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Jeong J, Usman M, Li Y, Zhou XZ, Lu KP. Pin1-Catalyzed Conformation Changes Regulate Protein Ubiquitination and Degradation. Cells 2024; 13:731. [PMID: 38727267 PMCID: PMC11083468 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The unique prolyl isomerase Pin1 binds to and catalyzes cis-trans conformational changes of specific Ser/Thr-Pro motifs after phosphorylation, thereby playing a pivotal role in regulating the structure and function of its protein substrates. In particular, Pin1 activity regulates the affinity of a substrate for E3 ubiquitin ligases, thereby modulating the turnover of a subset of proteins and coordinating their activities after phosphorylation in both physiological and disease states. In this review, we highlight recent advancements in Pin1-regulated ubiquitination in the context of cancer and neurodegenerative disease. Specifically, Pin1 promotes cancer progression by increasing the stabilities of numerous oncoproteins and decreasing the stabilities of many tumor suppressors. Meanwhile, Pin1 plays a critical role in different neurodegenerative disorders via the regulation of protein turnover. Finally, we propose a novel therapeutic approach wherein the ubiquitin-proteasome system can be leveraged for therapy by targeting pathogenic intracellular targets for TRIM21-dependent degradation using stereospecific antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Jeong
- Departments of Biochemistry and Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (J.J.)
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Muhammad Usman
- Departments of Biochemistry and Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (J.J.)
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Yitong Li
- Departments of Biochemistry and Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (J.J.)
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Xiao Zhen Zhou
- Departments of Biochemistry and Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (J.J.)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, Western University, London, ON N6C 2R5, Canada
| | - Kun Ping Lu
- Departments of Biochemistry and Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (J.J.)
- Robarts Research Institute, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada
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2
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Cheng Y, Zhang S, Shang H. Latest advances on new promising molecular-based therapeutic approaches for Huntington's disease. J Transl Int Med 2024; 12:134-147. [PMID: 38779119 PMCID: PMC11107186 DOI: 10.2478/jtim-2023-0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating, autosomal-dominant inherited, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive motor deficits, cognitive impairments, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is caused by excessive cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats within the huntingtin gene (HTT). Presently, therapeutic interventions capable of altering the trajectory of HD are lacking, while medications for abnormal movement and psychiatric symptoms are limited. Numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies have been conducted and are currently underway to test the efficacy of therapeutic approaches targeting some of these mechanisms with varying degrees of success. In this review, we update the latest advances on new promising molecular-based therapeutic strategies for this disorder, including DNA-targeting techniques such as zinc-finger proteins, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and CRISPR/Cas9; post-transcriptional huntingtin-lowering approaches such as RNAi, antisense oligonucleotides, and small-molecule splicing modulators; and novel methods to clear the mHTT protein, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras. We mainly focus on the ongoing clinical trials and the latest pre-clinical studies to explore the progress of emerging potential HD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangfan Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Rare disease center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Sirui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Rare disease center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Huifang Shang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Rare disease center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan Province, China
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3
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Tong H, Yang T, Xu S, Li X, Liu L, Zhou G, Yang S, Yin S, Li XJ, Li S. Huntington's Disease: Complex Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3845. [PMID: 38612657 PMCID: PMC11011923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) arises from the abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT), resulting in the production of the mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) with a polyglutamine stretch in its N-terminus. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying HD are complex and not yet fully elucidated. However, mHTT forms aggregates and accumulates abnormally in neuronal nuclei and processes, leading to disruptions in multiple cellular functions. Although there is currently no effective curative treatment for HD, significant progress has been made in developing various therapeutic strategies to treat HD. In addition to drugs targeting the neuronal toxicity of mHTT, gene therapy approaches that aim to reduce the expression of the mutant HTT gene hold great promise for effective HD therapy. This review provides an overview of current HD treatments, discusses different therapeutic strategies, and aims to facilitate future therapeutic advancements in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (H.T.); (T.Y.); (S.X.); (X.L.); (L.L.); (G.Z.); (S.Y.); (S.Y.)
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (H.T.); (T.Y.); (S.X.); (X.L.); (L.L.); (G.Z.); (S.Y.); (S.Y.)
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4
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Louessard M, Cailleret M, Jarrige M, Bigarreau J, Lenoir S, Dufour N, Rey M, Saudou F, Deglon N, Perrier AL. Mono- and Biallelic Inactivation of Huntingtin Gene in Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Reveal HTT Roles in Striatal Development and Neuronal Functions. J Huntingtons Dis 2024; 13:41-53. [PMID: 38427495 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-231509] [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] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Background Mutations in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene cause Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disorder. As a scaffold protein, HTT is involved in numerous cellular functions, but its normal and pathogenic functions during human forebrain development are poorly understood. Objective To investigate the developmental component of HD, with a specific emphasis on understanding the functions of wild-type and mutant HTT alleles during forebrain neuron development in individuals carrying HD mutations. Methods We used CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to disrupt the ATG region of the HTT gene via non-homologous end joining to produce mono- or biallelic HTT knock-out human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) clones. Results We showed that the loss of wild-type, mutant, or both HTT isoforms does not affect the pluripotency of iPSCs or their transition into neural cells. However, we observed that HTT loss causes division impairments in forebrain neuro-epithelial cells and alters maturation of striatal projection neurons (SPNs) particularly in the acquisition of DARPP32 expression, a key functional marker of SPNs. Finally, young post-mitotic neurons derived from HTT-/- human iPSCs display cellular dysfunctions observed in adult HD neurons. Conclusions We described a novel collection of isogenic clones with mono- and biallelic HTT inactivation that complement existing HD-hiPSC isogenic series to explore HTT functions and test therapeutic strategies in particular HTT-lowering drugs. Characterizing neural and neuronal derivatives from human iPSCs of this collection, we show evidence that HTT loss or mutation has impacts on neuro-epithelial and striatal neurons maturation, and on basal DNA damage and BDNF axonal transport in post-mitotic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Louessard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Univ Evry, Institut des Cellules Souches pour le Traitement et l'étude des Maladies Monogéniques, Corbeil-Essonne, France
| | - Michel Cailleret
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Univ Evry, Institut des Cellules Souches pour le Traitement et l'étude des Maladies Monogéniques, Corbeil-Essonne, France
| | - Margot Jarrige
- CECS/AFM, Institut des Cellules Souches pour le Traitement et l'étude des Maladies Monogéniques, Corbeil-Essonne, France
| | - Julie Bigarreau
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Univ Evry, Institut des Cellules Souches pour le Traitement et l'étude des Maladies Monogéniques, Corbeil-Essonne, France
| | - Sophie Lenoir
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neuroscience, GIN, Grenoble, France
| | - Noëlle Dufour
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Maria Rey
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DNC), and Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Frédéric Saudou
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, Inserm, U1216, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neuroscience, GIN, Grenoble, France
| | - Nicole Deglon
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DNC), and Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anselme L Perrier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives: Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, Univ Evry, Institut des Cellules Souches pour le Traitement et l'étude des Maladies Monogéniques, Corbeil-Essonne, France
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5
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Regio S, Vachey G, Goñi E, Duarte F, Rybarikova M, Sipion M, Rey M, Huarte M, Déglon N. Revisiting the outcome of adult wild-type Htt inactivation in the context of HTT-lowering strategies for Huntington's disease. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad344. [PMID: 38116140 PMCID: PMC10729863 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntingtin-lowering strategies are central to therapeutic approaches for Huntington's disease. Recent studies reported the induction of age- and cell type-specific phenotypes by conditional huntingtin knockout, but these experimental conditions did not precisely mimic huntingtin-lowering or gene-editing conditions in terms of the cells targeted and brain distribution, and no transcriptional profiles were provided. Here, we used the adeno-associated delivery system commonly used in CNS gene therapy programmes and the self-inactivating KamiCas9 gene-editing system to investigate the long-term consequences of wild-type mouse huntingtin inactivation in adult neurons and, thus, the feasibility and safety of huntingtin inactivation in these cells. Behavioural and neuropathological analyses and single-nuclei RNA sequencing indicated that huntingtin editing in 77% of striatal neurons and 16% of cortical projecting neurons in adult mice induced no behavioural deficits or cellular toxicity. Single-nuclei RNA sequencing in 11.5-month-old animals showed that huntingtin inactivation did not alter striatal-cell profiles or proportions. Few differentially expressed genes were identified and Augur analysis confirmed an extremely limited response to huntingtin inactivation in all cell types. Our results therefore indicate that wild-type huntingtin inactivation in adult striatal and projection neurons is well tolerated in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Regio
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DNC), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Vachey
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DNC), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Enrique Goñi
- Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Fabio Duarte
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DNC), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Margareta Rybarikova
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DNC), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Mélanie Sipion
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DNC), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Maria Rey
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DNC), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
| | - Maite Huarte
- Center for Applied Medical Research, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra (CCUN), Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Nicole Déglon
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Department of Clinical Neurosciences (DNC), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
- Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne (UNIL), Neuroscience Research Center (CRN), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LCMN), Lausanne 1011, Switzerland
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6
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Van Raamsdonk JM, Al-Shekaili HH, Wagner L, Bredy TW, Chan L, Pearson J, Schwab C, Murphy Z, Devon RS, Lu G, Kobor MS, Hayden MR, Leavitt BR. Huntingtin Decreases Susceptibility to a Spontaneous Seizure Disorder in FVN/B Mice. Aging Dis 2023; 14:2249-2266. [PMID: 37199581 PMCID: PMC10676795 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0423] [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: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder that is caused by a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene that codes for the protein huntingtin (HTT in humans or Htt in mice). HTT is a multi-functional, ubiquitously expressed protein that is essential for embryonic survival, normal neurodevelopment, and adult brain function. The ability of wild-type HTT to protect neurons against various forms of death raises the possibility that loss of normal HTT function may worsen disease progression in HD. Huntingtin-lowering therapeutics are being evaluated in clinical trials for HD, but concerns have been raised that decreasing wild-type HTT levels may have adverse effects. Here we show that Htt levels modulate the occurrence of an idiopathic seizure disorder that spontaneously occurs in approximately 28% of FVB/N mice, which we have called FVB/N Seizure Disorder with SUDEP (FSDS). These abnormal FVB/N mice demonstrate the cardinal features of mouse models of epilepsy including spontaneous seizures, astrocytosis, neuronal hypertrophy, upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and sudden seizure-related death. Interestingly, mice heterozygous for the targeted inactivation of Htt (Htt+/- mice) exhibit an increased frequency of this disorder (71% FSDS phenotype), while over-expression of either full length wild-type HTT in YAC18 mice or full length mutant HTT in YAC128 mice completely prevents it (0% FSDS phenotype). Examination of the mechanism underlying huntingtin's ability to modulate the frequency of this seizure disorder indicated that over-expression of full length HTT can promote neuronal survival following seizures. Overall, our results demonstrate a protective role for huntingtin in this form of epilepsy and provide a plausible explanation for the observation of seizures in the juvenile form of HD, Lopes-Maciel-Rodan syndrome, and Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. Adverse effects caused by decreasing huntingtin levels have ramifications for huntingtin-lowering therapies that are being developed to treat HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M. Van Raamsdonk
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
- Metabolic Disorders and Complications (MeDiC) and Brain Repair and Integrated Neuroscience (BRaIN) Programs, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada.
| | - Hilal H. Al-Shekaili
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Laura Wagner
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Tim W Bredy
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, QLD 4072, Australia..
| | - Laura Chan
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Jacqueline Pearson
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Claudia Schwab
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Zoe Murphy
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Rebecca S. Devon
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Ge Lu
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Michael S. Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Michael R. Hayden
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
| | - Blair R. Leavitt
- Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada.
