center
| | - Reiko Fukatsu
- Department of Clinical Research, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa City, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Shimizu
- Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization, Miyagi Hospital, Watari-gun, Miyagi
| | - Yasushi Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization, Sendai Medical Center, Sendai
| | - Kinya Hisanaga
- Departments of Neurology and Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization, Miyagi Hospital, Watari-gun, Miyagi
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24
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A loss of FUS/TLS function leads to impaired cellular proliferation. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1572. [PMID: 25501833 PMCID: PMC4649830 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Revised: 09/12/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS or FUS) is a multifunctional RNA/DNA-binding protein that is pathologically associated with cancer and neurodegeneration. To gain insight into the vital functions of FUS and how a loss of FUS function impacts cellular homeostasis, FUS expression was reduced in different cellular models through RNA interference. Our results show that a loss of FUS expression severely impairs cellular proliferation and leads to an increase in phosphorylated histone H3, a marker of mitotic arrest. A quantitative proteomics analysis performed on cells undergoing various degrees of FUS knockdown revealed protein expression changes for known RNA targets of FUS, consistent with a loss of FUS function with respect to RNA processing. Proteins that changed in expression as a function of FUS knockdown were associated with multiple processes, some of which influence cell proliferation including cell cycle regulation, cytoskeletal organization, oxidative stress and energy homeostasis. FUS knockdown also correlated with increased expression of the closely related protein EWS (Ewing's sarcoma). We demonstrate that the maladaptive phenotype resulting from FUS knockdown is reversible and can be rescued by re-expression of FUS or partially rescued by the small-molecule rolipram. These results provide insight into the pathways and processes that are regulated by FUS, as well as the cellular consequences for a loss of FUS function.
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25
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Deng H, Gao K, Jankovic J. The role of FUS gene variants in neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neurol 2014; 10:337-48. [DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2014.78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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26
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Mochizuki Y, Kawata A, Maruyama H, Homma T, Watabe K, Kawakami H, Komori T, Mizutani T, Matsubara S. A Japanese patient with familial ALS and a p.K510M mutation in the gene for FUS (FUS) resulting in the totally locked-in state. Neuropathology 2014; 34:504-9. [PMID: 24841222 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We describe a Japanese patient with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a p.K510M mutation in the fused in sarcoma gene (FUS). The patient's condition was characterized clinically by an early onset and rapid progression. The patient eventually required mechanical ventilation and progressed to the totally locked-in state. Neuropathologically, multiple system degeneration with many FUS-immunoreactive structures was observed. The involvement of the globus pallidus, subthalamic nucleus, substantia nigra, cerebellar efferent system, and both upper and lower motor neurons in the present patient was comparable to that described for ALS patients with different mutations in FUS, all of whom progressed to the totally locked-in state. However, the patient also exhibited degeneration of the cerebellar afferent system and posterior column. Furthermore, the appearance of non-compact FUS-immunoreactive neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions and many FUS-immunoreactive glial cytoplasmic inclusions were unique to the present patient. These features suggest that the morphological characteristics of the FUS-immunoreactive structures and distribution of the lesions vary with the diversity of mutations in FUS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Mochizuki
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Kita Medical and Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled, Tokyo, Japan
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27
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Harschnitz O, Jongbloed BA, Franssen H, Straver DCG, van der Pol WL, van den Berg LH. MMN: from immunological cross-talk to conduction block. J Clin Immunol 2014; 34 Suppl 1:S112-9. [PMID: 24728842 PMCID: PMC4050293 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-014-0026-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN) is a rare inflammatory neuropathy characterized by progressive, asymmetric distal limb weakness and conduction block (CB). Clinically MMN is a pure motor neuropathy, which as such can mimic motor neuron disease. GM1-specific IgM antibodies are present in the serum of approximately half of all MMN patients, and are thought to play a key role in the immune pathophysiology. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) treatment has been shown to be effective in MMN in five randomized placebo-controlled trials. Despite long-term treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), which is efficient in the majority of patients, slowly progressive axonal degeneration and subsequent muscle weakness cannot be fully prevented. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of the immune pathogenesis underlying MMN and how this may cause CB, available treatment strategies and future therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Harschnitz
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Utrecht, 3584 CG, The Netherlands
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28
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Ito H. Basophilic inclusions and neuronal intermediate filament inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Neuropathology 2014; 34:589-95. [PMID: 24673472 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Basophilic inclusions (BIs) and neuronal intermediate filament inclusions (NIFIs) are key structures of basophilic inclusion body disease and neuronal intermediate filament inclusion disease (NIFID), respectively. BIs are sharply-defined, oval or crescent neuronal intracytoplasmic inclusions that appear pale blue-gray in color with HE staining and purple in color with Nissl but are stained poorly with silver impregnation techniques. Immunohistochemically BIs are negative for tau, trans-activation response DNA 43 (TDP-43), α-synuclein, neurofilament (NF) and α-internexin, positive for p62, and variably ubiquitinated. Noticeably, BIs are consistently fused in sarcoma (FUS) positive. NIFIs are by definition immuno-positive for class IV IFs including three NF triplet subunit proteins and α-internexin but negative for tau, TDP-43, and α-synuclein. In NIFID cases several types of inclusions have been identified. Among them, hyaline conglomerate-like inclusions are the only type that meets the above immunohistochemical features of NIFIs. This type of inclusion appears upon HE staining as multilobulated, faintly eosinophilic or pale amphophilic spherical masses with a glassy appearance. These hyaline conglomerates appear strongly argyrophilic, and robustly and consistently immuno-positive for IFs. In contrast, this type of inclusion shows no or only occasional dot-like FUS immunoreactivity. Therefore, BIs and NIFIs are distinct from each other in terms of morphological, tinctorial and immunohistochemical features. However, basophilic inclusion body disease (BIBD) and NIFID are difficult to differentiate clinically. Moreover, Pick body-like inclusions, the predominant type of inclusions seen in NIFID, are considerably similar to the BIs of BIBD in that this type of inclusion is basophilic, poorly argyrophilic, negative for IFs and intensely immuno-positive for FUS. As BIBD and NIFID share FUS accumulation as the most prominent molecular pathology, whether these two diseases are discrete entities or represent a pathological continuum remains a question to be answered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidefumi Ito
