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Nicholson L, Piras IS, DeBoth MD, Siniard A, Heras-Garvin A, Stefanova N, Huentelman MJ. Transcriptomic insights into multiple system atrophy from a PLP-α-synuclein transgenic mouse model. Brain Res 2024; 1834:148912. [PMID: 38575106 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, neurodegenerative disorder with rapid motor and non-motor symptom progression. MSA is characterized by protein aggregations of α-synuclein found in the cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes. Despite this pathological hallmark, there is still little known about the cause of this disease, resulting in poor treatment options and quality of life post-diagnosis. In this study, we investigated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) via RNA-sequencing of brain samples from a validated PLP-α-synuclein transgenic mouse model, identifying a total of 40 DEGs in the PLP group compared to wild-type (WT), with top detected genes being Gm15446, Mcm6, Aldh7a1 and Gm3435. We observed a significant enrichment of immune pathways and endothelial cell genes among the upregulated genes, whereas downregulated genes were significantly enriched for oligodendrocyte and neuronal genes. We then calculated possible overlap of these DEGs with previously profiled human MSA RNA, resulting in the identification of significant downregulation of the Tsr2 gene. Identifying key gene expression profiles specific to MSA patients is crucial to further understanding the cause, and possible prevention, of this rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Nicholson
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - I S Piras
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - M D DeBoth
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - A Siniard
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - A Heras-Garvin
- Laboratory for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - N Stefanova
- Laboratory for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - M J Huentelman
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
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Wang Y, Xiao Y, Xing Y, Yu M, Wang X, Ren J, Liu W, Zhong Y. Morphometric similarity differences in drug-naive Parkinson's disease correlate with transcriptomic signatures. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14680. [PMID: 38529533 PMCID: PMC10964038 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Differences in cortical morphology have been reported in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the pathophysiological mechanism of transcriptomic vulnerability in local brain regions remains unclear. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to characterize the morphometric changes of brain regions in early drug-naive PD patients and uncover the brain-wide gene expression correlates. METHODS The morphometric similarity (MS) network analysis was used to quantify the interregional structural similarity from multiple magnetic resonance imaging anatomical indices measured in each brain region of 170 early drug-naive PD patients and 123 controls. Then, we applied partial least squares regression to determine the relationship between regional changes in MS and spatial transcriptional signatures from the Allen Human Brain Atlas dataset, and identified the specific genes related to MS differences in PD. We further investigated the biological processes by which the PD-related genes were enriched and the cellular characterization of these genes. RESULTS Our results showed that MS was mainly decreased in cingulate, frontal, and temporal cortical areas and increased in parietal and occipital cortical areas in early drug-naive PD patients. In addition, genes whose expression patterns were associated with regional MS changes in PD were involved in astrocytes, excitatory, and inhibitory neurons and were functionally enriched in neuron-specific biological processes related to trans-synaptic signaling and nervous system development. CONCLUSIONS These findings advance our understanding of the microscale genetic and cellular mechanisms driving macroscale morphological abnormalities in early drug-naive PD patients and provide potential targets for future therapeutic trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Wang
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Department of NeurologyThe First People's Hospital of YanchengYanchengChina
| | - Yiwen Xiao
- School of PsychologyNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yi Xing
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Miao Yu
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xiao Wang
- Department of RadiologyThe Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Jingru Ren
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Weiguo Liu
- Department of NeurologyThe Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yuan Zhong
- School of PsychologyNanjing Normal UniversityNanjingChina
