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Cuadrado-Corrales N, Lopez-de-Andres A, Hernández-Barrera V, De-Miguel-Díez J, Jimenez-Sierra A, Carabantes-Alarcon D, Zamorano-Leon JJ, Jimenez-Garcia R. Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease and Fatal Familial Insomnia: Demographics and In-Hospital Mortality in Spain. J Clin Med 2024; 13:4401. [PMID: 39124670 PMCID: PMC11312717 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13154401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and fatal familial insomnia (FFI) are prion diseases characterized by severe neurodegenerative conditions and a short duration of illness. Methods: This study explores the characteristics of hospitalizations for CJD and FFI in Spain from 2016 to 2022 using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database (SNHDD). Results: We identified a total of 1063 hospital discharges, including 1020 for CJD and 43 for FFI. Notably, the number of hospitalized patients with FFI showed a significant peak in 2017. The average length of hospital stay (LOHS) was 13 days for CJD and 6 days for FFI, with in-hospital mortality rates (IHM) of 36.37% for CJD and 32.56% for FFI. Among CJD patients, the average LOHS was 14 days, with a significantly longer duration for those who experienced IHM. Conclusions: The presence of sepsis or pneumonia and older age were associated with a higher IHM rate among CJD patients. The total estimated cost for managing CJD and FFI patients over the study period was EUR 6,346,868. This study offers new insights into the epidemiology and healthcare resource utilization of CJD and FFI patients, which may inform future research directions and public health strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natividad Cuadrado-Corrales
- Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.C.-C.); (D.C.-A.); (J.J.Z.-L.); (R.J.-G.)
| | - Ana Lopez-de-Andres
- Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.C.-C.); (D.C.-A.); (J.J.Z.-L.); (R.J.-G.)
| | - Valentín Hernández-Barrera
- Preventive Medicine and Public Health Teaching and Research Unit, Health Sciences Faculty, Rey Juan Carlos University, 28922 Alcorcón, Spain;
| | - Javier De-Miguel-Díez
- Respiratory Care Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IiSGM), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28007 Madrid, Spain;
| | | | - David Carabantes-Alarcon
- Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.C.-C.); (D.C.-A.); (J.J.Z.-L.); (R.J.-G.)
| | - Jose J. Zamorano-Leon
- Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.C.-C.); (D.C.-A.); (J.J.Z.-L.); (R.J.-G.)
| | - Rodrigo Jimenez-Garcia
- Department of Public Health & Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (N.C.-C.); (D.C.-A.); (J.J.Z.-L.); (R.J.-G.)
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Watanabe M, Nakamura K, Saito R, Takeuchi A, Takahashi T, Kitamoto T, Onodera O, Kakita A. V180I genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: Severe degeneration of the inferior olivary nucleus in an autopsied patient with identification of the M2T prion strain. Neuropathology 2023; 43:479-485. [PMID: 37165430 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12908] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (gCJD) with a V180I mutation (V180I gCJD) is the most common type of gCJD in Japan, characterized by an older age at onset, slower progression, and moderate to severe cortical degeneration with spongiform changes and sparing of the brainstem and cerebellum. Degeneration of the inferior olivary nucleus (IO) is rarely observed in patients with CJD but is known to occur in fatal familial insomnia (FFI) and MM2-thalamic-type sporadic CJD (sCJD-MM2T) involving type 2 prion protein (M2T prion). Here we report on an 81-year-old Japanese woman who initially developed depressive symptoms followed by progressive cognitive impairment, myoclonus, and hallucinations and died after a clinical course of 23 months. Insomnia was not evident. Genetic analysis of the prion protein (PrP) identified a V180I mutation with methionine/valine heterozygosity at codon 129. Pathologic analysis demonstrated extensive spongiform degeneration, neuronal loss in the cortices, and weak synaptic-type PrP deposition. Except for IO degeneration, the clinicopathologic features and Western blotting PrP band pattern were compatible with those of previously reported V180I gCJD cases. Quantitative analysis revealed that the neuronal density of the IO, especially in the dorsal area, was considerably reduced to the same extent as that of a patient with sCJD-MM2T but preserved in other patients with V180I gCJD and sCJD-MM1 (this patient, 2.3 ± 0.53/mm2 ; a patient with sCJD-MM2T, 4.2 ± 2; a patient with V180I gCJD, 60.5 ± 9.3; and a patient with sCJD-MM1, 84.5 ± 17.9). Use of the protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) method confirmed the presence of the M2T prion strain, suggesting that the latter might be associated with IO degeneration in V180I gCJD. Autopsy studies are necessary to better understand the nature of CJD, since even if patients present with the common clinical picture, pathologic analysis might provide new insights, as was the case here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Midori Watanabe
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- Undergraduate Course, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan
| | - Kosei Nakamura
- Department of Neurology, NHO Nishiniigata Chuo Hospital, Niigata, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Rie Saito
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Atsuko Takeuchi
- Department of Neurological Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, NHO Nishiniigata Chuo Hospital, Niigata, Japan
| | - Tetsuyuki Kitamoto
- Department of Neurological Science, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Osamu Onodera
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of Pathology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
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Shijo M, Yoshimura M, Omae T, Hashimoto G, Mizoguchi T, Kuwashiro T, Komori T, Tsuboi Y, Saito T, Nakagawa M, Itoh K, Honda H. Altered properties of amyloidogenic prion protein in genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease with PRNP V180I mutation in response to pentosan polysulfate. Brain Pathol 2023; 33:e13197. [PMID: 37525413 PMCID: PMC10467033 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (gCJD) with V180I prion protein gene (PRNP) mutation shows weaker prion protein (PrP) deposition histologically compared with sporadic CJD, and it is more difficult to detect protease-resistant prion protein in immunoblotting. However, we previously reported the autopsy case of a patient with V180I gCJD who was treated with pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS); this case had increased protease-resistant PrP deposition. It has been suggested that PPS might reduce protease-resistant PrP; however, the detailed pharmacological and histopathological effects of PPS in humans remain unknown. We examined autopsied human brain tissue from four cases with V180I gCJD that were added to our archives between 2011 and 2021: two cases treated with PPS and two cases without PPS. We conducted a neuropathological assessment, including immunohistochemistry for PrP. We also performed immunoblotting for PrP on homogenate samples from each brain to detect protease-resistant PrP using both a conventional procedure and size-exclusion gel chromatography for the purification of oligomeric PrP. Both PPS-treated cases showed long survival time over 5 years from onset and increased PrP deposition with a characteristic pattern of coarse granular depositions and congophilic PrP microspheres, whereas the cases without PPS showed around 1-year survival from onset and relatively mild neuronal loss and synaptic PrP deposition. Although cortical gliosis seemed similar among all cases, aquaporin 4-expression as a hallmark of astrocytic function was increased predominantly in PPS cases. Immunoblotting of non-PPS cases revealed protease-resistant PrP in the oligomeric fraction only, whereas the PPS-treated cases showed clear signals using conventional procedures and in the oligomeric fraction. These unique biochemical and histopathological changes may reflect the progression of V180I gCJD and its modification by PPS, suggesting the possible existence of toxic PrP-oligomer in the pathophysiology of V180I gCJD and beneficial effects of PPS toward the aggregation and detoxication of toxic PrP-oligomer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Shijo
- Department of Neuropathology, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
- Department of Internal MedicineFukuoka Dental College Medical and Dental HospitalFukuokaJapan
- Department of NeurologyKyushu Central Hospital of the Mutual Aid Association of Public School TeachersFukuokaJapan
| | - Motoi Yoshimura
- Department of Neuropathology, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Tsuyoshi Omae
- Department of MedicineImazu Red Cross HospitalFukuokaJapan
| | - Go Hashimoto
- Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine and NeurologyNational Hospital Organization, Kyushu Medical CenterFukuokaJapan
| | - Tadataka Mizoguchi
- Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine and NeurologyNational Hospital Organization, Kyushu Medical CenterFukuokaJapan
| | - Takahiro Kuwashiro
- Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine and NeurologyNational Hospital Organization, Kyushu Medical CenterFukuokaJapan
| | - Takashi Komori
- Departmemnt of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyTokyo Metropolitan Neurological HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Yoshio Tsuboi
- Department of NeurologyFukuoka UniversityFukuokaJapan
| | - Tomoko Saito
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital OrganizationOsaka Toneyama Medical CenterOsakaJapan
| | - Masanori Nakagawa
- Department of NeurologyKyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical ScienceKyotoJapan
| | - Kyoko Itoh
- Department of Pathology and Applied NeurobiologyKyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical ScienceKyotoJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Honda
- Department of Neuropathology, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKyushu UniversityFukuokaJapan
- Department of Neurology, Neuropathology Center, National Hospital OrganizationOmuta National HospitalFukuokaJapan
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Baiardi S, Mammana A, Capellari S, Parchi P. Human prion disease: molecular pathogenesis, and possible therapeutic targets and strategies. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2023; 27:1271-1284. [PMID: 37334903 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2023.2199923] [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: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Human prion diseases are heterogeneous, and often rapidly progressive, transmissible neurodegenerative disorders associated with misfolded prion protein (PrP) aggregation and self-propagation. Despite their rarity, prion diseases comprise a broad spectrum of phenotypic variants determined at the molecular level by different conformers of misfolded PrP and host genotype variability. Moreover, they uniquely occur in idiopathic, genetically determined, and acquired forms with distinct etiologies. AREA COVERED This review provides an up-to-date overview of potential therapeutic targets in prion diseases and the main results obtained in cell and animal models and human trials. The open issues and challenges associated with developing effective therapies and informative clinical trials are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Currently tested therapeutic strategies target the cellular PrP to prevent the formation of misfolded PrP or to favor its elimination. Among them, passive immunization and gene therapy with antisense oligonucleotides against prion protein mRNA are the most promising. However, the disease's rarity, heterogeneity, and rapid progression profoundly frustrate the successful undertaking of well-powered therapeutic trials and patient identification in the asymptomatic or early stage before the development of significant brain damage. Thus, the most promising therapeutic goal to date is preventing or delaying phenoconversion in carriers of pathogenic mutations by lowering prion protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Baiardi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Angela Mammana
