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Martinelli I, Mandrioli J, Ghezzi A, Zucchi E, Gianferrari G, Simonini C, Cavallieri F, Valzania F. Multifaceted superoxide dismutase 1 expression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: a rare occurrence? Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:130-138. [PMID: 38767482 PMCID: PMC11246149 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-23-01904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neuromuscular condition resulting from the progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. While the typical clinical phenotype of ALS involves both upper and lower motor neurons, human and animal studies over the years have highlighted the potential spread to other motor and non-motor regions, expanding the phenotype of ALS. Although superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) mutations represent a minority of ALS cases, the SOD1 gene remains a milestone in ALS research as it represents the first genetic target for personalized therapies. Despite numerous single case reports or case series exhibiting extramotor symptoms in patients with ALS mutations in SOD1 (SOD1-ALS), no studies have comprehensively explored the full spectrum of extramotor neurological manifestations in this subpopulation. In this narrative review, we analyze and discuss the available literature on extrapyramidal and non-motor features during SOD1-ALS. The multifaceted expression of SOD1 could deepen our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms, pointing towards a multidisciplinary approach for affected patients in light of new therapeutic strategies for SOD1-ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Martinelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine Ph.D. Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Andrea Ghezzi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Zucchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Gianferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Simonini
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Cavallieri
- Neurology Unit, Neuromotor & Rehabilitation Department, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Franco Valzania
- Neurology Unit, Neuromotor & Rehabilitation Department, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
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Ashkaran F, Seyedalipour B, Baziyar P, Hosseinkhani S. Mutation/metal deficiency in the "electrostatic loop" enhanced aggregation process in apo/holo SOD1 variants: implications for ALS diseases. BMC Chem 2024; 18:177. [PMID: 39300574 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-024-01289-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the many mechanisms it has created to prevent unfolding and aggregation of proteins, many diseases are caused by abnormal folding of proteins, which are called misfolding diseases. During this process, proteins undergo structural changes and become stable, insoluble beta-sheet aggregates called amyloid fibrils. Mutations/disruptions in metal ion homeostasis in the ALS-associated metalloenzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1) reduce conformational stability, consistent with the protein aggregation hypothesis for neurodegenerative diseases. However, the exact mechanism of involvement is not well understood. Hence, to understand the role of mutation/ metal deficiency in SOD1 misfolding and aggregation, we investigated the effects of apo/holo SOD1 variants on structural properties using biophysical/experimental techniques. The MD results support the idea that the mutation/metal deficiency can lead to a change in conformation. The increased content of β-sheet structures in apo/holo SOD1 variants can be attributed to the aggregation tendency, which was confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy and dictionary of secondary structure in proteins (DSSP) results. Thermodynamic studies of GdnHCl showed that metal deficiency/mutation/intramolecular S-S reduction together are required to initiate misfolding/aggregation of SOD1. The results showed that apo/holo SOD1 variants under destabilizing conditions induced amyloid aggregates at physiological pH, which were detected by ThT/ANS fluorescence, as well as further confirmation of amyloid/amorphous species by TEM. This study confirms that mutations in the electrostatic loop of SOD1 lead to structural abnormalities, including changes in hydrophobicity, reduced disulfide bonds, and an increased propensity for protein denaturation. This process facilitates the formation of amyloid/amorphous aggregates ALS-associated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faezeh Ashkaran
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Bagher Seyedalipour
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
| | - Payam Baziyar
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Saman Hosseinkhani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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Firdaus Z, Li X. Unraveling the Genetic Landscape of Neurological Disorders: Insights into Pathogenesis, Techniques for Variant Identification, and Therapeutic Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2320. [PMID: 38396996 PMCID: PMC10889342 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042320] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic abnormalities play a crucial role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). Genetic exploration has indeed contributed to unraveling the molecular complexities responsible for the etiology and progression of various NDDs. The intricate nature of rare and common variants in NDDs contributes to a limited understanding of the genetic risk factors associated with them. Advancements in next-generation sequencing have made whole-genome sequencing and whole-exome sequencing possible, allowing the identification of rare variants with substantial effects, and improving the understanding of both Mendelian and complex neurological conditions. The resurgence of gene therapy holds the promise of targeting the etiology of diseases and ensuring a sustained correction. This approach is particularly enticing for neurodegenerative diseases, where traditional pharmacological methods have fallen short. In the context of our exploration of the genetic epidemiology of the three most prevalent NDDs-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, our primary goal is to underscore the progress made in the development of next-generation sequencing. This progress aims to enhance our understanding of the disease mechanisms and explore gene-based therapies for NDDs. Throughout this review, we focus on genetic variations, methodologies for their identification, the associated pathophysiology, and the promising potential of gene therapy. Ultimately, our objective is to provide a comprehensive and forward-looking perspective on the emerging research arena of NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeba Firdaus
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Xiaogang Li
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Hosomi A, Okachi C, Fujiwara Y. Human SOD1 is secreted via a conventional secretion pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 666:101-106. [PMID: 37182284 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Soluble proteins sorted through the secretory pathway contain an N-terminal signal peptide that induces their translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) from the cytosol. However, a few proteins that lack a signal peptide are still translocated into the ER, such as SOD1. SOD1 is a causative gene of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A relationship has been suggested between the secretion of SOD1 and the pathogenesis of ALS; however, the transport mechanism of SOD1 remains unclear. We herein report that SOD1 was translocated into the ER lumen through the translocon Sec61 and was then secreted extracellularly. The present results indicate the potential of suppressing the secretion of SOD1 as a therapeutic target for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira Hosomi
- Department of Agriculture, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa, Kamiina, Nagano, 399-4598, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa, Kamiina, Nagano, 399-4598, Japan.