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Salemi M, Ravo M, Lanza G, Schillaci FA, Ventola GM, Marchese G, Salluzzo MG, Cappelletti G, Ferri R. Gene Expression Profiling of Post Mortem Midbrain of Parkinson's Disease Patients and Healthy Controls. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:707. [PMID: 38255780 PMCID: PMC10815072 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) stands as the most prevalent degenerative movement disorder, marked by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. In this study, we conducted a transcriptome analysis utilizing post mortem mRNA extracted from the substantia nigra of both PD patients and healthy control (CTRL) individuals. Specifically, we acquired eight samples from individuals with PD and six samples from CTRL individuals, with no discernible pathology detected in the latter group. RNA sequencing was conducted using the TapeStation 4200 system from Agilent Technologies. A total of 16,148 transcripts were identified, with 92 mRNAs displaying differential expression between the PD and control groups. Specifically, 33 mRNAs were significantly up-regulated, while 59 mRNAs were down-regulated in PD compared to the controls. The identification of statistically significant signaling pathways, with an adjusted p-value threshold of 0.05, unveiled noteworthy insights. Specifically, the enriched categories included cardiac muscle contraction (involving genes such as ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit beta 2 (ATP1B2), solute carrier family 8 member A1 (SLC8A1), and cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COX2)), GABAergic synapse (involving GABA type A receptor-associated protein-like 1 (GABARAPL1), G protein subunit beta 5 (GNB5), and solute carrier family 38 member 2 (SLC38A2), autophagy (involving GABARAPL1 and tumor protein p53-inducible nuclear protein 2 (TP53INP2)), and Fc gamma receptor (FcγR) mediated phagocytosis (involving amphiphysin (AMPH)). These findings uncover new pathophysiological dimensions underlying PD, implicating genes associated with heart muscle contraction. This knowledge enhances diagnostic accuracy and contributes to the advancement of targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Salemi
- Oasi Research Institute–IRCCS, 94018 Troin, Italy; (G.L.); (F.A.S.); (M.G.S.); (R.F.)
| | - Maria Ravo
- Genomix4Life Srl, 94081 Baroniss, Italy; (M.R.); (G.M.V.); (G.M.)
- Genome Research Center for Health–CRGS, 94081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Lanza
- Oasi Research Institute–IRCCS, 94018 Troin, Italy; (G.L.); (F.A.S.); (M.G.S.); (R.F.)
- Department of Surgery and Medical–Surgical Specialties, University of Catania, 95100 Catania, Italy
| | | | - Giovanna Maria Ventola
- Genomix4Life Srl, 94081 Baroniss, Italy; (M.R.); (G.M.V.); (G.M.)
- Genome Research Center for Health–CRGS, 94081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Giovanna Marchese
- Genomix4Life Srl, 94081 Baroniss, Italy; (M.R.); (G.M.V.); (G.M.)
- Genome Research Center for Health–CRGS, 94081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Salluzzo
- Oasi Research Institute–IRCCS, 94018 Troin, Italy; (G.L.); (F.A.S.); (M.G.S.); (R.F.)
| | | | - Raffaele Ferri
- Oasi Research Institute–IRCCS, 94018 Troin, Italy; (G.L.); (F.A.S.); (M.G.S.); (R.F.)
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Wei J, Ho G, Masliah E, Hashimoto M. Differential involvement of amyloidogenic evolvability in oligodendropathies; Multiple Sclerosis and Multiple System Atrophy. Prion 2023; 17:29-34. [PMID: 36785484 PMCID: PMC9928476 DOI: 10.1080/19336896.2023.2172912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Although multiple sclerosis (MS) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) are both characterized by impaired oligodendrocytes (OLs), the aetiological relevance remains obscure. Given inherent stressors affecting OLs, the objective of the present study was to discuss the possible role of amyloidogenic evolvability (aEVO) in these conditions. Hypothetically, in aEVO, protofibrils of amyloidogenic proteins (APs), including β-synuclein and β-amyloid, might form in response to diverse stressors in parental brain. Subsequently, the AP protofibrils might be transmitted to offspring via germ cells in a prion-like fashion. By virtue of the stress information conferred by protofibrillar APs, the OLs in offspring's brain might be more resilient to forthcoming stressors, perhaps reducing MS risk. aEVO could be comparable to a gene for the inheritance of acquired characteristics. On the contrary, during ageing, MSA risk is increased through antagonistic pleiotropy. Consistently, the expression levels of APs are reduced in MS, but are increased in MSA compared to controls. Furthermore, β-synuclein, the non-amyloidogenic homologue of β-synuclein, might exert a buffering effect on aEVO, and abnormal β-synuclein could also increase MS and MSA disease activity. Collectively, a better understanding of the role of aEVO in the OL diseases might lead to novel interventions for such chronic degenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianshe Wei
- Institute for Brain Sciences Research, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, China,CONTACT Jianshe Wei Institute for Brain Sciences Research, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Gilbert Ho
- Pacific Center for Neurological Disease (PCND) Neuroscience Research Institute, Poway, CA, USA
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Division of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Makoto Hashimoto
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan,Makoto Hashimoto Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Sciences, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo156-0057
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Wan L, Zhu S, Chen Z, Qiu R, Tang B, Jiang H. Multidimensional biomarkers for multiple system atrophy: an update and future directions. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:38. [PMID: 37501056 PMCID: PMC10375766 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00370-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disease. Biomarkers are urgently required for MSA to improve the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy in clinic and facilitate the development and monitoring of disease-modifying therapies. In recent years, significant research efforts have been made in exploring multidimensional biomarkers for MSA. However, currently few biomarkers are available in clinic. In this review, we systematically summarize the latest advances in multidimensional biomarkers for MSA, including biomarkers in fluids, tissues and gut microbiota as well as imaging biomarkers. Future directions for exploration of novel biomarkers and promotion of implementation in clinic are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Wan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- National International Collaborative Research Center for Medical Metabolomics, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Sudan Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Rong Qiu
