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Welden JR, Margvelani G, Arizaca Maquera KA, Gudlavalleti B, Miranda Sardón S, Campos A, Robil N, Lee D, Hernandez A, Wang WX, Di J, de la Grange P, Nelson P, Stamm S. RNA editing of microtubule-associated protein tau circular RNAs promotes their translation and tau tangle formation. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:12979-12996. [PMID: 36533443 PMCID: PMC9825173 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau characterizes tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-Tau). Gene expression regulation of tau is complex and incompletely understood. Here we report that the human tau gene (MAPT) generates two circular RNAs (circRNAs) through backsplicing of exon 12 to either exon 7 (12→7 circRNA) or exon 10 (12→10 circRNA). Both circRNAs lack stop codons. The 12→7 circRNA contains one start codon and is translated in a rolling circle, generating a protein consisting of multimers of the microtubule-binding repeats R1-R4. For the 12→10 circRNA, a start codon can be introduced by two FTLD-Tau mutations, generating a protein consisting of multimers of the microtubule-binding repeats R2-R4, suggesting that mutations causing FTLD may act in part through tau circRNAs. Adenosine to inosine RNA editing dramatically increases translation of circRNAs and, in the 12→10 circRNA, RNA editing generates a translational start codon by changing AUA to AUI. Circular tau proteins self-aggregate and promote aggregation of linear tau proteins. Our data indicate that adenosine to inosine RNA editing initiates translation of human circular tau RNAs, which may contribute to tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giorgi Margvelani
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | - Bhavani Gudlavalleti
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Sandra C Miranda Sardón
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Alexandre Rosa Campos
- Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute Proteomics Core, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Daniel C Lee
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA,Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Neuroscience, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | - Wang-Xia Wang
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA,Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jing Di
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | | | - Peter T Nelson
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA,Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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2
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Gallo D, Ruiz A, Sánchez-Juan P. Genetic architecture of primary tauopathies. Neuroscience 2022; 518:27-37. [PMID: 35609758 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Primary Tauopathies are a group of diseases defined by the accumulation of Tau, in which the alteration of this protein is the primary driver of the neurodegenerative process. In addition to the classical syndromes (Pick's disease (PiD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), corticobasal degeneration (CBD), and argyrophilic grain disease (AGD)), new entities, like primary age-related Tauopathy (PART), have been recently described. Except for the classical Richardson's syndrome phenotype in PSP, the correlation between the clinical picture of the primary Tauopathies and underlying pathology is poor. This fact has challenged genetic studies. However, thanks to multicenter collaborations, several genome-wide association studies are helping us unravel the genetic structure of these diseases. The most relevant risk factor revealed by these studies is the Tau gene (MAPT), which, in addition to mutations causing rare familial forms, plays a fundamental role in sporadic cases of PSP and CBD in which there is a strong predominance of the H1 and H1c haplotypes. But outside of MAPT, several other genes have been robustly associated with PSP. These findings, pointing towards multifactorial causation, imply the participation of several pathways involving the myelin sheath integrity, the endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response, microglia, intracellular vesicle trafficking, or the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Additionally, GWAS show a high degree of genetic overlap across different Tauopathies. This is especially salient between PSP and CBD, but also GWAS studying the recently described PART phenotype shows genetic overlap with genes that promote Tau pathology and with others associated with Alzheimer's disease.
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3
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Shams H, Matsunaga A, Ma Q, Mofrad MR, Didonna A. Methylation at a conserved lysine residue modulates tau assembly and cellular functions. Mol Cell Neurosci 2022; 120:103707. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2022.103707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Zhou XY, Lu JY, Liu FT, Wu P, Zhao J, Ju ZZ, Tang YL, Shi QY, Lin HM, Wu JJ, Yen TC, Zuo CT, Sun YM, Wang J. In Vivo 18 F-APN-1607 Tau Positron Emission Tomography Imaging in MAPT Mutations: Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Findings. Mov Disord 2021; 37:525-534. [PMID: 34842301 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frontotemporal lobar degeneration with tauopathy caused by MAPT (microtubule-associated protein tau) mutations is a highly heterogenous disorder. The ability to visualize and longitudinally monitor tau deposits may be beneficial to understand disease pathophysiology and predict clinical trajectories. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the cross-sectional and longitudinal 18 F-APN-1607 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging findings in MAPT mutation carriers. METHODS Seven carriers of MAPT mutations (six within exon 10 and one outside of exon 10) and 15 healthy control subjects were included. All participants underwent 18 F-APN-1607 PET/CT at baseline. Three carriers of exon 10 mutations received follow-up 18 F-APN-1607 PET/CT scans. Standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) maps were obtained using the cerebellar gray matter as the reference region. SUVR values observed in MAPT mutation carriers were normalized to data from healthy control subjects. A regional SUVR z score ≥ 2 was used as the criterion to define positive 18 F-APN-1607 PET/CT findings. RESULTS Although the seven study patients had heterogenous clinical phenotypes, all showed a significant 18 F-APN-1607 uptake characterized by high-contrast signals. However, the anatomical localization of tau deposits differed in patients with distinct clinical symptoms. Follow-up imaging data, which were available for three patients, demonstrated worsening trends in patterns of tau accumulation over time, which were paralleled by a significant clinical deterioration. CONCLUSIONS Our data represent a promising step in understanding the usefulness of 18 F-APN-1607 PET/CT imaging for detecting tau accumulation in MAPT mutation carriers. Our preliminary follow-up data also suggest the potential value of 18 F-APN-1607 PET/CT for monitoring the longitudinal trajectories of frontotemporal lobar degeneration caused by MAPT mutations. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yue Zhou
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Ying Lu
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng-Tao Liu
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Wu
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jue Zhao
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zi-Zhao Ju
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Lin Tang
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing-Yi Shi
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hua-Mei Lin
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian-Jun Wu
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Chuan-Tao Zuo
- PET Center, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi-Min Sun
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Neurology and National Research Center for Aging and Medicine & National Center for Neurological Disorders, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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5
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Petrozziello T, Amaral AC, Dujardin S, Farhan SMK, Chan J, Trombetta BA, Kivisäkk P, Mills AN, Bordt EA, Kim SE, Dooley PM, Commins C, Connors TR, Oakley DH, Ghosal A, Gomez-Isla T, Hyman BT, Arnold SE, Spires-Jones T, Cudkowicz ME, Berry JD, Sadri-Vakili G. Novel genetic variants in MAPT and alterations in tau phosphorylation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis post-mortem motor cortex and cerebrospinal fluid. Brain Pathol 2021; 32:e13035. [PMID: 34779076 PMCID: PMC8877756 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the molecular mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not yet fully understood, several studies report alterations in tau phosphorylation in both sporadic and familial ALS. Recently, we have demonstrated that phosphorylated tau at S396 (pTau‐S396) is mislocalized to synapses in ALS motor cortex (mCTX) and contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we demonstrate that while there was no overall increase in total tau, pTau‐S396, and pTau‐S404 in ALS post‐mortem mCTX, total tau and pTau‐S396 were increased in C9ORF72‐ALS. Additionally, there was a significant decrease in pTau‐T181 in ALS mCTX compared controls. Furthermore, we leveraged the ALS Knowledge Portal and Project MinE data sets and identified ALS‐specific genetic variants across MAPT, the gene encoding tau. Lastly, assessment of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples revealed a significant increase in total tau levels in bulbar‐onset ALS together with a decrease in CSF pTau‐T181:tau ratio in all ALS samples, as reported previously. While increases in CSF tau levels correlated with a faster disease progression as measured by the revised ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS‐R), decreases in CSF pTau‐T181:tau ratio correlated with a slower disease progression, suggesting that CSF total tau and pTau‐T181 ratio may serve as biomarkers of disease in ALS. Our findings highlight the potential role of pTau‐T181 in ALS, as decreases in CSF pTau‐T181:tau ratio may reflect the significant decrease in pTau‐T181 in post‐mortem mCTX. Taken together, these results indicate that tau phosphorylation is altered in ALS post‐mortem mCTX as well as in CSF and, importantly, the newly described pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants identified in MAPT in this study are adjacent to T181 and S396 phosphorylation sites further highlighting the potential role of these tau functional domains in ALS. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are not yet fully understood, recent studies report alterations in tau phosphorylation in ALS. Our study builds on these findings and demonstrates that tau phosphorylation is altered in post‐mortem ALS motor cortex and highlights new and ALS‐specific variants in MAPT, the gene encoding tau. Lastly, we report alterations in phosphorylated tau in ALS cerebrospinal fluid that may function as a predictive biomarker for ALS.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Petrozziello
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ana C Amaral
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Simon Dujardin
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sali M K Farhan
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James Chan
- Biostatistics Center, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bianca A Trombetta
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pia Kivisäkk
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexandra N Mills
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Evan A Bordt
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Spencer E Kim
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Patrick M Dooley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Caitlin Commins
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Theresa R Connors
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Derek H Oakley
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anubrata Ghosal
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Teresa Gomez-Isla
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven E Arnold
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tara Spires-Jones
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, UK Dementia Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Merit E Cudkowicz
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James D Berry
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ghazaleh Sadri-Vakili
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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6
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Chung DEC, Roemer S, Petrucelli L, Dickson DW. Cellular and pathological heterogeneity of primary tauopathies. Mol Neurodegener 2021; 16:57. [PMID: 34425874 PMCID: PMC8381569 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-021-00476-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-associated protein tau is abnormally aggregated in neuronal and glial cells in a range of neurodegenerative diseases that are collectively referred to as tauopathies. Multiple studies have suggested that pathological tau species may act as a seed that promotes aggregation of endogenous tau in naïve cells and contributes to propagation of tau pathology. While they share pathological tau aggregation as a common feature, tauopathies are distinct from one another with respect to predominant tau isoforms that accumulate and the selective vulnerability of brain regions and cell types that have tau inclusions. For instance, primary tauopathies present with glial tau pathology, while it is mostly neuronal in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Also, morphologies of tau inclusions can greatly vary even within the same cell type, suggesting distinct mechanisms or distinct tau conformers in each tauopathy. Neuropathological heterogeneity across tauopathies challenges our understanding of pathophysiology behind tau seeding and aggregation, as well as our efforts to develop effective therapeutic strategies for AD and other tauopathies. In this review, we describe diverse neuropathological features of tau inclusions in neurodegenerative tauopathies and discuss what has been learned from experimental studies with mouse models, advanced transcriptomics, and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) on the biology underlying cell type-specific tau pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dah-eun Chloe Chung
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 32224 Jacksonville, FL USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, 77030 Houston, TX USA
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, 77030 Houston, TX USA
