1
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Okumura H, Itoh SG, Zen H, Nakamura K. Dissociation process of polyalanine aggregates by free electron laser irradiation. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291093. [PMID: 37683014 PMCID: PMC10491298 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyalanine (polyA) disease-causative proteins with an expansion of alanine repeats can be aggregated. Although curative treatments for polyA diseases have not been explored, the dissociation of polyA aggregates likely reduces the cytotoxicity of polyA. Mid-infrared free electron laser (FEL) successfully dissociated multiple aggregates. However, whether the FEL dissociates polyA aggregates like other aggregates has not been tested. Here, we show that FEL at 6.1 μm experimentally weakened the extent of aggregation of a peptide with 13 alanine repeats (13A), and the irradiated 13A exerted lesser cytotoxicity to neuron-like cells than non-irradiated 13A. Then, we applied molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to follow the dissociation process by FEL. We successfully observed how the intermolecular β-sheet of polyA aggregates was dissociated and separated into monomers with helix structures upon FEL irradiation. After the dissociation by FEL, water molecules inhibited the reformation of polyA aggregates. We recently verified the same dissociation process using FEL-treated amyloid-β aggregates. Thus, a common mechanism underlies the dissociation of different protein aggregates that cause different diseases, polyA disease and Alzheimer's disease. However, MD simulation indicated that polyA aggregates are less easily dissociated than amyloid-β aggregates and require longer laser irradiation due to hydrophobic alanine repeats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Okumura
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Satoru G Itoh
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
- Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Heishun Zen
- Institute of Advanced Energy, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
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2
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Al-U'datt DGF, Tranchant CC, Alu'datt M, Abusara S, Al-Dwairi A, AlQudah M, Al-Shboul O, Hiram R, Altuntas Y, Jaradat S, Alzoubi KH. Inhibition of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) ameliorates ventricular fibrosis in isoproterenol-induced heart failure in rats. Life Sci 2023; 321:121564. [PMID: 36931499 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121564] [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: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Transglutaminase (TG) inhibitors represent promising therapeutic interventions in cardiac fibrosis and related dysfunctions. However, it remains unknown how TG inhibition, TG2 in particular, affects the signaling systems that drive pathological fibrosis. This study aimed to examine the effect TG inhibition by cystamine on the progression of isoproterenol (ISO)-induced cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cardiac fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of ISO to rats (ISO group), followed by 6 weeks of cystamine injection (ISO + Cys group). The control groups were administered normal saline alone or with cystamine. Hemodynamics, lipid profile, liver enzymes, urea, and creatinine were assessed in conjunction with heart failure markers (serum NT-proANP and cTnI). Left ventricular (LV) and atrial (LA) fibrosis, total collagen content, and mRNA expression of profibrotic markers including TG2 were quantified by Masson's trichrome staining, LC-MS/MS and quantitative PCR, respectively. KEY FINDINGS Cystamine administration to ISO rats significantly decreased diastolic and mean arterial pressures, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, liver enzymes, urea, and creatinine levels, while increasing HDL. NT-proANP and cTnI serum levels remained unchanged. In LV tissues, significant reductions in ISO-induced fibrosis and elevated total collagen content were achieved after cystamine treatment, together with a reduction in TG2 concentration. Reduced mRNA expression of several profibrotic genes (COL1A1, FN1, MMP-2, CTGF, periostin, CX43) was also evidenced in LV tissues of ISO rats upon cystamine administration, whereas TGF-β1 expression was depressed in LA tissues. Cystamine decreased TG2 mRNA expression in the LV of control rats, while LV expression of TG2 was relatively low in ISO rats irrespective of cystamine treatment. SIGNIFICANCE TG2 inhibition by cystamine in vivo exerted cardioprotective effects against ISO-induced cardiac fibrosis in rats decreasing the LV abundance of several profibrotic markers and the content of TG2 and collagen, suggesting that TG2 pharmacological inhibition could be beneficial to alleviate cardiac fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doa'a G F Al-U'datt
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan.
| | - Carole C Tranchant
- School of Food Science, Nutrition and Family Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences and Community Services, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Muhammad Alu'datt
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Sara Abusara
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Ahmed Al-Dwairi
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Mohammad AlQudah
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; Physiology Department, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
| | - Othman Al-Shboul
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Roddy Hiram
- Montreal Heart Institute and Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Yasemin Altuntas
- Montreal Heart Institute and Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Saied Jaradat
- Princess Haya Biotechnology Center, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Karem H Alzoubi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates; Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
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3
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Younger DS. Neurogenetic motor disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2023; 195:183-250. [PMID: 37562870 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-98818-6.00003-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Advances in the field of neurogenetics have practical applications in rapid diagnosis on blood and body fluids to extract DNA, obviating the need for invasive investigations. The ability to obtain a presymptomatic diagnosis through genetic screening and biomarkers can be a guide to life-saving disease-modifying therapy or enzyme replacement therapy to compensate for the deficient disease-causing enzyme. The benefits of a comprehensive neurogenetic evaluation extend to family members in whom identification of the causal gene defect ensures carrier detection and at-risk counseling for future generations. This chapter explores the many facets of the neurogenetic evaluation in adult and pediatric motor disorders as a primer for later chapters in this volume and a roadmap for the future applications of genetics in neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Younger
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Neuroscience, CUNY School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States; Department of Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine and Neurology, White Plains Hospital, White Plains, NY, United States.
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4
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Malerba A, Harish P, Popplewell L. Systemic Delivery of a Monoclonal Antibody to Immunologically Block Myostatin in the A17 Mouse Model of OPMD. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2587:557-568. [PMID: 36401050 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2772-3_30] [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: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late-onset rare muscle disease affecting approximately 1 in 80,000 individuals worldwide. However, it can affect as much as 1:600 individuals in some populations due to a strong founder effect. The muscle pathology is characterized by progressive eyelid drooping (ptosis), swallowing difficulties (dysphagia), and limb weakness at later stages of disease progression. The genetic defect is associated with significant fibrotic deposition and atrophy in affected muscles. No treatments are available to cure the disease. Only surgical techniques to correct ptosis and swallowing are currently possible, though they carry a risk of recurrence. Myostatin is a negative regulator of muscle growth, and several strategies to downregulate its expression have been developed with the aim of improving muscle mass and strength in muscular pathologies. We recently showed that weekly systemic treatment of the A17 murine model of OPMD with a monoclonal antibody for myostatin improves body and muscle mass, increases muscle strength, and reduces muscle fibrosis. Here, we describe the methodology for repeated intraperitoneal delivery of myostatin antibody in the murine model. Furthermore, we detail the most relevant analyses to assess histopathological and functional improvements of this treatment in this mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Malerba
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
| | - Pradeep Harish
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Science, Biosciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Linda Popplewell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK.