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sabina Capellari
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Piero Parchi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Shim KH, Sharma N, An SSA. Prion therapeutics: Lessons from the past. Prion 2022; 16:265-294. [PMID: 36515657 PMCID: PMC9754114 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2022.2153551] [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: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of incurable zoonotic neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) in humans and other animals caused by the prion proteins. The abnormal folding and aggregation of the soluble cellular prion proteins (PrPC) into scrapie isoform (PrPSc) in the Central nervous system (CNS) resulted in brain damage and other neurological symptoms. Different therapeutic approaches, including stalling PrPC to PrPSc conversion, increasing PrPSc removal, and PrPC stabilization, for which a spectrum of compounds, ranging from organic compounds to antibodies, have been explored. Additionally, a non-PrP targeted drug strategy using serpin inhibitors has been discussed. Despite numerous scaffolds being screened for anti-prion activity in vitro, only a few were effective in vivo and unfortunately, almost none of them proved effective in the clinical studies, most likely due to toxicity and lack of permeability. Recently, encouraging results from a prion-protein monoclonal antibody, PRN100, were presented in the first human trial on CJD patients, which gives a hope for better future for the discovery of other new molecules to treat prion diseases. In this comprehensive review, we have re-visited the history and discussed various classes of anti-prion agents, their structure, mode of action, and toxicity. Understanding pathogenesis would be vital for developing future treatments for prion diseases. Based on the outcomes of existing therapies, new anti-prion agents could be identified/synthesized/designed with reduced toxicity and increased bioavailability, which could probably be effective in treating prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu Hwan Shim
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Niti Sharma
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Seong Soo A An
- Department of Bionano Technology, Gachon University, Seongnam, South Korea
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Satterlee AB, Dunn DE, Valdivia A, Malawsky D, Buckley A, Gershon T, Floyd S, Hingtgen S. Spatiotemporal analysis of induced neural stem cell therapy to overcome advanced glioblastoma recurrence. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 26:49-62. [PMID: 35784402 PMCID: PMC9217992 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetically engineered neural stem cells (NSCs) are a promising therapy for the highly aggressive brain cancer glioblastoma (GBM); however, treatment durability remains a major challenge. We sought to define the events that contribute to dynamic adaptation of GBM during treatment with human skin-derived induced NSCs releasing the pro-apoptotic agent TRAIL (iNSC-TRAIL) and develop strategies that convert initial tumor kill into sustained GBM suppression. In vivo and ex vivo analysis before, during, and after treatment revealed significant shifts in tumor transcriptome and spatial distribution as the tumors adapted to treatment. To address this, we designed iNSC delivery strategies that increased spatiotemporal TRAIL coverage and significantly decreased GBM volume throughout the brain, reducing tumor burden 100-fold as quantified in live ex vivo brain slices. The varying impact of different strategies on treatment durability and median survival of both solid and invasive tumors provides important guidance for optimizing iNSC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew B. Satterlee
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Denise E. Dunn
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27704, USA
| | - Alain Valdivia
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Daniel Malawsky
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Andrew Buckley
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Timothy Gershon
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Scott Floyd
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27704, USA
| | - Shawn Hingtgen
- Division of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Miranda LHL, Oliveira AFPDH, Carvalho DMD, Souza GMF, Magalhães JGM, Júnior JAC, Lima PTMBDQ, Júnior RMA, Filho SPL, Melo HMDA. Systematic review of pharmacological management in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: no options so far? ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2022; 80:837-844. [PMID: 36252593 PMCID: PMC9703894 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1755341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a spongiform encephalopathy that manifests as a rapidly progressive dementia syndrome. Currently, CJD has no cure, and many patients die within the first year, but some drugs are being studied as options for managing this condition. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments offered to patients with CJD as a means to increase survival and reduce cognitive deterioration. METHODS A systematic review of the literature was performed using 4 independent reviewers and 1 extra reviewer to resolve possible divergences in the search and analysis of papers indexed in MedLINE (PubMed), SciELO and Lilacs databases. The Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms used were: prion diseases, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, pharmacologic therapy, therapeutics, quinacrine, doxycycline, flupirtine, and pentosan polysulfate, with the Boolean operators AND and OR. This search included controlled clinical trials, uncontrolled clinical trials, and case series published from the year 2000 onwards, in the English language. RESULTS A total of 85 papers were found using the descriptors used. At the end of the selection analyses, 9 articles remained, which were analyzed fully and individually. CONCLUSIONS None of the drugs evaluated proved significantly effective in increasing survival in patients with CJD. Flupirtine appears to have a beneficial effect in reducing cognitive deterioration in patients with CJD. However, additional studies are needed to establish better evidence and therapeutic options for the management of patients with CJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz Henrique Lélis Miranda
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Recife PE, Brazil
| | | | - Davi Mariano de Carvalho
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Recife PE, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Renato Melo Aguiar Júnior
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Recife PE, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Pereira Lins Filho
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro de Ciências Médicas, Departamento de Clínica Médica, Recife PE, Brazil
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Pentosan polysulfate induces low-level persistent prion infection keeping measurable seeding activity without PrP-res detection in Fukuoka-1 infected cell cultures. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7923. [PMID: 35562591 PMCID: PMC9106670 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12049-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Each prion strain has its own characteristics and the efficacy of anti-prion drugs varies. Screening of prion disease therapeutics is typically evaluated by measuring amounts of protease-resistant prion protein (PrP-res). However, it remains unclear whether such measurements correlate with seeding activity, which is evaluated by real-time quaking-induced conversion (RT-QuIC). In this study, the effects of anti-prion compounds pentosan polysulfate (PPS), Congo red, and alprenolol were measured in N2a58 cells infected with Fukuoka-1 (FK1) or 22L strain. The compounds abolished PrP-res and seeding activity, except for N2a58/FK1 treated with PPS. Interestingly, the seeding activity of N2a58/FK1, which was reduced in the presence of PPS, was not lost and remained at low levels. However, upon removal of PPS, both were gradually restored to their original levels. These results indicate that low-level persistent prion infection keeping measurable seeding activity is induced by PPS in a strain-dependent manner. Furthermore, for protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA), the anti-prion effect of PPS decreased in FK1 compared to 22L, suggesting that the differences occur at the level of the direct conversion. Our findings demonstrate that the advantages of RT-QuIC and PMCA can be exploited for more accurate assessment of therapeutic drug screening, reflecting strain differences.
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Teruya K, Doh-Ura K. Therapeutic development of polymers for prion disease. Cell Tissue Res 2022; 392:349-365. [PMID: 35307792 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03604-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases, also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, are caused by the accumulation of abnormal isoforms of the prion protein (scrapie isoform of the prion protein, PrPSc) in the central nervous system. Many compounds with anti-prion activities have been found using in silico screening, in vitro models, persistently prion-infected cell models, and prion-infected rodent models. Some of these compounds include several types of polymers. Although the inhibition or removal of PrPSc production is the main target of therapy, the unique features of prions, namely protein aggregation and assembly accompanied by steric structural transformation, may require different strategies for the development of anti-prion drugs than those for conventional therapeutics targeting enzyme inhibition, agonist ligands, or modulation of signaling. In this paper, we first overview the history of the application of polymers to prion disease research. Next, we describe the characteristics of each type of polymer with anti-prion activity. Finally, we discuss the common features of these polymers. Although drug delivery of these polymers to the brain is a challenge, they are useful not only as leads for therapeutic drugs but also as tools to explore the structure of PrPSc and are indispensable for prion disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Teruya
- Department of Neurochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Katsumi Doh-Ura
- Department of Neurochemistry, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Seiryo-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, 980-8575, Japan.