| | - Shanu Roemer
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 32224 Jacksonville, FL USA
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7
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Forrest SL, Kril JJ, Kovacs GG. Association Between Globular Glial Tauopathies and Frontotemporal Dementia-Expanding the Spectrum of Gliocentric Disorders: A Review. JAMA Neurol 2021; 78:1004-1014. [PMID: 34152367 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.1813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Importance Globular glial tauopathies (GGTs), as defined by a consensus study in 2013, belong to the group of frontotemporal lobar degenerations and expand the spectrum of glial-predominant neurodegenerative diseases. Three neuropathological subtypes of GGT (types I-III) are characterized by phosphorylated tau-immunopositive inclusions that are predominantly in oligodendroglia and/or astroglia in the frontal, temporal, and/or precentral cortices. Type II is largely restricted to the corticospinal system. The low incidence of GGT (<10% of cases of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with tau pathology), together with its unusual combination of neuronal and nonneuronal pathology, has hindered identification and accurate diagnosis. This review collated clinical, demographic, neuropathological, and genetic data from 88 published GGT cases identified on PubMed to examine the association between GGT and frontotemporal dementia and associated disorders. Observations Among 88 patients with GGT (46 female [52.3%]; mean [SD] age at disease onset, 65 [11] years), 44 patients (50.0%) had idiopathic disease, and 21 patients (23.9%) had a variation in the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) gene. Those with idiopathic GGT compared with those with a variation in MAPT had a mean (SD) age at symptom onset of 70 (8) years vs 54 (9) years and a mean (SD) disease duration of 7 (3) years vs 6 (3) years, respectively. A similar sex distribution was observed among patients with GGT; however, female patients were typically 6 years older at symptom onset than male patients (mean [SD] age, 68 [11] years vs 62 [11] years, respectively). Disease duration was similar in both sexes (mean [SD], 6 [3] years for women and 6 [4] years for men). The most common predominant clinical features were primary progressive aphasia (22 patients [25.0%]), behavioral-variant frontotemporal dementia (20 patients [22.7%]), upper motor neuron signs (11 patients [12.5%]), memory impairment (7 patients [8.0%]), and Richardson syndrome (7 patients [8.0%]). Although some demographic differences between GGT subtypes were identified, the predictive value of the clinical presentation was low, calling into question the need for neuropathological subtyping. Further neuropathological studies are needed to clarify whether GGT type II should be interpreted as atypical progressive supranuclear palsy or a separate entity. Few cases (7 patients [8.0%]) had coexisting proteinopathies. Conclusions and Relevance This review of the published data suggests an association between regional distribution of glial tau pathology and neuronal degeneration. Targeting glial tau accumulation or sustaining their neuron-supportive function might require different therapeutic or neuroprotective strategies and more accurate preclinical models to explore disease mechanisms and track progression. Emerging data support the important role of glia in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, highlighting the need to raise awareness of GGT in clinical and research settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley L Forrest
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jillian J Kril
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto Ontario, Canada.,Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Krembil Brain Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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8
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Forrest SL, Kim JH, De Sousa C, Cheong R, Crockford DR, Sheedy D, Stevens J, McCrossin T, Tan RH, McCann H, Shepherd CE, Rowe DB, Kiernan MC, Halliday GM, Kril JJ. Coexisting Lewy body disease and clinical parkinsonism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Neurol 2021; 28:2192-2199. [PMID: 33793036 DOI: 10.1111/ene.14849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associated with a range of clinical phenotypes and shows progressive degeneration of upper and/or lower motor neurons, and phosphorylated 43 kDa TAR DNA-binding protein (pTDP-43) inclusions in motor and non-motor pathways. Parkinsonian features have been reported in up to 30% of ALS patients, and Lewy bodies, normally associated with Lewy body disease (LBD), have been reported in a small number of ALS cases, with unknown clinical relevance. This study investigates the prevalence of clinically relevant LBD in a prospectively studied ALS cohort to determine whether concomitant pathology contributes to the clinical heterogeneity. METHODS All ALS cases held by the New South Wales Brain Bank (n = 97) were screened for coexisting LBD consistent with clinical disease (Braak ≥ stage IV). Relevant clinical and genetic associations were determined. RESULTS Six cases had coexisting LBD Braak ≥ stage IV pathology. The age at symptom onset (69 ± 7 years) and disease duration (4 ± 3 years) in ALS cases with coexisting LBD did not differ from ALS cases. Three patients had lower limb onset and two patients had bulbar onset. Two patients developed the clinical features of Parkinson's disease, with one receiving a dual diagnosis. All cases had no known relevant family history or genetic abnormalities. CONCLUSION The prevalence of clinically relevant LBD pathology in ALS is higher than in the general population, and has implications for clinical and neuropathological diagnoses and the identification of biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelley L Forrest
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pathology and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jordan Hanxi Kim
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pathology and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Clair De Sousa
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pathology and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rosie Cheong
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pathology and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Daniel R Crockford
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pathology and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Donna Sheedy
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pathology and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julia Stevens
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pathology and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Toni McCrossin
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pathology and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Rachel H Tan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Heather McCann
- Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Dominic B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Centre for MND Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Glenda M Halliday
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Neuroscience Research Australia, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Jillian J Kril
- Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, Discipline of Pathology and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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9
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Roggenbuck J, Fong JC. Genetic Testing for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia: Impact on Clinical Management. Clin Lab Med 2020; 40:271-287. [PMID: 32718499 DOI: 10.1016/j.cll.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are devastating neurodegenerative disorders that share clinical, pathologic, and genetic features. Persons and families affected by these conditions frequently question why they developed the disease, the expected disease course, treatment options, and the likelihood that family members will be affected. Genetic testing has the potential to answers these important questions. Despite the progress in gene discovery, the offer of genetic testing is not yet "standard of care" in ALS and FTD clinics. The authors review the current genetic landscape and present recommendations for the laboratory genetic evaluation of persons with these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Roggenbuck
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, 2012 Kenny Road, Columbus, OH 43221, USA.
| | - Jamie C Fong
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, MS: BCM115, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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10
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Zhao M, Kao CS, Arndt C, Tran DD, Cho WI, Maksimovic K, Chen XXL, Khan M, Zhu H, Qiao J, Peng K, Hong J, Xu J, Kim D, Kim JR, Lee J, van Bruggen R, Yoon WH, Park J. Knockdown of genes involved in axonal transport enhances the toxicity of human neuromuscular disease-linked MATR3 mutations in Drosophila. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:2800-2818. [PMID: 32515490 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the nuclear matrix protein Matrin 3 (MATR3) have been identified in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and myopathy. To investigate the mechanisms underlying MATR3 mutations in neuromuscular diseases and efficiently screen for modifiers of MATR3 toxicity, we generated transgenic MATR3 flies. Our findings indicate that expression of wild-type or mutant MATR3 in motor neurons reduces climbing ability and lifespan of flies, while their expression in indirect flight muscles (IFM) results in abnormal wing positioning and muscle degeneration. In both motor neurons and IFM, mutant MATR3 expression results in more severe phenotypes than wild-type MATR3, demonstrating that the disease-linked mutations confer pathogenicity. We conducted a targeted candidate screen for modifiers of the MATR3 abnormal wing phenotype and identified multiple enhancers involved in axonal transport. Knockdown of these genes enhanced protein levels and insolubility of mutant MATR3. These results suggest that accumulation of mutant MATR3 contributes to toxicity and implicate axonal transport dysfunction in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Zhao
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ching Serena Kao
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Claudia Arndt
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - David Duc Tran
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Woo In Cho
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Katarina Maksimovic
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xiao Xiao Lily Chen
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mashiat Khan
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hongxian Zhu
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Julia Qiao
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Kailong Peng
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jingyao Hong
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jialu Xu
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Deanna Kim
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jihye Rachel Kim
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Jooyun Lee
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rebekah van Bruggen
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Wan Hee Yoon
- Aging & Metabolism Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Jeehye Park
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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11
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Bo D, Jiang X, Liu G, Xu F, Hu R, Wassie T, Chong Y, Ahmed S, Liu C, Girmay S. Multipathway synergy promotes testicular transition from growth to spermatogenesis in early-puberty goats. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:372. [PMID: 32450814 PMCID: PMC7249689 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-6767-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The microscopic process of postnatal testicular development in early-puberty animals is poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, 21 male Yiling goats with average ages of 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 days old (each age group comprised three goats) were used to study the changes in organs, tissues and transcriptomes during postnatal testicle development to obtain a broad and deep insight into the dynamic process of testicular transition from growth to spermatogenesis in early-puberty animals. RESULTS The inflection point of testicular weight was at 119 days postpartum (dpp), and the testicular weight increased rapidly from 119 dpp to 150 dpp. Spermatozoa were observed in the testis at 90 dpp by using haematoxylin-eosin staining. We found from the transcriptome analysis of testes that the testicular development of Yiling goat from birth to 180 dpp experienced three stages, namely, growth, transition and spermatogenesis stages. The goats in the testicular growth stage (0-60 dpp) showed a high expression of growth-related genes in neurogenesis, angiogenesis and cell junction, and a low expression of spermatogenesis-related genes. The goats aged 60-120 dpp were in the transitional stage which had a gradually decreased growth-related gene transcription levels and increased spermatogenesis-related gene transcription levels. The goats aged 120-180 dpp were in the spermatogenesis stage. At this stage, highly expressed spermatogenesis-related genes, downregulated testicular growth- and immune-related genes and a shift in the focus of testicular development into spermatogenesis were observed. Additionally, we found several novel hub genes, which may play key roles in spermatogenesis, androgen synthesis and secretion, angiogenesis, cell junction and neurogenesis. Moreover, the results of this study were compared with previous studies on goat or other species, and some gene expression patterns shared in early-puberty mammals were discovered. CONCLUSIONS The postnatal development of the testis undergoes a process of transition from organ growth to spermatogenesis. During this process, spermatogenesis-related genes are upregulated, whereas neurogenesis-, angiogenesis-, cell junction-, muscle- and immune-related genes are downregulated. In conclusion, the multipathway synergy promotes testicular transition from growth to spermatogenesis in early-puberty goats and may be a common rule shared by mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Bo
- Laboratory of Small Ruminant Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Xunping Jiang
- Laboratory of Small Ruminant Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Guiqiong Liu
- Laboratory of Small Ruminant Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China.