- National Horizons Centre, Teesside University, Darlington, UK.
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5
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Okumura H, Kawasaki T, Nakamura K. Probing protein misfolding and dissociation with an infrared free-electron laser. Methods Enzymol 2022; 679:65-96. [PMID: 36682873 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.08.047] [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: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Misfolding is observed in the mutant proteins that are causative for neurodegenerative disorders such as polyglutamine diseases. These proteins are prone to aggregate in the cytoplasm and nucleus of cells. To reproduce cells with the aggregated proteins, gene expression system is usually applied, in which the expression construct having the mutated DNA sequence of the interest is transfected into cells. The transfected DNA is finally converted into the mutant protein, which is gradually aggregated in the cells. In addition, a simple method to prepare the cells having aggregates inside has been recently applied. Peptides were first aggregated by incubating them in water. The aggregates are spontaneously taken up by cells because aggregated proteins generally transfer between cells. Peptides with different degrees of aggregation can be made by changing the incubation times and temperatures, which enables to examine contribution of aggregation to the toxicity to the recipient cells. Moreover, such cells can be used for therapeutic researches of diseases in which aggregates are involved. In this chapter, we show methods to induce aggregation of peptides. The functional analyses of the cells with aggregates are also described. Then, experimental dissociation of the aggregates produced using this method by mid infrared free electron laser irradiation and its theoretical support by molecular dynamics simulation are introduced as the therapeutic research for neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisashi Okumura
- Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan; Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, Okazaki, Aichi, Japan; Department of Structural Molecular Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Okazaki, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takayasu Kawasaki
- Accelerator Laboratory, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
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6
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Zhang Y, Zeuthen C, Zhu C, Wu F, Mezzell AT, Whitlow TJ, Choo HJ, Vest KE. Pharyngeal pathology in a mouse model of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy is associated with impaired basal autophagy in myoblasts. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:986930. [PMID: 36313551 PMCID: PMC9614327 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.986930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late-onset dominant disease that primarily affects craniofacial muscles. Despite the fact that the genetic cause of OPMD is known to be expansion mutations in the gene encoding the nuclear polyadenosine RNA binding protein PABPN1, the molecular mechanisms of pathology are unknown and no pharmacologic treatments are available. Due to the limited availability of patient tissues, several animal models have been employed to study the pathology of OPMD. However, none of these models have demonstrated functional deficits in the muscles of the pharynx, which are predominantly affected by OPMD. Here, we used a knock-in mouse model of OPMD, Pabpn1 +/A17 , that closely genocopies patients. In Pabpn1 +/A17 mice, we detected impaired pharyngeal muscle function, and impaired pharyngeal satellite cell proliferation and fusion. Molecular studies revealed that basal autophagy, which is required for normal satellite cell function, is higher in pharynx-derived myoblasts than in myoblasts derived from limb muscles. Interestingly, basal autophagy is impaired in cells derived from Pabpn1 +/A17 mice. Pabpn1 knockdown in pharyngeal myoblasts failed to recapitulate the autophagy defect detected in Pabpn1 +/A17 myoblasts suggesting that loss of PABPN1 function does not contribute to the basal autophagy defect. Taken together, these studies provide the first evidence for pharyngeal muscle and satellite cell pathology in a mouse model of OPMD and suggest that aberrant gain of PABPN1 function contributes to the craniofacial pathology in OPMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Christopher Zeuthen
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Carol Zhu
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Fang Wu
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Allison T. Mezzell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Thomas J. Whitlow
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Hyojung J. Choo
- Department of Cell Biology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Katherine E. Vest
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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7
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Richard P, Stojkovic T, Metay C, Lacau St Guily J, Trollet C. Distrofia muscolare oculofaringea. Neurologia 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/s1634-7072(22)46725-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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8
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Ramirez-Perez FI, Cabral-Amador FJ, Whaley-Connell AT, Aroor AR, Morales-Quinones M, Woodford ML, Ghiarone T, Ferreira-Santos L, Jurrissen TJ, Manrique-Acevedo CM, Jia G, DeMarco VG, Padilla J, Martinez-Lemus LA, Lastra G. Cystamine reduces vascular stiffness in Western diet-fed female mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2022; 322:H167-H180. [PMID: 34890280 PMCID: PMC8742720 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00431.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Consumption of diets high in fat, sugar, and salt (Western diet, WD) is associated with accelerated arterial stiffening, a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Women with obesity are more prone to develop arterial stiffening leading to more frequent and severe CVD compared with men. As tissue transglutaminase (TG2) has been implicated in vascular stiffening, our goal herein was to determine the efficacy of cystamine, a nonspecific TG2 inhibitor, at reducing vascular stiffness in female mice chronically fed a WD. Three experimental groups of female mice were created. One was fed regular chow diet (CD) for 43 wk starting at 4 wk of age. The second was fed a WD for the same 43 wk, whereas a third cohort was fed WD, but also received cystamine (216 mg/kg/day) in the drinking water during the last 8 wk on the diet (WD + C). All vascular stiffness parameters assessed, including aortic pulse wave velocity and the incremental modulus of elasticity of isolated femoral and mesenteric arteries, were significantly increased in WD- versus CD-fed mice, and reduced in WD + C versus WD-fed mice. These changes coincided with respectively augmented and diminished vascular wall collagen and F-actin content, with no associated effect in blood pressure. In cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells, cystamine reduced TG2 activity, F-actin:G-actin ratio, collagen compaction capacity, and cellular stiffness. We conclude that cystamine treatment represents an effective approach to reduce vascular stiffness in female mice in the setting of WD consumption, likely because of its TG2 inhibitory capacity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study evaluates the novel role of transglutaminase 2 (TG2) inhibition to directly treat vascular stiffness. Our data demonstrate that cystamine, a nonspecific TG2 inhibitor, improves vascular stiffness induced by a diet rich in fat, fructose, and salt. This research suggests that TG2 inhibition might bear therapeutic potential to reduce the disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease in females in conditions of chronic overnutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco I. Ramirez-Perez
- 1Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,2Biomedical, Biological, and Chemical Engineering Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | | | - Adam T. Whaley-Connell
- 3Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial
Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, Missouri,4Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,5Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Annayya R. Aroor
- 3Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial
Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, Missouri,5Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | | | - Makenzie L. Woodford
- 1Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Thaysa Ghiarone
- 1Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Larissa Ferreira-Santos