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10
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Naseri Kouzehgarani G, Feldsien T, Engelhard HH, Mirakhur KK, Phipps C, Nimmrich V, Clausznitzer D, Lefebvre DR. Harnessing cerebrospinal fluid circulation for drug delivery to brain tissues. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 173:20-59. [PMID: 33705875 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Initially thought to be useful only to reach tissues in the immediate vicinity of the CSF circulatory system, CSF circulation is now increasingly viewed as a viable pathway to deliver certain therapeutics deeper into brain tissues. There is emerging evidence that this goal is achievable in the case of large therapeutic proteins, provided conditions are met that are described herein. We show how fluid dynamic modeling helps predict infusion rate and duration to overcome high CSF turnover. We posit that despite model limitations and controversies, fluid dynamic models, pharmacokinetic models, preclinical testing, and a qualitative understanding of the glymphatic system circulation can be used to estimate drug penetration in brain tissues. Lastly, in addition to highlighting landmark scientific and medical literature, we provide practical advice on formulation development, device selection, and pharmacokinetic modeling. Our review of clinical studies suggests a growing interest for intra-CSF delivery, particularly for targeted proteins.
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11
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Molecular modification, structural characterization, and biological activity of xylans. Carbohydr Polym 2021; 269:118248. [PMID: 34294285 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2021.118248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The differences in the source and structure of xylans make them have various biological activities. However, due to their inherent structural limitations, the various biological activities of xylans are far lower than those of commercial drugs. Currently, several types of molecular modification methods have been developed to address these limitations, and many derivatives with specific biological activity have been obtained. Further research on structural characteristics, structure-activity relationship and mechanism of action is of great significance for the development of xylan derivatives. Therefore, the major molecular modification methods of xylans are introduced in this paper, and the primary structure and conformation characteristics of xylans and their derivatives are summarized. In addition, the biological activity and structure-activity relationship of the modified xylans are also discussed.
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12
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Chen C, Dong X. Therapeutic implications of prion diseases. BIOSAFETY AND HEALTH 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
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13
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Human cerebral organoids as a therapeutic drug screening model for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5165. [PMID: 33727594 PMCID: PMC7943797 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84689-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a fatal, currently incurable, neurodegenerative disease. The search for candidate treatments would be greatly facilitated by the availability of human cell-based models of prion disease. Recently, an induced pluripotent stem cell derived human cerebral organoid model was shown to take up and propagate human CJD prions. This model offers new opportunities to screen drug candidates for the treatment of human prion diseases in an entirely human genetic background. Here we provide the first evidence that human cerebral organoids can be a viable model for CJD drug screening by using an established anti-prion compound, pentosan polysulfate (PPS). PPS delayed prion propagation in a prophylactic-like treatment paradigm and also alleviated propagation when applied following establishment of infection in a therapeutic-like treatment paradigm. This study demonstrates the utility of cerebral organoids as the first human 3D cell culture system for screening therapeutic drug candidates for human prion diseases.
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14
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Watson N, Brandel JP, Green A, Hermann P, Ladogana A, Lindsay T, Mackenzie J, Pocchiari M, Smith C, Zerr I, Pal S. The importance of ongoing international surveillance for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17:362-379. [PMID: 33972773 PMCID: PMC8109225 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-021-00488-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rapidly progressive, fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative disease associated with the accumulation of misfolded prion protein in the CNS. International CJD surveillance programmes have been active since the emergence, in the mid-1990s, of variant CJD (vCJD), a disease linked to bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Control measures have now successfully contained bovine spongiform encephalopathy and the incidence of vCJD has declined, leading to questions about the requirement for ongoing surveillance. However, several lines of evidence have raised concerns that further cases of vCJD could emerge as a result of prolonged incubation and/or secondary transmission. Emerging evidence from peripheral tissue distribution studies employing high-sensitivity assays suggests that all forms of human prion disease carry a theoretical risk of iatrogenic transmission. Finally, emerging diseases, such as chronic wasting disease and camel prion disease, pose further risks to public health. In this Review, we provide an up-to-date overview of the transmission of prion diseases in human populations and argue that CJD surveillance remains vital both from a public health perspective and to support essential research into disease pathophysiology, enhanced diagnostic tests and much-needed treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil Watson
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jean-Philippe Brandel
- grid.411439.a0000 0001 2150 9058Cellule Nationale de référence des MCJ, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Alison Green
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Peter Hermann
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331National Reference Centre for TSE, Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anna Ladogana
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Registry of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Terri Lindsay
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Janet Mackenzie
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Maurizio Pocchiari
- grid.416651.10000 0000 9120 6856Registry of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Colin Smith
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Inga Zerr
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331National Reference Centre for TSE, Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Suvankar Pal
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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15
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Mustazza C, Sbriccoli M, Minosi P, Raggi C. Small Molecules with Anti-Prion Activity. Curr Med Chem 2020; 27:5446-5479. [PMID: 31560283 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190927121744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Prion pathologies are fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by the misfolding of the physiological Prion Protein (PrPC) into a β-structure-rich isoform called PrPSc. To date, there is no available cure for prion diseases and just a few clinical trials have been carried out. The initial approach in the search of anti-prion agents had PrPSc as a target, but the existence of different prion strains arising from alternative conformations of PrPSc, limited the efficacy of the ligands to a straindependent ability. That has shifted research to PrPC ligands, which either act as chaperones, by stabilizing the native conformation, or inhibit its interaction with PrPSc. The role of transition-metal mediated oxidation processes in prion misfolding has also been investigated. Another promising approach is the indirect action via other cellular targets, like membrane domains or the Protein- Folding Activity of Ribosomes (PFAR). Also, new prion-specific high throughput screening techniques have been developed. However, so far no substance has been found to be able to extend satisfactorily survival time in animal models of prion diseases. This review describes the main features of the Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) of the various chemical classes of anti-prion agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Mustazza
- National Centre for Control and Evaluation of Medicines, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Sbriccoli
- Department of Neurosciences, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Minosi
- National Centre for Drug Research and Evaluation, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Carla Raggi
- National Centre for Control and Evaluation of Medicines, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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16
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Abstract
Prions were initially discovered in studies of scrapie, a transmissible neurodegenerative disease (ND) of sheep and goats thought to be caused by slow viruses. Once scrapie was transmitted to rodents, it was discovered that the scrapie pathogen resisted inactivation by procedures that modify nucleic acids. Eventually, this novel pathogen proved to be a protein of 209 amino acids, which is encoded by a chromosomal gene. After the absence of a nucleic acid within the scrapie agent was established, the mechanism of infectivity posed a conundrum and eliminated a hypothetical virus. Subsequently, the infectious scrapie prion protein (PrPSc) enriched for β-sheet was found to be generated from the cellular prion protein (PrPC) that is predominantly α-helical. The post-translational process that features in nascent prion formation involves a templated conformational change in PrPC that results in an infectious copy of PrPSc. Thus, prions are proteins that adopt alternative conformations, which are self-propagating and found in organisms ranging from yeast to humans. Prions have been found in both Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's (PD) diseases. Mutations in APP and α-synuclein genes have been shown to cause familial AD and PD. Recently, AD was found to be a double prion disorder: both Aβ and tau prions feature in this ND. Increasing evidence argues for α-synuclein prions as the cause of PD, multiple system atrophy, and Lewy body dementia.
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17
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Ishibashi D, Ishikawa T, Mizuta S, Tange H, Nakagaki T, Hamada T, Nishida N. Novel Compounds Identified by Structure-Based Prion Disease Drug Discovery Using In Silico Screening Delay the Progression of an Illness in Prion-Infected Mice. Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:1836-1849. [PMID: 32767031 PMCID: PMC7851219 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00903-9] [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] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of abnormal prion protein (PrPSc) produced by the structure conversion of PrP (PrPC) in the brain induces prion disease. Although the conversion process of the protein is still not fully elucidated, it has been known that the intramolecular chemical bridging in the most fragile pocket of PrP, known as the "hot spot," stabilizes the structure of PrPC and inhibits the conversion process. Using our original structure-based drug discovery algorithm, we identified the low molecular weight compounds that predicted binding to the hot spot. NPR-130 and NPR-162 strongly bound to recombinant PrP in vitro, and fragment molecular orbital (FMO) analysis indicated that the high affinity of those candidates to the PrP is largely dependent on nonpolar interactions, such as van der Waals interactions. Those NPRs showed not only significant reduction of the PrPSc levels but also remarkable decrease of the number of aggresomes in persistently prion-infected cells. Intriguingly, treatment with those candidate compounds significantly prolonged the survival period of prion-infected mice and suppressed prion disease-specific pathological damage, such as vacuole degeneration, PrPSc accumulation, microgliosis, and astrogliosis in the brain, suggesting their possible clinical use. Our results indicate that in silico drug discovery using NUDE/DEGIMA may be widely useful to identify candidate compounds that effectively stabilize the protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Ishibashi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan.