| | - Feng Xu
- Laboratory of Small Ruminant Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruixue Hu
- Laboratory of Small Ruminant Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Teketay Wassie
- Laboratory of Small Ruminant Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqing Chong
- Laboratory of Small Ruminant Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Sohail Ahmed
- Laboratory of Small Ruminant Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenhui Liu
- Laboratory of Small Ruminant Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Shishay Girmay
- Laboratory of Small Ruminant Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
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12
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Abstract
Astrocytes contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative proteinopathies as influencing neuronal degeneration or neuroprotection, and also act as potential mediators of the propagation or elimination of disease-associated proteins. Protein astrogliopathies can be observed in different forms of neurodegenerative conditions. Morphological characterization of astrogliopathy is used only for the classification of tauopathies. Currently, at least six types of astrocytic tau pathologies are distinguished. Astrocytic plaques (AP), tufted astrocytes (TAs), ramified astrocytes (RA), and globular astroglial inclusions are seen predominantly in primary tauopathies, while thorn-shaped astrocytes (TSA) and granular/fuzzy astrocytes (GFA) are evaluated in aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG). ARTAG can be seen in the white and gray matter and subpial, subependymal, and perivascular locations. Some of these overlap with the features of tau pathology seen in Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Furthermore, gray matter ARTAG shares features with primary tauopathy-related astrocytic tau pathology. Sequential distribution patterns have been described for tau astrogliopathies. Importantly, astrocytic tau pathology in primary tauopathies can be observed in brain areas without neuronal tau deposition. The various morphologies of tau astrogliopathy might reflect a role in the propagation of pathological tau protein, an early response to a yet unidentified neurodegeneration-inducing event, or, particularly for ARTAG, a response to a repeated or prolonged pathogenic process such as blood-brain barrier dysfunction or local mechanical impact. The concept of tau astrogliopathies and ARTAG facilitated communication among research disciplines and triggered the investigation of the significance of astrocytic lesions in neurodegenerative conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor G Kovacs
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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13
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Liu AJ, Chang JE, Naasan G, Boxer AL, Miller BL, Spina S. Progressive supranuclear palsy and primary lateral sclerosis secondary to globular glial tauopathy: a case report and a practical theoretical framework for the clinical prediction of this rare pathological entity. Neurocase 2020; 26:91-97. [PMID: 32090696 PMCID: PMC7197509 DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2020.1732427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Globular glial tauopathy (GGT) is a rare 4-repeat tauopathy characterized by the accumulation of tau globular inclusions in astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Several clinical phenotypes have been associated with GGT, making the prediction of this rare pathological entity difficult. We report the case of a patient with eye-movement abnormalities and gait instability, reminiscent of progressive supranuclear palsy-Richardson's syndrome (PSP-RS), who later developed upper motor neuron symptoms suggestive of primary lateral sclerosis (PLS). Neuropathological assessment revealed GGT type III pathology. A theoretical framework is proposed to help clinicians predict GGT in subjects with coexistent features of PSP-RS and PLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy J Liu
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jessica E Chang
- Department of Psychological Services, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Georges Naasan
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Salvatore Spina
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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14
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Ferrer I, Andrés-Benito P, Zelaya MV, Aguirre MEE, Carmona M, Ausín K, Lachén-Montes M, Fernández-Irigoyen J, Santamaría E, del Rio JA. Familial globular glial tauopathy linked to MAPT mutations: molecular neuropathology and seeding capacity of a prototypical mixed neuronal and glial tauopathy. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 139:735-771. [PMID: 31907603 PMCID: PMC7096369 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02122-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Globular glial tauopathy (GGT) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease involving the grey matter and white matter (WM) and characterized by neuronal deposition of hyper-phosphorylated, abnormally conformed, truncated, oligomeric 4Rtau in neurons and in glial cells forming typical globular astrocyte and oligodendrocyte inclusions (GAIs and GOIs, respectively) and coiled bodies. Present studies centre on four genetic GGT cases from two unrelated families bearing the P301T mutation in MAPT and one case of sporadic GGT (sGGT) and one case of GGT linked to MAPT K317M mutation, for comparative purposes. Clinical and neuropathological manifestations and biochemical profiles of phospho-tau are subjected to individual variations in patients carrying the same mutation, even in carriers of the same family, independently of the age of onset, gender, and duration of the disease. Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, transcriptomic, proteomics and phosphoproteomics, and intra-cerebral inoculation of brain homogenates to wild-type (WT) mice were the methods employed. In GGT cases linked to MAPT P301T mutation, astrocyte markers GFAP, ALDH1L1, YKL40 mRNA and protein, GJA1 mRNA, and AQ4 protein are significantly increased; glutamate transporter GLT1 (EAAT2) and glucose transporter (SLC2A1) decreased; mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) increased, and mitochondrial uncoupling protein 5 (UCP5) almost absent in GAIs in frontal cortex (FC). Expression of oligodendrocyte markers OLIG1 and OLIG2mRNA, and myelin-related genes MBP, PLP1, CNP, MAG, MAL, MOG, and MOBP are significantly decreased in WM; CNPase, PLP1, and MBP antibodies reveal reduction and disruption of myelinated fibres; and SMI31 antibodies mark axonal damage in the WM. Altered expression of AQ4, GLUC-t, and GLT-1 is also observed in sGGT and in GGT linked to MAPT K317M mutation. These alterations point to primary astrogliopathy and oligodendrogliopathy in GGT. In addition, GGT linked to MAPT P301T mutation proteotypes unveil a proteostatic imbalance due to widespread (phospho)proteomic dearrangement in the FC and WM, triggering a disruption of neuron projection morphogenesis and synaptic transmission. Identification of hyper-phosphorylation of variegated proteins calls into question the concept of phospho-tau-only alteration in the pathogenesis of GGT. Finally, unilateral inoculation of sarkosyl-insoluble fractions of GGT homogenates from GGT linked to MAPT P301T, sGGT, and GGT linked to MAPT K317M mutation in the hippocampus, corpus callosum, or caudate/putamen in wild-type mice produces seeding, and time- and region-dependent spreading of phosphorylated, non-oligomeric, and non-truncated 4Rtau and 3Rtau, without GAIs and GOIs but only of coiled bodies. These experiments prove that host tau strains are important in the modulation of cellular vulnerability and phenotypes of phospho-tau aggregates.