- 1Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,6Instituto do Coracao, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de
Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade
de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thomas J. Jurrissen
- 1Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,7Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Camila M. Manrique-Acevedo
- 1Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,3Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial
Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, Missouri,5Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - GuangHong Jia
- 3Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial
Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, Missouri,5Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Vincent G. DeMarco
- 3Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial
Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, Missouri,4Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,5Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,8Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Jaume Padilla
- 1Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,7Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Luis A. Martinez-Lemus
- 1Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,2Biomedical, Biological, and Chemical Engineering Department, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri,8Department of Medical Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Guido Lastra
- 3Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial
Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, Missouri,5Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
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9
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Iizuka Y, Owada R, Kawasaki T, Hayashi F, Sonoyama M, Nakamura K. Toxicity of internalized polyalanine to cells depends on aggregation. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23441. [PMID: 34873226 PMCID: PMC8648788 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02889-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In polyalanine (PA) diseases, the disease-causing transcription factors contain an expansion of alanine repeats. While aggregated proteins that are responsible for the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders show cell-to-cell propagation and thereby exert toxic effects on the recipient cells, whether this is also the case with expanded PA has not been studied. It is also not known whether the internalized PA is toxic to recipient cells based on the degree of aggregation. In this study, we therefore prepared different degrees of aggregation of a peptide having 13 alanine repeats without flanking sequences of PA disease-causative proteins (13A). The aggregated 13A was spontaneously taken up by neuron-like cultured cells. Functionally, strong aggregates but not weak aggregates displayed a deficit in neuron-like differentiation in vitro. Moreover, the injection of strong but not weak 13A aggregates into the ventricle of mice during the neonatal stage led to enhanced spontaneous motor activity later in life. Thus, PA in the extracellular space has the potential to enter adjacent cells, and may exert toxicity depending on the degree of aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaro Iizuka
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Ryuji Owada
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan
| | - Takayasu Kawasaki
- Accelerator Laboratory, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization, 1-1 Oho, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0801, Japan
| | - Fumio Hayashi
- Center for Instrumental Analysis, Organization for Promotion of Research and University Industry Collaboration, Gunma University, 1-5-1, Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan
| | - Masashi Sonoyama
- Division of Molecular Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, Gunma University, 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan.,Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Gunma University, 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan.,Gunma University Center for Food Science and Wellness (GUCFW), Gunma University, 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Gunma University Graduate School of Health Sciences, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371-8511, Japan.
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10
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Yamashita S. Recent Progress in Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10071375. [PMID: 33805441 PMCID: PMC8036457 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10071375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late-onset intractable myopathy, characterized by slowly progressive ptosis, dysphagia, and proximal limb weakness. It is caused by the abnormal expansion of the alanine-encoding (GCN)n trinucleotide repeat in the exon 1 of the polyadenosine (poly[A]) binding protein nuclear 1 gene (11-18 repeats in OPMD instead of the normal 10 repeats). As the disease progresses, the patients gradually develop a feeling of suffocation, regurgitation of food, and aspiration pneumonia, although the initial symptoms and the progression patterns vary among the patients. Autologous myoblast transplantation may provide therapeutic benefits by reducing swallowing problems in these patients. Therefore, it is important to assemble information on such patients for the introduction of effective treatments in nonendemic areas. Herein, we present a concise review of recent progress in clinical and pathological studies of OPMD and introduce an idea for setting up a nation-wide OPMD disease registry in Japan. Since it is important to understand patients' unmet medical needs, realize therapeutically targetable symptoms, and identify indices of therapeutic efficacy, our attempt to establish a unique patient registry of OPMD will be a helpful tool to address these urgent issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Yamashita
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8556, Japan
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11
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Malerba A, Klein P, Lu-Nguyen N, Cappellari O, Strings-Ufombah V, Harbaran S, Roelvink P, Suhy D, Trollet C, Dickson G. Established PABPN1 intranuclear inclusions in OPMD muscle can be efficiently reversed by AAV-mediated knockdown and replacement of mutant expanded PABPN1. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3301-3308. [PMID: 31294444 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare autosomal dominant late-onset muscular dystrophy affecting approximately 1:100 000 individuals in Europe. OPMD is mainly characterized by progressive eyelid drooping (ptosis) and dysphagia although muscles of the limbs can also be affected late in life. This muscle disease is due to a trinucleotide repeat expansion in the polyA-binding protein nuclear-1 gene. Patients express a protein with an 11-18 alanine tract that is misfolded and prone to form intranuclear inclusions, which are the hallmark of the disease. Other features of OPMD include muscle fibrosis and atrophy in affected muscles. Currently, no pharmacological treatments are available, and OPMD patients can only be referred to surgeons for cricopharyngeal myotomy or corrective surgery of extraocular muscles to ease ptosis. We recently tested a two-AAV `silence' and `replace' vector-based gene therapy treatment in a mouse model of OPMD. We demonstrate here that this gene therapy approach can revert already established insoluble aggregates and partially rescues the muscle from atrophy, which are both crucially important since in most cases OPMD patients already have an established disease when diagnosed. This strategy also prevents the formation of muscle fibrosis and stabilizes the muscle strength to the level of healthy muscles. Furthermore, we show here that similar results can be obtained using a single AAV vector incorporating both the `silence' and `replace' cassettes. These results further support the application of a gene therapy approach as a novel treatment for OPMD in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Malerba
- Centres of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, Surrey, UK
| | - Pierre Klein
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Ngoc Lu-Nguyen
- Centres of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, Surrey, UK
| | - Ornella Cappellari
- Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London NW1 0TU, UK
| | | | | | | | - David Suhy
- Benitec Biopharma, Hayward, CA 94545, USA
| | - Capucine Trollet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - George Dickson
- Centres of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, Surrey, UK
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12
