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Casale AM, Liguori F, Ansaloni F, Cappucci U, Finaurini S, Spirito G, Persichetti F, Sanges R, Gustincich S, Piacentini L. Transposable element activation promotes neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of Huntington's disease. iScience 2022; 25:103702. [PMID: 35036881 PMCID: PMC8752904 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disorder with progressive motor dysfunction and cognitive decline. The disease is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the IT15 gene, which elongates a polyglutamine stretch of the HD protein, Huntingtin. No therapeutic treatments are available, and new pharmacological targets are needed. Retrotransposons are transposable elements (TEs) that represent 40% and 30% of the human and Drosophila genomes and replicate through an RNA intermediate. Mounting evidence suggests that mammalian TEs are active during neurogenesis and may be involved in diseases of the nervous system. Here we show that TE expression and mobilization are increased in a Drosophila melanogaster HD model. By inhibiting TE mobilization with Reverse Transcriptase inhibitors, polyQ-dependent eye neurodegeneration and genome instability in larval brains are rescued and fly lifespan is increased. These results suggest that TE activation may be involved in polyQ-induced neurotoxicity and a potential pharmacological target. Transposable elements: new pathogenic players in Huntington's disease polyQ-Htt expression leads to widespread heterochromatin relaxation Reverse transcriptase inhibitors rescue HD-induced neurodegeneration
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Affiliation(s)
- Assunta Maria Casale
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Liguori
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Federico Ansaloni
- Area of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Ugo Cappucci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Finaurini
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Giovanni Spirito
- Area of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Remo Sanges
- Area of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Piacentini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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2
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Gkekas I, Gioran A, Boziki MK, Grigoriadis N, Chondrogianni N, Petrakis S. Oxidative Stress and Neurodegeneration: Interconnected Processes in PolyQ Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10091450. [PMID: 34573082 PMCID: PMC8471619 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10091450] [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: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative polyglutamine (polyQ) disorders are caused by trinucleotide repeat expansions within the coding region of disease-causing genes. PolyQ-expanded proteins undergo conformational changes leading to the formation of protein inclusions which are associated with selective neuronal degeneration. Several lines of evidence indicate that these mutant proteins are associated with oxidative stress, proteasome impairment and microglia activation. These events may correlate with the induction of inflammation in the nervous system and disease progression. Here, we review the effect of polyQ-induced oxidative stress in cellular and animal models of polyQ diseases. Furthermore, we discuss the interplay between oxidative stress, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation using as an example the well-known neuroinflammatory disease, Multiple Sclerosis. Finally, we review some of the pharmaceutical interventions which may delay the onset and progression of polyQ disorders by targeting disease-associated mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Gkekas
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Anna Gioran
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 11635 Athens, Greece; (A.G.); (N.C.)
| | - Marina Kleopatra Boziki
- 2nd Neurological Department, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.K.B.); (N.G.)
| | - Nikolaos Grigoriadis
- 2nd Neurological Department, AHEPA University General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54636 Thessaloniki, Greece; (M.K.B.); (N.G.)
| | - Niki Chondrogianni
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, 11635 Athens, Greece; (A.G.); (N.C.)
