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Lisberg A, Liu Y, Merry DE. Blocking the dimerization of polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor protects cells from DHT-induced toxicity by increasing AR turnover. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107246. [PMID: 38556081 PMCID: PMC11067348 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular degenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). This mutation causes AR to misfold and aggregate, contributing to toxicity in and degeneration of motor neurons and skeletal muscle. There is currently no effective treatment or cure for this disease. The role of an interdomain interaction between the amino- and carboxyl-termini of AR, termed the N/C interaction, has been previously identified as a component of androgen receptor-induced toxicity in cell and mouse models of SBMA. However, the mechanism by which this interaction contributes to disease pathology is unclear. This work seeks to investigate this mechanism by interrogating the role of AR homodimerization- a unique form of the N/C-interaction- in SBMA. We show that, although the AR N/C-interaction is reduced by polyglutamine-expansion, homodimers of 5α-dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-bound AR are increased. Additionally, blocking homodimerization results in decreased AR aggregation and toxicity in cell models. Blocking homodimerization results in the increased degradation of AR, which likely plays a role in the protective effects of this mutation. Overall, this work identifies a novel mechanism in SBMA pathology that may represent a novel target for the development of therapeutics for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Lisberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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2
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DeBartolo D, Arnold FJ, Liu Y, Molotsky E, Tang HY, Merry DE. Differentially disrupted spinal cord and muscle energy metabolism in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e178048. [PMID: 38452174 PMCID: PMC11128210 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.178048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Prior studies showed that polyglutamine-expanded androgen receptor (AR) is aberrantly acetylated and that deacetylation of the mutant AR by overexpression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent (NAD+-dependent) sirtuin 1 is protective in cell models of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Based on these observations and reduced NAD+ in muscles of SBMA mouse models, we tested the therapeutic potential of NAD+ restoration in vivo by treating postsymptomatic transgenic SBMA mice with the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide riboside (NR). NR supplementation failed to alter disease progression and had no effect on increasing NAD+ or ATP content in muscle, despite producing a modest increase of NAD+ in the spinal cords of SBMA mice. Metabolomic and proteomic profiles of SBMA quadriceps muscles indicated alterations in several important energy-related pathways that use NAD+, in addition to the NAD+ salvage pathway, which is critical for NAD+ regeneration for use in cellular energy production. We also observed decreased mRNA levels of nicotinamide riboside kinase 2 (Nmrk2), which encodes a key kinase responsible for NR phosphorylation, allowing its use by the NAD+ salvage pathway. Together, these data suggest a model in which NAD+ levels are significantly decreased in muscles of an SBMA mouse model and intransigent to NR supplementation because of decreased levels of Nmrk2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle DeBartolo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Frederick J. Arnold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elana Molotsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hsin-Yao Tang
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource, Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Diane E. Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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3
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Marchioretti C, Zanetti G, Pirazzini M, Gherardi G, Nogara L, Andreotti R, Martini P, Marcucci L, Canato M, Nath SR, Zuccaro E, Chivet M, Mammucari C, Pacifici M, Raffaello A, Rizzuto R, Mattarei A, Desbats MA, Salviati L, Megighian A, Sorarù G, Pegoraro E, Belluzzi E, Pozzuoli A, Biz C, Ruggieri P, Romualdi C, Lieberman AP, Babu GJ, Sandri M, Blaauw B, Basso M, Pennuto M. Defective excitation-contraction coupling and mitochondrial respiration precede mitochondrial Ca 2+ accumulation in spinobulbar muscular atrophy skeletal muscle. Nat Commun 2023; 14:602. [PMID: 36746942 PMCID: PMC9902403 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36185-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) causes spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Skeletal muscle is a primary site of toxicity; however, the current understanding of the early pathological processes that occur and how they unfold during disease progression remains limited. Using transgenic and knock-in mice and patient-derived muscle biopsies, we show that SBMA mice in the presymptomatic stage develop a respiratory defect matching defective expression of genes involved in excitation-contraction coupling (ECC), altered contraction dynamics, and increased fatigue. These processes are followed by stimulus-dependent accumulation of calcium into mitochondria and structural disorganization of the muscle triads. Deregulation of expression of ECC genes is concomitant with sexual maturity and androgen raise in the serum. Consistent with the androgen-dependent nature of these alterations, surgical castration and AR silencing alleviate the early and late pathological processes. These observations show that ECC deregulation and defective mitochondrial respiration are early but reversible events followed by altered muscle force, calcium dyshomeostasis, and dismantling of triad structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Marchioretti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, 35100, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), Padova, 35100, Italy
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute (DTI) at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Giulia Zanetti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Pirazzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- CIR-Myo, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca di Miologia, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Gaia Gherardi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Leonardo Nogara
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, 35100, Italy
| | - Roberta Andreotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, 35100, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), Padova, 35100, Italy
| | - Paolo Martini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25121, Brescia, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Marcucci
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Marta Canato
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Samir R Nath
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emanuela Zuccaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, 35100, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), Padova, 35100, Italy
| | - Mathilde Chivet
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute (DTI) at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Cristina Mammucari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- CIR-Myo, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca di Miologia, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Pacifici
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Anna Raffaello
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- CIR-Myo, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca di Miologia, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Rosario Rizzuto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Mattarei
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria A Desbats
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Women and Children's Health, University of Padova, and Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Leonardo Salviati
- CIR-Myo, Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca di Miologia, University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Women and Children's Health, University of Padova, and Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Aram Megighian
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), Padova, 35100, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), Padova, 35100, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Pegoraro
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Elisa Belluzzi
- Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, University-Hospital of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy
- Musculoskeletal Pathology and Oncology Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DiSCOG), University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Assunta Pozzuoli
- Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, University-Hospital of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy
- Musculoskeletal Pathology and Oncology Laboratory, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DiSCOG), University of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Carlo Biz
- Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, University-Hospital of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Pietro Ruggieri
- Orthopedics and Orthopedic Oncology, Department of Surgery, Oncology, and Gastroenterology DiSCOG, University-Hospital of Padova, 35128, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Romualdi
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, 35100, Italy
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gopal J Babu
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, 07103, USA
| | - Marco Sandri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, 35100, Italy
| | - Bert Blaauw
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, 35100, Italy
| | - Manuela Basso
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131, Padova, Italy.