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7
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Thompson LM, Orr HT. HD and SCA1: Tales from two 30-year journeys since gene discovery. Neuron 2023; 111:3517-3530. [PMID: 37863037 PMCID: PMC10842341 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.09.036] [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: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
One of the more transformative findings in human genetics was the discovery that the expansion of unstable nucleotide repeats underlies a group of inherited neurological diseases. A subset of these unstable repeat neurodegenerative diseases is due to the expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat encoding a stretch of glutamines, i.e., the polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat neurodegenerative diseases. Among the CAG/polyQ repeat diseases are Huntington's disease (HD) and spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1), in which the expansions are within widely expressed proteins. Although both HD and SCA1 are autosomal dominantly inherited, and both typically cause mid- to late-life-onset movement disorders with cognitive decline, they each are characterized by distinct clinical characteristics and predominant sites of neuropathology. Importantly, the respective affected proteins, Huntingtin (HTT, HD) and Ataxin 1 (ATXN1, SCA1), have unique functions and biological properties. Here, we review HD and SCA1 with a focus on how their disease-specific and shared features may provide informative insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute of Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Harry T Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, MN 55455, USA.
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8
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Estevez-Fraga C, Altmann A, Parker CS, Scahill RI, Costa B, Chen Z, Manzoni C, Zarkali A, Durr A, Roos RAC, Landwehrmeyer B, Leavitt BR, Rees G, Tabrizi SJ, McColgan P. Genetic topography and cortical cell loss in Huntington's disease link development and neurodegeneration. Brain 2023; 146:4532-4546. [PMID: 37587097 PMCID: PMC10629790 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cortical cell loss is a core feature of Huntington's disease (HD), beginning many years before clinical motor diagnosis, during the premanifest stage. However, it is unclear how genetic topography relates to cortical cell loss. Here, we explore the biological processes and cell types underlying this relationship and validate these using cell-specific post-mortem data. Eighty premanifest participants on average 15 years from disease onset and 71 controls were included. Using volumetric and diffusion MRI we extracted HD-specific whole brain maps where lower grey matter volume and higher grey matter mean diffusivity, relative to controls, were used as proxies of cortical cell loss. These maps were combined with gene expression data from the Allen Human Brain Atlas (AHBA) to investigate the biological processes relating genetic topography and cortical cell loss. Cortical cell loss was positively correlated with the expression of developmental genes (i.e. higher expression correlated with greater atrophy and increased diffusivity) and negatively correlated with the expression of synaptic and metabolic genes that have been implicated in neurodegeneration. These findings were consistent for diffusion MRI and volumetric HD-specific brain maps. As wild-type huntingtin is known to play a role in neurodevelopment, we explored the association between wild-type huntingtin (HTT) expression and developmental gene expression across the AHBA. Co-expression network analyses in 134 human brains free of neurodegenerative disorders were also performed. HTT expression was correlated with the expression of genes involved in neurodevelopment while co-expression network analyses also revealed that HTT expression was associated with developmental biological processes. Expression weighted cell-type enrichment (EWCE) analyses were used to explore which specific cell types were associated with HD cortical cell loss and these associations were validated using cell specific single nucleus RNAseq (snRNAseq) data from post-mortem HD brains. The developmental transcriptomic profile of cortical cell loss in preHD was enriched in astrocytes and endothelial cells, while the neurodegenerative transcriptomic profile was enriched for neuronal and microglial cells. Astrocyte-specific genes differentially expressed in HD post-mortem brains relative to controls using snRNAseq were enriched in the developmental transcriptomic profile, while neuronal and microglial-specific genes were enriched in the neurodegenerative transcriptomic profile. Our findings suggest that cortical cell loss in preHD may arise from dual pathological processes, emerging as a consequence of neurodevelopmental changes, at the beginning of life, followed by neurodegeneration in adulthood, targeting areas with reduced expression of synaptic and metabolic genes. These events result in age-related cell death across multiple brain cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Estevez-Fraga
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London, London WC1B 5EH, UK
| | - Andre Altmann
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
| | - Christopher S Parker
- Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
| | - Rachael I Scahill
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London, London WC1B 5EH, UK
| | - Beatrice Costa
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London, London WC1B 5EH, UK
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Zhongbo Chen
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London, London WC1B 5EH, UK
| | - Claudia Manzoni
- School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Angeliki Zarkali
- Dementia Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Alexandra Durr
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), AP-HP, Inserm, CNRS, Paris 75013, France
| | - Raymund A C Roos
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden 2333, The Netherlands
| | | | - Blair R Leavitt
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver BC V5Z 4H4Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia Hospital, Vancouver BC V6T 2B5, Canada
| | - Geraint Rees
- Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London, London WC1B 5EH, UK
| | - Peter McColgan
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, University College London, London WC1B 5EH, UK
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9
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Bragg RM, Coffey SR, Cantle JP, Hu S, Singh S, Legg SR, McHugh CA, Toor A, Zeitlin SO, Kwak S, Howland D, Vogt TF, Monga SP, Carroll JB. Huntingtin loss in hepatocytes is associated with altered metabolism, adhesion, and liver zonation. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202302098. [PMID: 37684045 PMCID: PMC10488683 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease arises from a toxic gain of function in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. As a result, many HTT-lowering therapies are being pursued in clinical studies, including those that reduce HTT RNA and protein expression in the liver. To investigate potential impacts, we characterized molecular, cellular, and metabolic impacts of chronic HTT lowering in mouse hepatocytes. Lifelong hepatocyte HTT loss is associated with multiple physiological changes, including increased circulating bile acids, cholesterol and urea, hypoglycemia, and impaired adhesion. HTT loss causes a clear shift in the normal zonal patterns of liver gene expression, such that pericentral gene expression is reduced. These alterations in liver zonation in livers lacking HTT are observed at the transcriptional, histological, and plasma metabolite levels. We have extended these phenotypes physiologically with a metabolic challenge of acetaminophen, for which the HTT loss results in toxicity resistance. Our data reveal an unexpected role for HTT in regulating hepatic zonation, and we find that loss of HTT in hepatocytes mimics the phenotypes caused by impaired hepatic β-catenin function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Bragg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Sydney R Coffey
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Cantle
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Samuel Rw Legg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Cassandra A McHugh
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Amreen Toor
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Scott O Zeitlin
- https://ror.org/0153tk833 Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Carroll
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
- https://ror.org/00cvxb145 Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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10
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Shing K, Sapp E, Boudi A, Liu S, Seeley C, Marchionini D, DiFiglia M, Kegel-Gleason KB. Early whole-body mutant huntingtin lowering averts changes in proteins and lipids important for synapse function and white matter maintenance in the LacQ140 mouse model. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 187:106313. [PMID: 37777020 PMCID: PMC10731584 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Expansion of a triplet repeat tract in exon 1 of the HTT gene causes Huntington's disease (HD). The mutant HTT protein (mHTT) has numerous aberrant interactions with diverse, pleiomorphic effects. Lowering mHTT is a promising approach to treat HD, but it is unclear when lowering should be initiated, how much is necessary, and what duration should occur to achieve benefits. Furthermore, the effects of mHTT lowering on brain lipids have not been assessed. Using a mHtt-inducible mouse model, we analyzed mHtt lowering initiated at different ages and sustained for different time-periods. mHTT protein in cytoplasmic and synaptic compartments of the striatum was reduced 38-52%; however, there was minimal lowering of mHTT in nuclear and perinuclear regions where aggregates formed at 12 months of age. Total striatal lipids were reduced in 9-month-old LacQ140 mice and preserved by mHtt lowering. Subclasses important for white matter structure and function including ceramide (Cer), sphingomyelin (SM), and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), contributed to the reduction in total lipids. Phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), and bismethyl phosphatidic acid (BisMePA) were also changed in LacQ140 mice. Levels of all subclasses except ceramide were preserved by mHtt lowering. mRNA expression profiling indicated that a transcriptional mechanism contributes to changes in myelin lipids, and some but not all changes can be prevented by mHtt lowering. Our findings suggest that early and sustained reduction in mHtt can prevent changes in levels of select striatal proteins and most lipids, but a misfolded, degradation-resistant form of mHTT hampers some benefits in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Shing
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Adel Boudi
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Sophia Liu
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Connor Seeley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | | | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
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11
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Ferrari Bardile C, Radulescu CI, Pouladi MA. Oligodendrocyte pathology in Huntington's disease: from mechanisms to therapeutics. Trends Mol Med 2023; 29:802-816. [PMID: 37591764 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Oligodendrocytes (OLGs), highly specialized glial cells that wrap axons with myelin sheaths, are critical for brain development and function. There is new recognition of the role of OLGs in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), including Huntington's disease (HD), a prototypic NDD caused by a polyglutamine tract expansion in huntingtin (HTT), which results in gain- and loss-of-function effects. Clinically, HD is characterized by a constellation of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric disturbances. White matter (WM) structures, representing myelin-rich regions of the brain, are profoundly affected in HD, and recent findings reveal oligodendroglia dysfunction as an early pathological event. Here, we focus on mechanisms that underlie oligodendroglial deficits and dysmyelination in the progression of the disease, highlighting the pathogenic contributions of mutant HTT (mHTT). We also discuss potential therapeutic implications involving these molecular pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Ferrari Bardile
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Carola I Radulescu
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Imperial College London, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Mahmoud A Pouladi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada.