| | - Spyros Petrakis
- Institute of Applied Biosciences/Centre for Research and Technology Hellas, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2311257525
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3
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Ogienko AA, Andreyeva EN, Omelina ES, Oshchepkova AL, Pindyurin AV. Molecular and cytological analysis of widely-used Gal4 driver lines for Drosophila neurobiology. BMC Genet 2020; 21:96. [PMID: 33092520 PMCID: PMC7583314 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-020-00895-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Drosophila central nervous system (CNS) is a convenient model system for the study of the molecular mechanisms of conserved neurobiological processes. The manipulation of gene activity in specific cell types and subtypes of the Drosophila CNS is frequently achieved by employing the binary Gal4/UAS system. However, many Gal4 driver lines available from the Bloomington Drosophila Stock Center (BDSC) and commonly used in Drosophila neurobiology are still not well characterized. Among these are three lines with Gal4 driven by the elav promoter (BDSC #8760, #8765, and #458), one line with Gal4 driven by the repo promoter (BDSC #7415), and the 69B-Gal4 line (BDSC #1774). For most of these lines, the exact insertion sites of the transgenes and the detailed expression patterns of Gal4 are not known. This study is aimed at filling these gaps. Results We have mapped the genomic location of the Gal4-bearing P-elements carried by the BDSC lines #8760, #8765, #458, #7415, and #1774. In addition, for each of these lines, we have analyzed the Gal4-driven GFP expression pattern in the third instar larval CNS and eye-antennal imaginal discs. Localizations of the endogenous Elav and Repo proteins were used as markers of neuronal and glial cells, respectively. Conclusions We provide a mini-atlas of the spatial activity of Gal4 drivers that are widely used for the expression of UAS–target genes in the Drosophila CNS. The data will be helpful for planning experiments with these drivers and for the correct interpretation of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna A Ogienko
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Evgeniya N Andreyeva
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Evgeniya S Omelina
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Anastasiya L Oshchepkova
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.,Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Alexey V Pindyurin
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of RAS, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia. .,Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
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4
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Kim T, Song B, Lee IS. Drosophila Glia: Models for Human Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4859. [PMID: 32660023 PMCID: PMC7402321 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21144859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cells are key players in the proper formation and maintenance of the nervous system, thus contributing to neuronal health and disease in humans. However, little is known about the molecular pathways that govern glia-neuron communications in the diseased brain. Drosophila provides a useful in vivo model to explore the conserved molecular details of glial cell biology and their contributions to brain function and disease susceptibility. Herein, we review recent studies that explore glial functions in normal neuronal development, along with Drosophila models that seek to identify the pathological implications of glial defects in the context of various central nervous system disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Im-Soon Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for CHANS, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Korea; (T.K.); (B.S.)
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5
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Wilton DK, Stevens B. The contribution of glial cells to Huntington's disease pathogenesis. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 143:104963. [PMID: 32593752 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cells play critical roles in the normal development and function of neural circuits, but in many neurodegenerative diseases, they become dysregulated and may contribute to the development of brain pathology. In Huntington's disease (HD), glial cells both lose normal functions and gain neuropathic phenotypes. In addition, cell-autonomous dysfunction elicited by mutant huntingtin (mHTT) expression in specific glial cell types is sufficient to induce both pathology and Huntington's disease-related impairments in motor and cognitive performance, suggesting that these cells may drive the development of certain aspects of Huntington's disease pathogenesis. In support of this imaging studies in pre-symptomatic HD patients and work on mouse models have suggested that glial cell dysfunction occurs at a very early stage of the disease, prior to the onset of motor and cognitive deficits. Furthermore, selectively ablating mHTT from specific glial cells or correcting for HD-induced changes in their transcriptional profile rescues some HD-related phenotypes, demonstrating the potential of targeting these cells for therapeutic intervention. Here we review emerging research focused on understanding the involvement of different glial cell types in specific aspects of HD pathogenesis. This work is providing new insight into how HD impacts biological functions of glial cells in the healthy brain as well as how HD induced dysfunction in these cells might change the way they integrate into biological circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel K Wilton
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Beth Stevens
- Department of Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Stanley Center, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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6
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Cerebellar Astrocytes: Much More Than Passive Bystanders In Ataxia Pathophysiology. J Clin Med 2020; 9:jcm9030757. [PMID: 32168822 PMCID: PMC7141261 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9030757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ataxia is a neurodegenerative syndrome, which can emerge as a major element of a disease or represent a symptom of more complex multisystemic disorders. It comprises several forms with a highly variegated etiology, mainly united by motor, balance, and speech impairments and, at the tissue level, by cerebellar atrophy and Purkinje cells degeneration. For this reason, the contribution of astrocytes to this disease has been largely overlooked in the past. Nevertheless, in the last few decades, growing evidences are pointing to cerebellar astrocytes as crucial players not only in the progression but also in the onset of distinct forms of ataxia. Although the current knowledge on this topic is very fragmentary and ataxia type-specific, the present review will attempt to provide a comprehensive view of astrocytes’ involvement across the distinct forms of this pathology. Here, it will be highlighted how, through consecutive stage-specific mechanisms, astrocytes can lead to non-cell autonomous neurodegeneration and, consequently, to the behavioral impairments typical of this disease. In light of that, treating astrocytes to heal neurons will be discussed as a potential complementary therapeutic approach for ataxic patients, a crucial point provided the absence of conclusive treatments for this disease.