- Department of Immunological and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1 Nanakuma Jonan-ku, Fukuoka, 814-0180, Japan.
| | - Takeshi Ishikawa
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
- Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology, and Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University, 1-21-40 Korimoto, Kagoshima, 890-0065, Japan
| | - Satoshi Mizuta
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Hiroya Tange
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Takehiro Nakagaki
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Hamada
- Nagasaki Advanced Computing Center, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki, 852-8521, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Nishida
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, 852-8523, Japan
- Nagasaki Advanced Computing Center, Nagasaki University, 1-14 Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki, 852-8521, Japan
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18
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Towards a treatment for genetic prion disease: trials and biomarkers. Lancet Neurol 2020; 19:361-368. [PMID: 32199098 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(19)30403-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Prion disease is a rare, fatal, and exceptionally rapid neurodegenerative disease. Although incurable, prion disease follows a clear pathogenic mechanism, in which a single gene gives rise to a single prion protein (PrP) capable of converting into the sole causal disease agent, the misfolded prion. As efforts progress to leverage this mechanistic knowledge toward rational therapies, a principal challenge will be the design of clinical trials. Previous trials in prion disease have been done in symptomatic patients who are often profoundly debilitated at enrolment. About 15% of prion disease cases are genetic, creating an opportunity for early therapeutic intervention to delay or prevent disease. Highly variable age of onset and absence of established prodromal biomarkers might render infeasible existing models for testing drugs before disease onset. Advancement of near-term targeted therapeutics could crucially depend on thoughtful design of rigorous presymptomatic trials.
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19
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Hayashi Y, Iwasaki Y, Waza M, Kato S, Akagi A, Kimura A, Inuzuka T, Satoh K, Kitamoto T, Yoshida M, Shimohata T. Clinicopathological findings of a long-term survivor of V180I genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. Prion 2020; 14:109-117. [PMID: 32178563 PMCID: PMC7153845 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2020.1739603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical characteristics of genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (gCJD) with a V180I mutation in the PRNP gene (V180I gCJD) are unique: elderly-onset, gradual progression, sporadic fashion, and cortical oedematous hyper-intensity on diffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI). This phenotype may become a potential target of future clinical therapeutic trials. The average disease duration of V180I gCJD patients is 23–27 months; however, considerably long-term survivors are also reported. The factors influencing survival and the clinicopathological characteristics of long-term survivors remain unknown. Herein, we report clinicopathological findings of a long-term survivor of V180I gCJD. A 78-year old woman was admitted to our hospital due to dementia and left hand tremor approximately 1.5 months after symptom onset. Neurological examination revealed dementia, frontal signs, and left hand tremor at admission. She had no family history of dementia or other neurological disease. DW-MRI revealed cortical oedematous hyper-intensities in the bilateral frontal lobes and the right temporal and parietal lobes. PRNP gene analysis indicated a V180I mutation with methionine homozygosity at codon 129. The symptoms gradually progressed, and she died of aspiration pneumonia 61 months after symptom onset. Neuropathological examination revealed severe cerebral atrophy with moderate to severe gliosis, but the brainstem was well preserved. Various-sized and non-confluent vacuole type spongiform changes were extensively observed in the cerebral cortices. Prion protein (PrP) immunostaining revealed weak and synaptic-type PrP deposits in the cerebral cortices. We consider that long-term tube feeding, and very mild brainstem involvement may be associated with the long-term survival of our V180I gCJD patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichi Hayashi
- Department of Neurology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Yasushi Iwasaki
- Autopsy Center of Prion Disease, Institute for Medical Sciences of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Masahiro Waza
- Department of Neurology, Kakamigahara Rehabilitation Hospital, Kakamigahara, Japan
| | - Shinei Kato
- Department of Neurology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Akio Akagi
- Autopsy Center of Prion Disease, Institute for Medical Sciences of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Akio Kimura
- Department of Neurology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takashi Inuzuka
- Department of Neurology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Gifu Municipal Hospital, Gifu, Japan
| | - Katsuya Satoh
- Department of Locomotive Rehabilitation Sciences, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Tetsuyuki Kitamoto
- Division of CJD Science and Technology, Department of Prion Research, Center for Translational and Advanced Animal Research on Human Diseases, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Mari Yoshida
- Autopsy Center of Prion Disease, Institute for Medical Sciences of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Takayoshi Shimohata
- Department of Neurology, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan
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20
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Hyeon JW, Noh R, Choi J, Lee SM, Lee YS, An SSA, No KT, Lee J. BMD42-2910, a Novel Benzoxazole Derivative, Shows a Potent Anti-prion Activity and Prolongs the Mean Survival in an Animal Model of Prion Disease. Exp Neurobiol 2020; 29:93-105. [PMID: 32122111 PMCID: PMC7075655 DOI: 10.5607/en.2020.29.1.93] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative and fatal central nervous system disorders. The pathogenic mechanism involves the conversion of cellular prion protein (PrPC) to an altered scrapie isoform (PrPSc), which accumulates in amyloid deposits in the brain. However, no therapeutic drugs have demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials. We previously reported that BMD42-29, a synthetic compound discovered in silico, is a novel anti-prion compound that inhibits the conversion of PrPC to protease K (PK)-resistant PrPSc fragments (PrPres). In the present study, 14 derivatives of BMD42-29 were obtained from BMD42-29 by modifying in the side chain by in silico feedback, with the aim to determine whether they improve anti-prion activity. These derivatives were assessed in a PrPSc-infected cell model and some derivatives were further tested using real time-quaking induced conversion (RT-QuIC). Among them, BMD42-2910 showed high anti-prion activity at low concentrations in vitro and also no toxic effects in a mouse model. Interestingly, abundant PrPres was reduced in brains of mice infected with prion strain when treated with BMD42-2910, and the mice survived longer than control mice and even that treated with BMD42-29. Finally, high binding affinity was predicted in the virtual binding sites (Asn159, Gln 160, Lys194, and Glu196) when PrPC was combined with BMD-42-2910. Our findings showed that BMD42-2910 sufficiently reduces PrPres generation in vitro and in vivo and may be a promising novel anti-prion compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Wook Hyeon
- Division of Bacterial Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju 28160, Korea
| | - Ran Noh
- Division of Bacterial Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju 28160, Korea
| | - Jiwon Choi
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Design Research Center, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Sol Moe Lee
- Division of Bacterial Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju 28160, Korea
| | - Yeong Seon Lee
- Division of Bacterial Disease Research, Center for Infectious Disease Research, Korea National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju 28160, Korea
| | - Seong Soo A An
- Gachon Bio Nano Research Institute, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Korea
| | - Kyoung Tai No
- Bioinformatics and Molecular Design Research Center, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea.,Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Jeongmin Lee
- Division of Research Planning, Korea National Institute of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju 28160, Korea
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21
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Krance SH, Luke R, Shenouda M, Israwi AR, Colpitts SJ, Darwish L, Strauss M, Watts JC. Cellular models for discovering prion disease therapeutics: Progress and challenges. J Neurochem 2020; 153:150-172. [PMID: 31943194 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Prions, which cause fatal neurodegenerative disorders such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, are misfolded and infectious protein aggregates. Currently, there are no treatments available to halt or even delay the progression of prion disease in the brain. The infectious nature of prions has resulted in animal paradigms that accurately recapitulate all aspects of prion disease, and these have proven to be instrumental for testing the efficacy of candidate therapeutics. Nonetheless, infection of cultured cells with prions provides a much more powerful system for identifying molecules capable of interfering with prion propagation. Certain lines of cultured cells can be chronically infected with various types of mouse prions, and these models have been used to unearth candidate anti-prion drugs that are at least partially efficacious when administered to prion-infected rodents. However, these studies have also revealed that not all types of prions are equal, and that drugs active against mouse prions are not necessarily effective against prions from other species. Despite some recent progress, the number of cellular models available for studying non-mouse prions remains limited. In particular, human prions have proven to be particularly challenging to propagate in cultured cells, which has severely hindered the discovery of drugs for Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. In this review, we summarize the cellular models that are presently available for discovering and testing drugs capable of blocking the propagation of prions and highlight challenges that remain on the path towards developing therapies for prion disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saffire H Krance
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Russell Luke
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marc Shenouda
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ahmad R Israwi
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah J Colpitts
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lina Darwish
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maximilian Strauss
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joel C Watts
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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22
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Stopschinski BE, Thomas TL, Nadji S, Darvish E, Fan L, Holmes BB, Modi AR, Finnell JG, Kashmer OM, Estill-Terpack S, Mirbaha H, Luu HS, Diamond MI. A synthetic heparinoid blocks Tau aggregate cell uptake and amplification. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:2974-2983. [PMID: 31974166 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.010353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau aggregation underlies neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. We and others have proposed that transcellular propagation of pathology is mediated by Tau prions, which are ordered protein assemblies that faithfully replicate in vivo and cause specific biological effects. The prion model predicts the release of aggregates from a first-order cell and subsequent uptake into a second-order cell. The assemblies then serve as templates for their own replication, a process termed "seeding." We have previously observed that heparan sulfate proteoglycans on the cell surface mediate the cellular uptake of Tau aggregates. This interaction is blocked by heparin, a sulfated glycosaminoglycan. Indeed, heparin-like molecules, or heparinoids, have previously been proposed as a treatment for PrP prion disorders. However, heparin is not ideal for managing chronic neurodegeneration, because it is difficult to synthesize in defined sizes, may have poor brain penetration because of its negative charge, and is a powerful anticoagulant. Therefore, we sought to generate an oligosaccharide that would bind Tau and block its cellular uptake and seeding, without exhibiting anticoagulation activity. We created a compound, SN7-13, from pentasaccharide units and tested it in a range of assays that measured direct binding of Tau to glycosaminoglycans and inhibition of Tau uptake and seeding in cells. SN7-13 does not inhibit coagulation, binds Tau with low nanomolar affinity, and inhibits cellular Tau aggregate propagation similarly to standard porcine heparin. This synthetic heparinoid could facilitate the development of agents to treat tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara E Stopschinski
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390; Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Talitha L Thomas
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Sourena Nadji
- PharmaRen Discovery LLC, Berkeley, Missouri 63134-3115
| | - Eric Darvish
- PharmaRen Discovery LLC, Berkeley, Missouri 63134-3115
| | - Linfeng Fan
- Shanghai Acana Pharmtech Co. Ltd., Berkeley, Missouri 63134-3115
| | - Brandon B Holmes
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Anuja R Modi
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Jordan G Finnell
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Omar M Kashmer
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Sandi Estill-Terpack
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Hilda Mirbaha
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Hung S Luu
- Department of Pathology, Children's Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.