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, 410008, China.
- National International Collaborative Research Center for Medical Metabolomics, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
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Fodder K, de Silva R, Warner TT, Bettencourt C. The contribution of DNA methylation to the (dys)function of oligodendroglia in neurodegeneration. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:106. [PMID: 37386505 PMCID: PMC10311741 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01607-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases encompass a heterogeneous group of conditions characterised by the progressive degeneration of the structure and function of the central or peripheral nervous systems. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying these diseases are not fully understood. However, a central feature consists of regional aggregation of proteins in the brain, such as the accumulation of β-amyloid plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD), inclusions of hyperphosphorylated microtubule-binding tau in AD and other tauopathies, or inclusions containing α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). Various pathogenic mechanisms are thought to contribute to disease, and an increasing number of studies implicate dysfunction of oligodendrocytes (the myelin producing cells of the central nervous system) and myelin loss. Aberrant DNA methylation, the most widely studied epigenetic modification, has been associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, including AD, PD, DLB and MSA, and recent findings highlight aberrant DNA methylation in oligodendrocyte/myelin-related genes. Here we briefly review the evidence showing that changes to oligodendrocytes and myelin are key in neurodegeneration, and explore the relevance of DNA methylation in oligodendrocyte (dys)function. As DNA methylation is reversible, elucidating its involvement in pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and in dysfunction of specific cell-types such as oligodendrocytes may bring opportunities for therapeutic interventions for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Fodder
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Rohan de Silva
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Thomas T Warner
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
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Chen B, He J, Xu M, Cao C, Song D, Yu H, Cui W, Guang Fan G. Automatic classification of MSA subtypes using Whole-brain gray matter function and Structure-Based radiomics approach. Eur J Radiol 2023; 161:110735. [PMID: 36796145 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.110735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aims to develop a radiomics method based on the function and structure of whole-brain gray matter to accurately classify multiple system atrophy with predominant Parkinsonism (MSA-P) or predominant cerebellar ataxia (MSA-C). METHODS We enrolled 30 MSA-C and 41 MSA-P cases for the internal cohort and 11 MSA-C and 10 MSA-P cases for the external test cohort. We extracted 7,308 features, including gray matter volume (GMV), mean amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (mALFF), mean regional homogeneity (mReHo), degree of centrality (DC), voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC), and resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC) from 3D-T1 and Rs-fMR data. Feature selection was conducted with t-test and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso). Classification was performed using the support vector machine with linear and RBF kernel (SVM-linear/SVM-RBF), random forest and logistic regression. Model performance was assessed via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and compared with DeLong's test. RESULTS Feature selection resulted in 12 features, including 1 ALFF, 1 DC and 10 RSFC. All the classifiers showed remarkable classification performance, especially the RF model which exhibited AUC values of 0.91 and 0.80 in the validation and test datasets, respectively. The brain functional activity and connectivity in the cerebellum, orbitofrontal lobe and limbic system were important features to distinguish MSA subtypes with the same disease severity and duration. CONCLUSION Radiomics approach has the potential to support clinical diagnostic systems and to achieve high classification accuracy for distinguishing between MSA-C and MSA-P patients at the individual level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyu Chen
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Jiachuan He
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Ming Xu
- Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Chenghao Cao
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, PR China; Department of Radiology, First University Hospital of West China University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Dandan Song
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Hongmei Yu
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Wenzhuo Cui
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, PR China
| | - Guo Guang Fan
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, Liaoning, PR China.