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12
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Korczowska-Łącka I, Słowikowski B, Piekut T, Hurła M, Banaszek N, Szymanowicz O, Jagodziński PP, Kozubski W, Permoda-Pachuta A, Dorszewska J. Disorders of Endogenous and Exogenous Antioxidants in Neurological Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1811. [PMID: 37891890 PMCID: PMC10604347 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In diseases of the central nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), and even epilepsy and migraine, oxidative stress load commonly surpasses endogenous antioxidative capacity. While oxidative processes have been robustly implicated in the pathogenesis of these diseases, the significance of particular antioxidants, both endogenous and especially exogenous, in maintaining redox homeostasis requires further research. Among endogenous antioxidants, enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase are central to disabling free radicals, thereby preventing oxidative damage to cellular lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Whether supplementation with endogenously occurring antioxidant compounds such as melatonin and glutathione carries any benefit, however, remains equivocal. Similarly, while the health benefits of certain exogenous antioxidants, including ascorbic acid (vitamin C), carotenoids, polyphenols, sulforaphanes, and anthocyanins are commonly touted, their clinical efficacy and effectiveness in particular neurological disease contexts need to be more robustly defined. Here, we review the current literature on the cellular mechanisms mitigating oxidative stress and comment on the possible benefit of the most common exogenous antioxidants in diseases such as AD, PD, ALS, HD, stroke, epilepsy, and migraine. We selected common neurological diseases of a basically neurodegenerative nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Korczowska-Łącka
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland (M.H.)
| | - Bartosz Słowikowski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland; (B.S.); (P.P.J.)
| | - Thomas Piekut
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland (M.H.)
| | - Mikołaj Hurła
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland (M.H.)
| | - Natalia Banaszek
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland (M.H.)
| | - Oliwia Szymanowicz
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland (M.H.)
| | - Paweł P. Jagodziński
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland; (B.S.); (P.P.J.)
| | - Wojciech Kozubski
- Chair and Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Permoda-Pachuta
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Early Intervention, Medical University of Lublin, 20-059 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jolanta Dorszewska
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznan, Poland (M.H.)
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13
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Laundos TL, Li S, Cheang E, De Santis R, Piccolo FM, Brivanlou AH. Huntingtin CAG-expansion mutation results in a dominant negative effect. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1252521. [PMID: 37727506 PMCID: PMC10505792 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1252521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Huntington's disease (HD) remains an incurable and fatal neurodegenerative disease long after CAG-expansion mutation in the huntingtin gene (HTT) was identified as the cause. The underlying pathological mechanism, whether HTT loss of function or gain of toxicity results from mutation, remains a matter of debate. Methods: In this study, we genetically modulated wild-type or mutant HTT expression levels in isogenic human embryonic stem cells to systematically investigate their contribution to HD-specific phenotypes. Results: Using highly reproducible and quantifiable in vitro micropattern-based assays, we observed comparable phenotypes with HD mutation and HTT depletion. However, halving endogenous wild-type HTT levels did not strongly recapitulate the HD phenotypes, arguing against a classical loss of function mechanism. Remarkably, expression of CAG-expanded HTT in non-HD cells induced HD like phenotypes akin to HTT depletion. Discussion: By corollary, these results indicate a dominant negative effect of mutated HTT on its wild-type counterpart. Complementation with additional copies of wild-type HTT ameliorated the HD-associated phenotypes, strongly supporting a classical dominant negative mechanism. Understanding the molecular basis of this dominant negative effect will guide the development of efficient clinical strategies to counteract the deleterious impact of mutant HTT on the wild-type HTT function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago L. Laundos
- Laboratory of Synthetic Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York City, NY, United States
- ICBAS—Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S—Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- INEB—Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Shu Li
- Laboratory of Synthetic Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Eric Cheang
- Laboratory of Synthetic Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Riccardo De Santis
- Laboratory of Synthetic Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Francesco M. Piccolo
- Laboratory of Synthetic Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Ali H. Brivanlou
- Laboratory of Synthetic Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York City, NY, United States
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14
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Liu L, Tong H, Sun Y, Chen X, Yang T, Zhou G, Li XJ, Li S. Huntingtin Interacting Proteins and Pathological Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13060. [PMID: 37685866 PMCID: PMC10488016 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an expansion of a CAG repeat in the gene that encodes the huntingtin protein (HTT). The exact function of HTT is still not fully understood, and previous studies have mainly focused on identifying proteins that interact with HTT to gain insights into its function. Numerous HTT-interacting proteins have been discovered, shedding light on the functions and structure of HTT. Most of these proteins interact with the N-terminal region of HTT. Among the various HTT-interacting proteins, huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) and HTT-interacting protein 1 (HIP1) have been extensively studied. Recent research has uncovered differences in the distribution of HAP1 in monkey and human brains compared with mice. This finding suggests that there may be species-specific variations in the regulation and function of HTT-interacting proteins. Understanding these differences could provide crucial insights into the development of HD. In this review, we will focus on the recent advancements in the study of HTT-interacting proteins, with particular attention to the differential distributions of HTT and HAP1 in larger animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of Central Nervous System Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510623, China; (L.L.); (H.T.); (Y.S.); (X.C.); (T.Y.); (G.Z.); (X.-J.L.)
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15
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Jiang A, Handley RR, Lehnert K, Snell RG. From Pathogenesis to Therapeutics: A Review of 150 Years of Huntington's Disease Research. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13021. [PMID: 37629202 PMCID: PMC10455900 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241613021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by an expanded polyglutamine-coding (CAG) trinucleotide repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. HD behaves as a highly penetrant dominant disorder likely acting through a toxic gain of function by the mutant huntingtin protein. Widespread cellular degeneration of the medium spiny neurons of the caudate nucleus and putamen are responsible for the onset of symptomology that encompasses motor, cognitive, and behavioural abnormalities. Over the past 150 years of HD research since George Huntington published his description, a plethora of pathogenic mechanisms have been proposed with key themes including excitotoxicity, dopaminergic imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic defects, disruption of proteostasis, transcriptional dysregulation, and neuroinflammation. Despite the identification and characterisation of the causative gene and mutation and significant advances in our understanding of the cellular pathology in recent years, a disease-modifying intervention has not yet been clinically approved. This review includes an overview of Huntington's disease, from its genetic aetiology to clinical presentation and its pathogenic manifestation. An updated view of molecular mechanisms and the latest therapeutic developments will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Jiang
- Applied Translational Genetics Group, Centre for Brain Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; (R.R.H.); (K.L.); (R.G.S.)
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16
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Shing K, Sapp E, Boudi A, Liu S, Seeley C, Marchionini D, DiFiglia M, Kegel-Gleason KB. Early whole-body mutant huntingtin lowering averts changes in proteins and lipids important for synapse function and white matter maintenance in the LacQ140 mouse model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.26.525697. [PMID: 36747614 PMCID: PMC9900921 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.26.525697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Expansion of a triplet repeat tract in exon1 of the HTT gene causes Huntington's disease (HD). The mutant HTT protein (mHTT) has numerous aberrant interactions with diverse, pleiomorphic effects. No disease modifying treatments exist but lowering mutant huntingtin (mHTT) by gene therapy is a promising approach to treat Huntington's disease (HD). It is not clear when lowering should be initiated, how much lowering is necessary and for what duration lowering should occur to achieve benefits. Furthermore, the effects of mHTT lowering on brain lipids have not been assessed. Using a mHtt-inducible mouse model we analyzed whole body mHtt lowering initiated at different ages and sustained for different time-periods. Subcellular fractionation (density gradient ultracentrifugation), protein chemistry (gel filtration, western blot, and capillary electrophoresis immunoassay), liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry of lipids, and bioinformatic approaches were used to test effects of mHTT transcriptional lowering. mHTT protein in cytoplasmic and synaptic compartments of the caudate putamen, which is most affected in HD, was reduced 38-52%. Little or no lowering of mHTT occurred in nuclear and perinuclear regions where aggregates formed at 12 months of age. mHtt transcript repression partially or fully preserved select striatal proteins (SCN4B, PDE10A). Total lipids in striatum were reduced in LacQ140 mice at 9 months and preserved by early partial mHtt lowering. The reduction in total lipids was due in part to reductions in subclasses of ceramide (Cer), sphingomyelin (SM), and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), which are known to be important for white matter structure and function. Lipid subclasses phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), and bismethyl phosphatidic acid (BisMePA) were also changed in LacQ140 mice. Levels of all subclasses other than ceramide were preserved by early mHtt lowering. Pathway enrichment analysis of RNAseq data imply a transcriptional mechanism is responsible in part for changes in myelin lipids, and some but not all changes can be rescued by mHTT lowering. Our findings suggest that early and sustained reduction in mHtt can prevent changes in levels of select striatal proteins and most lipids but a misfolded, degradation-resistant form of mHTT hampers some benefits in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Shing
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Adel Boudi
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Sophia Liu
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Connor Seeley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | | | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
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17
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Ferlazzo GM, Gambetta AM, Amato S, Cannizzaro N, Angiolillo S, Arboit M, Diamante L, Carbognin E, Romani P, La Torre F, Galimberti E, Pflug F, Luoni M, Giannelli S, Pepe G, Capocci L, Di Pardo A, Vanzani P, Zennaro L, Broccoli V, Leeb M, Moro E, Maglione V, Martello G. Genome-wide screening in pluripotent cells identifies Mtf1 as a suppressor of mutant huntingtin toxicity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3962. [PMID: 37407555 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39552-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by CAG-repeat expansions in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. The resulting mutant HTT (mHTT) protein induces toxicity and cell death via multiple mechanisms and no effective therapy is available. Here, we employ a genome-wide screening in pluripotent mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to identify suppressors of mHTT toxicity. Among the identified suppressors, linked to HD-associated processes, we focus on Metal response element binding transcription factor 1 (Mtf1). Forced expression of Mtf1 counteracts cell death and oxidative stress caused by mHTT in mouse ESCs and in human neuronal precursor cells. In zebrafish, Mtf1 reduces malformations and apoptosis induced by mHTT. In R6/2 mice, Mtf1 ablates motor defects and reduces mHTT aggregates and oxidative stress. Our screening strategy enables a quick in vitro identification of promising suppressor genes and their validation in vivo, and it can be applied to other monogenic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Maria Ferlazzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Aptuit (Verona) S.r.l., an Evotec Company, Campus Levi-Montalcini, 37135, Verona, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Gambetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Sonia Amato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Via Belzoni, 160, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Noemi Cannizzaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Angiolillo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Mattia Arboit
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Linda Diamante
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Carbognin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Patrizia Romani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Federico La Torre
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Galimberti
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Florian Pflug
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mirko Luoni
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Giannelli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Paola Vanzani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Lucio Zennaro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Vania Broccoli
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, 20854, Vedrano al Lambro, Italy
| | - Martin Leeb
- Max Perutz Laboratories Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna Biocenter, Dr Bohr Gasse 9, 1030, Vienna, Austria
| | - Enrico Moro
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, University of Padua, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Graziano Martello
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via U. Bassi 58B, 35131, Padua, Italy.