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23
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Holec SA, Block AJ, Bartz JC. The role of prion strain diversity in the development of successful therapeutic treatments. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 175:77-119. [PMID: 32958242 PMCID: PMC8939712 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Prions are a self-propagating misfolded conformation of a cellular protein. Prions are found in several eukaryotic organisms with mammalian prion diseases encompassing a wide range of disorders. The first recognized prion disease, the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), affect several species including humans. Alzheimer's disease, synucleinopathies, and tauopathies share a similar mechanism of self-propagation of the prion form of the disease-specific protein reminiscent of the infection process of TSEs. Strain diversity in prion disease is characterized by differences in the phenotype of disease that is hypothesized to be encoded by strain-specific conformations of the prion form of the disease-specific protein. Prion therapeutics that target the prion form of the disease-specific protein can lead to the emergence of drug-resistant strains of prions, consistent with the hypothesis that prion strains exist as a dynamic mixture of a dominant strain in combination with minor substrains. To overcome this obstacle, therapies that reduce or eliminate the template of conversion are efficacious, may reverse neuropathology, and do not result in the emergence of drug resistance. Recent advancements in preclinical diagnosis of prion infection may allow for a combinational approach that treats the prion form and the precursor protein to effectively treat prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A.M. Holec
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences and Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States,Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Alyssa J. Block
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Jason C. Bartz
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States,Corresponding author:
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Ellett LJ, Revill ZT, Koo YQ, Lawson VA. Strain variation in treatment and prevention of human prion diseases. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2020; 175:121-145. [PMID: 32958230 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2020.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or prion diseases describe a number of different human disorders that differ in their clinical phenotypes, which are nonetheless united by their transmissible nature and common pathology. Clinical variation in the absence of a conventional infectious agent is believed to be encoded by different conformations of the misfolded prion protein. This misfolded protein is the target of methods designed to prevent disease transmission in a surgical setting and reduction of the misfolded seed or preventing its continued propagation have been the focus of therapeutic strategies. It is therefore possible that strain variation may influence the efficacy of prevention and treatment approaches. Historically, an understanding of prion disease transmission and pathogenesis has been focused on research tools developed using agriculturally relevant strains of prion disease. However, an increased understanding of the molecular biology of human prion disorders has highlighted differences not only between different forms of the disease affecting humans and animals but also within diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD), which is represented by several sporadic CJD specific conformations and an additional conformation associated with variant CJD. In this chapter we will discuss whether prion strain variation can affect the efficacy of methods used to decontaminate prions and whether strain variation in pre-clinical models of prion disease can be used to identify therapeutic strategies that have the best possible chance of success in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Ellett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Zoe T Revill
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Yong Qian Koo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Victoria A Lawson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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Validation of Poly(Propylene Imine) Glycodendrimers Towards Their Anti-prion Conversion Efficiency. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 57:1863-1874. [PMID: 31848935 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01837-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases, such as the sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), are a class of fatal neurodegenerative disorders. Currently, there is no efficient treatment or therapy available. Hence, the search for molecules that may inhibit the conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into its pathological counterpart PrPScrapie (PrPSc) is of great urgency. Here, we report the generation- and dose-dependent biological action of dense-shell poly(propylene imine) (PPI) glycodendrimers by using scrapie-infected neuroblastoma (ScN2a) cells and the real-time quaking-induced conversion assay (RT-QuIC) for validation of anti-prion efficiencies. Whereas the 2nd and 3rd generation of PPI glycodendrimers exhibited anti-prion conversion efficiency in ScN2a cells validated by RT-QuIC analysis, we observed that the 4th generation of glycodendrimers had shown no significant effect. Translational RT-QuIC studies conducted with human prions derived from sCJD patients indicated an anti-prion conversion effect (not on PrPRes degradation) of PPI glycodendrimers against human prions with the highest inhibitory activity of the 4th generation of PPI glycodendrimers towards prion aggregation compared to the 2nd and 3rd generation. In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of PPI glycodendrimers as therapeutic compounds due to their anti-conversion activity on human prions in a PrPSc strain depending manner.
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Moda F, Bolognesi ML, Legname G. Novel screening approaches for human prion diseases drug discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2019; 14:983-993. [PMID: 31271065 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2019.1637851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Human prion diseases are rare fatal neurodegenerative diseases caused by the misfolding and aggregation of the prion protein in the form of infectious prions. So far, these diseases are incurable. One of the major difficulties in identifying suitable drugs is the availability of robust preclinical screening methods. All molecules identified have been screened using cell-based assays and in vivo murine models. The existence of a continuum of prion strains has hampered the identification of efficacious molecules modulating the progression of different forms of the disease. Areas covered: The advent of new in vitro screening methodologies is allowing for novel strategies to develop new compounds that could interfere with a broad range of diseases. In particular, two innovative techniques named Real Time Quaking Induced Conversion (RT-QuIC) and Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification (PMCA) have opened new venues for testing compounds in a rapid a reproducible way. These are discussed within. Expert opinion: For human prion diseases, one major hurdle has been a well-defined screening methodology. In other animal species, cell-based assays have been employed that could replicate animal prions indefinitely. Such a tool for human prion diseases is still missing. Therefore, the advent of RT-QuIC and PMCA has proven instrumental to overcome this limitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Moda
- Division of Neurology 5 - Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta , Milano , Italy
| | - Maria Laura Bolognesi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna , Bologna , Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA) , Trieste , Italy
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Qin K, Zhao L, Solanki A, Busch C, Mastrianni J. Anle138b prevents PrP plaque accumulation in Tg(PrP-A116V) mice but does not mitigate clinical disease. J Gen Virol 2019; 100:1027-1037. [PMID: 31045489 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Anle138b is an anti-aggregating compound previously shown to delay the onset of scrapie, a transmissible prion disease, although its in vivo efficacy against other prion disease subtypes has not been fully assessed. TgGSS mice that model Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) via expression of mouse PrPA116V accumulate PrP amyloid plaques in their brains and develop progressive ataxia leading to death in ~160 days. When allowed to feed on food pellets containing anle138b from weaning until death, the brains of TgGSS mice displayed significant reductions in PrP plaque burden, insoluble PrP, and proteinase K-resistant PrPSc at end stage, compared with TgGSS mice allowed to feed on placebo food pellets. Despite these effects on biological markers of disease, there was no difference in the onset of symptoms or the age at death between the two treatment groups. In contrast, scrapie-inoculated wild-type mice treated with anle138b survived nearly twice as long (254 days) as scrapie-inoculated mice fed placebo (~136 days). They also displayed greater reductions in insoluble and PK-resistant PrPSc than TgGSS mice. Although these results support an anti-aggregating effect of anle138b, the discordance in clinical efficacy noted between the two prion disease models tested underscores the pathophysiological differences between them and highlights the need to consider differences in susceptibilities among prion subtypes when assessing potential therapies for prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kefeng Qin
- 1 Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2030, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Lili Zhao
- 1 Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2030, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Ani Solanki
- 1 Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2030, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Crystal Busch
- 1 Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2030, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - James Mastrianni
- 1 Department of Neurology, The University of Chicago, 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC2030, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
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Yamada M, Hamaguchi T. The sulfation code for propagation of neurodegeneration. J Biol Chem 2019; 293:10841-10842. [PMID: 29980653 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.h118.003970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion-like propagation of protein aggregates is thought to be an essential feature in many neurodegenerative diseases, but the mechanisms underlying transcellular transfer of protein aggregates remain unclear. Stopschinski et al. now demonstrate that the cellular uptake of tau, Aβ, and α-synuclein aggregates mediated by heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) varies with distinct glycosaminoglycan chain length and sulfation patterns. The results help us to understand how different protein aggregates propagate, leading to distinct neurodegenerative pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Yamada
- From the Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Hamaguchi
- From the Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa 920-8640, Japan
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Forloni G, Roiter I, Tagliavini F. Clinical trials of prion disease therapeutics. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2019; 44:53-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2019.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Abstract