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Hsiao JT, Tanglay O, Li AA, Strobbe AYG, Kim WS, Halliday GM, Fu Y. Role of Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells in Multiple System Atrophy. Cells 2023; 12. [PMID: 36899876 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a debilitating movement disorder with unknown etiology. Patients present characteristic parkinsonism and/or cerebellar dysfunction in the clinical phase, resulting from progressive deterioration in the nigrostriatal and olivopontocerebellar regions. MSA patients have a prodromal phase subsequent to the insidious onset of neuropathology. Therefore, understanding the early pathological events is important in determining the pathogenesis, which will assist with developing disease-modifying therapy. Although the definite diagnosis of MSA relies on the positive post-mortem finding of oligodendroglial inclusions composed of α-synuclein, only recently has MSA been verified as an oligodendrogliopathy with secondary neuronal degeneration. We review up-to-date knowledge of human oligodendrocyte lineage cells and their association with α-synuclein, and discuss the postulated mechanisms of how oligodendrogliopathy develops, oligodendrocyte progenitor cells as the potential origins of the toxic seeds of α-synuclein, and the possible networks through which oligodendrogliopathy induces neuronal loss. Our insights will shed new light on the research directions for future MSA studies.
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Tanaka MT, Miki Y, Bettencourt C, Ozaki T, Tanji K, Mori F, Kakita A, Wakabayashi K. Involvement of autophagic protein DEF8 in Lewy bodies. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 623:170-175. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.07.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Almeida D, Turecki G. Profiling cell-type specific gene expression in post-mortem human brain samples through laser capture microdissection. Methods 2022; 207:3-10. [PMID: 36064002 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2022.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptome of a cell constitutes an essential piece of cellular identity and contributes to the multifaceted complexity and heterogeneity of cell-types within the mammalian brain. Thus, while a wealth of studies have investigated transcriptomic alterations underlying the pathophysiology of diseases of the brain, their use of bulk-tissue homogenates makes it difficult to tease apart whether observed differences are explained by disease state or cellular composition. Cell-type-specific enrichment strategies are, therefore, crucial in the context of gene expression profiling. Laser capture microdissection (LCM) is one such strategy that allows for the capture of specific cell-types, or regions of interest, under microscopic visualization. In this review, we focus on using LCM for cell-type specific gene expression profiling in post-mortem human brain samples. We begin with a discussion of various LCM systems, followed by a walk-through of each step in the LCM to gene expression profiling workflow and a description of some of the limitations associated with LCM. Throughout the review, we highlight important considerations when using LCM with post-mortem human brain samples. Whenever applicable, commercially available kits that have proven successful in the context of LCM with post-mortem human brain samples are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Almeida
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada, H4H 1R3
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Hospital Research Center, Montreal, QC, Canada, H4H 1R3; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 1A1.