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18
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Bragg RM, Coffey SR, Cantle JP, Hu S, Singh S, Legg SR, McHugh CA, Toor A, Zeitlin SO, Kwak S, Howland D, Vogt TF, Monga SP, Carroll JB. Huntingtin loss in hepatocytes is associated with altered metabolism, adhesion, and liver zonation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.24.546334. [PMID: 37425835 PMCID: PMC10327156 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.24.546334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease arises from a toxic gain of function in the huntingtin ( HTT ) gene. As a result, many HTT-lowering therapies are being pursued in clinical studies, including those that reduce HTT RNA and protein expression in the liver. To investigate potential impacts, we characterized molecular, cellular, and metabolic impacts of chronic HTT lowering in mouse hepatocytes. Lifelong hepatocyte HTT loss is associated with multiple physiological changes, including increased circulating bile acids, cholesterol and urea, hypoglycemia, and impaired adhesion. HTT loss causes a clear shift in the normal zonal patterns of liver gene expression, such that pericentral gene expression is reduced. These alterations in liver zonation in livers lacking HTT are observed at the transcriptional, histological and plasma metabolite level. We have extended these phenotypes physiologically with a metabolic challenge of acetaminophen, for which the HTT loss results in toxicity resistance. Our data reveal an unexpected role for HTT in regulating hepatic zonation, and we find that loss of HTT in hepatocytes mimics the phenotypes caused by impaired hepatic β-catenin function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M. Bragg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Sydney R. Coffey
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Jeffrey P. Cantle
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Samuel R.W. Legg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Cassandra A. McHugh
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Amreen Toor
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Scott O. Zeitlin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | | | | | | | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Jeffrey B. Carroll
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104-2499
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19
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Thomson SB, Stam A, Brouwers C, Fodale V, Bresciani A, Vermeulen M, Mostafavi S, Petkau TL, Hill A, Yung A, Russell-Schulz B, Kozlowski P, MacKay A, Ma D, Beg MF, Evers MM, Vallès A, Leavitt BR. AAV5-miHTT-mediated huntingtin lowering improves brain health in a Huntington's disease mouse model. Brain 2023; 146:2298-2315. [PMID: 36508327 PMCID: PMC10232253 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntingtin (HTT)-lowering therapies show great promise in treating Huntington's disease. We have developed a microRNA targeting human HTT that is delivered in an adeno-associated serotype 5 viral vector (AAV5-miHTT), and here use animal behaviour, MRI, non-invasive proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and striatal RNA sequencing as outcome measures in preclinical mouse studies of AAV5-miHTT. The effects of AAV5-miHTT treatment were evaluated in homozygous Q175FDN mice, a mouse model of Huntington's disease with severe neuropathological and behavioural phenotypes. Homozygous mice were used instead of the more commonly used heterozygous strain, which exhibit milder phenotypes. Three-month-old homozygous Q175FDN mice, which had developed acute phenotypes by the time of treatment, were injected bilaterally into the striatum with either formulation buffer (phosphate-buffered saline + 5% sucrose), low dose (5.2 × 109 genome copies/mouse) or high dose (1.3 × 1011 genome copies/mouse) AAV5-miHTT. Wild-type mice injected with formulation buffer served as controls. Behavioural assessments of cognition, T1-weighted structural MRI and striatal proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy were performed 3 months after injection, and shortly afterwards the animals were sacrificed to collect brain tissue for protein and RNA analysis. Motor coordination was assessed at 1-month intervals beginning at 2 months of age until sacrifice. Dose-dependent changes in AAV5 vector DNA level, miHTT expression and mutant HTT were observed in striatum and cortex of AAV5-miHTT-treated Huntington's disease model mice. This pattern of microRNA expression and mutant HTT lowering rescued weight loss in homozygous Q175FDN mice but did not affect motor or cognitive phenotypes. MRI volumetric analysis detected atrophy in four brain regions in homozygous Q175FDN mice, and treatment with high dose AAV5-miHTT rescued this effect in the hippocampus. Like previous magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies in Huntington's disease patients, decreased total N-acetyl aspartate and increased myo-inositol levels were found in the striatum of homozygous Q175FDN mice. These neurochemical findings were partially reversed with AAV5-miHTT treatment. Striatal transcriptional analysis using RNA sequencing revealed mutant HTT-induced changes that were partially reversed by HTT lowering with AAV5-miHTT. Striatal proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis suggests a restoration of neuronal function, and striatal RNA sequencing analysis shows a reversal of transcriptional dysregulation following AAV5-miHTT in a homozygous Huntington's disease mouse model with severe pathology. The results of this study support the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in HTT-lowering clinical trials and strengthen the therapeutic potential of AAV5-miHTT in reversing severe striatal dysfunction in Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah B Thomson
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
| | - Anouk Stam
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure Biopharma B.V., 1105BP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cynthia Brouwers
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure Biopharma B.V., 1105BP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Valentina Fodale
- Department of Translational Biology, IRBM S.p.A., Pomezia 00071, Italy
| | - Alberto Bresciani
- Department of Translational Biology, IRBM S.p.A., Pomezia 00071, Italy
| | - Michael Vermeulen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
| | - Sara Mostafavi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
| | - Terri L Petkau
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
| | - Austin Hill
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
| | - Andrew Yung
- UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T2B5, Canada
| | - Bretta Russell-Schulz
- UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T2B5, Canada
| | - Piotr Kozlowski
- UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T2B5, Canada
| | - Alex MacKay
- UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T2B5, Canada
| | - Da Ma
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Mirza Faisal Beg
- School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A0A7, Canada
| | - Melvin M Evers
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure Biopharma B.V., 1105BP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Astrid Vallès
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure Biopharma B.V., 1105BP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
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20
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Prowse ENP, Chaudhary AR, Sharon D, Hendricks AG. Huntingtin S421 phosphorylation increases kinesin and dynein engagement on early endosomes and lysosomes. Biophys J 2023; 122:1168-1184. [PMID: 36772794 PMCID: PMC10111264 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntingtin (HTT) is a scaffolding protein that recruits motor proteins to vesicular cargoes, enabling it to regulate kinesin-1, dynein, and myosin-VI-dependent transport. To maintain the native stoichiometry of HTT with its interacting partners, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to induce a phosphomimetic mutation of the endogenous HTT at S421 (HTT-S421D). Using single-particle tracking, optical tweezers, and immunofluorescence, we examined the effects of this mutation on the motility of early endosomes and lysosomes. In HTT-S421D cells, lysosomes exhibit longer displacements and higher processive fractions compared with wild-type (HTT-WT) cells. Kinesins and dyneins exert greater forces on early endosomes and lysosomes in cells expressing HTT-S421D. In addition, endosomes bind to microtubules faster and are more resistant to detachment under load. The recruitment of kinesins and dyneins to microtubules is enhanced in HTT-S421D cells. In contrast, overexpression of HTT had variable effects on the processivity, displacement, and directional bias of both early endosomes and lysosomes. These data indicate that phosphorylation of the endogenous HTT causes early endosomes and lysosomes to move longer distances and more processively by recruiting and activating both kinesin-1 and dynein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily N P Prowse
- Bioengineering Department, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - David Sharon
- Bioengineering Department, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Adam G Hendricks
- Bioengineering Department, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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21
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The length of uninterrupted CAG repeats in stem regions of repeat disease associated hairpins determines the amount of short CAG oligonucleotides that are toxic to cells through RNA interference. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:1078. [PMID: 36585400 PMCID: PMC9803637 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05494-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Extended CAG trinucleotide repeats (TNR) in the genes huntingtin (HTT) and androgen receptor (AR) are the cause of two progressive neurodegenerative disorders: Huntington's disease (HD) and Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA), respectively. Anyone who inherits the mutant gene in the complete penetrance range (>39 repeats for HD and 44 for SBMA) will develop the disease. An inverse correlation exists between the length of the CAG repeat and the severity and age of onset of the diseases. Growing evidence suggests that it is the length of uninterrupted CAG repeats in the mRNA rather than the length of poly glutamine (polyQ) in mutant (m)HTT protein that determines disease progression. One variant of mHTT (loss of inhibition; LOI) causes a 25 year earlier onset of HD when compared to a reference sequence, despite both coding for a protein that contains an identical number of glutamines. Short 21-22 nt CAG repeat (sCAGs)-containing RNAs can cause disease through RNA interference (RNAi). RNA hairpins (HPs) forming at the CAG TNRs are stabilized by adjacent CCG (in HD) or CUG repeats (in SBMA) making them better substrates for Dicer, the enzyme that processes CAG HPs into sCAGs. We now show that cells deficient in Dicer or unable to mediate RNAi are resistant to the toxicity of the HTT and AR derived HPs. Expression of a small HP that mimics the HD LOI variant is more stable and more toxic than a reference HP. We report that the LOI HP is processed by Dicer, loaded into the RISC more efficiently, and gives rise to a higher quantity of RISC-bound 22 nt sCAGs. Our data support the notion that RNAi contributes to the cell death seen in HD and SBMA and provide an explanation for the dramatically reduced onset of disease in HD patients that carry the LOI variant.
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22
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Humbert S, Barnat M. Huntington's disease and brain development. C R Biol 2022; 345:77-90. [PMID: 36847466 DOI: 10.5802/crbiol.93] [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: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a rare inherited neurological disorder that generally manifests in mild-adulthood. The disease is characterized by the dysfunction and the degeneration of specific brain structures leading progressively to psychiatric, cognitive and motor disorders. The disease is caused by a mutation in the gene coding for huntingtin and, although it appears in adulthood, embryos carry the mutated gene from their development in utero. Studies based on mouse models and human stem cells have reported altered developmental mechanisms in disease conditions. However, does the mutation affect development in humans? Focusing on the early stages of brain development in human fetuses carrying the HD mutation, we have identified abnormalities in the development of the neocortex, the structure that ensure higher cerebral functions. Altogether, these studies suggests that developmental defects could contribute to the onset symptoms in adults, changing the perspective on disease and thus the health care of patients.