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), Padova, 35100, Italy.
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), Padova, 35100, Italy.
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute (DTI) at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123, Trento, Italy.
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4
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Prakasam R, Bonadiman A, Andreotti R, Zuccaro E, Dalfovo D, Marchioretti C, Tripathy D, Petris G, Anderson EN, Migazzi A, Tosatto L, Cereseto A, Battaglioli E, Sorarù G, Lim WF, Rinaldi C, Sambataro F, Pourshafie N, Grunseich C, Romanel A, Pandey UB, Contestabile A, Ronzitti G, Basso M, Pennuto M. LSD1/PRMT6-targeting gene therapy to attenuate androgen receptor toxic gain-of-function ameliorates spinobulbar muscular atrophy phenotypes in flies and mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:603. [PMID: 36746939 PMCID: PMC9902531 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36186-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is caused by CAG expansions in the androgen receptor gene. Androgen binding to polyQ-expanded androgen receptor triggers SBMA through a combination of toxic gain-of-function and loss-of-function mechanisms. Leveraging cell lines, mice, and patient-derived specimens, we show that androgen receptor co-regulators lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) are overexpressed in an androgen-dependent manner specifically in the skeletal muscle of SBMA patients and mice. LSD1 and PRMT6 cooperatively and synergistically transactivate androgen receptor, and their effect is enhanced by expanded polyQ. Pharmacological and genetic silencing of LSD1 and PRMT6 attenuates polyQ-expanded androgen receptor transactivation in SBMA cells and suppresses toxicity in SBMA flies, and a preclinical approach based on miRNA-mediated silencing of LSD1 and PRMT6 attenuates disease manifestations in SBMA mice. These observations suggest that targeting overexpressed co-regulators can attenuate androgen receptor toxic gain-of-function without exacerbating loss-of-function, highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramachandran Prakasam
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Angela Bonadiman
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Roberta Andreotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Zuccaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
| | - Davide Dalfovo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Caterina Marchioretti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
| | - Debasmita Tripathy
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Gianluca Petris
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Saffron Walden, UK
| | - Eric N Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alice Migazzi
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Laura Tosatto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Anna Cereseto
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Elena Battaglioli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Wooi Fang Lim
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Carlo Rinaldi
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Naemeh Pourshafie
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher Grunseich
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alessandro Romanel
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Udai Bhan Pandey
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Giuseppe Ronzitti
- Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Evry, France
- Genethon, 91000, Evry, France
| | - Manuela Basso
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy.
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy.
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5
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Sengupta M, Pluciennik A, Merry DE. The role of ubiquitination in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1020143. [PMID: 36277484 PMCID: PMC9583669 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1020143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neurodegenerative and neuromuscular genetic disease caused by the expansion of a polyglutamine-encoding CAG tract in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. The AR is an important transcriptional regulator of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily; its levels are regulated in many ways including by ubiquitin-dependent degradation. Ubiquitination is a post-translational modification (PTM) which plays a key role in both AR transcriptional activity and its degradation. Moreover, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is a fundamental component of cellular functioning and has been implicated in diseases of protein misfolding and aggregation, including polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat expansion diseases such as Huntington’s disease and SBMA. In this review, we discuss the details of the UPS system, its functions and regulation, and the role of AR ubiquitination and UPS components in SBMA. We also discuss aspects of the UPS that may be manipulated for therapeutic effect in SBMA.