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15
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Tanaka H, Toyoshima Y, Kawakatsu S, Kobayashi R, Yokota O, Terada S, Kuroda S, Miura T, Higuchi Y, Otsu H, Sanpei K, Otani K, Ikeuchi T, Onodera O, Kakita A, Takahashi H. Morphological characterisation of glial and neuronal tau pathology in globular glial tauopathy (Types II and III). Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2019; 46:344-358. [DOI: 10.1111/nan.12581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Tanaka
- Department of Pathology Brain Research Institute Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - Y. Toyoshima
- Department of Pathology Brain Research Institute Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - S. Kawakatsu
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Aizu Medical Center Fukushima Medical University Aizu Fukushima Japan
| | - R. Kobayashi
- Department of Psychiatry Yamagata University School of Medicine Yamagata Japan
| | - O. Yokota
- Department of Psychiatry Kinoko Espoir Hospital Okayama Japan
| | - S. Terada
- Department of Neuropsychiatry Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences Okayama Japan
| | - S. Kuroda
- Department of Psychiatry Zikei Institute of Psychiatry Okayama Japan
| | - T. Miura
- Department of Neurology Brain Research Institute Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - Y. Higuchi
- Department of Neurology Brain Research Institute Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - H. Otsu
- Department of Neurology Brain Research Institute Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - K. Sanpei
- Department of Neurology Sado General Hospital Niigata Japan
| | - K. Otani
- Department of Psychiatry Yamagata University School of Medicine Yamagata Japan
| | - T. Ikeuchi
- Department of Molecular Genetics Brain Research Institute Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - O. Onodera
- Department of Neurology Brain Research Institute Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - A. Kakita
- Department of Pathology Brain Research Institute Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - H. Takahashi
- Department of Pathology Brain Research Institute Niigata University Niigata Japan
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16
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Kovacs GG. Globular glial inclusions unveil enigmas of MAPT mutations. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2019; 43:191-193. [PMID: 27992965 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- G G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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17
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Strang KH, Golde TE, Giasson BI. MAPT mutations, tauopathy, and mechanisms of neurodegeneration. J Transl Med 2019; 99:912-928. [PMID: 30742061 PMCID: PMC7289372 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-019-0197-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 173] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prominent pathological feature is the aberrant aggregation and inclusion formation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Because of the pathological association, these disorders are often referred to as tauopathies. Mutations in the MAPT gene that encodes tau can cause frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17), providing the clearest evidence that tauopathy plays a causal role in neurodegeneration. However, large gaps in our knowledge remain regarding how various FTDP-17-linked tau mutations promote tau aggregation and neurodegeneration, and, more generally, how the tauopathy is linked to neurodegeneration. Herein, we review what is known about how FTDP-17-linked pathogenic MAPT mutations cause disease, with a major focus on the prion-like properties of wild-type and mutant tau proteins. The hypothesized mechanisms by which mutations in the MAPT gene promote tauopathy are quite varied and may not provide definitive insights into how tauopathy arises in the absence of mutation. Further, differences in the ability of tau and mutant tau proteins to support prion-like propagation in various model systems raise questions about the generalizability of this mechanism in various tauopathies. Notably, understanding the mechanisms of tauopathy induction and spread and tau-induced neurodegeneration has important implications for tau-targeting therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin H. Strang
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA,Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Todd E. Golde
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA,Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA,McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Benoit I. Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA,Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA,McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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18
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Globular glial tauopathy caused by MAPT P301T mutation: clinical and neuropathological findings. J Neurol 2019; 266:2396-2405. [DOI: 10.1007/s00415-019-09414-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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19
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Didonna A, Cantó E, Shams H, Isobe N, Zhao C, Caillier SJ, Condello C, Yamate-Morgan H, Tiwari-Woodruff SK, Mofrad MRK, Hauser SL, Oksenberg JR. Sex-specific Tau methylation patterns and synaptic transcriptional alterations are associated with neural vulnerability during chronic neuroinflammation. J Autoimmun 2019; 101:56-69. [PMID: 31010726 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The molecular events underlying the transition from initial inflammatory flares to the progressive phase of multiple sclerosis (MS) remain poorly understood. Here, we report that the microtubule-associated protein (MAP) Tau exerts a gender-specific protective function on disease progression in the MS model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). A detailed investigation of the autoimmune response in Tau-deficient mice excluded a strong immunoregulatory role for Tau, suggesting that its beneficial effects are presumably exerted within the central nervous system (CNS). Spinal cord transcriptomic data show increased synaptic dysfunctions and alterations in the NF-kB activation pathway upon EAE in Tau-deficient mice as compared to wildtype animals. We also performed the first comprehensive characterization of Tau post-translational modifications (PTMs) in the nervous system upon EAE. We report that the methylation levels of the conserved lysine residue K306 are significantly decreased in the chronic phase of the disease. By combining biochemical assays and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we demonstrate that methylation at K306 decreases the affinity of Tau for the microtubule network. Thus, the down-regulation of this PTM might represent a homeostatic response to enhance axonal stability against an autoimmune CNS insult. The results, altogether, position Tau as key mediator between the inflammatory processes and neurodegeneration that seems to unify many CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Didonna
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Ester Cantó
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Hengameh Shams
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Noriko Isobe
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Chao Zhao
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Stacy J Caillier
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Carlo Condello
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA; Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Hana Yamate-Morgan
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Seema K Tiwari-Woodruff
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of California Riverside, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA; Center for Glial-Neuronal Interactions, UCR School of Medicine, CA, 92506, USA
| | - Mohammad R K Mofrad
- Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory, Departments of Bioengineering and Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Physical Biosciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Stephen L Hauser
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Jorge R Oksenberg
- Department of Neurology and Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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20
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Origone P, Geroldi A, Lamp M, Sanguineri F, Caponnetto C, Cabona C, Gotta F, Trevisan L, Bellone E, Manganelli F, Devigili G, Mandich P. Role of MAPT in Pure Motor Neuron Disease: Report of a Recurrent Mutation in Italian Patients. NEURODEGENER DIS 2019; 18:310-314. [PMID: 30893702 DOI: 10.1159/000497820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of mutations in the MAPT gene in patients with pure amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). A cohort of 120 ALS patients, both sporadic and familial, without cognitive impairment was analyzed by next-generation sequencing with a multiple-gene panel comprising 23 genes, including MAPT, known to be associated with ALS and frontotemporal dementia. The presence of the C9orf72 expansion was also investigated. Twelve patients had mutations in the SOD1, TARDBP, MATR3, and FUS genes, while 10 patients carried the C9orf72 expansion. One female patient was found to carry the D348G mutation in MAPT, previously reported in an Italian family with lower motor neuron disease. Our patient presented both upper and lower motor neuron signs, early development of dyspnea, resting and kinetic tremor, and a slow disease course (> 11 years). The present case further broadens the clinical phenotype associated with MAPT mutations and suggests that, although rarely, MAPT mutations can cause ALS and, therefore, should be analyzed in ALS patients, especially in those with early breathing difficulties and long-lasting disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Origone
- Deptartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy, .,Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy,
| | - Alessandro Geroldi
- Deptartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Merit Lamp
- Deptartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Sanguineri
- Deptartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Claudia Caponnetto
- Neurological Clinic, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Corrado Cabona
- Deptartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Neurological Clinic, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fabio Gotta
- Deptartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lucia Trevisan
- Deptartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Emilia Bellone
- Deptartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fiore Manganelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Reproductive Sciences and Odontostomatology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Grazia Devigili
- 1st Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, IRCCS "Carlo Besta" Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Mandich
- Deptartment of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Medical Genetics Unit, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
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21
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Chung DEC, Carlomagno Y, Cook CN, Jansen-West K, Daughrity L, Lewis-Tuffin LJ, Castanedes-Casey M, DeTure M, Dickson DW, Petrucelli L. Tau exhibits unique seeding properties in globular glial tauopathy. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2019; 7:36. [PMID: 30845985 PMCID: PMC6404306 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0691-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative disorders characterized by aggregation of microtubule associated tau protein in neurons and glia. They are clinically and pathologically heterogeneous depending on the isoform of tau protein that accumulates (three or four 31-to-32-amino-acid repeats [3R or 4R] in the microtubule binding domain), as well as the cellular and neuroanatomical distribution of tau pathology. Growing evidence suggests that distinct tau conformers may contribute to the characteristic features of various tauopathies. Globular glial tauopathy (GGT) is a rare 4R tauopathy with globular cytoplasmic inclusions within neurons and glial cells. Given the unique cellular distribution and morphology of tau pathology in GGT, we sought to determine if tau species in GGT had distinctive biological properties. To address this question, we performed seeding analyses with postmortem brain tissues using a commercial tau biosensor cell line. We found that brain lysates from GGT cases had significantly higher seeding competency than other tauopathies, including corticobasal degeneration (CBD), progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The robust seeding activity of GGT brain lysates was independent of phosphorylated tau burden and diminished upon removal of tau from samples, suggesting that seeding properties were indeed mediated by tau in the lysates. In addition, cellular inclusions in the tau biosensor cell line induced by GGT had a distinct, globular morphology that was markedly different from inclusions induced by other tauopathies, further highlighting the unique nature of tau species in GGT. Characterization of different tau species in GGT showed that detergent-insoluble, fibril-like tau contained the highest seeding activity, as reflected in its ability to increase tau aggregation in primary glial cultures. Taken together, our data suggest that unique seeding properties differentiate GGT-tau from other tauopathies, which provides new insight into pathogenic heterogeneity of primary neurodegenerative tauopathies.
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22
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Wharton SB, Verber NS, Wagner BE, Highley JR, Fillingham DJ, Waller R, Strand K, Ince PG, Shaw PJ. Combined fused in sarcoma-positive (FUS+) basophilic inclusion body disease and atypical tauopathy presenting with an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neurone disease (ALS/MND)-plus phenotype. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2019; 45:586-596. [PMID: 30659642 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/motor neurone disease (ALS/MND) is characterized by the presence of inclusions containing TDP-43 within motor neurones. In rare cases, ALS/MND may be associated with inclusions containing other proteins, such as fused in sarcoma (FUS), while motor system pathology may rarely be a feature of other neurodegenerative disorders. We here have investigated the association of FUS and tau pathology. METHODS We report a case with an ALS/MND-plus clinical syndrome which pathologically demonstrated both FUS pathology and an atypical tauopathy. RESULTS Clinical motor involvement was predominantly present in the upper motor neurone, and was accompanied by extrapyramidal features and sensory involvement, but with only minimal cognitive impairment. The presentation was sporadic and gene mutation screening was negative. Post mortem study demonstrated inclusions positive for FUS, including basophilic inclusion bodies. This was associated with 4R-tauopathy, largely as non-fibrillary diffuse phospho-tau in neurones, with granulovacuolar degeneration in a more restricted distribution. Double-staining revealed that neurones contained both types of protein pathology. CONCLUSION FUS-positive basophilic inclusion body disease is a rare cause of ALS/MND, but in this case was associated with an unusual atypical tauopathy. The coexistence of two such rare neuropathologies raises the question of a pathogenic interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B Wharton
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Histopathology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, UK
| | - N S Verber
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - B E Wagner
- Department of Histopathology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, UK
| | - J R Highley
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Histopathology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, UK
| | - D J Fillingham
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - R Waller
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - K Strand
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, University College London, London, UK
| | - P G Ince
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Histopathology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, Sheffield, UK
| | - P J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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23
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Tanaka H, Kawakatsu S, Toyoshima Y, Miura T, Mezaki N, Mano A, Sanpei K, Kobayashi R, Hayashi H, Otani K, Ikeuchi T, Onodera O, Kakita A, Takahashi H. Globular glial tauopathy Type II: Clinicopathological study of two autopsy cases. Neuropathology 2019; 39:111-119. [DOI: 10.1111/neup.12532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hidetomo Tanaka
- Department of PathologyBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - Shinobu Kawakatsu
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Aizu Medical CenterFukushima Medical University Fukushima Japan
| | - Yasuko Toyoshima
- Department of PathologyBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - Takeshi Miura
- Department of Molecular GeneticsBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
- Department of NeurologyBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
- Department of NeurologySado General Hospital Niigata Japan
| | - Naomi Mezaki
- Department of Molecular GeneticsBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
- Department of NeurologyBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
- Department of NeurologySado General Hospital Niigata Japan
| | - Atsushi Mano
- Department of NeurologyBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
- Department of NeurologySado General Hospital Niigata Japan
| | | | - Ryota Kobayashi
- Department of PsychiatryYamagata University School of Medicine Yamagata Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hayashi
- Department of PsychiatryYamagata University School of Medicine Yamagata Japan
| | - Koichi Otani
- Department of PsychiatryYamagata University School of Medicine Yamagata Japan
| | - Takeshi Ikeuchi
- Department of Molecular GeneticsBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - Osamu Onodera
- Department of NeurologyBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - Akiyoshi Kakita
- Department of PathologyBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
| | - Hitoshi Takahashi
- Department of PathologyBrain Research Institute, Niigata University Niigata Japan
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24
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Kovacs GG, Lee VM, Trojanowski JQ. Protein astrogliopathies in human neurodegenerative diseases and aging. Brain Pathol 2018; 27:675-690. [PMID: 28805003 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by progressive dysfunction and loss of neurons associated with depositions of pathologically altered proteins showing hierarchical involvement of brain regions. The role of astrocytes in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is explored as contributors to neuronal degeneration or neuroprotection pathways, and also as potential mediators of the transcellular spreading of disease-associated proteins. Protein astrogliopathy (PAG), including deposition of amyloid-β, prion protein, tau, α-synuclein, and very rarely transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is not unprecedented or unusual in neurodegenerative diseases. Morphological characterization of PAG is considered, however, only for the neuropathological diagnosis and classification of tauopathies. Astrocytic tau pathology is seen in primary frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) associated with tau pathologies (FTLD-Tau), and also in the form of aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG). Importantly, ARTAG shares common features with primary FTLD-Tau as well as with the astroglial tau pathologies that are thought to be hallmarks of a brain injury-related tauopathy known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Supported by experimental observations, the morphological variability of PAG might reflect distinct pathogenic involvement of different astrocytic populations. PAG might indicate astrocytic contribution to spreading or clearance of disease-associated proteins, however, this might lead to astrocytic dysfunction and eventually contribute to the degeneration of neurons. Here, we review recent advances in understanding ARTAG and other related forms of PAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabor G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Virginia M Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Institute on Aging and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Institute on Aging and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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25
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Abstract
Astrocytes are involved in many diseases of the central nervous system, not only as reactive cells to neuronal damage but also as primary actors in the pathological process. Astrogliopathy is a term used to designate the involvement of astrocytes as key elements in the pathogenesis and pathology of diseases and injuries of the central nervous system. Astrocytopathy is utilized to name non-reactive astrogliosis covering hypertrophy, atrophy and astroglial degeneration with loss of function in astrocytes and pathological remodeling, as well as senescent changes. Astrogliopathy and astrocytopathy are hallmarks of tauopathies—neurodegenerative diseases with abnormal hyper-phosphorylated tau aggregates in neurons and glial cells. The involvement of astrocytes covers different disease-specific types such as tufted astrocytes, astrocytic plaques, thorn-shaped astrocytes, granular/fuzzy astrocytes, ramified astrocytes and astrocytes with globular inclusions, as well as others which are unnamed but not uncommon in familial frontotemporal degeneration linked to mutations in the tau gene. Knowledge of molecular differences among tau-containing astrocytes is only beginning, and their distinct functional implications remain rather poorly understood. However, tau-containing astrocytes in certain conditions have deleterious effects on neuronal function and nervous system integrity. Moreover, recent studies have shown that tau-containing astrocytes obtained from human brain tauopathies have a capacity for abnormal tau seeding and spreading in wild type mice. Inclusive conceptions include a complex scenario involving neurons, glial cells and local environmental factors that potentiate each other and promote disease progression in tauopathies.