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Kuo MC, Lu YC, Tai CH, Soong BW, Hu FC, Chen ML, Lin CH, Wu RM. COQ2 and SNCA polymorphisms interact with environmental factors to modulate the risk of multiple system atrophy and subtype disposition. Eur J Neurol 2022; 29:2956-2966. [PMID: 35748722 DOI: 10.1111/ene.15475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple system atrophy (MSA) has no definitive genetic or environmental (G-E) risk factors, and the integrated effect of these factors on MSA etiology remains unknown. OBJECTIVE To investigate the integrated effect of G-E factors associated with MSA and its subtypes, MSA-P and MSA-C. METHODS A consecutive case-control study was conducted in two medical centers, and the interactions between genotypes of five previously reported susceptible single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; SNCA_rs3857059, SNCA_rs11931074, COQ2_rs148156462, EDN1_rs16872704, MAPT_rs9303521) and graded exposure (never, ever, current) of four environmental factors (smoking, alcohol, drinking well water, pesticide exposure) were analyzed by a stepwise logistic regression model. RESULTS A total of 207 MSA patients and 136 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. In addition to SNP COQ2_rs148156462 (TT), MSA risk was correlated with G-E interactions, including COQ2_rs148156462 (Tc) × pesticide non-exposure, COQ2_rs148156462 (TT) × current smokers, SNCA_rs11931074 (tt) × alcohol non-users, and SNCA_rs11931074 (GG) × well water non-drinkers (all p < 0.01), with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.804 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.671-0.847). Modulated risk of MSA-C, with MSA-P as a control, correlated with COQ2_rs148156462 (TT) × alcohol non-drinkers, SNCA_rs11931074 (GG) × well-water ever-drinkers, SNCA_rs11931074 (Gt) × well-water never-drinkers, and SNCA_rs3857059 (gg) × pesticide non-exposure (all p < 0.05), with an AUC of 0.749 (95% CI: 0.683-0.815). CONCLUSIONS Certain COQ2 and SNCA SNPs interact with common environmental factors to modulate MSA etiology and subtype disposition. The mechanisms underlying the observed correlation between G-E interactions and MSA etiopathogenesis warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Che Kuo
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Che Lu
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Ph.D. Program in Translational Medicine, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Hwei Tai
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Bing-Wen Soong
- Department of Neurology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fu-Chang Hu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine and School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Meng-Ling Chen
- College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Hsien Lin
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ruey-Meei Wu
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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de Boni L, Gasparoni G, Welle A, Tierling S, Schmitt I, Walter J, Walter J, Wüllner U. Epigenetic and gene expression changes of neuronal cells from MSA patients are pronounced in enzymes for cell metabolism and calcium-regulated protein kinases. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:781-3. [PMID: 34370068 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02357-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Bettencourt C, Miki Y, Piras IS, de Silva R, Foti SC, Talboom JS, Revesz T, Lashley T, Balazs R, Viré E, Warner TT, Huentelman MJ, Holton JL. MOBP and HIP1 in multiple system atrophy: New α-synuclein partners in glial cytoplasmic inclusions implicated in the disease pathogenesis. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2021; 47:640-652. [PMID: 33368549 PMCID: PMC8219819 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Similar to Parkinson's disease (PD), MSA is an α-synucleinopathy, and its pathological hallmark consists of glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) containing α-synuclein (SNCA) in oligodendrocytes. We previously identified consistent changes in myelin-associated oligodendrocyte basic protein (MOBP) and huntingtin interacting protein 1 (HIP1) DNA methylation status in MSA. We hypothesized that if differential DNA methylation at these loci is mechanistically relevant for MSA, it should have downstream consequences on gene regulation. METHODS We investigated the relationship between MOBP and HIP1 DNA methylation and mRNA levels in cerebellar white matter from MSA and healthy controls. Additionally, we analysed protein expression using western blotting, immunohistochemistry and proximity ligation assays. RESULTS We found decreased MOBP mRNA levels significantly correlated with increased DNA methylation in MSA. For HIP1, we found a distinct relationship between DNA methylation and gene expression levels in MSA compared to healthy controls, suggesting this locus may be subjected to epigenetic remodelling in MSA. Although soluble protein levels for MOBP and HIP1 in cerebellar white matter were not significantly different between MSA cases and controls, we found striking differences between MSA and other neurodegenerative diseases, including PD and Huntington's disease. We also found that MOBP and HIP1 are mislocalized into the GCIs in MSA, where they appear to interact with SNCA. CONCLUSIONS This study supports a role for DNA methylation in downregulation of MOBP mRNA in MSA. Most importantly, the identification of MOBP and HIP1 as new constituents of GCIs emphasizes the relevance of these two loci to the pathogenesis of MSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conceição Bettencourt
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Yasuo Miki
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Department of NeuropathologyInstitute of Brain ScienceHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiJapan