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7
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Lin YH, Maaroufi HO, Ibrahim E, Kucerova L, Zurovec M. Expression of Human Mutant Huntingtin Protein in Drosophila Hemocytes Impairs Immune Responses. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2405. [PMID: 31681295 PMCID: PMC6805700 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenic effect of mutant HTT (mHTT) which causes Huntington disease (HD) are not restricted to nervous system. Such phenotypes include aberrant immune responses observed in the HD models. However, it is still unclear how this immune dysregulation influences the innate immune response against pathogenic infection. In the present study, we used transgenic Drosophila melanogaster expressing mutant HTT protein (mHTT) with hemocyte-specific drivers and examined the immune responses and hemocyte function. We found that mHTT expression in the hemocytes did not affect fly viability, but the numbers of circulating hemocytes were significantly decreased. Consequently, we observed that the expression of mHTT in the hemocytes compromised the immune responses including clot formation and encapsulation which lead to the increased susceptibility to entomopathogenic nematode and parasitoid wasp infections. In addition, mHTT expression in Drosophila macrophage-like S2 cells in vitro reduced ATP levels, phagocytic activity and the induction of antimicrobial peptides. Further effects observed in mHTT-expressing cells included the altered production of cytokines and activation of JAK/STAT signaling. The present study shows that the expression of mHTT in Drosophila hemocytes causes deficient cellular and humoral immune responses against invading pathogens. Our findings provide the insight into the pathogenic effects of mHTT in the immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Hsien Lin
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Houda Ouns Maaroufi
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Emad Ibrahim
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Lucie Kucerova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Michal Zurovec
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
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8
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Yeh PA, Liu YH, Chu WC, Liu JY, Sun YH. Glial expression of disease-associated poly-glutamine proteins impairs the blood-brain barrier in Drosophila. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:2546-2562. [PMID: 29726932 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansion of poly-glutamine (polyQ) stretches in several proteins has been linked to neurodegenerative diseases. The effects of polyQ-expanded proteins on neurons have been extensively studied, but their effects on glia remain unclear. We found that expression of distinct polyQ proteins exclusively in all glia or specifically in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-retina barrier (BRB) glia caused cell-autonomous impairment of BBB/BRB integrity, suggesting that BBB/BRB glia are most vulnerable to polyQ-expanded proteins. Furthermore, we also found that BBB/BRB leakage in Drosophila is reflected in reversed waveform polarity on the basis of electroretinography (ERG), making ERG a sensitive method to detect BBB/BRB leakage. The polyQ-expanded protein Atxn3-84Q forms aggregates, induces BBB/BRB leakage, restricts Drosophila lifespan and reduces the level of Repo (a pan-glial transcriptional factor required for glial differentiation). Expression of Repo in BBB/BRB glia can rescue BBB/BRB leakage, suggesting that the reduced expression of Repo is important for the effect of polyQ on BBB/BRB impairment. Coexpression of the chaperon HSP40 and HSP70 effectively rescues the effects of Atxn3-84Q, indicating that polyQ protein aggregation in glia is deleterious. Intriguingly, coexpression of wild-type Atxn3-27Q can also rescue BBB/BRB impairment, suggesting that normal polyQ protein may have a protective function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-An Yeh
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chung Li, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Hsin Liu
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chen Chu
- Laboratory for Morphogenetic Signaling, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Chuou-ku, Kobe, Japan
| | - Jia-Yu Liu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Y Henry Sun
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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9
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Rosas-Arellano A, Estrada-Mondragón A, Piña R, Mantellero CA, Castro MA. The Tiny Drosophila Melanogaster for the Biggest Answers in Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E2398. [PMID: 30110961 PMCID: PMC6121572 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19082398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The average life expectancy for humans has increased over the last years. However, the quality of the later stages of life is low and is considered a public health issue of global importance. Late adulthood and the transition into the later stage of life occasionally leads to neurodegenerative diseases that selectively affect different types of neurons and brain regions, producing motor dysfunctions, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric disorders that are progressive, irreversible, without remission periods, and incurable. Huntington's disease (HD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder. In the 25 years since the mutation of the huntingtin (HTT) gene was identified as the molecule responsible for this neural disorder, a variety of animal models, including the fruit fly, have been used to study the disease. Here, we review recent research that used Drosophila as an experimental tool for improving knowledge about the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Rosas-Arellano
- Unidad de Imagenología, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico.
| | - Argel Estrada-Mondragón
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Ricardo Piña
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile.