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26
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Štrafela P, Pleško J, Magdič J, Koritnik B, Zupan A, Glavač D, Bresjanac M, Popović M. Familial tauopathy with P364S MAPT mutation: clinical course, neuropathology and ultrastructure of neuronal tau inclusions. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2018; 44:550-562. [PMID: 29215752 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
AIMS This report presents the clinical course, neuropathology and ultrastructure of neuronal tau inclusions of four Slovene relatives with P364S MAPT mutation. METHODS The clinical history of three out of four P364S MAPT mutation carriers was taken. After formalin fixation, thorough sampling of the central nervous system was followed by paraffin embedding, H&E, Gallyas, Bielschowsky and immunostaining with AT8, anti-3R, anti-4R tau, anti-amyloid-β, anti-TDP43 and anti-alpha-synuclein antibodies. The distribution and density of different types of neuronal tau inclusions were semiquantitatively assessed. In addition, the ultrastructure of neuronal tau inclusions was analysed. RESULTS Macroscopic examination of the brains was unremarkable. Microscopically, neuronal tau inclusions of almost all known types were widespread and distributed fairly uniformly in all cases. Pick bodies and swollen neurones were found in only one family member. Mutant tau was composed of 3R and 4R isoforms, with a slight predominance of 3R tau. Composite neuronal tau inclusion (CNTI), found in all four relatives, was a hallmark of the P364S MAPT mutation. CNTI showed compartmental differences in H&E and Gallyas staining, tau isoforms immunolabelling and ultrastructure, displaying fuzzy fibrils in the core and paired twisted tubules at the periphery. CONCLUSIONS P364S MAPT mutation is characterized clinically by a variable combination of frontotemporal dementia, parkinsonism and motor neurone disease of short duration, and neuropathologically by a widespread uniform distribution of all known neuronal tau inclusions in one family member. Two-compartment CNTI is a unique characteristic of the P364S MAPT mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Štrafela
- Department of Pathology, University Clinical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - J Pleško
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - J Magdič
- Clinic of Neurology, University Clinical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - B Koritnik
- Institute of Neurophysiology, University Clinical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - A Zupan
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - D Glavač
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - M Bresjanac
- LNPR, Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - M Popović
- Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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27
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Ferrer I. Sisyphus in Neverland. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 62:1023-1047. [PMID: 29154280 PMCID: PMC5870014 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The study of life and living organisms and the way in which these interact and organize to form social communities have been central to my career. I have been fascinated by biology, neurology, and neuropathology, but also by history, sociology, and art. Certain current historical, political, and social events, some occurring proximally but others affecting people in apparently distant places, have had an impact on me. Epicurus, Seneca, and Camus shared their philosophical positions which I learned from. Many scientists from various disciplines have been exciting sources of knowledge as well. I have created a world of hypothesis and experiments but I have also got carried away by serendipity following unexpected observations. It has not been an easy path; errors and wanderings are not uncommon, and opponents close to home much more abundant than one might imagine. Ambition, imagination, resilience, and endurance have been useful in moving ahead in response to setbacks. In the end, I have enjoyed my dedication to science and I am grateful to have glimpsed beauty in it. These are brief memories of a Spanish neuropathologist born and raised in Barcelona, EU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona; Service of Pathological Anatomy, Bellvitge University Hospital; CIBERNED; Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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28
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Lin HC, Lin CH, Chen PL, Cheng SJ, Chen PH. Intrafamilial phenotypic heterogeneity in a Taiwanese family with a MAPT p.R5H mutation: a case report and literature review. BMC Neurol 2017; 17:186. [PMID: 28923025 PMCID: PMC5604294 DOI: 10.1186/s12883-017-0966-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder characterized by deficits in executive function that frequently overlaps with parkinsonism and motor neuron disorders. Several genes have been identified to cause autosomal dominant forms of FTD, including the gene coding for the protein associated with microtubule tau (MAPT). While most reported pathogenic mutations in MAPT occur in exons 9–13, few families have been reported with mutations outside of this region. Herein, we report a first Taiwanese family having the exon 1 p.Arg5His mutation in MAPT with intrafamilial phenotype heterogeneity. Case presentation A 63-year-old man presented with progressive non-fluent speech and impaired memory for 3 years. He then developed apraxia, myoclonus and parkinsonism feature at his right hand. Extensive neurologic and neurocognitive examination lead to a diagnosis of FTD mixed with corticobasal syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed asymmetric atrophy in the left frontal and temporal lobes and single-photon emission computed tomography indicated decreased metabolism in the same areas as well as the left basal ganglia. The patient’s mother had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 60 and was deceased 10 years later due to respiratory failure. The patient’s younger sister had persistent depressive disorder in her early forties and did not have any prominent cognitive or motor dysfunctions. We performed genetic analysis applying a targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) panel covering MAPT, GRN, VCP, FUS, CHMP2B, and TARDBP on the proband, followed by Sanger sequencing of candidate genes in eight family members. Hexanucleotide repeat expansion of C9Orf72 was determined by repeat-primed PCR. We identified a missense mutation in exon 1 of MAPT gene, c.14G > A (p.R5H), which was previously reported in only two Japanese patients in a literature review. This substitution co-segregated with the disease phenotypes in the family. Conclusions This is the first report of the occurrence of the MAPT p.R5H mutation in the Taiwanese population. Our findings extend the current knowledge of phenotypic heterogeneity among family members carrying the MAPT p.R5H mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Chi Lin
- Department of Neurology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No. 92, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Zhongshan Dist, Taipei City, 10449, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Hsien Lin
- Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Lung Chen
- Department of Medical Genetics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, No. 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Jung Cheng
- Department of Neurology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No. 92, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Zhongshan Dist, Taipei City, 10449, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Hao Chen
- Department of Neurology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, No. 92, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Zhongshan Dist, Taipei City, 10449, Taiwan. .,Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, New Taipei, Taiwan. .,Graduate Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan.