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van Putten M, Lloyd EM, de Greef JC, Raz V, Willmann R, Grounds MD. Mouse models for muscular dystrophies: an overview. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm043562. [PMID: 32224495 PMCID: PMC7044454 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.043562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophies (MDs) encompass a wide variety of inherited disorders that are characterized by loss of muscle tissue associated with a progressive reduction in muscle function. With a cure lacking for MDs, preclinical developments of therapeutic approaches depend on well-characterized animal models that recapitulate the specific pathology in patients. The mouse is the most widely and extensively used model for MDs, and it has played a key role in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying MD pathogenesis. This has enabled the development of therapeutic strategies. Owing to advancements in genetic engineering, a wide variety of mouse models are available for the majority of MDs. Here, we summarize the characteristics of the most commonly used mouse models for a subset of highly studied MDs, collated into a table. Together with references to key publications describing these models, this brief but detailed overview would be useful for those interested in, or working with, mouse models of MD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike van Putten
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Erin M Lloyd
- The University of Western Australia, School of Human Sciences, Perth 6009, Australia
| | - Jessica C de Greef
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | - Vered Raz
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Human Genetics, Leiden, 2333 ZA, The Netherlands
| | | | - Miranda D Grounds
- The University of Western Australia, School of Human Sciences, Perth 6009, Australia
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13
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Malerba A, Roth F, Harish P, Dhiab J, Lu-Nguyen N, Cappellari O, Jarmin S, Mahoudeau A, Ythier V, Lainé J, Negroni E, Abgueguen E, Simonelig M, Guedat P, Mouly V, Butler-Browne G, Voisset C, Dickson G, Trollet C. Pharmacological modulation of the ER stress response ameliorates oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:1694-1708. [PMID: 30649389 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare late onset genetic disease leading to ptosis, dysphagia and proximal limb muscles at later stages. A short abnormal (GCN) triplet expansion in the polyA-binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1) gene leads to PABPN1-containing aggregates in the muscles of OPMD patients. Here we demonstrate that treating mice with guanabenz acetate (GA), an FDA-approved antihypertensive drug, reduces the size and number of nuclear aggregates, improves muscle force, protects myofibers from the pathology-derived turnover and decreases fibrosis. GA targets various cell processes, including the unfolded protein response (UPR), which acts to attenuate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. We demonstrate that GA increases both the phosphorylation of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α subunit and the splicing of Xbp1, key components of the UPR. Altogether these data show that modulation of protein folding regulation is beneficial for OPMD and promote the further development of GA or its derivatives for treatment of OPMD in humans. Furthermore, they support the recent evidences that treating ER stress could be therapeutically relevant in other more common proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Malerba
- School of Biological Sciences, Centers of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, TW20 OEX Surrey, UK
| | - Fanny Roth
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Pradeep Harish
- School of Biological Sciences, Centers of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, TW20 OEX Surrey, UK
| | - Jamila Dhiab
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Ngoc Lu-Nguyen
- School of Biological Sciences, Centers of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, TW20 OEX Surrey, UK
| | - Ornella Cappellari
- Comparative Biomedical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Susan Jarmin
- School of Biological Sciences, Centers of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, TW20 OEX Surrey, UK
| | - Alexandrine Mahoudeau
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Victor Ythier
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Jeanne Lainé
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Elisa Negroni
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | | | - Martine Simonelig
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS UMR9002-University of Montpellier, mRNA Regulation and Development, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Vincent Mouly
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Gillian Butler-Browne
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
| | - Cécile Voisset
- UMR1078 'Genetic, Functional Genomic and Biotechnologies', INSERM, EFS, Brest University, IBSAM, Brest, France
| | - George Dickson
- School of Biological Sciences, Centers of Gene and Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, TW20 OEX Surrey, UK
| | - Capucine Trollet
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Association Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, UMRS974, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, Paris, France
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14
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Paul BD, Snyder SH. Therapeutic Applications of Cysteamine and Cystamine in Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Diseases. Front Neurol 2019; 10:1315. [PMID: 31920936 PMCID: PMC6920251 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.01315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Current medications for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Schizophrenia mainly target disease symptoms. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop novel therapeutics that can delay, halt or reverse disease progression. AD, HD, PD, and schizophrenia are characterized by elevated oxidative and nitrosative stress, which play a central role in pathogenesis. Clinical trials utilizing antioxidants to counter disease progression have largely been unsuccessful. Most antioxidants are relatively non-specific and do not adequately target neuroprotective pathways. Accordingly, a search for agents that restore redox balance as well as halt or reverse neuronal loss is underway. The small molecules, cysteamine, the decarboxylated derivative of the amino acid cysteine, and cystamine, the oxidized form of cysteamine, respectively, mitigate oxidative stress and inflammation and upregulate neuroprotective pathways involving brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling. Cysteamine can traverse the blood brain barrier, a desirable characteristic of drugs targeting neurodegeneration. This review addresses recent developments in the use of these aminothiols to counter neurodegeneration and neuropsychiatric deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bindu D Paul
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Solomon H Snyder
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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15
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RNA-Based Therapy Utilizing Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy Transcript Knockdown and Replacement. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 15:12-25. [PMID: 30831428 PMCID: PMC6403420 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is caused by a small expansion of a short polyalanine (polyAla) tract in the poly(A)-binding protein nuclear 1 protein (PABPN1). Despite the monogenic nature of OPMD, no treatment is currently available. Here we report an RNA replacement strategy that has therapeutic potential in cell and C. elegans OPMD models. We develop selective microRNAs (miRNAs) against PABPN1, and we report that miRNAs and our previously developed hammerhead ribozymes (hhRzs) are capable of reducing the expression of both the mRNA and protein levels of PABPN1 by as much as 90%. Since OPMD derives from a very small expansion of GCG within the polyAla tract, our hhRz and miRNA molecules cannot distinguish between the wild-type and mutant mRNAs of PABPN1. Therefore, we designed an optimized-codon wild-type PABPN1 (opt-PABPN1) that is resistant to cleavage by hhRzs and miRNAs. Co-expression of opt-PABPN1 with either our hhRzs or miRNAs restored the level of PABPN1, concomitantly with a reduction in expanded PABPN1-associated cell death in a stable C2C12 OPMD model. Interestingly, knockdown of the PABPN1 by selective hhRzs in the C. elegans OPMD model significantly improved the motility of the PABPN1-13Ala worms. Taken together, RNA replacement therapy represents an exciting approach for OPMD treatment.