Recent advances in understanding of the molecular biology of prion diseases and improved clinical diagnostic techniques might allow researchers to think about therapeutic trials in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) patients. Some attempts have been made in the past and various compounds have been tested in single case reports and patient series. Controlled trials are rare. However, in the past few years, it has been demonstrated that clinical trials are feasible. The clinicians might face several specific problems when evaluating the efficacy of the drug in CJD, such as rareness of the disease, lack of appropriate preclinical tests and heterogeneous clinical presentation in humans. These problems have to be carefully addressed in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saima Zafar
- Clinical Dementia Center and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Georg-August University, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Department, School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Aneeqa Noor
- Clinical Dementia Center and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Georg-August University, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- Clinical Dementia Center and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Georg-August University, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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Ladner-Keay CL, Ross L, Perez-Pineiro R, Zhang L, Bjorndahl TC, Cashman N, Wishart DS. A simple in vitro assay for assessing the efficacy, mechanisms and kinetics of anti-prion fibril compounds. Prion 2018; 12:280-300. [PMID: 30223704 PMCID: PMC6277192 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2018.1525254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are caused by the conversion of normal cellular prion proteins (PrP) into lethal prion aggregates. These prion aggregates are composed of proteinase K (PK) resistant fibrils and comparatively PK-sensitive oligomers. Currently there are no anti-prion pharmaceuticals available to treat or prevent prion disease. Methods of discovering anti-prion molecules rely primarily on relatively complex cell-based, tissue slice or animal-model assays that measure the effects of small molecules on the formation of PK-resistant prion fibrils. These assays are difficult to perform and do not detect the compounds that directly inhibit oligomer formation or alter prion conversion kinetics. We have developed a simple cell-free method to characterize the impact of anti-prion fibril compounds on both the oligomer and fibril formation. In particular, this assay uses shaking-induced conversion (ShIC) of recombinant PrP in a 96-well format and resolution enhanced native acidic gel electrophoresis (RENAGE) to generate, assess and detect PrP fibrils in a high throughput fashion. The end-point PrP fibrils from this assay can be further characterized by PK analysis and negative stain transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This cell-free, gel-based assay generates metrics to assess anti-prion fibril efficacy and kinetics. To demonstrate its utility, we characterized the action of seven well-known anti-prion molecules: Congo red, curcumin, GN8, quinacrine, chloropromazine, tetracycline, and TUDCA (taurourspdeoxycholic acid), as well as four suspected anti-prion compounds: trans-resveratrol, rosmarinic acid, myricetin and ferulic acid. These findings suggest that this in vitro assay could be useful in identifying and comprehensively assessing novel anti-prion fibril compounds. Abbreviations: PrP, prion protein; PK, proteinase K; ShIC, shaking-induced conversion; RENAGE, resolution enhanced native acidic gel electrophoresis; TEM, transmission electron microscopy; TUDCA, taurourspdeoxycholic acid; BSE, bovine spongiform encephalopathy; CWD, chronic wasting disease; CJD, Creutzfeldt Jakob disease; GSS, Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome; FFI, fatal familial insomnia; PrPc, cellular prion protein; recPrPC, recombinant monomeric prion protein; PrPSc, infectious particle of misfolded prion protein; RT-QuIC, real-time quaking-induced conversion; PMCA, Protein Misfolding Cyclic Amplification; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; EGCG, epigallocatechin gallate; GN8, 2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-N-[4-[4-(2-pyrrolidin-1-yl-acetylamino)-benzyl]-phenyl]-acetamide; DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide; ScN2A, scrapie infected neuroblastoma cells; IC50, inhibitory concentration for 50% reduction; recMoPrP 23-231, recombinant full-length mouse prion protein residues 23-231; EDTA; PICUP, photo-induced cross-linking of unmodified protein; BSA, bovine serum albumin;; PMSF, phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Li Ross
- Brain Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Lun Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Trent C. Bjorndahl
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Neil Cashman
- Brain Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - David S. Wishart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
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Abstract
Arguably the most important goal of prion research is the discovery of a safe and effective treatment for the human diseases. The final stages of the pathway to develop a treatment require clinical trials. Choices about how a trial is designed and conducted have a large impact on the chances of success. The gold-standard large randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, which minimizes sources of bias and has been incredibly successful in other diseases, has been hard to achieve in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease principally because of the rarity and rapidity of the clinical syndrome. To date, clinical trials have been restricted to repurposed compounds, doxycycline, quinacrine, pentosan polysulfate (PPS), and flupertine. In most cases, these trials have used survival as an endpoint, which, whilst clearcut, has limitations. Biomarkers have played a strong role in diagnosis and entry criteria, but only a limited role as secondary outcome measures. Recent developments suggest some possible improvements in trial design by use of new outcome measures that have more favorable properties, and biomarkers of neuronal damage and/or prion seeding activity. Alternative patient populations, including those at risk of genetic forms of prion disease, warrant more consideration. In the future, improved trial designs will be employed to test compounds designed specifically to treat prion diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Mead
- National Prion Clinic, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and MRC Prion Unit at University College London Institute of Prion Diseases, London, United Kingdom.
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Abstract
It is currently difficult to predict the number of asymptomatic prion carriers who will potentially go on to develop a prion disease or who will unknowingly transmit the prion agent to another individual. As prion therapeutic clinical trials have lacked success, there is a continuous need for novel therapeutics that have the potential to prevent, as for inherited prion disorders; slow, as for all prion disorders; and ultimately stop disease progression. Prion-infected cell models provide an ideal tool to search for new treatment avenues. This chapter describes the use of prion cell culture systems in the identification of prion therapeutics. It also deals with the methods required to validate the potential of an antiprion agent through cell viability and impact on cell growth rate.
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Stopschinski BE, Holmes BB, Miller GM, Manon VA, Vaquer-Alicea J, Prueitt WL, Hsieh-Wilson LC, Diamond MI. Specific glycosaminoglycan chain length and sulfation patterns are required for cell uptake of tau versus α-synuclein and β-amyloid aggregates. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:10826-10840. [PMID: 29752409 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.000378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcellular propagation of protein aggregate "seeds" has been proposed to mediate the progression of neurodegenerative diseases in tauopathies and α-synucleinopathies. We previously reported that tau and α-synuclein aggregates bind heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on the cell surface, promoting cellular uptake and intracellular seeding. However, the specificity and binding mode of these protein aggregates to HSPGs remain unknown. Here, we measured direct interaction with modified heparins to determine the size and sulfation requirements for tau, α-synuclein, and β-amyloid (Aβ) aggregate binding to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Varying the GAG length and sulfation patterns, we next conducted competition studies with heparin derivatives in cell-based assays. Tau aggregates required a precise GAG architecture with defined sulfate moieties in the N- and 6-O-positions, whereas the binding of α-synuclein and Aβ aggregates was less stringent. To determine the genes required for aggregate uptake, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to individually knock out the major genes of the HSPG synthesis pathway in HEK293T cells. Knockouts of the extension enzymes exostosin 1 (EXT1), exostosin 2 (EXT2), and exostosin-like 3 (EXTL3), as well as N-sulfotransferase (NDST1) or 6-O-sulfotransferase (HS6ST2) significantly reduced tau uptake, consistent with our biochemical findings, and knockouts of EXT1, EXT2, EXTL3, or NDST1, but not HS6ST2 reduced α-synuclein uptake. In summary, tau aggregates display specific interactions with HSPGs that depend on GAG length and sulfate moiety position, whereas α-synuclein and Aβ aggregates exhibit more flexible interactions with HSPGs. These principles may inform the development of mechanism-based therapies to block transcellular propagation of amyloid protein-based pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara E Stopschinski
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.,the Department of Neurology, RWTH University Aachen, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Brandon B Holmes
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390.,the Medical Scientist Training Program, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, and
| | - Gregory M Miller
- the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Victor A Manon
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Jaime Vaquer-Alicea
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - William L Prueitt
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390
| | - Linda C Hsieh-Wilson
- the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Marc I Diamond
- From the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390,
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Identification of Alprenolol Hydrochloride as an Anti-prion Compound Using Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:367-377. [PMID: 29704200 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1088-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Prion diseases are transmissible neurodegenerative disorders of humans and animals, which are characterized by the aggregation of abnormal prion protein (PrPSc) in the central nervous system. Although several small compounds that bind to normal PrP (PrPC) have been shown to inhibit structural conversion of the protein, an effective therapy for human prion disease remains to be established. In this study, we screened 1200 existing drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for anti-prion activity using surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi). Of these drugs, 31 showed strong binding activity to recombinant human PrP, and three of these reduced the accumulation of PrPSc in prion-infected cells. One of the active compounds, alprenolol hydrochloride, which is used clinically as a β-adrenergic blocker for hypertension, also reduced the accumulation of PrPSc in the brains of prion-infected mice at the middle stage of the disease when the drug was administered orally with their daily water from the day after infection. Docking simulation analysis suggested that alprenolol hydrochloride fitted into the hotspot within mouse PrPC, which is known as the most fragile structure within the protein. These findings provide evidence that SPRi is useful in identifying effective drug candidates for neurodegenerative diseases caused by abnormal protein aggregation, such as prion diseases.