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 8370993, Chile.
| | - Carola A Mantellero
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago 7500972, Chile.
| | - Maite A Castro
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile.
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile.
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10
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Jonson M, Nyström S, Sandberg A, Carlback M, Michno W, Hanrieder J, Starkenberg A, Nilsson KPR, Thor S, Hammarström P. Aggregated Aβ1-42 Is Selectively Toxic for Neurons, Whereas Glial Cells Produce Mature Fibrils with Low Toxicity in Drosophila. Cell Chem Biol 2018; 25:595-610.e5. [PMID: 29657084 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The basis for selective vulnerability of certain cell types for misfolded proteins (MPs) in neurodegenerative diseases is largely unknown. This knowledge is crucial for understanding disease progression in relation to MPs spreading in the CNS. We assessed this issue in Drosophila by cell-specific expression of human Aβ1-42 associated with Alzheimer's disease. Expression of Aβ1-42 in various neurons resulted in concentration-dependent severe neurodegenerative phenotypes, and intraneuronal ring-tangle-like aggregates with immature fibril properties when analyzed by aggregate-specific ligands. Unexpectedly, expression of Aβ1-42 from a pan-glial driver produced a mild phenotype despite massive brain load of Aβ1-42 aggregates, even higher than in the strongest neuronal driver. Glial cells formed more mature fibrous aggregates, morphologically distinct from aggregates found in neurons, and was mainly extracellular. Our findings implicate that Aβ1-42 cytotoxicity is both cell and aggregate morphotype dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jonson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 83, Sweden
| | - Sofie Nyström
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 83, Sweden
| | - Alexander Sandberg
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 83, Sweden
| | - Marcus Carlback
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 83, Sweden
| | - Wojciech Michno
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 80 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Jörg Hanrieder
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 431 80 Mölndal, Sweden; Department of Molecular Neuroscience, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London W1C3BG, UK
| | - Annika Starkenberg
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 85, Sweden
| | - K Peter R Nilsson
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 83, Sweden
| | - Stefan Thor
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 85, Sweden
| | - Per Hammarström
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, Linköping SE-581 83, Sweden.
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12
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Lewis EA, Smith GA. Using Drosophila models of Huntington's disease as a translatable tool. J Neurosci Methods 2015; 265:89-98. [PMID: 26241927 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2015.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Huntingtin (Htt) protein is essential for a wealth of intracellular signaling cascades and when mutated, causes multifactorial dysregulation of basic cellular processes. Understanding the contribution to each of these intracellular pathways is essential for the elucidation of mechanisms that drive pathophysiology. Using appropriate models of Huntington's disease (HD) is key to finding the molecular mechanisms that contribute to neurodegeneration. While mouse models and cell lines expressing mutant Htt have been instrumental to HD research, there has been a significant contribution to our understating of the disease from studies utilizing Drosophila melanogaster. Flies have an Htt protein, so the endogenous pathways with which it interacts are likely conserved. Transgenic flies engineered to overexpress the human mutant HTT gene display protein aggregation, neurodegeneration, behavioral deficits and a reduced lifespan. The short life span of flies, low cost of maintaining stocks and genetic tools available for in vivo manipulation make them ideal for the discovery of new genes that are involved in HD pathology. It is possible to do rapid genome wide screens for enhancers or suppressors of the mutant Htt-mediated phenotype, expressed in specific tissues or neuronal subtypes. However, there likely remain many yet unknown genes that modify disease progression, which could be found through additional screening approaches using the fly. Importantly, there have been instances where genes discovered in Drosophila have been translated to HD mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Lewis
- Neurobiology Department, Aaron Lazare Research Building, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gaynor A Smith
- Neurobiology Department, Aaron Lazare Research Building, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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13