| | - Chinatsu Okachi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa, Kamiina, Nagano, 399-4598, Japan
| | - Yudai Fujiwara
- Department of Agriculture, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shinshu University, 8304 Minamiminowa, Kamiina, Nagano, 399-4598, Japan
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Suzuki N, Nishiyama A, Warita H, Aoki M. Genetics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: seeking therapeutic targets in the era of gene therapy. J Hum Genet 2023; 68:131-152. [PMID: 35691950 PMCID: PMC9968660 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-022-01055-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an intractable disease that causes respiratory failure leading to mortality. The main locus of ALS is motor neurons. The success of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapy in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a motor neuron disease, has triggered a paradigm shift in developing ALS therapies. The causative genes of ALS and disease-modifying genes, including those of sporadic ALS, have been identified one after another. Thus, the freedom of target choice for gene therapy has expanded by ASO strategy, leading to new avenues for therapeutic development. Tofersen for superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was a pioneer in developing ASO for ALS. Improving protocols and devising early interventions for the disease are vital. In this review, we updated the knowledge of causative genes in ALS. We summarized the genetic mutations identified in familial ALS and their clinical features, focusing on SOD1, fused in sarcoma (FUS), and transacting response DNA-binding protein. The frequency of the C9ORF72 mutation is low in Japan, unlike in Europe and the United States, while SOD1 and FUS are more common, indicating that the target mutations for gene therapy vary by ethnicity. A genome-wide association study has revealed disease-modifying genes, which could be the novel target of gene therapy. The current status and prospects of gene therapy development were discussed, including ethical issues. Furthermore, we discussed the potential of axonal pathology as new therapeutic targets of ALS from the perspective of early intervention, including intra-axonal transcription factors, neuromuscular junction disconnection, dysregulated local translation, abnormal protein degradation, mitochondrial pathology, impaired axonal transport, aberrant cytoskeleton, and axon branching. We simultaneously discuss important pathological states of cell bodies: persistent stress granules, disrupted nucleocytoplasmic transport, and cryptic splicing. The development of gene therapy based on the elucidation of disease-modifying genes and early intervention in molecular pathology is expected to become an important therapeutic strategy in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Ayumi Nishiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Warita
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan.
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Ishida C, Kato-Motozaki Y, Noto D, Komai K, Hasegawa M, Ikeuchi T, Yamada M. An autopsy case of corticobasal degeneration with inferior olivary hypertrophy. Neuropathology 2021; 41:226-235. [PMID: 33847035 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We report autopsy results of a female patient who was confirmed pathologically as having corticobasal degeneration (CBD). This patient presented with progressive gait disturbance at the age of 66 years, and subsequently showed parkinsonism with a right-sided predominance and dementia. She was clinically diagnosed as having possible corticobasal syndrome without palatal myoclonus throughout the disease course. An autopsy at 72 years of age revealed that neuronal loss with gliosis was severe in the substantia nigra and the portion from hippocampal cornu ammonis (CA1) region to the parahippocampal gyrus, and mild-to-moderate in the basal ganglia, thalamus, red nucleus, dentate nucleus, and cerebral cortices, predominantly in the frontal lobe. Myelin pallor was observed in the pyramidal tract of the brainstem and central tegmental tract. Neurodegenerative or axonal degenerative findings were observed predominantly on the left side, except for the dentate nucleus, which was more affected on the right side. The inferior olivary nucleus exhibited hypertrophic degeneration predominantly on the left side. The topography of neurodegeneration was likely to correspond to the dentate nucleus and inferior olivary nucleus. Phosphorylated tau-immunoreactive pretangles, neurofibrillary tangles, coiled bodies, and threads were diffusely observed in the whole brain. The distribution of tau deposits was prominent in the deeper affected lesions of the dentate nucleus and inferior olivary nucleus. Inferior olivary hypertrophy is unusual in patients with CBD. It is highly possible that the neurodegeneration of the inferior olivary nucleus followed that of the dentate nucleus in our patient. Moreover, these results indicate not only the severity of neurodegenerative changes, but also that of tau deposition that could be related to the topography of the projections of the dentato-olivary pathway. Tau propagation and subsequent neurodegeneration along the fiber connections may have occurred. Our results support the possibility that progression of CBD lesions can be mediated by tau propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiho Ishida
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Iou National Hospital, Hokuriku Brain and Neuromuscular Disease Center, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yuko Kato-Motozaki
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Iou National Hospital, Hokuriku Brain and Neuromuscular Disease Center, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Daisuke Noto
- Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kiyonobu Komai
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Iou National Hospital, Hokuriku Brain and Neuromuscular Disease Center, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Dementia and Higher Brain Function, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ikeuchi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Masahito Yamada
- Department of Neurology and Neurobiology of Aging, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa, Japan
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Rebello A, Ray S, Singh D, Sukriya S, Goyal MK, Lal V. Palatal Tremor in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2020; 7:990-991. [PMID: 33163572 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.13082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Rebello
- Department of Neurology Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh India
| | - Sucharita Ray
- Department of Neurology Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh India
| | - Deependra Singh
- Department of Neurology Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh India
| | - Saravana Sukriya
- Department of Neurology Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh India
| | - Manoj K Goyal
- Department of Neurology Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh India
| | - Vivek Lal
- Department of Neurology Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh India
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