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16
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Harish P, Dickson G, Malerba A. Advances in emerging therapeutics for oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2018.1536542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Harish
- School of Biological Sciences, Centres of Gene and Cell therapy and Biomedical sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
| | - George Dickson
- School of Biological Sciences, Centres of Gene and Cell therapy and Biomedical sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
| | - Alberto Malerba
- School of Biological Sciences, Centres of Gene and Cell therapy and Biomedical sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
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17
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Vest KE, Phillips BL, Banerjee A, Apponi LH, Dammer EB, Xu W, Zheng D, Yu J, Tian B, Pavlath GK, Corbett AH. Novel mouse models of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) reveal early onset mitochondrial defects and suggest loss of PABPN1 may contribute to pathology. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:3235-3252. [PMID: 28575395 PMCID: PMC5886286 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late onset disease caused by polyalanine expansion in the poly(A) binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1). Several mouse models have been generated to study OPMD; however, most of these models have employed transgenic overexpression of alanine-expanded PABPN1. These models do not recapitulate the OPMD patient genotype and PABPN1 overexpression could confound molecular phenotypes. We have developed a knock-in mouse model of OPMD (Pabpn1+/A17) that contains one alanine-expanded Pabpn1 allele under the control of the native promoter and one wild-type Pabpn1 allele. This mouse is the closest available genocopy of OPMD patients. We show that Pabpn1+/A17 mice have a mild myopathic phenotype in adult and aged animals. We examined early molecular and biochemical phenotypes associated with expressing native levels of A17-PABPN1 and detected shorter poly(A) tails, modest changes in poly(A) signal (PAS) usage, and evidence of mitochondrial damage in these mice. Recent studies have suggested that a loss of PABPN1 function could contribute to muscle pathology in OPMD. To investigate a loss of function model of pathology, we generated a heterozygous Pabpn1 knock-out mouse model (Pabpn1+/Δ). Like the Pabpn1+/A17 mice, Pabpn1+/Δ mice have mild histologic defects, shorter poly(A) tails, and evidence of mitochondrial damage. However, the phenotypes detected in Pabpn1+/Δ mice only partially overlap with those detected in Pabpn1+/A17 mice. These results suggest that loss of PABPN1 function could contribute to but may not completely explain the pathology detected in Pabpn1+/A17 mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E. Vest
- Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Brittany L. Phillips
- Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ayan Banerjee
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Luciano H. Apponi
- Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Eric B. Dammer
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Weiting Xu
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Dinghai Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Julia Yu
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bin Tian
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA
| | - Grace K. Pavlath
- Department of Pharmacology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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18
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Malerba A, Klein P, Bachtarzi H, Jarmin SA, Cordova G, Ferry A, Strings V, Espinoza MP, Mamchaoui K, Blumen SC, St Guily JL, Mouly V, Graham M, Butler-Browne G, Suhy DA, Trollet C, Dickson G. PABPN1 gene therapy for oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14848. [PMID: 28361972 PMCID: PMC5380963 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is an autosomal dominant, late-onset muscle disorder characterized by ptosis, swallowing difficulties, proximal limb weakness and nuclear aggregates in skeletal muscles. OPMD is caused by a trinucleotide repeat expansion in the PABPN1 gene that results in an N-terminal expanded polyalanine tract in polyA-binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1). Here we show that the treatment of a mouse model of OPMD with an adeno-associated virus-based gene therapy combining complete knockdown of endogenous PABPN1 and its replacement by a wild-type PABPN1 substantially reduces the amount of insoluble aggregates, decreases muscle fibrosis, reverts muscle strength to the level of healthy muscles and normalizes the muscle transcriptome. The efficacy of the combined treatment is further confirmed in cells derived from OPMD patients. These results pave the way towards a gene replacement approach for OPMD treatment. Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy is caused by trinucleotide repeat expansions in the PABPN1 gene. Here the authors use AAV-based gene therapy to knockdown the mutant gene and replace it with a wild-type allele, and show effectiveness in mice and in patient cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Malerba
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, TW20 0EX Surrey, UK
| | - P Klein
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UM76, INSERM U974, Institut de Myologie, CNRS FRE3617, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - H Bachtarzi
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, TW20 0EX Surrey, UK
| | - S A Jarmin
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, TW20 0EX Surrey, UK
| | - G Cordova
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UM76, INSERM U974, Institut de Myologie, CNRS FRE3617, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - A Ferry
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UM76, INSERM U974, Institut de Myologie, CNRS FRE3617, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Descartes, 75006 Paris, France
| | - V Strings
- Benitec Biopharma, 3940 Trust Way, Hayward, California 94545, USA
| | - M Polay Espinoza
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UM76, INSERM U974, Institut de Myologie, CNRS FRE3617, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - K Mamchaoui
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UM76, INSERM U974, Institut de Myologie, CNRS FRE3617, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - S C Blumen
- Department of Neurology, Hillel Yaffe Medical Center, Hadera and Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, The Technion, 1 Efron Street, Haifa 31096, Israel
| | - J Lacau St Guily
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UM76, INSERM U974, Institut de Myologie, CNRS FRE3617, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and University Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Paris VI, Tenon Hospital, Assistance Publique des Hopitaux de Paris, 75252 Paris, France
| | - V Mouly
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UM76, INSERM U974, Institut de Myologie, CNRS FRE3617, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - M Graham
- Benitec Biopharma, 3940 Trust Way, Hayward, California 94545, USA
| | - G Butler-Browne
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UM76, INSERM U974, Institut de Myologie, CNRS FRE3617, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - D A Suhy
- Benitec Biopharma, 3940 Trust Way, Hayward, California 94545, USA
| | - C Trollet
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UM76, INSERM U974, Institut de Myologie, CNRS FRE3617, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - G Dickson
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, TW20 0EX Surrey, UK
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19
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Richard P, Roth F, Stojkovic T, Trollet C. Distrofia muscolare oculofaringea. Neurologia 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/s1634-7072(16)81777-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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20