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Shiraishi R, Tamura T, Sone M, Okazawa H. Systematic analysis of fly models with multiple drivers reveals different effects of ataxin-1 and huntingtin in neuron subtype-specific expression. PLoS One 2014; 9:e116567. [PMID: 25551764 PMCID: PMC4281079 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, is a commonly used model organism for neurodegenerative diseases. Its major advantages include a short lifespan and its susceptibility to manipulation using sophisticated genetic techniques. Here, we report the systematic comparison of fly models of two polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases. We induced expression of the normal and mutant forms of full-length Ataxin-1 and Huntingtin exon 1 in cholinergic, dopaminergic, and motor neurons, and glial cells using cell type-specific drivers. We systematically analyzed their effects based on multiple phenotypes: eclosion rate, lifespan, motor performance, and circadian rhythms of spontaneous activity. This systematic assay system enabled us to quantitatively evaluate and compare the functional disabilities of different genotypes. The results suggest different effects of Ataxin-1 and Huntingtin on specific types of neural cells during development and in adulthood. In addition, we confirmed the therapeutic effects of LiCl and butyrate using representative models. These results support the usefulness of this assay system for screening candidate chemical compounds that modify the pathologies of polyQ diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Risa Shiraishi
- Department of Neuropathology, Medical Research Institute and Center for Brain Integrative Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuya Tamura
- Department of Neuropathology, Medical Research Institute and Center for Brain Integrative Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaki Sone
- Department of Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Science, Toho University, Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Okazawa
- Department of Neuropathology, Medical Research Institute and Center for Brain Integrative Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
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14
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Zwarts L, Van Eijs F, Callaerts P. Glia in Drosophila behavior. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2014; 201:879-93. [PMID: 25336160 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-014-0952-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Glial cells constitute about 10 % of the Drosophila nervous system. The development of genetic and molecular tools has helped greatly in defining different types of glia. Furthermore, considerable progress has been made in unraveling the mechanisms that control the development and differentiation of Drosophila glia. By contrast, the role of glia in adult Drosophila behavior is not well understood. We here summarize recent work describing the role of glia in normal behavior and in Drosophila models for neurological and behavioral disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Zwarts
- Laboratory of Behavioral and Developmental Genetics VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Center for Human Genetics, KULeuven, O&N IV Herestraat 49, Box 602, 3000, Louvain, Belgium
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Samaraweera SE, O'Keefe LV, Price GR, Venter DJ, Richards RI. Distinct roles for Toll and autophagy pathways in double-stranded RNA toxicity in a Drosophila model of expanded repeat neurodegenerative diseases. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 22:2811-9. [PMID: 23525903 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Dominantly inherited expanded repeat neurodegenerative diseases are caused by the expansion of variable copy number tandem repeat sequences in otherwise unrelated genes. Some repeats encode polyglutamine that is thought to be toxic; however, other repeats do not encode polyglutamine indicating either multiple pathogenic pathways or an alternative common toxic agent. As these diseases share numerous clinical features and expanded repeat RNA is a common intermediary, RNA-based pathogenesis has been proposed, based on its toxicity in animal models. In Drosophila, double-stranded (rCAG.rCUG∼100) RNA toxicity is Dicer dependent and generates single-stranded (rCAG)7, an entity also detected in affected Huntington's Disease (HD) brains. We demonstrate that Drosophila rCAG.rCUG∼100 RNA toxicity perturbs several pathways including innate immunity, consistent with the observation in HD that immune activation precedes neuronal toxicity. Our results show that Drosophila rCAG.rCUG∼100 RNA toxicity is dependent upon Toll signaling and sensitive to autophagy, further implicating innate immune activation. In exhibiting molecular and cellular hallmarks of HD, double-stranded RNA-mediated activation of innate immunity is, therefore, a candidate pathway for this group of human genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saumya E Samaraweera
- Discipline of Genetics, School of Molecular & Biomedical Science and ARC Special Research Centre for the Molecular Genetics of Development, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
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Choosing and using Drosophila models to characterize modifiers of Huntington's disease. Biochem Soc Trans 2012; 40:739-45. [PMID: 22817726 DOI: 10.1042/bst20120072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
HD (Huntington's disease) is a fatal inherited gain-of-function disorder caused by a polyQ (polyglutamine) expansion in the htt (huntingtin protein). Expression of mutant htt in model organisms is sufficient to recapitulate many of the cellular defects found in HD patients. Many groups have independently developed Drosophila models of HD, taking advantage of its rapid life cycle, carefully annotated genome and well-established molecular toolkits. Furthermore, unlike simpler models, Drosophila have a complex nervous system, displaying a range of carefully co-ordinated behaviours which offer an exquisitely sensitive readout of neuronal disruption. Measuring HD-associated changes in behaviour in Drosophila therefore offers a window into the earliest stages of HD, when therapeutic interventions might be particularly effective. The present review describes a number of recently developed Drosophila models of HD and offers practical guidance on the advantages and disadvantages of various experimental approaches that can be used to screen these models for modifiers of mutant htt-mediated toxicity.