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6
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Molotsky E, Liu Y, Lieberman AP, Merry DE. Neuromuscular junction pathology is correlated with differential motor unit vulnerability in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:97. [PMID: 35791011 PMCID: PMC9258097 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01402-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked, neuromuscular neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure. The disease is characterized by a selective decrease in fast-muscle power (e.g., tongue pressure, grip strength) accompanied by a selective loss of fast-twitch muscle fibers. However, the relationship between neuromuscular junction (NMJ) pathology and fast-twitch motor unit vulnerability has yet to be explored. In this study, we used a cross-model comparison of two mouse models of SBMA to evaluate neuromuscular junction pathology, glycolytic-to-oxidative fiber-type switching, and cytoskeletal alterations in pre- and postsynaptic termini of tibialis anterior (TA), gastrocnemius, and soleus hindlimb muscles. We observed significantly increased NMJ and myofiber pathology in fast-twitch, glycolytic motor units of the TA and gastrocnemius compared to slow-twitch, oxidative motor units of the soleus, as seen by decreased pre- and post-synaptic membrane area, decreased pre- and post-synaptic membrane colocalization, increased acetylcholine receptor compactness, a decrease in endplate area and complexity, and deficits in neurofilament heavy chain. Our data also show evidence for metabolic dysregulation and myofiber atrophy that correlate with severity of NMJ pathology. We propose a model in which the dynamic communicative relationship between the motor neuron and muscle, along with the developmental subtype of the muscle, promotes motor unit subtype specific vulnerability, metabolic alterations, and NMJ pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elana Molotsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Alumni Hall, Rm. 411E, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Alumni Hall, Rm. 411E, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson Alumni Hall, Rm. 411E, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA.
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7
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Gogia N, Ni L, Olmos V, Haidery F, Luttik K, Lim J. Exploring the Role of Posttranslational Modifications in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:931301. [PMID: 35726299 PMCID: PMC9206542 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.931301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked adult-onset progressive neuromuscular disease that affects the spinal and bulbar motor neurons and skeletal muscles. SBMA is caused by expansion of polymorphic CAG trinucleotide repeats in the Androgen Receptor (AR) gene, resulting in expanded glutamine tract in the AR protein. Polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion renders the mutant AR protein toxic, resulting in the formation of mutant protein aggregates and cell death. This classifies SBMA as one of the nine known polyQ diseases. Like other polyQ disorders, the expansion of the polyQ tract in the AR protein is the main genetic cause of the disease; however, multiple other mechanisms besides the polyQ tract expansion also contribute to the SBMA disease pathophysiology. Posttranslational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation, ubiquitination, and SUMOylation are a category of mechanisms by which the functionality of AR has been found to be significantly modulated and can alter the neurotoxicity of SBMA. This review summarizes the different PTMs and their effects in regulating the AR function and discusses their pathogenic or protective roles in context of SBMA. This review also includes the therapeutic approaches that target the PTMs of AR in an effort to reduce the mutant AR-mediated toxicity in SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Gogia
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Luhan Ni
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Victor Olmos
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Fatema Haidery
- Yale College, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Kimberly Luttik
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Janghoo Lim
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States,Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States,Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States,Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
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8
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Genetic architecture of motor neuron diseases. J Neurol Sci 2021; 434:120099. [PMID: 34965490 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.120099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are rare and frequently fatal neurological disorders in which motor neurons within the brainstem and spinal cord regions slowly die. MNDs are primarily caused by genetic mutations, and > 100 different mutant genes in humans have been discovered thus far. Given the fact that many more MND-related genes have yet to be discovered, the growing body of genetic evidence has offered new insights into the diverse cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the aetiology and pathogenesis of MNDs. This search may aid in the selection of potential candidate genes for future investigation and, eventually, may open the door to novel interventions to slow down disease progression. In this review paper, we have summarized detailed existing research findings of different MNDs, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), spinal bulbar muscle atrophy (SBMA) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) in relation to their complex genetic architecture.