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Liu C, Luo R, Elliott SE, Wang W, Parchim NF, Iriyama T, Daugherty PS, Blackwell SC, Sibai BM, Kellems RE, Xia Y. Elevated Transglutaminase Activity Triggers Angiotensin Receptor Activating Autoantibody Production and Pathophysiology of Preeclampsia. J Am Heart Assoc 2015; 4:e002323. [PMID: 26675250 PMCID: PMC4845265 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.115.002323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preeclampsia (PE) is a life-threatening hypertensive disorder of pregnancy associated with autoantibodies, termed AT1-AA, that activate the AT1 angiotensin receptor. Although the pathogenic nature of these autoantibodies has been extensively studied, little is known about the molecular cause of their generation. METHODS AND RESULTS Here we show that tissue transglutaminase (TG2), an enzyme that conducts posttranslational modification of target proteins, directly modified the 7-amino acid (7-aa) epitope peptide that localizes to the second extracellular loop of the AT1 receptor. These findings led us to further discover that plasma transglutaminase activity was induced and contributed to the production of AT1-AA and disease development in an experimental model of PE induced by injection of LIGHT, a tumor necrosis factor superfamily member. Key features of PE were regenerated by adoptive transfer of purified IgG from LIGHT-injected pregnant mice and blocked by the 7-amino acid epitope peptide. Translating our mouse research to humans, we found that plasma transglutaminase activity was significantly elevated in PE patients and was positively correlated with AT1-AA levels and PE features. CONCLUSIONS Overall, we provide compelling mouse and human evidence that elevated transglutaminase underlies AT1-AA production in PE and highlight novel pathogenic biomarkers and innovative therapeutic possibilities for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Liu
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonTX
| | - Renna Luo
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonTX
- Nephrology DepartmentXiangya HospitalHunanChina
- Department of NephrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical UniversityDalianChina
| | - Serra E. Elliott
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCA
| | - Wei Wang
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonTX
- Nephrology DepartmentXiangya HospitalHunanChina
| | - Nicholas F. Parchim
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonTX
| | - Takayuki Iriyama
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonTX
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of TokyoJapan
| | | | - Sean C. Blackwell
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive SciencesThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonTX
| | - Baha M. Sibai
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive SciencesThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonTX
| | - Rodney E. Kellems
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonTX
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at HoustonTX
| | - Yang Xia
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonTX
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at HoustonTX
- Department of Chemical EngineeringUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCA
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21
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Harish P, Malerba A, Dickson G, Bachtarzi H. Progress on gene therapy, cell therapy, and pharmacological strategies toward the treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Hum Gene Ther 2015; 26:286-92. [PMID: 25860803 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a muscle-specific, late-onset degenerative disorder whereby muscles of the eyes (causing ptosis), throat (leading to dysphagia), and limbs (causing proximal limb weakness) are mostly affected. The disease is characterized by a mutation in the poly(A)-binding protein nuclear-1 (PABPN1) gene, resulting in a short GCG expansion in the polyalanine tract of PABPN1 protein. Accumulation of filamentous intranuclear inclusions in affected skeletal muscle cells constitutes the pathological hallmark of OPMD. This review highlights the current translational research advances in the treatment of OPMD. In vitro and in vivo disease models are described. Conventional and experimental therapeutic approaches are discussed with emphasis on novel molecular therapies including the use of intrabodies, gene therapy, and myoblast transfer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Harish
- 1School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway-University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| | - Alberto Malerba
- 1School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway-University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| | - George Dickson
- 1School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway-University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX, United Kingdom
| | - Houria Bachtarzi
- 2Brighton Centre for Regenerative Medicine, School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, United Kingdom
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22
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Raz Y, Raz V. Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy as a paradigm for muscle aging. Front Aging Neurosci 2014; 6:317. [PMID: 25426070 PMCID: PMC4226162 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Symptoms in late-onset neuromuscular disorders initiate only from midlife onward and progress with age. These disorders are primarily determined by identified hereditable mutations, but their late-onset symptom manifestation is not fully understood. Here, we review recent research developments on the late-onset autosomal dominant oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). OPMD is caused by an expansion mutation in the gene encoding for poly-adenylate RNA binding protein1 (PABPN1). The molecular pathogenesis for the disease is still poorly understood. Despite a ubiquitous expression of PABPN1, symptoms in OPMD are limited to skeletal muscles. We discuss recent studies showing that PABPN1 levels in skeletal muscles are lower compared with other tissues, and specifically in skeletal muscles, PABPN1 expression declines from midlife onward. In OPMD, aggregation of expanded PABPN1 causes an additional decline in the level of the functional protein, which is associated with severe muscle weakness in OPMD. Reduced PABNPN1 expression in muscle cell culture causes myogenic defects, suggesting that PABPN1 loss-of-function causes muscle weakness in OPMD and in the elderly. Molecular signatures of OPMD muscles are similar to those of normal muscle aging, although expression trends progress faster in OPMD. We discuss a working hypothesis that aging-associated factors trigger late-onset symptoms in OPMD, and contribute to accelerated muscle weakness in OPMD. We focus on the pharyngeal and eyelid muscles, which are often affected in OPMD patients. We suggest that muscle weakness in OPMD is a paradigm for muscle aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yotam Raz
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden , Netherlands
| | - Vered Raz
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden , Netherlands
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23
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Animal models in therapeutic drug discovery for oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY. TECHNOLOGIES 2014; 10:e103-8. [PMID: 24050237 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2012.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late onset disease which affects specific muscles. No pharmacological treatments are currently available for OPMD. In recent years, genetically tractable models of OPMD – Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans – have been generated. Although these models have not yet been used for large-scale primary drug screening, they have been very useful in candidate approaches for the identification of potential therapeutic compounds for OPMD. In this brief review, we summarize the data that validated active molecules for OPMD in animal models including Drosophila, C. elegans and mouse.