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23
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Chivet M, McCluskey M, Nicot AS, Brocard J, Beaufils M, Giovannini D, Giannesini B, Poreau B, Brocard J, Humbert S, Saudou F, Fauré J, Marty I. Huntingtin regulates calcium fluxes in skeletal muscle. J Gen Physiol 2022; 155:213700. [PMID: 36409218 PMCID: PMC9682417 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.202213103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The expression of the Huntingtin protein, well known for its involvement in the neurodegenerative Huntington's disease, has been confirmed in skeletal muscle. The impact of HTT deficiency was studied in human skeletal muscle cell lines and in a mouse model with inducible and muscle-specific HTT deletion. Characterization of calcium fluxes in the knock-out cell lines demonstrated a reduction in excitation-contraction (EC) coupling, related to an alteration in the coupling between the dihydropyridine receptor and the ryanodine receptor, and an increase in the amount of calcium stored within the sarcoplasmic reticulum, linked to the hyperactivity of store-operated calcium entry (SOCE). Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated an association of HTT with junctophilin 1 (JPH1) and stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), both providing clues on the functional effects of HTT deletion on calcium fluxes. Characterization of muscle strength and muscle anatomy of the muscle-specific HTT-KO mice demonstrated that HTT deletion induced moderate muscle weakness and mild muscle atrophy associated with histological abnormalities, similar to the phenotype observed in tubular aggregate myopathy. Altogether, this study points toward the hypotheses of the involvement of HTT in EC coupling via its interaction with JPH1, and on SOCE via its interaction with JPH1 and/or STIM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Chivet
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Maximilian McCluskey
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Anne Sophie Nicot
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Julie Brocard
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Mathilde Beaufils
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Diane Giovannini
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Benoit Giannesini
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Brice Poreau
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Jacques Brocard
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Sandrine Humbert
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Frédéric Saudou
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Julien Fauré
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Isabelle Marty
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, INSERM, U1216, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France,Correspondence to Isabelle Marty:
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24
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Ding Y, Xing D, Fei Y, Lu B. Emerging degrader technologies engaging lysosomal pathways. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:8832-8876. [PMID: 36218065 PMCID: PMC9620493 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00624c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Targeted protein degradation (TPD) provides unprecedented opportunities for drug discovery. While the proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology has already entered clinical trials and changed the landscape of small-molecule drugs, new degrader technologies harnessing alternative degradation machineries, especially lysosomal pathways, have emerged and broadened the spectrum of degradable targets. We have recently proposed the concept of autophagy-tethering compounds (ATTECs) that hijack the autophagy protein microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3 (LC3) for targeted degradation. Other groups also reported degrader technologies engaging lysosomal pathways through different mechanisms including AUTACs, AUTOTACs, LYTACs and MoDE-As. In this review, we analyse and discuss ATTECs along with other lysosomal-relevant degrader technologies. Finally, we will briefly summarize the current status of these degrader technologies and envision possible future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Ding
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Dong Xing
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Molecular Therapeutics and New Drug Development, School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yiyan Fei
- Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Ultra-Precision Optical Manufacturing, Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Boxun Lu
- Neurology Department at Huashan Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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25
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Koshevaya YS, Kusakin AV, Buchinskaia NV, Pechnikova VV, Serebryakova EA, Koroteev AL, Glotov AS, Glotov OS. Description of the First Registered Case of Lopes-Maciel-Rodan Syndrome in Russia. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012437. [PMID: 36293294 PMCID: PMC9604141 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Lopes−Maciel−Rodan syndrome (LOMARS) is an extremely rare disorder, with only a few cases reported worldwide. LOMARS is caused by a compound heterozygous mutation in the HTT gene. Little is known about LOMARS pathogenesis and clinical manifestations. Whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed to achieve a definitive molecular diagnosis of the disorder. All NGS-identified variants underwent the Sanger confirmation. In addition, a literature review on genetic variations in the HTT gene was conducted. The paper reports a case of LOMARS in a pediatric patient in Russia. A preterm girl of non-consanguineous parents demonstrated severe psychomotor developmental delays in her first 12 months. By the age of 6 years, she failed to develop speech but was able to understand everyday phrases and perform simple commands. Autism-like behaviors, stereotypies, and bruxism were noted during the examination. WES revealed two undescribed variants of unknown clinical significance in the HTT gene, presumably associated with the patient’s phenotype (c.2350C>T and c.8440C>A). Medical re-examination of parents revealed that the patient inherited these variants from her father and mother. Lopes−Maciel−Rodan syndrome was diagnosed based on overlapping clinical findings and the follow-up genetic examination of parents. Our finding expands the number of reported LOMARS cases and provides new insights into the genetic basis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliya S. Koshevaya
- Saint-Petersburg State Medical Diagnostic Center (Genetic Medical Center), 353912 St. Petersburg, Russia
- CerbaLab Ltd., 199106 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Aleksey V. Kusakin
- Pediatric Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Applied Genomics Laboratory, SCAMT Institute, ITMO University, 197101 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Correspondence:
| | - Natalia V. Buchinskaia
- Saint-Petersburg State Medical Diagnostic Center (Genetic Medical Center), 353912 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Valentina V. Pechnikova
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution “Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery”, 117418 Moscow, Russia
| | - Elena A. Serebryakova
- Saint-Petersburg State Medical Diagnostic Center (Genetic Medical Center), 353912 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Department of Genomic Medicine, D.O.Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductology, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Alexander L. Koroteev
- Saint-Petersburg State Medical Diagnostic Center (Genetic Medical Center), 353912 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Andrey S. Glotov
- Department of Genomic Medicine, D.O.Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductology, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Oleg S. Glotov
- Pediatric Research and Clinical Center for Infectious Diseases, 197022 St. Petersburg, Russia
- Department of Genomic Medicine, D.O.Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductology, 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia
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26
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Chen X, Sun Y, Chen L, Chen XS, Pan M, Zhang Y, Wang Q, Yang W, Yin P, He D, Guo X, Yang S, Zeng Y, Yan S, Li XJ, Li S. Differential expression and roles of Huntingtin and Huntingtin-associated protein 1 in the mouse and primate brains. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:554. [PMID: 36251080 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04577-8] [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: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) is the first identified protein whose function is affected by its abnormal interaction with mutant huntingtin (mHTT), which causes Huntington disease. However, the expression patterns of Hap1 and Htt in the rodent brain are not correlated. Here we found that the primate HAP1, unlike the rodent Hap1, is correlatively expressed with HTT in the primate brains. CRISPR/Cas9 targeting revealed that HAP1 deficiency in the developing human neurons did not affect neuronal differentiation and gene expression as seen in the mouse neurons. However, deletion of HAP1 exacerbated neurotoxicity of mutant HTT in the organotypic brain slices of adult monkeys. These findings demonstrate differential HAP1 expression and function in the mouse and primate brains, and suggest that interaction of HAP1 with mutant HTT may be involved in mutant HTT-mediated neurotoxicity in adult primate neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Chen
- Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430000, Hubei, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yize Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Laiqiang Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiu-Sheng Chen
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Mingtian Pan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yiran Zhang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Weili Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Peng Yin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Dajian He
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiangyu Guo
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Su Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- Brain Science and Advanced Technology Institute, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430000, Hubei, China
| | - Sen Yan
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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27
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Kim H, Lenoir S, Helfricht A, Jung T, Karneva ZK, Lee Y, Beumer W, van der Horst GB, Anthonijsz H, Buil LC, van der Ham F, Platenburg GJ, Purhonen P, Hebert H, Humbert S, Saudou F, Klein P, Song JJ. A pathogenic proteolysis-resistant huntingtin isoform induced by an antisense oligonucleotide maintains huntingtin function. JCI Insight 2022; 7:154108. [PMID: 35943803 PMCID: PMC9536263 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.154108] [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] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a late-onset neurological disorder for which therapeutics are not available. Its key pathological mechanism involves the proteolysis of polyglutamine-expanded (polyQ-expanded) mutant huntingtin (mHTT), which generates N-terminal fragments containing polyQ, a key contributor to HD pathogenesis. Interestingly, a naturally occurring spliced form of HTT mRNA with truncated exon 12 encodes an HTT (HTTΔ12) with a deletion near the caspase-6 cleavage site. In this study, we used a multidisciplinary approach to characterize the therapeutic potential of targeting HTT exon 12. We show that HTTΔ12 was resistant to caspase-6 cleavage in both cell-free and tissue lysate assays. However, HTTΔ12 retained overall biochemical and structural properties similar to those of wt-HTT. We generated mice in which HTT exon 12 was truncated and found that the canonical exon 12 was dispensable for the main physiological functions of HTT, including embryonic development and intracellular trafficking. Finally, we pharmacologically induced HTTΔ12 using the antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) QRX-704. QRX-704 showed predictable pharmacology and efficient biodistribution. In addition, it was stable for several months and inhibited pathogenic proteolysis. Furthermore, QRX-704 treatments resulted in a reduction of HTT aggregation and an increase in dendritic spine count. Thus, ASO-induced HTT exon 12 splice switching from HTT may provide an alternative therapeutic strategy for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyeongju Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Daejeon, Korea, Republic of
| | - Sophie Lenoir
- Grenoble Institute Neurosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Taeyang Jung
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Daejeon, Korea, Republic of
| | | | - Yejin Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Daejeon, Korea, Republic of
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Pasi Purhonen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, The Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Hans Hebert
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and Health Systems, The Royal Institute of Technology, KTH, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Sandrine Humbert
- Grenoble Institute Neurosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Frédéric Saudou
- Grenoble Institute Neurosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Ji-Joon Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Daejeon, Korea, Republic of
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Dinamarca MC, Colombo L, Tousiaki NE, Müller M, Pecho-Vrieseling E. Synaptic and functional alterations in the development of mutant huntingtin expressing hiPSC‐derived neurons. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:916019. [PMID: 35928225 PMCID: PMC9343803 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.916019] [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: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a monogenic disease that results in a combination of motor, psychiatric, and cognitive symptoms. It is caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which results in the production of a mutant HTT protein (mHTT) with an extended polyglutamine tract (PolyQ). Severe motor symptoms are a hallmark of HD and typically appear during middle age; however, mild cognitive and personality changes often occur already during early adolescence. Wild-type HTT is a regulator of synaptic functions and plays a role in axon guidance, neurotransmitter release, and synaptic vesicle trafficking. These functions are important for proper synapse assembly during neuronal network formation. In the present study, we assessed the effect of mHTT exon1 isoform on the synaptic and functional maturation of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons. We used a relatively fast-maturing hiPSC line carrying a doxycycline-inducible pro-neuronal transcription factor, (iNGN2), and generated a double transgenic line by introducing only the exon 1 of HTT, which carries the mutant CAG (mHTTEx1). The characterization of our cell lines revealed that the presence of mHTTEx1 in hiPSC-derived neurons alters the synaptic protein appearance, decreases synaptic contacts, and causes a delay in the development of a mature neuronal activity pattern, recapitulating some of the developmental alterations observed in HD models, nonetheless in a shorted time window. Our data support the notion that HD has a neurodevelopmental component and is not solely a degenerative disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Colombo