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9
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Müller KI, Nilssen Ø, Nebuchenykh M, Løseth S, Jonsrud C, Hoem G, Van Ghelue M, Arntzen KA. Kennedy disease in two sisters with biallelic CAG expansions of the androgen receptor gene. Neuromuscul Disord 2021; 32:75-79. [PMID: 34922802 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
We present a retrospective 21-year follow-up of two sisters with X-linked biallelic CAG expansions in the androgen receptor (AR) gene causing Kennedy disease. Two sisters inherited CAG expansions from their mother who was a carrier and their father who had Kennedy disease. Genetic testing revealed alleles comprising 43/45, and 43/43 CAG repeats in the younger and older sister, respectively. They were referred to a neurologist for further evaluation. Both reported similar symptoms with chronic backache, pain and cramps in upper- and lower extremities, and fasciculations in their faces and extremities. Neurological examination demonstrated postural hand tremor in both and EMG revealed chronic neurogenic changes. Reevaluation of the patients at ages 74 and 83 showed slight progression of clinical manifestations. As opposed to male patients, these two females showed minimal disease progression and have maintained normal level of function into old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ivar Müller
- National Neuromuscular Center Norway and Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Troms 9038, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
| | - Øivind Nilssen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Division of Child and Adolescent Health, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Maria Nebuchenykh
- National Neuromuscular Center Norway and Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Troms 9038, Norway
| | - Sissel Løseth
- National Neuromuscular Center Norway and Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Troms 9038, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Christoffer Jonsrud
- Department of Medical Genetics, Division of Child and Adolescent Health, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Gry Hoem
- Department of Medical Genetics, Division of Child and Adolescent Health, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Marijke Van Ghelue
- Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Medical Genetics, Division of Child and Adolescent Health, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kjell Arne Arntzen
- National Neuromuscular Center Norway and Department of Neurology and Neurophysiology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Troms 9038, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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10
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Pluciennik A, Liu Y, Molotsky E, Marsh GB, Ranxhi B, Arnold FJ, St-Cyr S, Davidson B, Pourshafie N, Lieberman AP, Gu W, Todi SV, Merry DE. Deubiquitinase USP7 contributes to the pathogenicity of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:134565. [PMID: 33170804 DOI: 10.1172/jci134565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are devastating, slowly progressing neurodegenerative conditions caused by expansion of polyQ-encoding CAG repeats within the coding regions of distinct, unrelated genes. In spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), polyQ expansion within the androgen receptor (AR) causes progressive neuromuscular toxicity, the molecular basis of which is unclear. Using quantitative proteomics, we identified changes in the AR interactome caused by polyQ expansion. We found that the deubiquitinase USP7 preferentially interacts with polyQ-expanded AR and that lowering USP7 levels reduced mutant AR aggregation and cytotoxicity in cell models of SBMA. Moreover, USP7 knockdown suppressed disease phenotypes in SBMA and spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) fly models, and monoallelic knockout of Usp7 ameliorated several motor deficiencies in transgenic SBMA mice. USP7 overexpression resulted in reduced AR ubiquitination, indicating the direct action of USP7 on AR. Using quantitative proteomics, we identified the ubiquitinated lysine residues on mutant AR that are regulated by USP7. Finally, we found that USP7 also differentially interacts with mutant Huntingtin (HTT) protein in striatum and frontal cortex of a knockin mouse model of Huntington's disease. Taken together, our findings reveal a critical role for USP7 in the pathophysiology of SBMA and suggest a similar role in SCA3 and Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Pluciennik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Elana Molotsky
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gregory B Marsh
- Department of Pharmacology and Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Bedri Ranxhi
- Department of Pharmacology and Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Frederick J Arnold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sophie St-Cyr
- Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Beverly Davidson
- Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Naemeh Pourshafie
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,George Washington University, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Wei Gu
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and Institute for Cancer Genetics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sokol V Todi
- Department of Pharmacology and Neurology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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11
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Chen J, Long X, Han Y. Using genetic testing to diagnose Kennedy's disease: a case report and literature review. Am J Transl Res 2021; 13:7412-7417. [PMID: 34306514 PMCID: PMC8290654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Theoretical basis: Kennedy's disease (KD) is also known as spinal bulbar muscular dystrophy. Because the symptoms of KD are similar to most neuromuscular diseases, it is difficult to make a rapid clinical diagnosis. Patient case: We report the case of a 50-year-old man who was diagnosed with "lumbar disc herniation" five years ago because of progressive proximal limb weakness. After his initial diagnosis, his condition worsened gradually, and a muscle biopsy was performed 3 years ago, and he was then diagnosed with "motor neuron disease", but he had no such family history. His physical examination showed female breast development, erectile dysfunction, a weakness of the quadriceps femoris, a bilateral tendon reflex, and atrophy of the tongue muscle. One year ago, it was found that his blood sugar had increased, and when oral hypoglycemic drugs were given, his blood glucose control was not ideal. At the same time, it was found that his creatine kinase continued to increase significantly. He was admitted to the hospital again because of the aggravation of his walking difficulties. Diagnosis: A laboratory examination showed elevated creatine kinase, an impaired glucose tolerance, and abnormal lactate values. The diagnosis was confirmed using a genetic analysis, which showed a repeated amplification of CAG in the androgen receptor gene. Intervention measures and results: After this diagnosis, the patient had a good prognosis after receiving symptomatic treatment. Lesson: Genetic testing is the key to the diagnosis of KD. Clinicians should make a differential diagnosis, an early diagnosis, and provide treatment as soon as possible according to the patient's clinical manifestations and laboratory examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Department of Neurology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai 200437, China