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Abdulrahman BA, Abdelaziz D, Thapa S, Lu L, Jain S, Gilch S, Proniuk S, Zukiwski A, Schatzl HM. The celecoxib derivatives AR-12 and AR-14 induce autophagy and clear prion-infected cells from prions. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17565. [PMID: 29242534 PMCID: PMC5730578 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17770-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal infectious neurodegenerative disorders that affect both humans and animals. The autocatalytic conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) into the pathologic isoform PrPSc is a key feature in prion pathogenesis. AR-12 is an IND-approved derivative of celecoxib that demonstrated preclinical activity against several microbial diseases. Recently, AR-12 has been shown to facilitate clearance of misfolded proteins. The latter proposes AR-12 to be a potential therapeutic agent for neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we investigated the role of AR-12 and its derivatives in controlling prion infection. We tested AR-12 in prion infected neuronal and non-neuronal cell lines. Immunoblotting and confocal microscopy results showed that AR-12 and its analogue AR-14 reduced PrPSc levels after only 72 hours of treatment. Furthermore, infected cells were cured of PrPSc after exposure of AR-12 or AR-14 for only two weeks. We partially attribute the influence of the AR compounds on prion propagation to autophagy stimulation, in line with our previous findings that drug-induced stimulation of autophagy has anti-prion effects in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, this study demonstrates that AR-12 and the AR-14 analogue are potential new therapeutic agents for prion diseases and possibly protein misfolding disorders involving prion-like mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basant A Abdulrahman
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, 11795, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Dalia Abdelaziz
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, 11795, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Simrika Thapa
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Li Lu
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Shubha Jain
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | - Sabine Gilch
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Department of Ecosystem & Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada
| | | | | | - Hermann M Schatzl
- Department of Comparative Biology & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
- Calgary Prion Research Unit, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
- Departments of Veterinary Sciences and of Molecular Biology, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA.
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Mabbott NA. How do PrP Sc Prions Spread between Host Species, and within Hosts? Pathogens 2017; 6:pathogens6040060. [PMID: 29186791 PMCID: PMC5750584 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens6040060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are sub-acute neurodegenerative diseases that affect humans and some domestic and free-ranging animals. Infectious prion agents are considered to comprise solely of abnormally folded isoforms of the cellular prion protein known as PrPSc. Pathology during prion disease is restricted to the central nervous system where it causes extensive neurodegeneration and ultimately leads to the death of the host. The first half of this review provides a thorough account of our understanding of the various ways in which PrPSc prions may spread between individuals within a population, both horizontally and vertically. Many natural prion diseases are acquired peripherally, such as by oral exposure, lesions to skin or mucous membranes, and possibly also via the nasal cavity. Following peripheral exposure, some prions accumulate to high levels within the secondary lymphoid organs as they make their journey from the site of infection to the brain, a process termed neuroinvasion. The replication of PrPSc prions within secondary lymphoid organs is important for their efficient spread to the brain. The second half of this review describes the key tissues, cells and molecules which are involved in the propagation of PrPSc prions from peripheral sites of exposure (such as the lumen of the intestine) to the brain. This section also considers how additional factors such as inflammation and aging might influence prion disease susceptibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neil A Mabbott
- The Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
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Abstract
Three decades after the discovery of prions as the cause of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, we are still nowhere close to finding an effective therapy. Numerous pharmacological interventions have attempted to target various stages of disease progression, yet none has significantly ameliorated the course of disease. We still lack a mechanistic understanding of how the prions damage the brain, and this situation results in a dearth of validated pharmacological targets. In this review, we discuss the attempts to interfere with the replication of prions and to enhance their clearance. We also trace some of the possibilities to identify novel targets that may arise with increasing insights into prion biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Asvin K K Lakkaraju
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland;
| | - Karl Frontzek
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland;
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Stincardini C, Massignan T, Biggi S, Elezgarai SR, Sangiovanni V, Vanni I, Pancher M, Adami V, Moreno J, Stravalaci M, Maietta G, Gobbi M, Negro A, Requena JR, Castilla J, Nonno R, Biasini E. An antipsychotic drug exerts anti-prion effects by altering the localization of the cellular prion protein. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182589. [PMID: 28787011 PMCID: PMC5546605 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 07/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are neurodegenerative conditions characterized by the conformational conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC), an endogenous membrane glycoprotein of uncertain function, into PrPSc, a pathological isoform that replicates by imposing its abnormal folding onto PrPC molecules. A great deal of evidence supports the notion that PrPC plays at least two roles in prion diseases, by acting as a substrate for PrPSc replication, and as a mediator of its toxicity. This conclusion was recently supported by data suggesting that PrPC may transduce neurotoxic signals elicited by other disease-associated protein aggregates. Thus, PrPC may represent a convenient pharmacological target for prion diseases, and possibly other neurodegenerative conditions. Here, we sought to characterize the activity of chlorpromazine (CPZ), an antipsychotic previously shown to inhibit prion replication by directly binding to PrPC. By employing biochemical and biophysical techniques, we provide direct experimental evidence indicating that CPZ does not bind PrPC at biologically relevant concentrations. Instead, the compound exerts anti-prion effects by inducing the relocalization of PrPC from the plasma membrane. Consistent with these findings, CPZ also inhibits the cytotoxic effects delivered by a PrP mutant. Interestingly, we found that the different pharmacological effects of CPZ could be mimicked by two inhibitors of the GTPase activity of dynamins, a class of proteins involved in the scission of newly formed membrane vesicles, and recently reported as potential pharmacological targets of CPZ. Collectively, our results redefine the mechanism by which CPZ exerts anti-prion effects, and support a primary role for dynamins in the membrane recycling of PrPC, as well as in the propagation of infectious prions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Stincardini
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Tania Massignan
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Silvia Biggi
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Saioa R. Elezgarai
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Sangiovanni
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Ilaria Vanni
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, Rome, Italy
| | - Michael Pancher
- HTS Core Facility, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Valentina Adami
- HTS Core Facility, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Jorge Moreno
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio
| | - Matteo Stravalaci
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Maietta
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Marco Gobbi
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry and Pharmacology, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Negro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Jesús R. Requena
- CIMUS Biomedical Research Institute, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Joaquín Castilla
- CIC bioGUNE, Parque tecnológico de Bizkaia, Derio
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Romolo Nonno
- Department of Food Safety and Veterinary Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá, Rome, Italy
| | - Emiliano Biasini
- Dulbecco Telethon Laboratory of Prions and Amyloids, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, IRCCS-Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Workman RG, Maddison BC, Gough KC. Ovine recombinant PrP as an inhibitor of ruminant prion propagation in vitro. Prion 2017; 11:265-276. [PMID: 28665745 PMCID: PMC5553304 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2017.1342919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are fatal and incurable neurodegenerative diseases of humans and animals. Despite years of research, no therapeutic agents have been developed that can effectively manage or reverse disease progression. Recently it has been identified that recombinant prion proteins (rPrP) expressed in bacteria can act as inhibitors of prion replication within the in vitro prion replication system protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA). Here, within PMCA reactions amplifying a range of ruminant prions including distinct Prnp genotypes/host species and distinct prion strains, recombinant ovine VRQ PrP displayed consistent inhibition of prion replication and produced IC50 values of 122 and 171 nM for ovine scrapie and bovine BSE replication, respectively. These findings illustrate the therapeutic potential of rPrPs with distinct TSE diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rob G Workman
- a School of Veterinary Medicine and Science , The University of Nottingham , Sutton Bonington , Leicestershire , UK
| | - Ben C Maddison
- b ADAS, The University of Nottingham , Sutton Bonington , Leicestershire , UK
| | - Kevin C Gough
- a School of Veterinary Medicine and Science , The University of Nottingham , Sutton Bonington , Leicestershire , UK
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42
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Redaelli V, Tagliavini F, Moda F. Clinical features, pathophysiology and management of fatal familial insomnia. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2017.1311251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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43