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Petersen AJ, Wassarman DA. Drosophila innate immune response pathways moonlight in neurodegeneration. Fly (Austin) 2012; 6:169-72. [PMID: 22864563 DOI: 10.4161/fly.20999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In this Extra View, we highlight recent Drosophila research that has uncovered a new role for the innate immune response. The research indicates that, in addition to combating infection, the innate immune response promotes neurodegeneration. Our publication (Petersen et al., 2012) reveals a correlative relationship between the innate immune response and neurodegeneration in a model of the human disease Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). We also found that glial cells are responsible for the innate immune response in the A-T model, and work by others implicates glial cells in neurodegeneration. Additionally, publications by Chinchore et al. (2012) and Tan et al. (2008) reveal a causative role for the innate immune response in models of human retinal degenerative disorders and Alzheimer disease, respectively. Collectively, these findings suggest that activation of the innate immune response is a shared cause of neurodegeneration in different human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Petersen
- Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Program, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI USA
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18
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Sinadinos C, Cowan C, Wyttenbach A, Mudher A. Increased throughput assays of locomotor dysfunction in Drosophila larvae. J Neurosci Methods 2012; 203:325-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2011] [Revised: 08/23/2011] [Accepted: 08/23/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Schulte J, Sepp KJ, Wu C, Hong P, Littleton JT. High-content chemical and RNAi screens for suppressors of neurotoxicity in a Huntington's disease model. PLoS One 2011; 6:e23841. [PMID: 21909362 PMCID: PMC3166080 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0023841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2011] [Accepted: 07/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To identify Huntington's Disease therapeutics, we conducted high-content small molecule and RNAi suppressor screens using a Drosophila primary neural culture Huntingtin model. Drosophila primary neurons offer a sensitive readout for neurotoxicty, as their neurites develop dysmorphic features in the presence of mutant polyglutamine-expanded Huntingtin compared to nonpathogenic Huntingtin. By tracking the subcellular distribution of mRFP-tagged pathogenic Huntingtin and assaying neurite branch morphology via live-imaging, we identified suppressors that could reduce Huntingtin aggregation and/or prevent the formation of dystrophic neurites. The custom algorithms we used to quantify neurite morphologies in complex cultures provide a useful tool for future high-content screening approaches focused on neurodegenerative disease models. Compounds previously found to be effective aggregation inhibitors in mammalian systems were also effective in Drosophila primary cultures, suggesting translational capacity between these models. However, we did not observe a direct correlation between the ability of a compound or gene knockdown to suppress aggregate formation and its ability to rescue dysmorphic neurites. Only a subset of aggregation inhibitors could revert dysmorphic cellular profiles. We identified lkb1, an upstream kinase in the mTOR/Insulin pathway, and four novel drugs, Camptothecin, OH-Camptothecin, 18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid, and Carbenoxolone, that were strong suppressors of mutant Huntingtin-induced neurotoxicity. Huntingtin neurotoxicity suppressors identified through our screen also restored viability in an in vivo Drosophila Huntington's Disease model, making them attractive candidates for further therapeutic evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Schulte
- Department of Biology, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America.