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Matthias Müller
- Novartis Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Eline Pecho-Vrieseling
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- *Correspondence: Eline Pecho-Vrieseling,
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Xu S, Li G, Ye X, Chen D, Chen Z, Xu Z, Daniele M, Tambone S, Ceccacci A, Tomei L, Ye L, Yu Y, Solbach A, Farmer SM, Stimming EF, McAllister G, Marchionini DM, Zhang S. HAP40 is a conserved central regulator of Huntingtin and a potential modulator of Huntington's disease pathogenesis. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010302. [PMID: 35853002 PMCID: PMC9295956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Perturbation of huntingtin (HTT)'s physiological function is one postulated pathogenic factor in Huntington's disease (HD). However, little is known how HTT is regulated in vivo. In a proteomic study, we isolated a novel ~40kDa protein as a strong binding partner of Drosophila HTT and demonstrated it was the functional ortholog of HAP40, an HTT associated protein shown recently to modulate HTT's conformation but with unclear physiological and pathologic roles. We showed that in both flies and human cells, HAP40 maintained conserved physical and functional interactions with HTT. Additionally, loss of HAP40 resulted in similar phenotypes as HTT knockout. More strikingly, HAP40 strongly affected HTT's stability, as depletion of HAP40 significantly reduced the levels of endogenous HTT protein while HAP40 overexpression markedly extended its half-life. Conversely, in the absence of HTT, the majority of HAP40 protein were degraded, likely through the proteasome. Further, the affinity between HTT and HAP40 was not significantly affected by polyglutamine expansion in HTT, and contrary to an early report, there were no abnormal accumulations of endogenous HAP40 protein in HD cells from mouse HD models or human patients. Lastly, when tested in Drosophila models of HD, HAP40 partially modulated the neurodegeneration induced by full-length mutant HTT while showed no apparent effect on the toxicity of mutant HTT exon 1 fragment. Together, our study uncovers a conserved mechanism governing the stability and in vivo functions of HTT and demonstrates that HAP40 is a central and positive regulator of endogenous HTT. Further, our results support that mutant HTT is toxic regardless of the presence of its partner HAP40, and implicate HAP40 as a potential modulator of HD pathogenesis through its multiplex effect on HTT's function, stability and the potency of mutant HTT's toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Xu
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Gang Li
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Xin Ye
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Dongsheng Chen
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zhihua Chen
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Zhen Xu
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Moretti Daniele
- Department of Translational and Discovery Research, IRBM SpA, Pomezia (RM), Italy
| | - Sara Tambone
- Department of Translational and Discovery Research, IRBM SpA, Pomezia (RM), Italy
| | - Alessandra Ceccacci
- Department of Translational and Discovery Research, IRBM SpA, Pomezia (RM), Italy
| | - Licia Tomei
- Department of Translational and Discovery Research, IRBM SpA, Pomezia (RM), Italy
| | - Lili Ye
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yue Yu
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Programs in Genetics and Epigenetics and Neuroscience, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MD Anderson UTHealth GSBS), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Amanda Solbach
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Programs in Genetics and Epigenetics and Neuroscience, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MD Anderson UTHealth GSBS), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Stephen M. Farmer
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Program in Biochemistry and Cell Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MD Anderson UTHealth GSBS), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Erin Furr Stimming
- Department of Neurology, HDSA Center of Excellence, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - George McAllister
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 350 Seventh Ave, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Deanna M. Marchionini
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 350 Seventh Ave, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Sheng Zhang
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Programs in Genetics and Epigenetics and Neuroscience, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (MD Anderson UTHealth GSBS), Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), Houston, Texas, United States of America
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Kacher R, Mounier C, Caboche J, Betuing S. Altered Cholesterol Homeostasis in Huntington’s Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:797220. [PMID: 35517051 PMCID: PMC9063567 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.797220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder caused by an expansion of the CAG repeat in the first exon of Huntingtin’s gene. The associated neurodegeneration mainly affects the striatum and the cortex at early stages and progressively spreads to other brain structures. Targeting HD at its earlier stages is under intense investigation. Numerous drugs were tested, with a rate of success of only 3.5% approved molecules used as symptomatic treatment. The restoration of cholesterol metabolism, which is central to the brain homeostasis and strongly altered in HD, could be an interesting disease-modifying strategy. Cholesterol is an essential membrane component in the central nervous system (CNS); alterations of its homeostasis have deleterious consequences on neuronal functions. The levels of several sterols, upstream of cholesterol, are markedly decreased within the striatum of HD mouse model. Transcription of cholesterol biosynthetic genes is reduced in HD cell and mouse models as well as post-mortem striatal and cortical tissues from HD patients. Since the dynamic of brain cholesterol metabolism is complex, it is essential to establish the best method to target it in HD. Cholesterol, which does not cross the blood-brain-barrier, is locally synthesized and renewed within the brain. All cell types in the CNS synthesize cholesterol during development but as they progress through adulthood, neurons down-regulate their cholesterol synthesis and turn to astrocytes for their full supply. Cellular levels of cholesterol reflect the dynamic balance between synthesis, uptake and export, all integrated into the context of the cross talk between neurons and glial cells. In this review, we describe the latest advances regarding the role of cholesterol deregulation in neuronal functions and how this could be a determinant factor in neuronal degeneration and HD progression. The pathways and major mechanisms by which cholesterol and sterols are regulated in the CNS will be described. From this overview, we discuss the main clinical strategies for manipulating cholesterol metabolism in the CNS, and how to reinstate a proper balance in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radhia Kacher
- Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute (ICM), AP-HP, INSERM, CNRS, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- INSERM, U1216, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Coline Mounier
- Neuroscience Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8246, Paris, France
- U1130, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France
| | - Jocelyne Caboche
- Neuroscience Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8246, Paris, France
- U1130, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Betuing
- Neuroscience Paris Seine, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Faculté des Sciences et Ingénierie, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 8246, Paris, France
- U1130, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Paris, France
- *Correspondence: Sandrine Betuing,
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Pradhan S, Gao R, Bush K, Zhang N, Wairkar YP, Sarkar PS. Polyglutamine Expansion in Huntingtin and Mechanism of DNA Damage Repair Defects in Huntington’s Disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:837576. [PMID: 35444517 PMCID: PMC9013776 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.837576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that DNA repair deficiency and genome instability may be the impending signs of many neurological diseases. Genome-wide association (GWAS) studies have established a strong correlation between genes that play a role in DNA damage repair and many neurodegenerative diseases, including Huntington’s disease (HD), and several other trinucleotides repeat expansion-related hereditary ataxias. Recently, many reports have documented a significant role played by the DNA repair processes in aging and in modifying many neurodegenerative diseases, early during their progression. Studies from our lab and others have now begun to understand the mechanisms that cause defective DNA repair in HD and surprisingly, many proteins that have a strong link to known neurodegenerative diseases seem to be important players in these cellular pathways. Mutations in huntingtin (HTT) gene that lead to polyglutamine repeat expansion at the N-terminal of HTT protein has been shown to disrupt transcription-coupled DNA repair process, a specialized DNA repair process associated with transcription. Due to the recent progress made in understanding the mechanisms of DNA repair in relation to HD, in this review, we will mainly focus on the mechanisms by which the wild-type huntingtin (HTT) protein helps in DNA repair during transcription, and the how polyglutamine expansions in HTT impedes this process in HD. Further studies that identify new players in DNA repair will help in our understanding of this process in neurons. Furthermore, it should help us understand how various DNA repair mechanism(s) coordinate to maintain the normal physiology of neurons, and provide insights for the development of novel drugs at prodromal stages of these neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subrata Pradhan
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Rui Gao
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Keegan Bush
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yogesh P. Wairkar
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
| | - Partha S. Sarkar
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Partha S. Sarkar,
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32
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Rook ME, Southwell AL. Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy: From Design to the Huntington Disease Clinic. BioDrugs 2022; 36:105-119. [PMID: 35254632 PMCID: PMC8899000 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-022-00519-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by an inherited mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which encodes mutant HTT protein. Though HD remains incurable, various preclinical studies have reported a favorable response to HTT suppression, emphasizing HTT lowering strategies as prospective disease-modifying treatments. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) lower HTT by targeting transcripts and are well suited for treating neurodegenerative disorders as they distribute broadly throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and are freely taken up by neurons, glia, and ependymal cells. With the FDA approval of an ASO therapy for another disease of the CNS, spinal muscular atrophy, ASOs have become a particularly attractive therapeutic option for HD. However, two types of ASOs were recently assessed in human clinical trials for the treatment of HD, and both were halted early. In this review, we will explore the differences in chemistry, targeting, and specificity of these HTT ASOs as well as preliminary clinical findings and potential reasons for and implications of these halted trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E Rook
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA.
| | - Amber L Southwell
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32827, USA
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33
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Extreme conservation of the poly-glutamine tract in huntingtin is related to neurodevelopmental functions: the "better" may become the "enemy of the good" in the course of evolution. Cell Death Differ 2022; 29:266-268. [PMID: 35013554 PMCID: PMC8816902 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00927-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
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The evolutionary history of the polyQ tract in huntingtin sheds light on its functional pro-neural activities. Cell Death Differ 2022; 29:293-305. [PMID: 34974533 PMCID: PMC8817008 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00914-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is caused by a pathologically long (>35) CAG repeat located in the first exon of the Huntingtin gene (HTT). While pathologically expanded CAG repeats are the focus of extensive investigations, non-pathogenic CAG tracts in protein-coding genes are less well characterized. Here, we investigated the function and evolution of the physiological CAG tract in the HTT gene. We show that the poly-glutamine (polyQ) tract encoded by CAGs in the huntingtin protein (HTT) is under purifying selection and subjected to stronger selective pressures than CAG-encoded polyQ tracts in other proteins. For natural selection to operate, the polyQ must perform a function. By combining genome-edited mouse embryonic stem cells and cell assays, we show that small variations in HTT polyQ lengths significantly correlate with cells' neurogenic potential and with changes in the gene transcription network governing neuronal function. We conclude that during evolution natural selection promotes the conservation and purity of the CAG-encoded polyQ tract and that small increases in its physiological length influence neural functions of HTT. We propose that these changes in HTT polyQ length contribute to evolutionary fitness including potentially to the development of a more complex nervous system.