| | - Xie Long
- Department of Neurology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai 200437, China
| | - Yan Han
- Department of Neurology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Shanghai 200437, China
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12
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Donaldson J, Powell S, Rickards N, Holmans P, Jones L. What is the Pathogenic CAG Expansion Length in Huntington's Disease? J Huntingtons Dis 2021; 10:175-202. [PMID: 33579866 PMCID: PMC7990448 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-200445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) (OMIM 143100) is caused by an expanded CAG repeat tract in the HTT gene. The inherited CAG length is known to expand further in somatic and germline cells in HD subjects. Age at onset of the disease is inversely correlated with the inherited CAG length, but is further modulated by a series of genetic modifiers which are most likely to act on the CAG repeat in HTT that permit it to further expand. Longer repeats are more prone to expansions, and this expansion is age dependent and tissue-specific. Given that the inherited tract expands through life and most subjects develop disease in mid-life, this implies that in cells that degenerate, the CAG length is likely to be longer than the inherited length. These findings suggest two thresholds- the inherited CAG length which permits further expansion, and the intracellular pathogenic threshold, above which cells become dysfunctional and die. This two-step mechanism has been previously proposed and modelled mathematically to give an intracellular pathogenic threshold at a tract length of 115 CAG (95% confidence intervals 70- 165 CAG). Empirically, the intracellular pathogenic threshold is difficult to determine. Clues from studies of people and models of HD, and from other diseases caused by expanded repeat tracts, place this threshold between 60- 100 CAG, most likely towards the upper part of that range. We assess this evidence and discuss how the intracellular pathogenic threshold in manifest disease might be better determined. Knowing the cellular pathogenic threshold would be informative for both understanding the mechanism in HD and deploying treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Donaldson
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Sophie Powell
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Nadia Rickards
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Peter Holmans
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Lesley Jones
- MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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13
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Bianchi VE, Rizzi L, Bresciani E, Omeljaniuk RJ, Torsello A. Androgen Therapy in Neurodegenerative Diseases. J Endocr Soc 2020; 4:bvaa120. [PMID: 33094209 PMCID: PMC7568521 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaa120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington disease, are characterized by the loss of neurons as well as neuronal function in multiple regions of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Several studies in animal models have shown that androgens have neuroprotective effects in the brain and stimulate axonal regeneration. The presence of neuronal androgen receptors in the peripheral and central nervous system suggests that androgen therapy might be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. To illustrate, androgen therapy reduced inflammation, amyloid-β deposition, and cognitive impairment in patients with AD. As well, improvements in remyelination in MS have been reported; by comparison, only variable results are observed in androgen treatment of PD. In ALS, androgen administration stimulated motoneuron recovery from progressive damage and regenerated both axons and dendrites. Only a few clinical studies are available in human individuals despite the safety and low cost of androgen therapy. Clinical evaluations of the effects of androgen therapy on these devastating diseases using large populations of patients are strongly needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Emanuele Bianchi
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Clinical Center Stella Maris, Strada Rovereta, Falciano, San Marino
| | - Laura Rizzi
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Elena Bresciani
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Torsello
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
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14
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Halievski K, Xu Y, Haddad YW, Tang YP, Yamada S, Katsuno M, Adachi H, Sobue G, Breedlove SM, Jordan CL. Muscle BDNF improves synaptic and contractile muscle strength in Kennedy's disease mice in a muscle-type specific manner. J Physiol 2020; 598:2719-2739. [PMID: 32306402 DOI: 10.1113/jp279208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Muscle-derived neurotrophic factors may offer therapeutic promise for treating neuromuscular diseases. We report that a muscle-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF, rescues synaptic and muscle function in a muscle-type specific manner in mice modelling Kennedy's disease (KD). We also find that BDNF rescues select molecular mechanisms in slow and fast muscle that may underlie the improved cellular function. We also report for the first time that expression of BDNF, but not other members of the neurotrophin family, is perturbed in muscle from patients with KD. Given that muscle BDNF had divergent therapeutic effects that depended on muscle type, a combination of neurotrophic factors may optimally rescue neuromuscular function via effects on both pre- and postsynaptic function, in the face of disease. ABSTRACT Deficits in muscle brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) correlate with neuromuscular deficits in mouse models of Kennedy's disease (KD), suggesting that restoring muscle BDNF might restore function. To test this possibility, transgenic mice expressing human BDNF in skeletal muscle were crossed with '97Q' KD mice. We found that muscle BDNF slowed disease, doubling the time between symptom onset and endstage. BDNF also improved expression of genes in muscle known to play key roles in neuromuscular function, including counteracting the expression of neonatal isoforms induced by disease. Intriguingly, BDNF's ameliorative effects differed between muscle types: synaptic strength was rescued only in slow-twitch muscle, while contractile strength was improved only in fast-twitch muscle. In sum, muscle BDNF slows disease progression, rescuing select cellular and molecular mechanisms that depend on fibre type. Muscle BDNF expression was also affected in KD patients, reinforcing its translational and therapeutic potential for treating this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Halievski
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1115, USA.,Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, 686 Bay St, Toronto, ON, M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Youfen Xu
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1115, USA
| | - Yazeed W Haddad
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1115, USA
| | - Yu Ping Tang
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1115, USA