- Department of Neurology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
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29
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Mochizuki Y, Kawata A, Hashimoto T, Akiyama H, Kawakami H, Komori T, Oyanagi K, Mizutani T, Matsubara S. An autopsy case of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with FUS R521G mutation. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2014; 15:305-8. [PMID: 24575823 DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2014.881500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Mochizuki
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital , Japan
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30
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Aoki M. [Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with the mutations in the fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma gene]. Rinsho Shinkeigaku 2013; 53:1080-3. [PMID: 24291885 DOI: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.53.1080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the death of upper and lower motor neurons. Mutations in the fused in sarcoma/translated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS) gene have been discovered to be associated with familial ALS. In a Japanese family with familial ALS, we found the R521C FUS/TLS mutation, which has been reported to be found in various ethnic backgrounds. The family history revealed 23 patients with ALS among 46 family members, suggesting a 100% penetrance rate. They developed muscle weakness at an average age of 35.3 years, and the average age of death was 37.2 years.Neuropathological examination revealed remarkable atrophy of the brainstem tegmentum characterized by cytoplasmic basophilic inclusion bodies in the neurons of the brainstem. We used immunohistochemistry to analyze 3 autopsy cases with the R521C mutation. As the disease duration becomes longer, there were broader distributions of neuronal and glial FUS/TLS-immunoreactive inclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine
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31
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Zhou Y, Liu S, Liu G, Öztürk A, Hicks GG. ALS-associated FUS mutations result in compromised FUS alternative splicing and autoregulation. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003895. [PMID: 24204307 PMCID: PMC3814325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene encoding a DNA/RNA binding protein FUS/TLS is frequently mutated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Mutations commonly affect its carboxy-terminal nuclear localization signal, resulting in varying deficiencies of FUS nuclear localization and abnormal cytoplasmic accumulation. Increasing evidence suggests deficiencies in FUS nuclear function may contribute to neuron degeneration. Here we report a novel FUS autoregulatory mechanism and its deficiency in ALS-associated mutants. Using FUS CLIP-seq, we identified significant FUS binding to a highly conserved region of exon 7 and the flanking introns of its own pre-mRNAs. We demonstrated that FUS is a repressor of exon 7 splicing and that the exon 7-skipped splice variant is subject to nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). Overexpression of FUS led to the repression of exon 7 splicing and a reduction of endogenous FUS protein. Conversely, the repression of exon 7 was reduced by knockdown of FUS protein, and moreover, it was rescued by expression of EGFP-FUS. This dynamic regulation of alternative splicing describes a novel mechanism of FUS autoregulation. Given that ALS-associated FUS mutants are deficient in nuclear localization, we examined whether cells expressing these mutants would be deficient in repressing exon 7 splicing. We showed that FUS harbouring R521G, R522G or ΔExon15 mutation (minor, moderate or severe cytoplasmic localization, respectively) directly correlated with respectively increasing deficiencies in both exon 7 repression and autoregulation of its own protein levels. These data suggest that compromised FUS autoregulation can directly exacerbate the pathogenic accumulation of cytoplasmic FUS protein in ALS. We showed that exon 7 skipping can be induced by antisense oligonucleotides targeting its flanking splice sites, indicating the potential to alleviate abnormal cytoplasmic FUS accumulation in ALS. Taken together, FUS autoregulation by alternative splicing provides insight into a molecular mechanism by which FUS-regulated pre-mRNA processing can impact a significant number of targets important to neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueqin Zhou
- Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Songyan Liu
- Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Guodong Liu
- Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Arzu Öztürk
- Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Geoffrey G. Hicks
- Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry & Medical Genetics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Regenerative Medicine Program, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- * E-mail:
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Sumoylation of critical proteins in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: emerging pathways of pathogenesis. Neuromolecular Med 2013; 15:760-70. [PMID: 24062161 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-013-8262-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2013] [Accepted: 08/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Emerging lines of evidence suggest a relationship between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and protein sumoylation. Multiple studies have demonstrated that several of the proteins involved in the pathogenesis of ALS, including superoxide dismutase 1, fused in liposarcoma, and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), are substrates for sumoylation. Additionally, recent studies in cellular and animal models of ALS revealed that sumoylation of these proteins impact their localization, longevity, and how they functionally perform in disease, providing novel areas for mechanistic investigations and therapeutics. In this article, we summarize the current literature examining the impact of sumoylation of critical proteins involved in ALS and discuss the potential impact for the pathogenesis of the disease. In addition, we report and discuss the implications of new evidence demonstrating that sumoylation of a fragment derived from the proteolytic cleavage of the astroglial glutamate transporter, EAAT2, plays a direct role in downregulating the expression levels of full-length EAAT2 by binding to a regulatory region of its promoter.
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33
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Aoki M. [New and future treatments for neurological disorders--knowledge essential to daily clinics and future prospects. Topics: 10. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]. NIHON NAIKA GAKKAI ZASSHI. THE JOURNAL OF THE JAPANESE SOCIETY OF INTERNAL MEDICINE 2013; 102:1978-1985. [PMID: 24167857 DOI: 10.2169/naika.102.1978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Japan
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