| | - Ignazio S. Piras
- Neurogenomics DivisionTranslational Genomics Research InstitutePhoenixAZUSA
| | - Rohan de Silva
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Reta Lila Weston InstituteUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Sandrine C. Foti
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Joshua S. Talboom
- Neurogenomics DivisionTranslational Genomics Research InstitutePhoenixAZUSA
| | - Tamas Revesz
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Reta Lila Weston InstituteUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Robert Balazs
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Department of Neurodegenerative DiseaseUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | | | - Thomas T. Warner
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Reta Lila Weston InstituteUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Matt J. Huentelman
- Neurogenomics DivisionTranslational Genomics Research InstitutePhoenixAZUSA
| | - Janice L. Holton
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
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14
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Murthy M, Cheng YY, Holton JL, Bettencourt C. Neurodegenerative movement disorders: An epigenetics perspective and promise for the future. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2021; 47:897-909. [PMID: 34318515 PMCID: PMC9291277 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative movement disorders (NMDs) are age‐dependent disorders that are characterised by the degeneration and loss of neurons, typically accompanied by pathological accumulation of different protein aggregates in the brain, which lead to motor symptoms. NMDs include Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, and Huntington's disease, among others. Epigenetic modifications are responsible for functional gene regulation during development, adult life and ageing and have progressively been implicated in complex diseases such as cancer and more recently in neurodegenerative diseases, such as NMDs. DNA methylation is by far the most widely studied epigenetic modification and consists of the reversible addition of a methyl group to the DNA without changing the DNA sequence. Although this research field is still in its infancy in relation to NMDs, an increasing number of studies point towards a role for DNA methylation in disease processes. This review addresses recent advances in epigenetic and epigenomic research in NMDs, with a focus on human brain DNA methylation studies. We discuss the current understanding of the DNA methylation changes underlying these disorders, the potential for use of these DNA modifications in peripheral tissues as biomarkers in early disease detection, classification and progression as well as a promising role in future disease management and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha Murthy
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Yun Yung Cheng
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Janice L Holton
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
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Ferreira N, Gram H, Sorrentino ZA, Gregersen E, Schmidt SI, Reimer L, Betzer C, Perez-Gozalbo C, Beltoja M, Nagaraj M, Wang J, Nowak JS, Dong M, Willén K, Cholak E, Bjerregaard-Andersen K, Mendez N, Rabadia P, Shahnawaz M, Soto C, Otzen DE, Akbey Ü, Meyer M, Giasson BI, Romero-Ramos M, Jensen PH. Multiple system atrophy-associated oligodendroglial protein p25α stimulates formation of novel α-synuclein strain with enhanced neurodegenerative potential. Acta Neuropathol 2021; 142:87-115. [PMID: 33978813 PMCID: PMC8217051 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-021-02316-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Pathology consisting of intracellular aggregates of alpha-Synuclein (α-Syn) spread through the nervous system in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and multiple system atrophy. The discovery of structurally distinct α-Syn polymorphs, so-called strains, supports a hypothesis where strain-specific structures are templated into aggregates formed by native α-Syn. These distinct strains are hypothesised to dictate the spreading of pathology in the tissue and the cellular impact of the aggregates, thereby contributing to the variety of clinical phenotypes. Here, we present evidence of a novel α-Syn strain induced by the multiple system atrophy-associated oligodendroglial protein p25α. Using an array of biophysical, biochemical, cellular, and in vivo analyses, we demonstrate that compared to α-Syn alone, a substoichiometric concentration of p25α redirects α-Syn aggregation into a unique α-Syn/p25α strain with a different structure and enhanced in vivo prodegenerative properties. The α-Syn/p25α strain induced larger inclusions in human dopaminergic neurons. In vivo, intramuscular injection of preformed fibrils (PFF) of the α-Syn/p25α strain compared to α-Syn PFF resulted in a shortened life span and a distinct anatomical distribution of inclusion pathology in the brain of a human A53T transgenic (line M83) mouse. Investigation of α-Syn aggregates in brain stem extracts of end-stage mice demonstrated that the more aggressive phenotype of the α-Syn/p25α strain was associated with an increased load of α-Syn aggregates based on a Förster resonance energy transfer immunoassay and a reduced α-Syn aggregate seeding activity based on a protein misfolding cyclic amplification assay. When injected unilaterally into the striata of wild-type mice, the α-Syn/p25α strain resulted in a more-pronounced motoric phenotype than α-Syn PFF and exhibited a "tropism" for nigro-striatal neurons compared to α-Syn PFF. Overall, our data support a hypothesis whereby oligodendroglial p25α is responsible for generating a highly prodegenerative α-Syn strain in multiple system atrophy.