| | - Shinichiro Yamada
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Adachi
- Department of Neurology, University of Occupational and Environment Health School of Medicine, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, 807-8555, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan
| | - S Marc Breedlove
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1115, USA
| | - Cynthia L Jordan
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1115, USA.,Physiology Department, Michigan State University, 108 Giltner Hall, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1115, USA
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15
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Gray AL, Annan L, Dick JRT, La Spada AR, Hanna MG, Greensmith L, Malik B. Deterioration of muscle force and contractile characteristics are early pathological events in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy mice. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm042424. [PMID: 32152060 PMCID: PMC7272358 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.042424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), also known as Kennedy's Disease, is a late-onset X-linked progressive neuromuscular disease, which predominantly affects males. The pathological hallmarks of the disease are selective loss of spinal and bulbar motor neurons, accompanied by weakness, atrophy and fasciculations of bulbar and limb muscles. SBMA is caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the gene that encodes the androgen receptor (AR) protein. Disease manifestation is androgen dependent and results principally from a toxic gain of AR function. There are currently no effective treatments for this debilitating disease. It is important to understand the course of the disease in order to target therapeutics to key pathological stages. This is especially relevant in disorders such as SBMA, for which disease can be identified before symptom onset, through family history and genetic testing. To fully characterise the role of muscle in SBMA, we undertook a longitudinal physiological and histological characterisation of disease progression in the AR100 mouse model of SBMA. Our results show that the disease first manifests in skeletal muscle, before any motor neuron degeneration, which only occurs in late-stage disease. These findings reveal that alterations in muscle function, including reduced muscle force and changes in contractile characteristics, are early pathological events in SBMA mice and suggest that muscle-targeted therapeutics may be effective in SBMA.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna L Gray
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Leonette Annan
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - James R T Dick
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Albert R La Spada
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Center for Neurodegeneration and Neurotherapeutics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Michael G Hanna
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- UCL MRC International Centre for Genomic Medicine in Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Linda Greensmith
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Bilal Malik
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
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16
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Chivet M, Marchioretti C, Pirazzini M, Piol D, Scaramuzzino C, Polanco MJ, Romanello V, Zuccaro E, Parodi S, D’Antonio M, Rinaldi C, Sambataro F, Pegoraro E, Soraru G, Pandey UB, Sandri M, Basso M, Pennuto M. Polyglutamine-Expanded Androgen Receptor Alteration of Skeletal Muscle Homeostasis and Myonuclear Aggregation Are Affected by Sex, Age and Muscle Metabolism. Cells 2020; 9:cells9020325. [PMID: 32019272 PMCID: PMC7072234 DOI: 10.3390/cells9020325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (polyQ) expansions in the androgen receptor (AR) gene cause spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a neuromuscular disease characterized by lower motor neuron (MN) loss and skeletal muscle atrophy, with an unknown mechanism. We generated new mouse models of SBMA for constitutive and inducible expression of mutant AR and performed biochemical, histological and functional analyses of phenotype. We show that polyQ-expanded AR causes motor dysfunction, premature death, IIb-to-IIa/IIx fiber-type change, glycolytic-to-oxidative fiber-type switching, upregulation of atrogenes and autophagy genes and mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle, together with signs of muscle denervation at late stage of disease. PolyQ expansions in the AR resulted in nuclear enrichment. Within the nucleus, mutant AR formed 2% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-resistant aggregates and inclusion bodies in myofibers, but not spinal cord and brainstem, in a process exacerbated by age and sex. Finally, we found that two-week induction of expression of polyQ-expanded AR in adult mice was sufficient to cause premature death, body weight loss and muscle atrophy, but not aggregation, metabolic alterations, motor coordination and fiber-type switch, indicating that expression of the disease protein in the adulthood is sufficient to recapitulate several, but not all SBMA manifestations in mice. These results imply that chronic expression of polyQ-expanded AR, i.e. during development and prepuberty, is key to induce the full SBMA muscle pathology observed in patients. Our data support a model whereby chronic expression of polyQ-expanded AR triggers muscle atrophy through toxic (neomorphic) gain of function mechanisms distinct from normal (hypermorphic) gain of function mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Chivet
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
| | - Caterina Marchioretti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Pirazzini
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Diana Piol
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
| | - Chiara Scaramuzzino
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy; (C.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Maria Josè Polanco
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
| | - Vanina Romanello
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Emanuela Zuccaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
| | - Sara Parodi
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy; (C.S.); (S.P.)
| | - Maurizio D’Antonio
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Carlo Rinaldi
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, UK;
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Pegoraro
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Gianni Soraru
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience (DNS), University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Udai Bhan Pandey
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA;
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Marco Sandri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Manuela Basso
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (M.C.); (D.P.); (M.J.P.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences (DBS), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy; (C.M.); (M.P.); (V.R.); (E.Z.); (M.S.)
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padova, Italy
- Myology Center (Cir-Myo), University of Padova, 35129 Padova, Italy; (E.P.); (G.S.)
- Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 16163 Genova, Italy; (C.S.); (S.P.)