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29
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Ferrer I. Diversity of astroglial responses across human neurodegenerative disorders and brain aging. Brain Pathol 2017; 27:645-674. [PMID: 28804999 PMCID: PMC8029391 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrogliopathy refers to alterations of astrocytes occurring in diseases of the nervous system, and it implies the involvement of astrocytes as key elements in the pathogenesis and pathology of diseases and injuries of the central nervous system. Reactive astrocytosis refers to the response of astrocytes to different insults to the nervous system, whereas astrocytopathy indicates hypertrophy, atrophy/degeneration and loss of function and pathological remodeling occurring as a primary cause of a disease or as a factor contributing to the development and progression of a particular disease. Reactive astrocytosis secondary to neuron loss and astrocytopathy due to intrinsic alterations of astrocytes occur in neurodegenerative diseases, overlap each other, and, together with astrocyte senescence, contribute to disease-specific astrogliopathy in aging and neurodegenerative diseases with abnormal protein aggregates in old age. In addition to the well-known increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein and other proteins in reactive astrocytes, astrocytopathy is evidenced by deposition of abnormal proteins such as β-amyloid, hyper-phosphorylated tau, abnormal α-synuclein, mutated huntingtin, phosphorylated TDP-43 and mutated SOD1, and PrPres , in Alzheimer's disease, tauopathies, Lewy body diseases, Huntington's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, respectively. Astrocytopathy in these diseases can also be manifested by impaired glutamate transport; abnormal metabolism and release of neurotransmitters; altered potassium, calcium and water channels resulting in abnormal ion and water homeostasis; abnormal glucose metabolism; abnormal lipid and, particularly, cholesterol metabolism; increased oxidative damage and altered oxidative stress responses; increased production of cytokines and mediators of the inflammatory response; altered expression of connexins with deterioration of cell-to-cell networks and transfer of gliotransmitters; and worsening function of the blood brain barrier, among others. Increased knowledge of these aspects will permit a better understanding of brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases in old age as complex disorders in which neurons are not the only players.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isidro Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental TherapeuticsUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Institute of NeuropathologyPathologic Anatomy Service, Bellvitge University Hospital, IDIBELL, Hospitalet de LlobregatBarcelonaSpain
- Institute of NeurosciencesUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
- Biomedical Network Research Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Institute Carlos IIIMadridSpain
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30
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Tacik P, Sanchez-Contreras M, DeTure M, Murray ME, Rademakers R, Ross OA, Wszolek ZK, Parisi JE, Knopman DS, Petersen RC, Dickson DW. Clinicopathologic heterogeneity in frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17) due to microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) p.P301L mutation, including a patient with globular glial tauopathy. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2017; 43:200-214. [PMID: 27859539 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 10/13/2016] [Accepted: 10/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
AIM The p.P301L mutation in microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) is a common cause of frontotemporal dementia and parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). We compare clinicopathologic features of five unrelated and three related (brother, sister and cousin) patients with FTDP-17 due to p.P301L mutation. METHODS Genealogical, clinical, neuropathologic and genetic data were reviewed from eight individuals. RESULTS The series consisted of five men and three women with an average age of death of 58 years (52-65 years) and average disease duration of 9 years (3-14 years). The first symptoms were those of behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia in seven patients and semantic variant of primary progressive aphasia in one. Three patients were homozygous for the MAPT H1 haplotype; five had H1/H2 genotype. The apolipoprotein E genotype was ϵ3/ϵ3 in seven and ϵ3/ϵ4 in one. The average brain weight was 1015 g (876-1188 g). All had frontotemporal lobar or more diffuse cortical atrophy. Except for one patient, the hippocampus and parahippocampal gyrus had minimal atrophy, whereas there was atrophy of middle and inferior temporal gyri. Dentate fascia neuronal dispersion was identified in three patients, two of whom had epilepsy. In one patient there was extensive white matter tau involvement with Gallyas-positive globular glial inclusions typical of globular glial tauopathy (GGT). CONCLUSIONS This clinicopathologic study shows inter- and intra-familial clinicopathologic heterogeneity of FTDP-17 due to MAPT p.P301L mutation, including GGT in one patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Tacik
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - M DeTure
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - M E Murray
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - R Rademakers
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - O A Ross
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Z K Wszolek
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - J E Parisi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - D S Knopman
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - R C Petersen
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - D W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
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31
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Tacik P, DeTure MA, Carlomagno Y, Lin WL, Murray ME, Baker MC, Josephs KA, Boeve BF, Wszolek ZK, Graff-Radford NR, Parisi JE, Petrucelli L, Rademakers R, Isaacson RS, Heilman KM, Petersen RC, Dickson DW, Kouri N. FTDP-17 with Pick body-like inclusions associated with a novel tau mutation, p.E372G. Brain Pathol 2016; 27:612-626. [PMID: 27529406 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in microtubule-associated protein tau gene (MAPT) cause frontotemporal dementia with parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17 (FTDP-17). Here, we describe a patient with FTDP-17 and a novel missense mutation in exon 13 of MAPT, p.E372G. We compare clinicopathologic features of this patient to two previously unreported patients with another exon 13 mutation, p.G389R. The patient with the p.E372G mutation was a 40-year-old man with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD), who subsequently developed agrammatic speech and parkinsonism. One of the FTDP-17 patients with p.G389R mutation presented at age 24 with agrammatic variant of primary progressive aphasia, and subsequently behavioral dysfunction. The other presented at age 53 with bvFTD, followed by agrammatic speech and corticobasal syndrome. Neuropathologic features of FTDP-17 due to p.E372G were similar to those of p.G389R, including tau-immunoreactive Pick body-like neuronal inclusions and swollen, tapering thread-like processes in white matter immunoreactive for 3-repeat and 4-repeat tau. Biochemical analysis of insoluble tau showed similar isoform compositions in p.E372G and p.G389R. Functional studies of the p.E372G mutation showed marked increase in tau filament formation and its reduced ability to promote microtubule assembly. Together these findings indicate that p.E372G is a pathogenic MAPT mutation that causes FTDP-17 similar to p.G389R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawel Tacik
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | | | | | - Wen-Lang Lin
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Joseph E Parisi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | | | | | | | - Kenneth M Heilman
- Department of Neurology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL
| | | | | | - Naomi Kouri
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
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32
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Arendt T, Stieler JT, Holzer M. Tau and tauopathies. Brain Res Bull 2016; 126:238-292. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2016.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 333] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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33
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Marshall CR, Guerreiro R, Thust S, Fletcher P, Rohrer JD, Fox NC. A Novel MAPT Mutation Causing Corticobasal Syndrome Led by Progressive Apraxia of Speech. J Alzheimers Dis 2016; 48:923-6. [PMID: 26402116 DOI: 10.3233/jad-150477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The authors describe a case of corticobasal syndrome led by progressive apraxia of speech, associated with a novel mutation in exon 10 of the MAPT gene. Genetic bases for progressive apraxia of speech and corticobasal syndrome are only rarely described, and have not been described in conjunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles R Marshall
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, London, UK
| | - Rita Guerreiro
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Steffi Thust
- Department of Neuroradiology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
| | - Phillip Fletcher
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, London, UK
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, London, UK
| | - Nick C Fox
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, London, UK
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Woollacott IOC, Rohrer JD. The clinical spectrum of sporadic and familial forms of frontotemporal dementia. J Neurochem 2016; 138 Suppl 1:6-31. [PMID: 27144467 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 04/10/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The term frontotemporal dementia (FTD) describes a clinically, genetically and pathologically diverse group of neurodegenerative disorders. Symptoms of FTD can present in individuals in their 20s through to their 90s, but the mean age at onset is in the sixth decade. The most common presentation is with a change in personality and impaired social conduct (behavioural variant FTD). Less frequently patients present with language problems (primary progressive aphasia). Both of these groups of patients can develop motor features consistent with either motor neuron disease (usually the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis variant) or parkinsonism (most commonly a progressive supranuclear palsy or corticobasal syndrome). In about a third of cases FTD is familial, with mutations in the progranulin, microtubule-associated protein tau and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 genes being the major causes. Mutations in a number of other genes including TANK-binding kinase 1 are rare causes of familial FTD. This review aims to clarify the often confusing terminology of FTD, and outline the various clinical features and diagnostic criteria of sporadic and familial FTD syndromes. It will also discuss the current major challenges in FTD research and clinical practice, and potential areas for future research. This review clarifies the terminology of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and summarizes the various clinical features and most recent diagnostic criteria of sporadic and familial FTD syndromes. It also discusses the current major challenges in FTD research and clinical practice, and highlights potential areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ione O C Woollacott
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
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Gasca-Salas C, Masellis M, Khoo E, Shah BB, Fisman D, Lang AE, Kleiner-Fisman G. Characterization of Movement Disorder Phenomenology in Genetically Proven, Familial Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0153852. [PMID: 27100392 PMCID: PMC4839564 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mutations in granulin (PGRN) and tau (MAPT), and hexanucleotide repeat expansions near the C9orf72 genes are the most prevalent genetic causes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Although behavior, language and movement presentations are common, the relationship between genetic subgroup and movement disorder phenomenology is unclear. Objective We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature characterizing the spectrum and prevalence of movement disorders in genetic frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Methods Electronic databases were searched using terms related to frontotemporal lobar degeneration and movement disorders. Articles were included when cases had a proven genetic cause. Study-specific prevalence estimates for clinical features were transformed using Freeman-Tukey arcsine transformation, allowing for pooled estimates of prevalence to be generated using random-effects models. Results The mean age at onset was earlier in those with MAPT mutations compared to PGRN (p<0.001) and C9orf72 (p = 0.024). 66.5% of subjects had an initial non-movement presentation that was most likely a behavioral syndrome (35.7%). At any point during the disease, parkinsonism was the most common movement syndrome reported in 79.8% followed by progressive supranuclear palsy (PSPS) and corticobasal (CBS) syndromes in 12.2% and 10.7%, respectively. The prevalence of movement disorder as initial presentation was higher in MAPT subjects (35.8%) compared to PGRN subjects (10.1). In those with a non-movement presentation, language disorder was more common in PGRN subjects (18.7%) compared to MAPT subjects (5.4%). Summary This represents the first systematic review and meta-analysis of the occurrence of movement disorder phenomenology in genetic frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Standardized prospective collection of clinical information in conjunction with genetic characterization will be crucial for accurate clinico-genetic correlation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Gasca-Salas
- The Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic and the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, TWH, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Centro integral en Neurociencias A.C. (CINAC)/HM Hospitales- Puerta del Sur, CEU-San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Mario Masellis