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Lithium chloride attenuates cell death in oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy by perturbing Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Cell Death Dis 2013; 4:e821. [PMID: 24091664 PMCID: PMC3824652 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2013.342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Revised: 07/05/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Expansion of polyalanine tracts causes at least nine inherited human diseases. Among these, a polyalanine tract expansion in the poly (A)-binding protein nuclear 1 (expPABPN1) causes oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). So far, there is no treatment for OPMD patients. Developing drugs that efficiently sustain muscle protection by activating key cell survival mechanisms is a major challenge in OPMD research. Proteins that belong to the Wnt family are known for their role in both human development and adult tissue homeostasis. A hallmark of the Wnt signaling pathway is the increased expression of its central effector, beta-catenin (β-catenin) by inhibiting one of its upstream effector, glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)3β. Here, we explored a pharmacological manipulation of a Wnt signaling pathway using lithium chloride (LiCl), a GSK-3β inhibitor, and observed the enhanced expression of β-catenin protein as well as the decreased cell death normally observed in an OPMD cell model of murine myoblast (C2C12) expressing the expanded and pathogenic form of the expPABPN1. Furthermore, this effect was also observed in primary cultures of mouse myoblasts expressing expPABPN1. A similar effect on β-catenin was also observed when lymphoblastoid cells lines (LCLs) derived from OPMD patients were treated with LiCl. We believe manipulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway may represent an effective route for the development of future therapy for patients with OPMD.
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Jung SM, Jandu S, Steppan J, Belkin A, An SS, Pak A, Choi EY, Nyhan D, Butlin M, Viegas K, Avolio A, Berkowitz DE, Santhanam L. Increased tissue transglutaminase activity contributes to central vascular stiffness in eNOS knockout mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2013; 305:H803-10. [PMID: 23873798 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00103.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Nitric oxide (NO) can modulate arterial stiffness by regulating both functional and structural changes in the arterial wall. Tissue transglutaminase (TG2) has been shown to contribute to increased central aortic stiffness by catalyzing the cross-linking of matrix proteins. NO S-nitrosylates and constrains TG2 to the cytosolic compartment and thereby holds its cross-linking function latent. In the present study, the role of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)-derived NO in regulating TG2 function was studied using eNOS knockout mice. Matrix-associated TG2 and TG2 cross-linking function were higher, whereas TG2 S-nitrosylation was lower in the eNOS(-/-) compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and blood pressure measured noninvasively were elevated in the eNOS(-/-) compared with WT mice. Intact aortas and decellularized aortic tissue scaffolds of eNOS(-/-) mice were significantly stiffer, as determined by tensile testing. The carotid arteries of the eNOS(-/-) mice were also stiffer, as determined by pressure-dimension analysis. Invasive methods to determine the PWV-mean arterial pressure relationship showed that PWV in eNOS(-/-) and WT diverge at higher mean arterial pressure. Thus eNOS-derived NO regulates TG2 localization and function and contributes to vascular stiffness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Mee Jung
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Banerjee A, Apponi LH, Pavlath GK, Corbett AH. PABPN1: molecular function and muscle disease. FEBS J 2013; 280:4230-50. [PMID: 23601051 DOI: 10.1111/febs.12294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2013] [Accepted: 04/11/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The polyadenosine RNA binding protein polyadenylate-binding nuclear protein 1 (PABPN1) plays key roles in post-transcriptional processing of RNA. Although PABPN1 is ubiquitously expressed and presumably contributes to control of gene expression in all tissues, mutation of the PABPN1 gene causes the disease oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD), in which a limited set of skeletal muscles are affected. A major goal in the field of OPMD research is to understand why mutation of a ubiquitously expressed gene leads to a muscle-specific disease. PABPN1 plays a well-documented role in controlling the poly(A) tail length of RNA transcripts but new functions are emerging through studies that exploit a variety of unbiased screens as well as model organisms. This review addresses (a) the molecular function of PABPN1 incorporating recent findings that reveal novel cellular functions for PABPN1 and (b) the approaches that are being used to understand the molecular defects that stem from expression of mutant PABPN1. The long-term goal in this field of research is to understand the key molecular functions of PABPN1 in muscle as well as the mechanisms that underlie the pathological consequences of mutant PABPN1. Armed with this information, researchers can seek to develop therapeutic approaches to enhance the quality of life for patients afflicted with OPMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayan Banerjee
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Iannaccone M, Stefanile A, Vivo GD, Martin A, Serretiello E, Gentile V. Transglutaminase inhibition: A therapy to protect cells from death in neurodegeneration? World J Biol Chem 2012; 3:184-186. [PMID: 23193435 PMCID: PMC3508428 DOI: 10.4331/wjbc.v3.i11.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Revised: 10/10/2012] [Accepted: 10/30/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Transglutaminases (TGs; E.C. 2.3.2.13) are ubiquitous enzymes which catalyze post-translational modifications of proteins. TGs and TG-catalyzed post-translational modifications of proteins have been shown to be involved in the molecular mechanisms responsible for several human diseases. In particular, TG activity has been hypothesized to also be involved also in the molecular mechanisms responsible for human neurodegenerative diseases. In support of this hypothesis, Basso et al recently demonstrated that the TG inhibition protects against oxidative stress-induced neuronal death, suggesting that multiple TG isoforms participate in oxidative stress-induced cell death and that nonselective TG isoform inhibitors will be most effective in fighting oxidative death in neurological disorders. In this commentary, we discuss the possible molecular mechanisms by which TG activity could be involved in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, with particular reference to neurodegenerative diseases, and the possible involvement of multiple TG isoforms expressed simultaneously in the nervous system in these diseases. Moreover, therapeutic strategies based on the use of selective or nonselective TG inhibitors for the amelioration of the symptoms of patients with neurological diseases, characterized by aberrant TG activity, are also discussed.