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Koren SA, Hamm MJ, Cloyd R, Fontaine SN, Chishti E, Lanzillotta C, Rodriguez-Rivera J, Ingram A, Bell M, Galvis-Escobar SM, Zulia N, Di Domenico F, Duong D, Seyfried NT, Powell D, Vandsburger M, Frolinger T, Hartz AMS, Koren J 3rd, Axten JM, Laping NJ, Abisambra JF. Broad Kinase Inhibition Mitigates Early Neuronal Dysfunction in Tauopathy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1186. [PMID: 33530349 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22031186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of more than twenty known disorders that involve progressive neurodegeneration, cognitive decline and pathological tau accumulation. Current therapeutic strategies provide only limited, late-stage symptomatic treatment. This is partly due to lack of understanding of the molecular mechanisms linking tau and cellular dysfunction, especially during the early stages of disease progression. In this study, we treated early stage tau transgenic mice with a multi-target kinase inhibitor to identify novel substrates that contribute to cognitive impairment and exhibit therapeutic potential. Drug treatment significantly ameliorated brain atrophy and cognitive function as determined by behavioral testing and a sensitive imaging technique called manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MEMRI) with quantitative R1 mapping. Surprisingly, these benefits occurred despite unchanged hyperphosphorylated tau levels. To elucidate the mechanism behind these improved cognitive outcomes, we performed quantitative proteomics to determine the altered protein network during this early stage in tauopathy and compare this model with the human Alzheimer’s disease (AD) proteome. We identified a cluster of preserved pathways shared with human tauopathy with striking potential for broad multi-target kinase intervention. We further report high confidence candidate proteins as novel therapeutically relevant targets for the treatment of tauopathy. Proteomics data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD023562.
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Hill JM, Clement C, Arceneaux L, Lukiw WJ. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) Expression in the Aged Brain and Visual System. J Aging Sci 2021; Vol 9:001. [PMID: 34765681 PMCID: PMC8580311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Multiple lines of evidence currently indicate that the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) gains entry into human host cells via a high-affinity interaction with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) transmembrane receptor. Research has further shown the widespread expression of the ACE2 receptor on the surface of many different immune, non-immune and neural host cell types, and that SARS-CoV-2 has the remarkable capability to attack many different types of human-host cells simultaneously. One principal neuroanatomical region for high ACE2 expression patterns occurs in the brainstem, an area of the brain containing regulatory centers for respiration, and this may in part explain the predisposition of many COVID-19 patients to respiratory distress. Early studies also indicated extensive ACE2 expression in the whole eye and the brain's visual circuitry in aged humans. In this study we analyzed ACE2 receptor expression at the mRNA and protein level in multiple cell types involved in human vision, including cell types of the external eye and several deep brain regions known to be involved in the processing of visual signals. Here we provide evidence: (i) that many different optical and neural cell types of the human visual system provide receptors essential for SARS-CoV-2 invasion; (ii) of the remarkable ubiquity of ACE2 presence in cells of the eye and anatomical regions of the brain involved in visual signal processing; (iii) that ACE2 receptor expression in different ocular cell types and visual processing centers of the brain provide multiple compartments for SARS-CoV-2 infiltration; and (iv) of a gradient of increasing ACE2 expression from the anterior surface of the eye to the visual signal processing areas of the occipital lobe and the primary visual neocortex. A gradient of ACE2 expression from the eye surface to the occipital lobe may provide the SARS-CoV-2 virus a novel pathway from the outer eye into deeper anatomical regions of the brain involved in vision. These findings may explain, in part, the many recently reported neuro-ophthalmic manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection in COVID-19 affected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- James M. Hill
- LSU Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences, New Orleans, USA,Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, USA,Department of Pharmacology, LSU Health Science Center, New Orleans, USA,Department of Microbiology, LSU Health Science Center, New Orleans, USA
| | - Christian Clement
- Experimental Therapeutics and Human Toxicology Lab, Southern University, New Orleans, USA
| | - L. Arceneaux