- Centro integral en Neurociencias A.C. (CINAC)/HM Hospitales- Puerta del Sur, CEU-San Pablo University, Madrid, Spain
- Cognitive & Movement Disorders Clinic, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Canada
| | - Edwin Khoo
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Binit B. Shah
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America
| | - David Fisman
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anthony E. Lang
- The Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic and the Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease, TWH, Toronto, Canada
| | - Galit Kleiner-Fisman
- Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Jeff and Diane Ross Movement Disorders Clinic, Baycrest Center for Geriatric Health, Toronto, Canada
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Rossi G, Tagliavini F. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration: old knowledge and new insight into the pathogenetic mechanisms of tau mutations. Front Aging Neurosci 2015; 7:192. [PMID: 26528178 PMCID: PMC4604311 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a group of heterogeneous neurodegenerative diseases which includes tauopathies. In the central nervous system (CNS) tau is the major microtubule-associated protein (MAP) of neurons, promoting assembly and stabilization of microtubules (MTs) required for morphogenesis and axonal transport. Primary tauopathies are characterized by deposition of abnormal fibrils of tau in neuronal and glial cells, leading to neuronal death, brain atrophy and eventually dementia. In genetic tauopathies mutations of tau gene impair the ability of tau to bind to MTs, alter the normal ratio among tau isoforms and favor fibril formation. Recently, additional functions have been ascribed to tau and different pathogenetic mechanisms are then emerging. In fact, a role of tau in DNA protection and genome stability has been reported and chromosome aberrations have been found associated with tau mutations. Furthermore, newly structurally and functionally characterized mutations have suggested novel pathological features, such as a tendency to form oligomeric rather than fibrillar aggregates. Tau mutations affecting axonal transport and plasma membrane interaction have also been described. In this article, we will review the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying tau mutations, focusing in particular on the less common aspects, so far poorly investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomina Rossi
- Division of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta Milano, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Division of Neurology V and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta Milano, Italy
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Tacik P, DeTure M, Lin WL, Sanchez Contreras M, Wojtas A, Hinkle KM, Fujioka S, Baker MC, Walton RL, Carlomagno Y, Brown PH, Strongosky AJ, Kouri N, Murray ME, Petrucelli L, Josephs KA, Rademakers R, Ross OA, Wszolek ZK, Dickson DW. A novel tau mutation, p.K317N, causes globular glial tauopathy. Acta Neuropathol 2015; 130:199-214. [PMID: 25900293 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-015-1425-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Revised: 04/11/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Globular glial tauopathies (GGTs) are 4-repeat tauopathies neuropathologically characterized by tau-positive, globular glial inclusions, including both globular oligodendroglial inclusions and globular astrocytic inclusions. No mutations have been found in 25 of the 30 GGT cases reported in the literature who have been screened for mutations in microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT). In this report, six patients with GGT (four with subtype III and two with subtype I) were screened for MAPT mutations. They included 4 men and 2 women with a mean age at death of 73 years (55-83 years) and mean age at symptomatic onset of 66 years (50-77 years). Disease duration ranged from 5 to 14 years. All were homozygous for the MAPT H1 haplotype. Three patients had a positive family history of dementia, and a novel MAPT mutation (c.951G>C, p.K317N) was identified in one of them, a patient with subtype III. Recombinant tau protein bearing the lysine-to-asparagine substitution at amino acid residue 317 was used to assess functional significance of the variant on microtubule assembly and tau filament formation. Recombinant p.K317N tau had reduced ability to promote tubulin polymerization. Recombinant 3R and 4R tau bearing the p.K317N mutation showed decreased 3R tau and increased 4R tau filament assembly. These results strongly suggest that the p.K317N variant is pathogenic. Sequencing of MAPT should be considered in patients with GGT and a family history of dementia or movement disorder. Since several individuals in our series had a positive family history but no MAPT mutation, genetic factors other than MAPT may play a role in disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pawel Tacik
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, USA
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Fontana F, Siva K, Denti MA. A network of RNA and protein interactions in Fronto Temporal Dementia. Front Mol Neurosci 2015; 8:9. [PMID: 25852467 PMCID: PMC4365750 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2015.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of the fronto temporal lobes and abnormal protein inclusions. It exhibits a broad clinicopathological spectrum and has been linked to mutations in seven different genes. We will provide a picture, which connects the products of these genes, albeit diverse in nature and function, in a network. Despite the paucity of information available for some of these genes, we believe that RNA processing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression might constitute a common theme in the network. Recent studies have unraveled the role of mutations affecting the functions of RNA binding proteins and regulation of microRNAs. This review will combine all the recent findings on genes involved in the pathogenesis of FTD, highlighting the importance of a common network of interactions in order to study and decipher the heterogeneous clinical manifestations associated with FTD. This approach could be helpful for the research of potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Fontana
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of TrentoTrento, Italy
| | - Kavitha Siva
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of TrentoTrento, Italy
| | - Michela A. Denti
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of TrentoTrento, Italy
- CNR, Institute of NeurosciencePadua, Italy
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Ghetti B, Oblak AL, Boeve BF, Johnson KA, Dickerson BC, Goedert M. Invited review: Frontotemporal dementia caused by microtubule-associated protein tau gene (MAPT) mutations: a chameleon for neuropathology and neuroimaging. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2015; 41:24-46. [PMID: 25556536 PMCID: PMC4329416 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 303] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hereditary frontotemporal dementia associated with mutations in the microtubule-associated protein tau gene (MAPT) is a protean disorder. Three neuropathologic subtypes can be recognized, based on the presence of inclusions made of tau isoforms with three and four repeats, predominantly three repeats and mostly four repeats. This is relevant for establishing a correlation between structural magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography using tracers specific for aggregated tau. Longitudinal studies will be essential to determine the evolution of anatomical alterations from the asymptomatic stage to the various phases of disease following the onset of symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolis, USA
| | - A L Oblak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolis, USA
| | - B F Boeve
- Department of Neurology, Mayo ClinicRochester, USA
| | - K A Johnson
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, USA
| | - B C Dickerson
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBoston, USA
| | - M Goedert
- Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular BiologyCambridge, UK
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Massó JFM, Zarranz JJ, Otaegui D, López de Munain A. Neurogenetic Disorders in the Basque Population. Ann Hum Genet 2014; 79:57-75. [DOI: 10.1111/ahg.12088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- José Félix Martí Massó
- Department of Neurology at Hospital Universitario Donostia (San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa); Basque Health Service (Osakidetza); Basque Country Spain
- Department of Neurosciences; University of Basque Country (UPV-EHU)
- Centre for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED); Carlos III Health Institute, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness; Spain
- BioDonostia Institute, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa
- JAKIUNDE, Academia de las Ciencias, de las Artes y de las Letras
| | - Juan José Zarranz
- Department of Neurology at Hospital Universitario Cruces (Baracaldo, Vizcaya); Basque Health Service (Osakidetza); Basque Country Spain
- Department of Neurosciences; University of Basque Country (UPV-EHU)
- BioCruces Institute, Baracaldo; Vizcaya
- JAKIUNDE, Academia de las Ciencias, de las Artes y de las Letras
| | | | - Adolfo López de Munain
- Department of Neurology at Hospital Universitario Donostia (San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa); Basque Health Service (Osakidetza); Basque Country Spain
- Department of Neurosciences; University of Basque Country (UPV-EHU)
- Centre for Networked Biomedical Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED); Carlos III Health Institute, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness; Spain
- BioDonostia Institute, San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa
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López-González I, Carmona M, Arregui L, Kovacs GG, Ferrer I. αB-crystallin and HSP27 in glial cells in tauopathies. Neuropathology 2014; 34:517-26. [PMID: 24985029 DOI: 10.1111/neup.12134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2014] [Revised: 03/16/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by hyper-phosphorylated tau deposition in neurons and glial cells. Chaperones, such as small heat shock proteins αB-crystallin and HSP27 highly expressed in normal glial cells, have been postulated as putative molecules preventing abnormal deposition and folding in glial cells in tauopathies. The objective of this work was to assess the expression of αB-crystallin, phosphorylated αB-crystallin at Ser59 and HSP27 in glial cells with and without tau deposits in progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration (CBD), argyrophilic grain disease (AGD), Pick's disease (PiD), Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration associated with mutations in the tau gene (FTLD-tau), globular glial tauopathy (GGT) and tauopathy in the elderly. Immunohistochemistry, and double-labeling immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy have been used for this purpose. Increased expression of αB-crystallin and phosphorylated αB-crystallin at Ser59 occurs in a subpopulation of glial cells with and without hyper-phosphorylated tau deposition in all the analyzed tauopathies, but their expression in neurons is restricted to ballooned neurons in CBD, AGD and PiD. HSP27 barely co-localizes with tau and with phosphorylated αB-crystallin at Ser59, thus making the formation of active dimers operating as chaperones unlikely. Results suggest a limited function of αB-crystallin and HSP27 in preventing abnormal tau protein deposition in glial cells and neurons; in addition, the expression of αB-crystallin phosphorylated at Ser59 may act as a protective factor in glial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene López-González
- Institut de Neuropatologia, IDIBELL-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Hospitalet de Llobregat, CIBERNED (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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McCluskey LF, Geser F, Elman LB, Van Deerlin VM, Robinson JL, Lee VMY, Trojanowski JQ. Atypical Alzheimer's disease in an elderly United States resident with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and pathological tau in spinal motor neurons. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2014; 15:466-72. [PMID: 24809433 DOI: 10.3109/21678421.2014.903973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Glial and neuronal tau pathology in tauopathies: characterization of disease-specific phenotypes and tau pathology progression. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2014; 73:81-97. [PMID: 24335532 DOI: 10.1097/nen.0000000000000030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tauopathies are degenerative diseases characterized by the accumulation of phosphorylated tau in neurons and glial cells. With some exceptions, tau deposits in neurons are mainly manifested as pretangles and tangles unrelated to the tauopathy. It is thought that abnormal tau deposition in neurons occurs following specific steps, but little is known about the progression of tau pathology in glial cells in tauopathies. We compared tau pathology in different astrocyte phenotypes and oligodendroglial inclusions with that in neurons in a large series of tauopathies, including progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, argyrophilic grain disease, Pick disease, frontotemporal lobar degenerations (FTLD) associated with mutations in the tau gene, globular glial tauopathy (GGT), and tauopathy in the elderly. Our findings indicate that disease-specific astroglial phenotypes depend on i) the primary amino acid sequence of tau (mutated tau, 3Rtau, and 4Rtau); ii) phospho-specific sites of tau phosphorylation, tau conformation, tau truncation, and ubiquitination in that order (which parallel tau modifications related to pretangle and tangle stages in neurons); and iii) modifications of the astroglial cytoskeleton. In contrast to astrocytes, coiled bodies in oligodendrocytes have similar characteristics whatever the tauopathy, except glial globular inclusions in GGT, and coiled bodies and globular oligodendroglial inclusions in FTLD-tau/K317M. These observations indicate that tau pathology in glial cells largely parallels, but is not identical to, that in neurons in many tauopathies.