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Choi YS, Vincent LG, Lee AR, Dobke MK, Engler AJ. Mechanical derivation of functional myotubes from adipose-derived stem cells. Biomaterials 2011; 33:2482-91. [PMID: 22197570 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2011.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 316] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2011] [Accepted: 12/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Though reduced serum or myoblast co-culture alone can differentiate adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) into mesenchymal lineages, efficiency is usually not sufficient to restore function in vivo. Often when injected into fibrotic muscle, their differentiation may be misdirected by the now stiffened tissue. Here ASCs are shown to not just simply reflect the qualitative stiffness sensitivity of bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) but to exceed BMSC myogenic capacity, expressing the appropriate temporal sequence of muscle transcriptional regulators on muscle-mimicking extracellular matrix in a tension and focal adhesion-dependent manner. ASCs formed multi-nucleated myotubes with a continuous cytoskeleton that was not due to misdirected cell division; microtubule depolymerization severed myotubes, but after washout, ASCs refused at a rate similar to pre-treated values. BMSCs never underwent stiffness-mediated fusion. ASC-derived myotubes, when replated onto non-permissive stiff matrix, maintained their fused state. Together these data imply enhanced mechanosensitivity for ASCs, making them a better therapeutic cell source for fibrotic muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Suk Choi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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29
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Bernacki JP, Murphy RM. Length-dependent aggregation of uninterrupted polyalanine peptides. Biochemistry 2011; 50:9200-11. [PMID: 21932820 DOI: 10.1021/bi201155g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Polyalanine (polyA) is the third-most prevalent homopeptide repeat in eukaryotes, behind polyglutamine and polyasparagine. Abnormal expansion of the polyA repeat is linked to at least nine human diseases, and the disease mechanism likely involves enhanced length-dependent aggregation. Because of the simplicity of its side chain, polyA has been a favorite target of computational studies, and because of their tendency to fold into α-helix, peptides containing polyA-rich domains have been a popular experimental subject. However, experimental studies on uninterrupted polyA are very limited. We synthesized polyA peptides containing uninterrupted sequences of 7 to 25 alanines (A7 to A25) and characterized their length-dependent conformation and aggregation properties. The peptides were primarily disordered, with a modest component of α-helix that increased with increasing length. From measurements of mean distance spanned by the polyA segment, we concluded that physiological buffers are neutral solvents for shorter polyA peptides and poor solvents for longer peptides. At moderate concentration and near-physiological temperature, polyA assembled into soluble oligomers, with a sharp transition in oligomer physical properties between A19 and A25. With A19, oligomers were large, contained only a small fraction of the total peptide mass, and slowly grew into loose clusters, while A25 rapidly and completely assembled into small stable oligomers of ~7 nm radius. At high temperatures, A19 assembled into fibrils, but A25 precipitated as dense, micrometer-sized particles. A comparison of these results to those obtained with polyglutamine peptides of similar design sheds light on the role of the side chain in regulating conformation and aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph P Bernacki
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
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Martin A, Giuliano A, Collaro D, De Vivo G, Sedia C, Serretiello E, Gentile V. Possible involvement of transglutaminase-catalyzed reactions in the physiopathology of neurodegenerative diseases. Amino Acids 2011; 44:111-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-011-1081-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Di Zanni E, Ceccherini I, Bachetti T. Toward a therapeutic strategy for polyalanine expansions disorders: in vivo and in vitro models for drugs analysis. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2011; 15:449-52. [PMID: 21388845 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2011.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2011] [Accepted: 02/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Molecular pathogenesis of congenital disorders associated with polyalanine expansions has been investigated for several years. Despite different pathological hallmarks characterize each polyalanine disease, they share common features, mainly represented by aggregates containing the mutant proteins, usually mislocated inside the cellular compartments, along with ubiquitin and proteasome components. Recently, particular interest has been raised by investigations on molecules able to restore both correct localization and function of the expanded proteins. Here we report a list of drugs whose effects have been assayed both in in vitro and in vivo models of polyalanine disorders, such as the oculopharyingeal muscular dystrophy, congenital central hypoventilation syndrome, synpolydactyly and in cell and animal models carrying specific artificial mutations. In particular, we have reviewed, for each polyalanine mutant protein, the molecules tested, cellular models under investigation, drugs effects on aggregation and underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Di Zanni
- Laboratorio di Genetica Molecolare, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italy
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Martin A, De Vivo G, Gentile V. Possible role of the transglutaminases in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. Int J Alzheimers Dis 2011; 2011:865432. [PMID: 21350675 PMCID: PMC3042675 DOI: 10.4061/2011/865432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2010] [Accepted: 01/05/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Transglutaminases are ubiquitous enzymes which catalyze posttranslational modifications of proteins. Recently, transglutaminase-catalyzed post-translational modification of proteins has been shown to be involved in the molecular mechanisms responsible for human diseases. Transglutaminase activity has been hypothesized to be involved also in the pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for several human neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, supranuclear palsy, Huntington's disease, and other polyglutamine diseases, are characterized in part by aberrant cerebral transglutaminase activity and by increased cross-linked proteins in affected brains. This paper focuses on the possible molecular mechanisms by which transglutaminase activity could be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, and on the possible therapeutic effects of selective transglutaminase inhibitors for the cure of patients with diseases characterized by aberrant transglutaminase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Martin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Second University of Naples, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy
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Davies JE, Rubinsztein DC. Over-expression of BCL2 rescues muscle weakness in a mouse model of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2011; 20:1154-63. [PMID: 21199860 PMCID: PMC3043663 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddq559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a late-onset muscular dystrophy caused by a polyalanine expansion mutation in the coding region of the poly-(A) binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1) gene. In unaffected individuals, (GCG)(6) encodes the first 6 alanines in a homopolymeric stretch of 10 alanines. In most patients, this (GCG)(6) repeat is expanded to (GCG)(8-13), leading to a stretch of 12-17 alanines in mutant PABPN1, which is thought to confer a toxic gain of function. Thus, OPMD has been modelled by expressing mutant PABPN1 transgenes in the presence of endogenous copies of the gene in cells and mice. In these models, increased apoptosis is seen, but it is unclear whether this process mediates OPMD. The role of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of different muscular dystrophies is unclear. Blocking apoptosis ameliorates muscle disease in some mouse models of muscular dystrophy such as laminin α-2-deficient mice, but not in others such as dystrophin-deficient (mdx) mice. Here we demonstrate that apoptosis is not only involved in the pathology of OPMD but also is a major contributor to the muscle weakness and dysfunction in this disease. Genetically blocking apoptosis by over-expressing BCL2 ameliorates muscle weakness in our mouse model of OPMD (A17 mice). The effect of BCL2 co-expression on muscle weakness is transient, since muscle weakness is apparent in mice expressing both A17 and BCL2 transgenes at late time points. Thus, while apoptosis is a major pathway that causes muscle weakness in OPMD, other cell death pathways may also contribute to the disease when apoptosis is inhibited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet E Davies
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0XY, UK
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