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Hidalgo A, Kato K, Sutcliffe B, McIlroy G, Bishop S, Alahmed S. Trophic neuron-glia interactions and cell number adjustments in the fruit fly. Glia 2010; 59:1296-303. [PMID: 21732425 DOI: 10.1002/glia.21092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2010] [Accepted: 09/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Trophic interactions between neurons and enwrapping glia, and between neurons and target cells, provide plasticity to the mammalian nervous system. Here, we review evidence that analogous cell interactions operate in the development of the nervous system of the fruit-fly Drosophila. Homologues of the canonical mammalian trophic factors also maintain neuronal and glial survival in Drosophila, adjusting cell populations to enable appropriate function, and revealing commonalities in nervous system development across the animals. There are also differences between neuron-glia interactions in flies and humans, not surprisingly, because we are only related to flies through a remote common ancestor. Nevertheless, the shared cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying developmental plasticity and enwrapping glial functions, strengthen the opportunity to use Drosophila to understand the brain, to model brain diseases and to understand the involvement of glial cells in nervous system regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Hidalgo
- Neurodevelopment Group, School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
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21
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Besson MT, Dupont P, Fridell YWC, Liévens JC. Increased energy metabolism rescues glia-induced pathology in a Drosophila model of Huntington's disease. Hum Mol Genet 2010; 19:3372-82. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddq249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
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Suppression of the novel ER protein Maxer by mutant ataxin-1 in Bergman glia contributes to non-cell-autonomous toxicity. EMBO J 2010; 29:2446-60. [PMID: 20531390 DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2010.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2009] [Accepted: 05/14/2010] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-cell-autonomous effect of mutant proteins expressed in glia has been implicated in several neurodegenerative disorders, whereas molecules mediating the toxicity are currently not known. We identified a novel molecule named multiple alpha-helix protein located at ER (Maxer) downregulated by mutant ataxin-1 (Atx1) in Bergmann glia. Maxer is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein interacting with CDK5RAP3. Maxer anchors CDK5RAP3 to the ER and inhibits its function of Cyclin D1 transcription repression in the nucleus. The loss of Maxer eventually induces cell accumulation at G1 phase. It was also shown that mutant Atx1 represses Maxer and inhibits proliferation of Bergmann glia in vitro. Consistently, Bergmann glia are reduced in the cerebellum of mutant Atx1 knockin mice before onset. Glutamate-aspartate transporter reduction in Bergmann glia by mutant Atx1 and vulnerability of Purkinje cell to glutamate are both strengthened by Maxer knockdown in Bergmann glia, whereas Maxer overexpression rescues them. Collectively, these results suggest that the reduction of Maxer mediates functional deficiency of Bergmann glia, and might contribute to the non-cell-autonomous pathology of SCA1.
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Ambegaokar SS, Roy B, Jackson GR. Neurodegenerative models in Drosophila: polyglutamine disorders, Parkinson disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurobiol Dis 2010; 40:29-39. [PMID: 20561920 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2010.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2010] [Revised: 05/18/2010] [Accepted: 05/19/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases encompass a large group of neurological disorders. Clinical symptoms can include memory loss, cognitive impairment, loss of movement or loss of control of movement, and loss of sensation. Symptoms are typically adult onset (although severe cases can occur in adolescents) and are reflective of neuronal and glial cell loss in the central nervous system. Neurodegenerative diseases also are considered progressive, with increased severity of symptoms over time, also reflective of increased neuronal cell death. However, various neurodegenerative diseases differentially affect certain brain regions or neuronal or glial cell types. As an example, Alzheimer disease (AD) primarily affects the temporal lobe, whereas neuronal loss in Parkinson disease (PD) is largely (although not exclusively) confined to the nigrostriatal system. Neuronal loss is almost invariably accompanied by abnormal insoluble aggregates, either intra- or extracellular. Thus, neurodegenerative diseases are categorized by (a) the composite of clinical symptoms, (b) the brain regions or types of brain cells primarily affected, and (c) the types of protein aggregates found in the brain. Here we review the methods by which Drosophila melanogaster has been used to model aspects of polyglutamine diseases, Parkinson disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and key insights into that have been gained from these models; Alzheimer disease and the tauopathies are covered elsewhere in this special issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surendra S Ambegaokar
- Department of Neurology and George P. and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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Nisoli I, Chauvin JP, Napoletano F, Calamita P, Zanin V, Fanto M, Charroux B. Neurodegeneration by polyglutamine Atrophin is not rescued by induction of autophagy. Cell Death Differ 2010; 17:1577-87. [DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2010.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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