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Nishitsuji K, Uchimura K. Sulfated glycosaminoglycans in protein aggregation diseases. Glycoconj J 2017; 34:453-466. [DOI: 10.1007/s10719-017-9769-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Giles K, Olson SH, Prusiner SB. Developing Therapeutics for PrP Prion Diseases. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2017; 7:cshperspect.a023747. [PMID: 28096242 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a023747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The prototypical PrP prion diseases are invariably fatal, and the search for agents to treat them spans more than 30 years, with limited success. However, in the last few years, the application of high-throughput screening, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacokinetic optimization has led to important advances. The PrP prion inoculation paradigm provides a robust assay for testing therapeutic efficacy, and a dozen compounds have been reported that lead to meaningful extension in survival of prion-infected mice. Here, we review the history and recent progress in the field, focusing on studies validated in animal models. Based on screens in cells infected with mouse-passaged PrP prions, orally available compounds were generated that double or even triple the survival of mice infected with the same prion strain. Unfortunately, no compounds have yet shown efficacy against human prions. Nevertheless, the speed of the recent advances brings hope that an effective therapeutic can be developed. A successful treatment for any neurodegenerative disease would be a major achievement, and the growing understanding that the more common neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, progress by an analogous prion mechanism serves to highlight the importance of antiprion therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Giles
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143.,Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Steven H Olson
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143.,Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
| | - Stanley B Prusiner
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143.,Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143
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Abstract
Although an effective therapy for prion disease has not yet been established, many advances have been made toward understanding its pathogenesis, which has facilitated research into therapeutics for the disease. Several compounds, including flupirtine, quinacrine, pentosan polysulfate, and doxycycline, have recently been used on a trial basis for patients with prion disease. Concomitantly, several lead antiprion compounds, including compound B (compB), IND series, and anle138b, have been discovered. However, clinical trials are still far from yielding significantly beneficial results, and the findings of lead compound studies in animals have highlighted new challenges. These efforts have highlighted areas that need improvement or further exploration to achieve more effective therapies. In this work, we review recent advances in prion-related therapeutic research and discuss basic scientific issues to be resolved for meaningful medical intervention of prion disease.
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Melanin or a Melanin-Like Substance Interacts with the N-Terminal Portion of Prion Protein and Inhibits Abnormal Prion Protein Formation in Prion-Infected Cells. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.01862-16. [PMID: 28077650 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01862-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are progressive fatal neurodegenerative illnesses caused by the accumulation of transmissible abnormal prion protein (PrP). To find treatments for prion diseases, we searched for substances from natural resources that inhibit abnormal PrP formation in prion-infected cells. We found that high-molecular-weight components from insect cuticle extracts reduced abnormal PrP levels. The chemical nature of these components was consistent with that of melanin. In fact, synthetic melanin produced from tyrosine or 3-hydroxy-l-tyrosine inhibited abnormal PrP formation. Melanin did not modify cellular or cell surface PrP levels, nor did it modify lipid raft or cellular cholesterol levels. Neither did it enhance autophagy or lysosomal function. Melanin was capable of interacting with PrP at two N-terminal domains. Specifically, it strongly interacted with the PrP region of amino acids 23 to 50 including a positively charged amino acid cluster and weakly interacted with the PrP octarepeat peptide region of residues 51 to 90. However, the in vitro and in vivo data were inconsistent with those of prion-infected cells. Abnormal PrP formation in protein misfolding cyclic amplification was not inhibited by melanin. Survival after prion infection was not significantly altered in albino mice or exogenously melanin-injected mice compared with that of control mice. These data suggest that melanin, a main determinant of skin color, is not likely to modify prion disease pathogenesis, even though racial differences in the incidence of human prion diseases have been reported. Thus, the findings identify an interaction between melanin and the N terminus of PrP, but the pathophysiological roles of the PrP-melanin interaction remain unclear.IMPORTANCE The N-terminal region of PrP is reportedly important for neuroprotection, neurotoxicity, and abnormal PrP formation, as this region is bound by many factors, such as metal ions, lipids, nucleic acids, antiprion compounds, and several proteins, including abnormal PrP in prion disease and the Aβ oligomer in Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, melanin, a main determinant of skin color, was newly found to interact with this N-terminal region and inhibits abnormal PrP formation in prion-infected cells. However, the data for prion infection in mice lacking melanin production suggest that melanin is not associated with the prion disease mechanism, although the incidence of prion disease is reportedly much higher in white people than in black people. Thus, the roles of the PrP-melanin interaction remain to be further elucidated, but melanin might be a useful competitive tool for evaluating the functions of other ligands at the N-terminal region.
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Stopschinski BE, Diamond MI. The prion model for progression and diversity of neurodegenerative diseases. Lancet Neurol 2017; 16:323-332. [PMID: 28238712 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(17)30037-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The neuropathology of different neurodegenerative diseases begins in different brain regions, and involves distinct brain networks. Evidence indicates that transcellular propagation of protein aggregation, which is the basis of prion disease, might underlie the progression of pathology in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease. The prion model predicts specific patterns of neuronal vulnerability and network involvement on the basis of the conformation of pathological proteins. Indeed, evidence indicates that self-propagating aggregate conformers, or so-called strains, are associated with distinct neuropathological syndromes. The extension of this hypothesis to our understanding of common neurodegenerative disorders can suggest new therapeutic approaches, such as immunotherapy and small molecules, to block transcellular propagation, and new diagnostic tools to detect early evidence of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara E Stopschinski
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75225, USA
| | - Marc I Diamond
- Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75225, USA.
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Varges D, Manthey H, Heinemann U, Ponto C, Schmitz M, Schulz-Schaeffer WJ, Krasnianski A, Breithaupt M, Fincke F, Kramer K, Friede T, Zerr I. Doxycycline in early CJD: a double-blinded randomised phase II and observational study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2017; 88:119-125. [PMID: 27807198 PMCID: PMC5284486 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2016-313541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The main objective of the present study is to study the therapeutic efficiency of doxycycline in a double-blinded randomised phase II study in a cohort of patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). METHODS From the National Reference Center of TSE Surveillance in Germany, patients with probable or definite sCJD were recruited for a double-blinded randomised study with oral doxycycline (EudraCT 2006-003934-14). In addition, we analysed the data from patients with CJD who received compassionate treatment with doxycycline in a separate group. Potential factors which influence survival such as age at onset, gender, codon 129 polymorphism and cognitive functions were evaluated. The primary outcome measure was survival. RESULTS Group 1: in the double-blinded randomised phase II study, 7 patients in the treatment group were compared with 5 controls. Group 2: 55 patients with sCJD treated with oral doxycycline were analysed and compared with 33 controls by a stratified propensity score applied to a Cox proportional hazard analysis. The results of both studies were combined by means of a random-effects meta-analysis. A slight increase in survival time in the doxycycline treatment group was observed (p=0.049, HR=0.63 (95% CI 0.402 to 0.999)). CONCLUSIONS On the basis of our studies, a larger trial of doxycycline should be performed in persons in the earliest stages of CJD. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER EudraCT 2006-003934-14; Results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Varges
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for TSE Surveillance, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Henrike Manthey
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for TSE Surveillance, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Uta Heinemann
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for TSE Surveillance, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Ponto
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for TSE Surveillance, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Schmitz
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for TSE Surveillance, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Anna Krasnianski
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for TSE Surveillance, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Maren Breithaupt
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for TSE Surveillance, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fabian Fincke
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for TSE Surveillance, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Kramer
- Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tim Friede
- Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- Department of Neurology, National Reference Center for TSE Surveillance, University Medical Center Goettingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of invariably fatal and transmissible neurodegenerative disorders that are associated with the misfolding of the normal cellular prion protein, with the misfolded conformers constituting an infectious unit referred to as a "prion". Prions can spread within an affected organism by directly propagating this misfolding within and between cells and can transmit disease between animals of the same and different species. Prion diseases have a range of clinical phenotypes in humans and animals, with a principle determinant of this attributed to different conformations of the misfolded protein, referred to as prion strains. This chapter will describe the different clinical manifestations of prion diseases, the evidence that these diseases can be transmitted by an infectious protein and how the misfolding of this protein causes disease.
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50
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Therapeutic Approaches to Prion Diseases. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2017; 150:433-453. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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