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35
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Casale AM, Liguori F, Ansaloni F, Cappucci U, Finaurini S, Spirito G, Persichetti F, Sanges R, Gustincich S, Piacentini L. Transposable element activation promotes neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of Huntington's disease. iScience 2022; 25:103702. [PMID: 35036881 PMCID: PMC8752904 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disorder with progressive motor dysfunction and cognitive decline. The disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the IT15 gene, which elongates a polyglutamine stretch of the HD protein, Huntingtin. No therapeutic treatments are available, and new pharmacological targets are needed. Retrotransposons are transposable elements (TEs) that represent 40% and 30% of the human and Drosophila genomes and replicate through an RNA intermediate. Mounting evidence suggests that mammalian TEs are active during neurogenesis and may be involved in diseases of the nervous system. Here we show that TE expression and mobilization are increased in a Drosophila melanogaster HD model. By inhibiting TE mobilization with Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors, polyQ-dependent eye neurodegeneration and genome instability in larval brains are rescued and fly lifespan is increased. These results suggest that TE activation may be involved in polyQ-induced neurotoxicity and a potential pharmacological target. Transposable elements: new pathogenic players in Huntington's disease polyQ-Htt expression leads to widespread heterochromatin relaxation Reverse transcriptase inhibitors rescue HD-induced neurodegeneration
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Affiliation(s)
- Assunta Maria Casale
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Liguori
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Ansaloni
- Area of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Ugo Cappucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Finaurini
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Giovanni Spirito
- Area of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Remo Sanges
- Area of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Piacentini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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36
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The molecular pathogenesis of repeat expansion diseases. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 50:119-134. [PMID: 34940797 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Expanded short tandem repeats in the genome cause various monogenic diseases, particularly neurological disorders. Since the discovery of a CGG repeat expansion in the FMR1 gene in 1991, more than 40 repeat expansion diseases have been identified to date. In the coding repeat expansion diseases, in which the expanded repeat sequence is located in the coding regions of genes, the toxicity of repeat polypeptides, particularly misfolding and aggregation of proteins containing an expanded polyglutamine tract, have been the focus of investigation. On the other hand, in the non-coding repeat expansion diseases, in which the expanded repeat sequence is located in introns or untranslated regions, the toxicity of repeat RNAs has been the focus of investigation. Recently, these repeat RNAs were demonstrated to be translated into repeat polypeptides by the novel mechanism of repeat-associated non-AUG translation, which has extended the research direction of the pathological mechanisms of this disease entity to include polypeptide toxicity. Thus, a common pathogenesis has been suggested for both coding and non-coding repeat expansion diseases. In this review, we briefly outline the major pathogenic mechanisms of repeat expansion diseases, including a loss-of-function mechanism caused by repeat expansion, repeat RNA toxicity caused by RNA foci formation and protein sequestration, and toxicity by repeat polypeptides. We also discuss perturbation of the physiological liquid-liquid phase separation state caused by these repeat RNAs and repeat polypeptides, as well as potential therapeutic approaches against repeat expansion diseases.
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Barry J, Bui MTN, Levine MS, Cepeda C. Synaptic pathology in Huntington's disease: Beyond the corticostriatal pathway. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 162:105574. [PMID: 34848336 PMCID: PMC9328779 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a heritable, fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a mutation in the Huntingtin gene. It is characterized by chorea, as well as cognitive and psychiatric symptoms. Histopathologically, there is a massive loss of striatal projection neurons and less but significant loss in other areas throughout the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamocortical (CBGTC) loop. The mutant huntingtin protein has been implicated in numerous functions, including an important role in synaptic transmission. Most studies on anatomical and physiological alterations in HD have focused on striatum and cerebral cortex. However, based on recent CBGTC projectome evidence, the need to study other pathways has become increasingly clear. In this review, we examine the current status of our knowledge of morphological and electrophysiological alterations of those pathways in animal models of HD. Based on recent studies, there is accumulating evidence that synaptic disconnection, particularly along excitatory pathways, is pervasive and almost universal in HD, thus supporting a critical role of the huntingtin protein in synaptic transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Barry
- IDDRC, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Minh T N Bui
- IDDRC, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael S Levine
- IDDRC, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Carlos Cepeda
- IDDRC, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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Haver HN, Scaglione KM. Dictyostelium discoideum as a Model for Investigating Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:759532. [PMID: 34776869 PMCID: PMC8578527 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.759532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is a model organism that is used to investigate many cellular processes including chemotaxis, cell motility, cell differentiation, and human disease pathogenesis. While many single-cellular model systems lack homologs of human disease genes, Dictyostelium's genome encodes for many genes that are implicated in human diseases including neurodegenerative diseases. Due to its short doubling time along with the powerful genetic tools that enable rapid genetic screening, and the ease of creating knockout cell lines, Dictyostelium is an attractive model organism for both interrogating the normal function of genes implicated in neurodegeneration and for determining pathogenic mechanisms that cause disease. Here we review the literature involving the use of Dictyostelium to interrogate genes implicated in neurodegeneration and highlight key questions that can be addressed using Dictyostelium as a model organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly N. Haver
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - K. Matthew Scaglione
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
- Duke Center for Neurodegeneration and Neurotherapeutics, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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39
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Benn JA, Mukadam AS, McEwan WA. Targeted protein degradation using intracellular antibodies and its application to neurodegenerative disease. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 126:138-149. [PMID: 34654628 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Antibodies mediate the majority of their effects in the extracellular domain, or in intracellular compartments isolated from the cytosol. Under a growing list of circumstances, however, antibodies are found to gain access to the cytoplasm. Cytosolic immune complexes are bound by the atypical antibody receptor TRIM21, which mediates the rapid degradation of the immune complexes at the proteasome. These discoveries have informed the development of TRIM-Away, a technique to selectively deplete proteins using delivery of antibodies into cells. A range of related approaches that elicit selective protein degradation using intracellular constructs linking antibody fragments to degradative effector functions have also been developed. These methods hold promise for inducing the degradation of proteins as both research tools and as a novel therapeutic approach. Protein aggregates are a pathophysiological feature of neurodegenerative diseases and are considered to have a causal role in pathology. Immunotherapy is emerging as a promising route towards their selective targeting, and a role of antibodies in the cytosol has been demonstrated in cell-based assays. This review will explore the mechanisms by which therapeutic antibodies engage and eliminate intracellularly aggregated proteins. We will discuss how future developments in intracellular antibody technology may enhance the therapeutic potential of such antibody-derived therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A Benn
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge, UK
| | - Aamir S Mukadam
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge, UK
| | - William A McEwan
- UK Dementia Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cambridge, UK.
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40
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Wang J, Cao H. Zebrafish and Medaka: Important Animal Models for Human Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:10766. [PMID: 34639106 PMCID: PMC8509648 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Animal models of human neurodegenerative disease have been investigated for several decades. In recent years, zebrafish (Danio rerio) and medaka (Oryzias latipes) have become popular in pathogenic and therapeutic studies about human neurodegenerative diseases due to their small size, the optical clarity of embryos, their fast development, and their suitability to large-scale therapeutic screening. Following the emergence of a new generation of molecular biological technologies such as reverse and forward genetics, morpholino, transgenesis, and gene knockout, many human neurodegenerative disease models, such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Alzheimer's, were constructed in zebrafish and medaka. These studies proved that zebrafish and medaka genes are functionally conserved in relation to their human homologues, so they exhibit similar neurodegenerative phenotypes to human beings. Therefore, fish are a suitable model for the investigation of pathologic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and for the large-scale screening of drugs for potential therapy. In this review, we summarize the studies in modelling human neurodegenerative diseases in zebrafish and medaka in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donghu South Road 7#, Wuhan 430072, China;
- College of Advanced Agriculture Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Donghu South Road 7#, Wuhan 430072, China;
- College of Advanced Agriculture Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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41
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Gusella JF, Lee JM, MacDonald ME. Huntington's disease: nearly four decades of human molecular genetics. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:R254-R263. [PMID: 34169318 PMCID: PMC8490011 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating neurogenetic disorder whose familial nature and progressive course were first described in the 19th century but for which no disease-modifying treatment is yet available. Through the active participation of HD families, this disorder has acted as a flagship for the application of human molecular genetic strategies to identify disease genes, understand pathogenesis and identify rational targets for development of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James F Gusella
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, The Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jong-Min Lee
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, The Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Marcy E MacDonald
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Medical and Population Genetics Program, The Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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42
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Galgoczi S, Ruzo A, Markopoulos C, Yoney A, Phan-Everson T, Li S, Haremaki T, Metzger JJ, Etoc F, Brivanlou AH. Huntingtin CAG expansion impairs germ layer patterning in synthetic human 2D gastruloids through polarity defects. Development 2021; 148:272380. [PMID: 34608934 PMCID: PMC8513611 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expansion of the CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT). Although HD has been shown to have a developmental component, how early during human embryogenesis the HTT-CAG expansion can cause embryonic defects remains unknown. Here, we demonstrate a specific and highly reproducible CAG length-dependent phenotypic signature in a synthetic model for human gastrulation derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Specifically, we observed a reduction in the extension of the ectodermal compartment that is associated with enhanced activin signaling. Surprisingly, rather than a cell-autonomous effect, tracking the dynamics of TGFβ signaling demonstrated that HTT-CAG expansion perturbs the spatial restriction of activin response. This is due to defects in the apicobasal polarization in the context of the polarized epithelium of the 2D gastruloid, leading to ectopic subcellular localization of TGFβ receptors. This work refines the earliest developmental window for the prodromal phase of HD to the first 2 weeks of human development, as modeled by our 2D gastruloids. Summary: 2D gastruloids of isogenic human embryonic stem cells modeling Huntington's Disease reveal that huntingtin CAG expansion perturbs the spatial restriction of the activin response in the context of the polarized epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szilvia Galgoczi
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Albert Ruzo
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Christian Markopoulos
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anna Yoney
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Laboratory of condensed matter physics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tien Phan-Everson
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Laboratory of condensed matter physics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Shu Li
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tomomi Haremaki
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jakob J Metzger
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Laboratory of condensed matter physics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Fred Etoc
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Laboratory of condensed matter physics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ali H Brivanlou
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Molecular Embryology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
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43
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Sawant N, Morton H, Kshirsagar S, Reddy AP, Reddy PH. Mitochondrial Abnormalities and Synaptic Damage in Huntington's Disease: a Focus on Defective Mitophagy and Mitochondria-Targeted Therapeutics. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:6350-6377. [PMID: 34519969 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02556-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal and pure genetic disease with a progressive loss of medium spiny neurons (MSN). HD is caused by expanded polyglutamine repeats in the exon 1 of HD gene. Clinically, HD is characterized by chorea, seizures, involuntary movements, dystonia, cognitive decline, intellectual impairment, and emotional disturbances. Several years of intense research revealed that multiple cellular changes, including defective axonal transport, protein-protein interactions, defective bioenergetics, calcium dyshomeostasis, NMDAR activation, synaptic damage, mitochondrial abnormalities, and selective loss of medium spiny neurons are implicated in HD. Recent research on mutant huntingtin (mHtt) and mitochondria has found that mHtt interacts with the mitochondrial division protein, dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), enhances GTPase DRP1 enzymatic activity, and causes excessive mitochondrial fragmentation and abnormal distribution, leading to defective axonal transport of mitochondria and selective synaptic degeneration. Recent research also revealed that failure to remove dead and/or dying mitochondria is an early event in the disease progression. Currently, efforts are being made to reduce abnormal protein interactions and enhance synaptic mitophagy as therapeutic strategies for HD. The purpose of this article is to discuss recent research in HD progression. This article also discusses recent developments of cell and mouse models, cellular changes, mitochondrial abnormalities, DNA damage, bioenergetics, oxidative stress, mitophagy, and therapeutics strategies in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Sawant
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Hallie Morton
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Sudhir Kshirsagar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Arubala P Reddy
- Nutritional Sciences Department, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, 1301 Akron Ave, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - P Hemachandra Reddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA. .,Neuroscience & Pharmacology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA. .,Neurology, Department of School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA. .,Public Health Department of Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA. .,Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, School Health Professions, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA. .,Department of Internal Medicine, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Public Health and School of Health Professions, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Neuroscience & Pharmacology3601 4th Street, NeurologyLubbock, TX, 79430, USA.