- LSU Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences, New Orleans, USA
| | - Walter J. Lukiw
- LSU Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences, New Orleans, USA,Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, USA,Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, USA
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Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is an atypical parkinsonism that rapidly affects motor ability and autonomic function, leaving patients wheelchair-bound and dependent for daily activities in 3-5 years. Differential diagnosis is challenging as cases may resemble Parkinson's disease or other ataxic syndromes depending on the clinical variant (MSA-P or MSA-C), especially in early stages. There are limited symptomatic treatments and no disease-modifying therapies. Pathologically, alpha-synuclein aggregates are found in glial cytoplasmic inclusions, among other proteins, as well as in neurons. The molecular pathogenesis of the disease, however, is widely unknown. Transcriptomic studies in MSA have tried to unravel the pathological mechanisms involved in the disease. Several biological and molecular processes have been described in the literature that associate disease pathogenesis with inflammation, mitochondrial, and autophagy related dysfunctions, as well as prion disease and Alzheimer disease associated pathways. These reports have also registered several differential diagnostic biomarker candidates. However, cross-validation between studies, in general, is poor, making clinical applicability and data reliability very challenging. This review will go over the main transcriptomic studies done in MSA, reporting on the most significant transcriptive and post-transcriptive changes described, and focusing on the main consensual findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pérez-Soriano
- Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic / IDIBAPS / CIBERNED CB06/05/0018/ European Reference Network for Rare NeurologicalDiseases (ERN-RND Project ID: 739510) / Institut de Neurociències, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - María J Martí
- Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic / IDIBAPS / CIBERNED CB06/05/0018/ European Reference Network for Rare NeurologicalDiseases (ERN-RND Project ID: 739510) / Institut de Neurociències, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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Abstract
The gateway for invasion by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) into human host cells is via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) transmembrane receptor expressed in multiple immune and nonimmune cell types. SARS-CoV-2, that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; CoV-19) has the unusual capacity to attack many different types of human host cells simultaneously via novel clathrin- and caveolae-independent endocytic pathways, becoming injurious to diverse cells, tissues and organ systems and exploiting any immune weakness in the host. The elicitation of this multipronged attack explains in part the severity and extensive variety of signs and symptoms observed in CoV-19 patients. To further our understanding of the mechanism and pathways of SARS-CoV-2 infection and susceptibility of specific cell- and tissue-types and organ systems to SARS-CoV-2 attack in this communication we analyzed ACE2 expression in 85 human tissues including 21 different brain regions, 7 fetal tissues and 8 controls. Besides strong ACE2 expression in respiratory, digestive, renal-excretory and reproductive cells, high ACE2 expression was also found in the amygdala, cerebral cortex and brainstem. The highest ACE2 expression level was found in the pons and medulla oblongata in the human brainstem, containing the medullary respiratory centers of the brain, and may in part explain the susceptibility of many CoV-19 patients to severe respiratory distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter J Lukiw
- Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112‑2272, USA.
- Alchem Biotech Research, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112‑2272, USA.
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112‑2272, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Neurology and Ophthalmology, Bollinger Professor of Alzheimer's Disease, LSU Neuroscience Center of Excellence, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 2020 Gravier Street, Suite 904, New Orleans, LA, 70112-2272, USA.
| | - Aileen Pogue
- Alchem Biotech Research, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - James M Hill
- Neuroscience Center, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112‑2272, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112‑2272, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, LSU Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112‑2272, USA
- Department of Microbiology, LSU Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, 70112‑2272, USA
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