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Kouri N, Carlomagno Y, Baker M, Liesinger AM, Caselli RJ, Wszolek ZK, Petrucelli L, Boeve BF, Parisi JE, Josephs KA, Uitti RJ, Ross OA, Graff-Radford NR, DeTure MA, Dickson DW, Rademakers R. Novel mutation in MAPT exon 13 (p.N410H) causes corticobasal degeneration. Acta Neuropathol 2014; 127:271-82. [PMID: 24121548 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-013-1193-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2013] [Accepted: 10/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
In order to determine the frequency of microtubule-associated protein tau gene (MAPT) mutations and rare variants in CBD, we performed a systematic sequence analysis of MAPT coding and 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) in a large cohort of autopsy-confirmed CBD patients (N = 109). This identified a novel MAPT mutation in exon 13, p.N410H, in a case that is neuropathologically indistinguishable from sporadic CBD. On immunoblot, the p.N410H mutation carrier had the same insoluble tau profile as seen in CBD. Additionally, tau expression analysis in brain tissue found a significant increase in the 4R/3R tau mRNA ratio (P = 0.04), indicating that p.N410H disrupts tau isoform homeostasis. Biochemically, recombinant tau protein with p.N410H showed a marked increase in tau filament formation compared to wild-type tau (P < 0.001), had a 19.2% decrease in rate of microtubule assembly (P < 0.05), and a 10.3% reduction in the extent of total microtubule polymerization (P < 0.01). Sequence analysis of the complete MAPT 3′UTR in autopsy-confirmed CBD cases further identified two rare variants with nominally significant association with CBD. An ATC nucleotide insertion (“MAPTv8”) was found in 4.6% of CBD patients compared to 1.2% of controls (P = 0.031, OR = 3.71), and rs186977284 in 4.6% CBD patients, but only 0.9% of controls (P = 0.04, OR = 3.58). Rs186977284 was also present in 2.7% of a large cohort of autopsy-confirmed PSP patients (N = 566) and only 0.9% of an additional control series (P = 0.034, OR = 3.08), extending the association to PSP. Our findings show that mutations in MAPT can cause CBD and MAPT non-coding variants may increase the risk of complex 4R tauopathies.
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Takada LT, Pimentel MLV, Dejesus-Hernandez M, Fong JC, Yokoyama JS, Karydas A, Thibodeau MP, Rutherford NJ, Baker MC, Lomen-Hoerth C, Rademakers R, Miller BL. Frontotemporal dementia in a Brazilian kindred with the c9orf72 mutation. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 69:1149-53. [PMID: 22964910 DOI: 10.1001/archneurol.2012.650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the clinical features of a Brazilian kindred with C9orf72 frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and compare them with other described families with C9orf72 and frontotemporal dementia-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-causing mutations. DESIGN Report of a kindred. SETTING Dementia center at a university hospital. PATIENTS One kindred encompassing 3 generations. RESULTS The presence of a hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) expansion in C9orf72 was confirmed by repeat-primed polymerase chain reaction and Southern blot. The observed phenotypes were behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with dementia, with significant variability in age at onset and duration of disease. Parkinsonian features with focal dystonia, visual hallucinations, and more posterior atrophy on neuroimaging than is typical for frontotemporal dementia were seen. CONCLUSIONS Behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia due to C9orf72 expansion displays some phenotypic heterogeneity and may be associated with hallucinations, parkinsonism, focal dystonia, and posterior brain atrophy. Personality changes may precede the diagnosis of dementia by many years and may be a distinguishing feature of this mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonel T Takada
- Memory and AgingCenter, University of California, San Francisco, 350 Parnassus Ave, Ste 905, San Francisco, CA 94143-1207, USA.
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Van Langenhove T, van der Zee J, Van Broeckhoven C. The molecular basis of the frontotemporal lobar degeneration-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spectrum. Ann Med 2012; 44:817-28. [PMID: 22420316 PMCID: PMC3529157 DOI: 10.3109/07853890.2012.665471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2011] [Accepted: 02/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) represent a continuum of neurodegenerative diseases. FTLD is complicated by ALS in a significant proportion of patients, and neuropsychological studies have demonstrated frontotemporal dysfunction in up to 50% of ALS patients. More recently, advances in neuropathology and molecular genetics have started to disclose the biological basis for the observed clinical concurrence. TDP-43 and FUS have been discovered as key pathological proteins in both FTLD and ALS. The most recent discovery of a pathological hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the gene C9orf72 as a frequent cause of both FTLD and ALS has eventually confirmed the association of these two at first sight distinct neurodegenerative diseases. Mutations in the TARDBP, FUS, and VCP genes had previously been associated with different phenotypes of the FTLD-ALS spectrum, although in these cases one end of the spectrum predominates. Whilst on the one hand providing evidence for overlap, these discoveries have also highlighted that FTLD and ALS are etiologically diverse. In this review, we review the recent advances that support the existence of an FTLD-ALS spectrum, with particular emphasis on the molecular genetic aspect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Van Langenhove
- Neurodegenerative Brain Diseases Group, Department of Molecular Genetics, VIB, Antwerpen, Belgium
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Ince PG, Highley JR, Kirby J, Wharton SB, Takahashi H, Strong MJ, Shaw PJ. Molecular pathology and genetic advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an emerging molecular pathway and the significance of glial pathology. Acta Neuropathol 2011; 122:657-71. [PMID: 22105541 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-011-0913-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2011] [Revised: 11/10/2011] [Accepted: 11/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been stimulated by a series of genetic and molecular pathology discoveries. The hallmark neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions of sporadic ALS (sALS) predominantly comprise a nuclear RNA processing protein, TDP-43 encoded by the gene TARDBP, a discovery that emerged from high throughput analysis of human brain tissue from patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) who share a common molecular pathology with ALS. The link between RNA processing and ALS was further strengthened by the discovery that another genetic locus linking familial ALS (fALS) and FTD was due to mutation of the fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene. Of potentially even greater importance it emerges that TDP-43 accumulation and inclusion formation characterises not only most sALS cases but also those that arise from mutations in several genes including TARDBP (predominantly ALS cases) itself, C9ORF72 (ALS and FTD cases), progranulin (predominantly FTD phenotypes), VAPB (predominantly ALS cases) and in some ALS cases with rare genetic variants of uncertain pathogenicity (CHMP2B). "TDP-proteinopathy" therefore now represents a final common pathology associated with changes in multiple genes and opens the possibility of research by triangulation towards key common upstream molecular events. It also delivers final proof of the hypothesis that ALS and most FTD cases are disorders within a common pathology expressed as a clinico-anatomical spectrum. The emergence of TDP-proteinopathy also confirms the view that glial pathology is a crucial facet in this class of neurodegeneration, adding to the established view of non-nerve cell autonomous degeneration of the motor system from previous research on SOD1 fALS. Future research into the mechanisms of TDP-43 and FUS-related neurodegeneration, taking into account the major component of glial pathology now revealed in those disorders will significantly accelerate new discoveries in this field, including target identification for new therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul G Ince
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK.
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Wilmut I, Sullivan G, Chambers I. The evolving biology of cell reprogramming. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2011; 366:2183-97. [PMID: 21727124 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern stem cell biology has achieved a transformation that was thought by many to be every bit as unattainable as the ancient alchemists' dream of transforming base metals into gold. Exciting opportunities arise from the process known as 'cellular reprogramming' in which cells can be reliably changed from one tissue type to another. This is enabling novel approaches to more deeply investigate the fundamental basis of cell identity. In addition, new opportunities have also been created to study (perhaps even to treat) human genetic and degenerative diseases. Specific cell types that are affected in inherited disease can now be generated from easily accessible cells from the patient and compared with equivalent cells from healthy donors. The differences in cellular phenotype between the two may then be identified, and assays developed to establish therapies that prevent the development or progression of disease symptoms. Cellular reprogramming also has the potential to create new cells to replace those whose death or dysfunction causes disease symptoms. For patients suffering from inherited cases of degenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as motor neuron disease), the future realization of such cell-based therapies would truly be worth its weight in gold. However, before this enormous potential can become a reality, several significant biological and technical challenges must be overcome. Furthermore, to maintain the credibility of the scientific community with the general public, it is important that hope-inspiring advances are not over-hyped. The papers in this issue of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences cover many areas relevant to this topic. In this Introduction, we provide an overall context in which to consider these individual papers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Wilmut
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, Scotland, UK.
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Making connections: pathology and genetics link amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with frontotemporal lobe dementia. J Mol Neurosci 2011; 45:663-75. [PMID: 21901496 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-011-9637-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 08/18/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Over the last couple of decades, there has been a growing body of clinical, genetic, and histopathological evidence that similar pathological processes underlie amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and some types of frontotemporal lobe dementia (FTD). Even though there is great diversity in the genetic causes of these disorders, there is a high degree of overlap in their histopathology. Genes linked to rare cases of familial ALS and/or FTD, like FUS, TARDBP, OPTN, and UBQLN2 may converge onto a unifying pathogenic pathway and thereby provide novel therapeutic targets common to a spectrum of etiologically diverse forms of ALS and ALS-FTD. Additionally, there are major loci for ALS-FTD on chromosomes 9p and 15q. Identification of causative genetic alterations at those loci will be an important step in understanding the pathogenesis of juvenile- and adult-onset ALS and ALS-FTD. Interactions between TDP-43, FUS, optineurin, and ubiquilin 2 need to be studied to understand their common molecular pathways. Future efforts should also be directed towards generation and characterization of in vivo models to dissect the pathogenic mechanisms of these diseases. Such efforts will rapidly accelerate the discovery of new drugs that regulate accumulation of pathogenic proteins and their downstream consequences.
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