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Braatz EM, André EA, Liu JP, Zeitlin SO. Characterization of a Knock-In Mouse Model with a Huntingtin Exon 1 Deletion. J Huntingtons Dis 2021; 10:435-454. [PMID: 34459410 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-210494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Huntingtin (HTT) N-terminal domains encoded by Huntingtin's (HTT) exon 1 consist of an N17 domain, the polyglutamine (polyQ) stretch and a proline-rich region (PRR). These domains are conserved in mammals and have been hypothesized to modulate HTT's functions in the developing and adult CNS, including DNA damage repair and autophagy. OBJECTIVE This study longitudinally characterizes the in vivo consequences of deleting the murine Htt N-terminal domains encoded by Htt exon 1. METHODS Knock-in mice with a deletion of Htt exon 1 sequences (HttΔE1) were generated and bred into the C57BL/6J congenic genetic background. Their behavior, DNA damage response, basal autophagy, and glutamatergic synapse numbers were evaluated. RESULTS Progeny from HttΔE1/+ intercrosses are born at the expected Mendelian frequency but with a distorted male to female ratio in both the HttΔE1/ΔE1 and Htt+/+ offspring. HttΔE1/ΔE1 adults exhibit a modest deficit in accelerating rotarod performance, and an earlier increase in cortical and striatal DNA damage with elevated neuronal pan-nuclear 53bp1 levels compared to Htt+/+ mice. However, a normal response to induced DNA damage, normal levels of basal autophagy markers, and no significant differences in corticocortical, corticostriatal, thalamocortical, or thalamostriatal synapses numbers were observed compared to controls. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that deletion of the Htt N-terminus encoded by the Htt exon 1 does not affect Htt's critical role during embryogenesis, but instead, may have a modest effect on certain motor tasks, basal levels of DNA damage in the brain, and Htt function in the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise M Braatz
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Emily A André
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jeh-Ping Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Scott O Zeitlin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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45
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Bensalel J, Xu H, Lu ML, Capobianco E, Wei J. RNA-seq analysis reveals significant transcriptome changes in huntingtin-null human neuroblastoma cells. BMC Med Genomics 2021; 14:176. [PMID: 34215255 PMCID: PMC8252266 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-021-01022-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntingtin (Htt) protein is the product of the gene mutated in Huntington's disease (HD), a fatal, autosomal dominant, neurodegenerative disorder. Normal Htt is essential for early embryogenesis and the development of the central nervous system. However, the role of Htt in adult tissues is less defined. Following the recent promising clinical trial in which both normal and mutant Htt mRNA were knocked down in HD patients, there is an urgent need to fully understand the molecular consequences of knocking out/down Htt in adult tissues. Htt has been identified as an important transcriptional regulator. Unbiased investigations of transcriptome changes with RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) have been done in multiple cell types in HD, further confirming that transcriptional dysregulation is a central pathogenic mechanism in HD. However, there is lack of direct understanding of the transcriptional regulation by normal Htt. METHODS To investigate the transcriptional role of normal Htt, we first knocked out Htt in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line using the CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) gene editing approach. We then performed RNA-seq analysis on Htt-null and wild type SH-SY5Y cells to probe the global transcriptome changes induced by Htt deletion. RESULTS In general, Htt has a widespread effect on gene transcription. Functional analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using various bioinformatic tools revealed irregularities in pathways related to cell communication and signaling, and more specifically those related to neuron development, neurotransmission and synaptic signaling. We further examined the transcription factors that may regulate these DEGs. Consistent with the disrupted pathways associated with cellular development, we showed that Htt-null cells exhibited slower cell proliferation than wild type cells. We finally validated some of the top DEGS with quantitative RT-PCR. CONCLUSIONS The widespread transcriptome changes in Htt-null cells could be directly caused by the loss of Htt-mediated transcriptional regulation or due to the secondary consequences of disruption in the gene regulatory network. Our study therefore provides valuable information about key genes associated with Htt-mediated transcription and improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the cellular functions of normal and mutant Htt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Bensalel
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Hongyuan Xu
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Michael L Lu
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA
| | - Enrico Capobianco
- Institute of Data Science and Computing, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Jianning Wei
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, 33431, USA.
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46
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Tomczyk M, Glaser T, Slominska EM, Ulrich H, Smolenski RT. Purine Nucleotides Metabolism and Signaling in Huntington's Disease: Search for a Target for Novel Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22126545. [PMID: 34207177 PMCID: PMC8234552 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a multi-system disorder that is caused by expanded CAG repeats within the exon-1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene that translate to the polyglutamine stretch in the HTT protein. HTT interacts with the proteins involved in gene transcription, endocytosis, and metabolism. HTT may also directly or indirectly affect purine metabolism and signaling. We aimed to review existing data and discuss the modulation of the purinergic system as a new therapeutic target in HD. Impaired intracellular nucleotide metabolism in the HD affected system (CNS, skeletal muscle and heart) may lead to extracellular accumulation of purine metabolites, its unusual catabolism, and modulation of purinergic signaling. The mechanisms of observed changes might be different in affected systems. Based on collected findings, compounds leading to purine and ATP pool reconstruction as well as purinergic receptor activity modulators, i.e., P2X7 receptor antagonists, may be applied for HD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Tomczyk
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (R.T.S.)
| | - Talita Glaser
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (T.G.); (H.U.)
| | - Ewa M. Slominska
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
| | - Henning Ulrich
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (T.G.); (H.U.)
| | - Ryszard T. Smolenski
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Gdansk, 80-210 Gdansk, Poland;
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (R.T.S.)
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47
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Barron JC, Hurley EP, Parsons MP. Huntingtin and the Synapse. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:689332. [PMID: 34211373 PMCID: PMC8239291 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.689332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a monogenic disease that results in a combination of motor, psychiatric and cognitive symptoms. HD is caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which results in the production of a pathogenic mutant HTT protein (mHTT). Although there is no cure at present for HD, a number of RNA-targeting therapies have recently entered clinical trials which aim to lower mHTT production through the use of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and RNAi. However, many of these treatment strategies are non-selective in that they cannot differentiate between non-pathogenic wild type HTT (wtHTT) and the mHTT variant. As HD patients are already born with decreased levels of wtHTT, these genetic therapies may result in critically low levels of wtHTT. The consequence of wtHTT reduction in the adult brain is currently under debate, and here we argue that wtHTT loss is not well-tolerated at the synaptic level. Synaptic dysfunction is an extremely sensitive measure of subsequent cell death, and is known to precede neurodegeneration in numerous brain diseases including HD. The present review focuses on the prominent role of wtHTT at the synapse and considers the consequences of wtHTT loss on both pre- and postsynaptic function. We discuss how wtHTT is implicated in virtually all major facets of synaptic neurotransmission including anterograde and retrograde transport of proteins to/from terminal buttons and dendrites, neurotransmitter release, endocytic vesicle recycling, and postsynaptic receptor localization and recycling. We conclude that wtHTT presence is essential for proper synaptic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica C Barron
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Emily P Hurley
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Matthew P Parsons
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada
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48
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Hyeon JW, Kim AH, Yano H. Epigenetic regulation in Huntington's disease. Neurochem Int 2021; 148:105074. [PMID: 34038804 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating and fatal monogenic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of selective neurons in the brain and is caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG trinucleotide repeats in a coding exon of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Progressive gene expression changes that begin at premanifest stages are a prominent feature of HD and are thought to contribute to disease progression. Increasing evidence suggests the critical involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in abnormal transcription in HD. Genome-wide alterations of a number of epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation and multiple histone modifications, are associated with HD, suggesting that mutant HTT causes complex epigenetic abnormalities and chromatin structural changes, which may represent an underlying pathogenic mechanism. The causal relationship of specific epigenetic changes to early transcriptional alterations and to disease pathogenesis require further investigation. In this article, we review recent studies on epigenetic regulation in HD with a focus on DNA and histone modifications. We also discuss the contribution of epigenetic modifications to HD pathogenesis as well as potential mechanisms linking mutant HTT and epigenetic alterations. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of epigenetic-based treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae Wook Hyeon
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Albert H Kim
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Hiroko Yano
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
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49
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Ananbeh H, Vodicka P, Kupcova Skalnikova H. Emerging Roles of Exosomes in Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084085. [PMID: 33920936 PMCID: PMC8071291 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare hereditary autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder, which is caused by expression of mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) with an abnormal number of glutamine repeats in its N terminus, and characterized by intracellular mHTT aggregates (inclusions) in the brain. Exosomes are small extracellular vesicles that are secreted generally by all cell types and can be isolated from almost all body fluids such as blood, urine, saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid. Exosomes may participate in the spreading of toxic misfolded proteins across the central nervous system in neurodegenerative diseases. In HD, such propagation of mHTT was observed both in vitro and in vivo. On the other hand, exosomes might carry molecules with neuroprotective effects. In addition, due to their capability to cross blood-brain barrier, exosomes hold great potential as sources of biomarkers available from periphery or carriers of therapeutics into the central nervous system. In this review, we discuss the emerging roles of exosomes in HD pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy.
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50
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Burrus CJ, McKinstry SU, Kim N, Ozlu MI, Santoki AV, Fang FY, Ma A, Karadeniz YB, Worthington AK, Dragatsis I, Zeitlin S, Yin HH, Eroglu C. Striatal Projection Neurons Require Huntingtin for Synaptic Connectivity and Survival. Cell Rep 2021; 30:642-657.e6. [PMID: 31968243 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.12.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an autosomal dominant polyglutamine expansion mutation of Huntingtin (HTT). HD patients suffer from progressive motor, cognitive, and psychiatric impairments, along with significant degeneration of the striatal projection neurons (SPNs) of the striatum. HD is widely accepted to be caused by a toxic gain-of-function of mutant HTT. However, whether loss of HTT function, because of dominant-negative effects of the mutant protein, plays a role in HD and whether HTT is required for SPN health and function are not known. Here, we delete Htt from specific subpopulations of SPNs using the Cre-Lox system and find that SPNs require HTT for motor regulation, synaptic development, cell health, and survival during aging. Our results suggest that loss of HTT function in SPNs could play a critical role in HD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caley J Burrus
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Spencer U McKinstry
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Namsoo Kim
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - M Ilcim Ozlu
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Aditya V Santoki
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Francia Y Fang
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Annie Ma
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Yonca B Karadeniz
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Atesh K Worthington
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Ioannis Dragatsis
- Department of Physiology, The University of Tennessee, Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA
| | - Scott Zeitlin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Henry H Yin
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Cagla Eroglu
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Regeneration Next Initiative, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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