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC), 35100 Padova, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39 049 8276069
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17
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Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by a polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). Despite the fact that the monogenic cause of SBMA has been known for nearly 3 decades, there is no effective treatment for this disease, underscoring the complexity of the pathogenic mechanisms that lead to a loss of motor neurons and muscle in SBMA patients. In the current review, we provide an overview of the system-wide clinical features of SBMA, summarize the structure and function of the AR, discuss both gain-of-function and loss-of-function mechanisms of toxicity caused by polyQ-expanded AR, and describe the cell and animal models utilized in the study of SBMA. Additionally, we summarize previously conducted clinical trials which, despite being based on positive results from preclinical studies, proved to be largely ineffective in the treatment of SBMA; nonetheless, these studies provide important insights as researchers develop the next generation of therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederick J Arnold
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 411E Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, 411E Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19107, USA.
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18
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Hsp70 and Hsp40 inhibit an inter-domain interaction necessary for transcriptional activity in the androgen receptor. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3562. [PMID: 31395886 PMCID: PMC6687723 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11594-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Molecular chaperones such as Hsp40 and Hsp70 hold the androgen receptor (AR) in an inactive conformation. They are released in the presence of androgens, enabling transactivation and causing the receptor to become aggregation-prone. Here we show that these molecular chaperones recognize a region of the AR N-terminal domain (NTD), including a FQNLF motif, that interacts with the AR ligand-binding domain (LBD) upon activation. This suggests that competition between molecular chaperones and the LBD for the FQNLF motif regulates AR activation. We also show that, while the free NTD oligomerizes, binding to Hsp70 increases its solubility. Stabilizing the NTD-Hsp70 interaction with small molecules reduces AR aggregation and promotes its degradation in cellular and mouse models of the neuromuscular disorder spinal bulbar muscular atrophy. These results help resolve the mechanisms by which molecular chaperones regulate the balance between AR aggregation, activation and quality control. Hsp chaperones stabilize the inactive conformation of androgen receptor (AR) and are released upon hormone-induced AR activation. Here, the authors locate the Hsp binding region on AR, and show that Hsp70 reduces AR aggregation and promotes AR degradation in cellular and mouse models of a neuromuscular disorder.
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19
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da S. Hage-Melim LI, Ferreira JV, de Oliveira NK, Correia LC, Almeida MR, Poiani JG, Taft CA, de Paula da Silva CH. The Impact of Natural Compounds on the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases. CURR ORG CHEM 2019. [DOI: 10.2174/1385272823666190327100418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are characterized by a progressive deterioration of the motor and/or cognitive function, that are often accompanied by psychiatric disorders, caused by a selective loss of neurons in the central nervous system. Among the NDDs we can mention Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3), spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). AD and HD are characterized mainly by massive neuronal loss. PD, ALS, SCA3 and SBMA are agerelated diseases which have characteristic motor symptoms. CJD is an NDD caused by prion proteins. With increasing life expectancy, elderly populations tend to have more health problems, such as chronic diseases related to age and disability. Therefore, the development of therapeutic strategies to treat or prevent multiple pathophysiological conditions in the elderly can improve the expectation and quality of life. The attention of researchers has been focused on bioactive natural compounds that represent important resources in the discovery and development of drug candidates against NDDs. In this review, we discuss the pathogenesis, symptoms, potential targets, treatment and natural compounds effective in the treatment of AD, PD, HD, ALS, SCA3, SBMA and CJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorane I. da S. Hage-Melim
- Laboratorio de Quimica Farmaceutica e Medicinal (PharMedChem), Universidade Federal do Amapa, Macapa, Brazil
| | - Jaderson V. Ferreira
- Laboratorio de Quimica Farmaceutica e Medicinal (PharMedChem), Universidade Federal do Amapa, Macapa, Brazil
| | - Nayana K.S. de Oliveira
- Laboratorio de Quimica Farmaceutica e Medicinal (PharMedChem), Universidade Federal do Amapa, Macapa, Brazil
| | - Lenir C. Correia
- Laboratorio de Quimica Farmaceutica e Medicinal (PharMedChem), Universidade Federal do Amapa, Macapa, Brazil
| | - Marcos R.S. Almeida
- Laboratorio de Quimica Farmaceutica e Medicinal (PharMedChem), Universidade Federal do Amapa, Macapa, Brazil
| | - João G.C. Poiani
- Laboratorio Computacional de Química Farmaceutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlton A. Taft
- Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Fisicas, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos H.T. de Paula da Silva
- Laboratorio Computacional de Química Farmaceutica, Departamento de Ciencias Farmaceuticas, Faculdade de Ciencias Farmaceuticas de Ribeirao Preto, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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20
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Phenotypic and molecular features underlying neurodegeneration of motor neurons derived from spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patients. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 124:1-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
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21
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Halievski K, Nath SR, Katsuno M, Adachi H, Sobue G, Breedlove SM, Lieberman AP, Jordan CL. Disease Affects Bdnf Expression in Synaptic and Extrasynaptic Regions of Skeletal Muscle of Three SBMA Mouse Models. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20061314. [PMID: 30875922 PMCID: PMC6470984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20061314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a slowly progressive, androgen-dependent neuromuscular disease in men that is characterized by both muscle and synaptic dysfunction. Because gene expression in muscle is heterogeneous, with synaptic myonuclei expressing genes that regulate synaptic function and extrasynaptic myonuclei expressing genes to regulate contractile function, we used quantitative PCR to compare gene expression in these two domains of muscle from three different mouse models of SBMA: the "97Q" model that ubiquitously expresses mutant human androgen receptor (AR), the 113Q knock-in (KI) model that expresses humanized mouse AR with an expanded glutamine tract, and the "myogenic" model that overexpresses wild-type rat AR only in skeletal muscle. We were particularly interested in neurotrophic factors because of their role in maintaining neuromuscular function via effects on both muscle and synaptic function, and their implicated role in SBMA. We confirmed previous reports of the enriched expression of select genes (e.g., the acetylcholine receptor) in the synaptic region of muscle, and are the first to report the synaptic enrichment of others (e.g., glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor). Interestingly, all three models displayed comparably dysregulated expression of most genes examined in both the synaptic and extrasynaptic domains of muscle, with only modest differences between regions and models. These findings of comprehensive gene dysregulation in muscle support the emerging view that skeletal muscle may be a prime therapeutic target for restoring function of both muscles and motoneurons in SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Halievski
- Neuroscience Program, 108 Giltner Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, USA.
