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Schultz A, Albertos-Arranz H, Sáez XS, Morgan J, Darland DC, Gonzalez-Duarte A, Kaufmann H, Mendoza-Santiesteban CE, Cuenca N, Lefcort F. Neuronal and glial cell alterations involved in the retinal degeneration of the familial dysautonomia optic neuropathy. Glia 2024. [PMID: 39228100 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a rare genetic neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorder. In addition to the autonomic and peripheral sensory neuropathies that challenge patient survival, one of the most debilitating symptoms affecting patients' quality of life is progressive blindness resulting from the steady loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Within the FD community, there is a concerted effort to develop treatments to prevent the loss of RGCs. However, the mechanisms underlying the death of RGCs are not well understood. To study the mechanisms underlying RGC death, Pax6-cre;Elp1loxp/loxp male and female mice and postmortem retinal tissue from an FD patient were used to explore the neuronal and non-neuronal cellular pathology associated with the FD optic neuropathy. Neurons, astrocytes, microglia, Müller glia, and endothelial cells were investigated using a combination of histological analyses. We identified a novel disruption of cellular homeostasis and gliosis in the FD retina. Beginning shortly after birth and progressing with age, the FD retina is marked by astrogliosis and perturbations in microglia, which coincide with vascular remodeling. These changes begin before the onset of RGC death, suggesting alterations in the retinal neurovascular unit may contribute to and exacerbate RGC death. We reveal for the first time that the FD retina pathology includes reactive gliosis, increased microglial recruitment to the ganglion cell layer (GCL), disruptions in the deep and superficial vascular plexuses, and alterations in signaling pathways. These studies implicate the neurovascular unit as a disease-modifying target for therapeutic interventions in FD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Schultz
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Henar Albertos-Arranz
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Xavier Sánchez Sáez
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Jamie Morgan
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Diane C Darland
- Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA
| | | | - Horacio Kaufmann
- Department of Neurology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Carlos E Mendoza-Santiesteban
- Department of Neurology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York, USA
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Nicolás Cuenca
- Department of Physiology, Genetics and Microbiology, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Frances Lefcort
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
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Elongator regulates the melanocortin satiety pathway. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 613:73-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.04.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Leonard CE, Quiros J, Lefcort F, Taneyhill LA. Loss of Elp1 disrupts trigeminal ganglion neurodevelopment in a model of familial dysautonomia. eLife 2022; 11:71455. [PMID: 35713404 PMCID: PMC9273214 DOI: 10.7554/elife.71455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Familial dysautonomia (FD) is a sensory and autonomic neuropathy caused by mutations in elongator complex protein 1 (ELP1). FD patients have small trigeminal nerves and impaired facial pain and temperature perception. These signals are relayed by nociceptive neurons in the trigeminal ganglion, a structure that is composed of both neural crest- and placode-derived cells. Mice lacking Elp1 in neural crest derivatives ('Elp1 CKO') are born with small trigeminal ganglia, suggesting Elp1 is important for trigeminal ganglion development, yet the function of Elp1 in this context is unknown. We demonstrate that Elp1, expressed in both neural crest- and placode-derived neurons, is not required for initial trigeminal ganglion formation. However, Elp1 CKO trigeminal neurons exhibit abnormal axon outgrowth and deficient target innervation. Developing nociceptors expressing the receptor TrkA undergo early apoptosis in Elp1 CKO, while TrkB- and TrkC-expressing neurons are spared, indicating Elp1 supports the target innervation and survival of trigeminal nociceptors. Furthermore, we demonstrate that specific TrkA deficits in the Elp1 CKO trigeminal ganglion reflect the neural crest lineage of most TrkA neurons versus the placodal lineage of most TrkB and TrkC neurons. Altogether, these findings explain defects in cranial gangliogenesis that may lead to loss of facial pain and temperature sensation in FD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie E Leonard
- Department of Avian and Animal Sciences, University of Maryland, College ParkCollege ParkUnited States
| | - Jolie Quiros
- Department of Avian and Animal Sciences, University of Maryland, College ParkCollege ParkUnited States
| | - Frances Lefcort
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State UniversityBozemanUnited States
| | - Lisa A Taneyhill
- Department of Avian and Animal Sciences, University of Maryland, College ParkCollege ParkUnited States
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