| | - Samir R Nath
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Adachi
- Department of Neurology, University of Occupational and Environment Health School of Medicine, 1-1 Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan.
| | - Gen Sobue
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550, Japan.
| | - S Marc Breedlove
- Neuroscience Program, 108 Giltner Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, USA.
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Cynthia L Jordan
- Neuroscience Program, 108 Giltner Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, USA.
- Physiology Department, 108 Giltner Hall, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1115, USA.
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22
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Efficacy and safety of leuprorelin acetate for subjects with spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy: pooled analyses of two randomized-controlled trials. J Neurol 2019; 266:1211-1221. [PMID: 30847645 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-019-09251-x] [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: 10/14/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an adult-onset, hereditary neuromuscular disease characterized by muscle atrophy, weakness, contraction fasciculation, and bulbar involvement. Although the causative gene, androgen receptor, has been identified, the development of novel therapeutics for SBMA is incomplete. In this study, the efficacy and safety of leuprorelin acetate administration for patients with SBMA, using the pooled data of two randomized-controlled trials, was studied. METHODS Two randomized double-blinded studies (JASMITT-06DB and JASMITT-11DB) were done as multicentric, investigator-initiated clinical trials in Japan. In both studies, eligible patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive leuprorelin acetate administration once per 12 weeks for 48 weeks. The primary endpoint was the longitudinal change of pharyngeal barium residues from the baseline data measured with videofluorographic swallowing analyses. The pooled analysis plan was decided upon after the 06B study was finished and before the 11DB study began. RESULTS The primary endpoint difference between the leuprorelin group and the placebo group was pharyngeal barium residue after initial swallowing, - 4.12% (95% CI, - 8.40-0.15; p = 0.058). The primary endpoint of this study does not reach significant results, although inter-group differences of pharyngeal barium residues after the initial swallowing indicated that leuprorelin acetate may be effective at each assessment point in both study groups. CONCLUSIONS The efficacy of leuprorelin acetate for patients with SBMA was statistically similar in two randomized-controlled trials, and suggested that leuprorelin acetate may be effective and safe. Further investigations are needed to clarify the promising efficacy of the drug.
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Impaired Nuclear Export of Polyglutamine-Expanded Androgen Receptor in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy. Sci Rep 2019; 9:119. [PMID: 30644418 PMCID: PMC6333819 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-36784-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in the androgen receptor (AR). Prior studies have highlighted the importance of AR nuclear localization in SBMA pathogenesis; therefore, in this study, we sought to determine the role of AR nuclear export in the pathological manifestations of SBMA. We demonstrate here that the nuclear export of polyQ-expanded AR is impaired, even prior to the formation of intranuclear inclusions of aggregated AR. Additionally, we find that promoting AR export with an exogenous nuclear export signal substantially reduces its aggregation and blocks hormone-induced toxicity. Moreover, we show that these protective effects are conferred by destabilization of the mutant protein due to an increase in proteasomal degradation of the cytoplasmic AR. Despite a growing body of evidence that global disruption of nucleo/cytoplasmic transport occurs in ALS and HD, our data suggest that no such global disruption occurs in models of SBMA; rather, AR-specific mechanisms, including reduced phosphorylation at Serine 650, are likely responsible for the impaired nuclear export of polyQ-expanded AR.
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Murmann AE, Yu J, Opal P, Peter ME. Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion Diseases, RNAi, and Cancer. Trends Cancer 2018; 4:684-700. [PMID: 30292352 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2018.08.004] [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: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative diseases are caused by unstable trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansions located in disease-associated genes. siRNAs based on CAG repeat expansions effectively kill cancer cell lines in vitro through RNAi. They also cause significant reduction in tumor growth in a human ovarian cancer mouse model with no toxicity to the treated mice. This suggests that cancer cells are particularly sensitive to CAG TNR-derived siRNAs, and explains a reported inverse correlation between the length of CAG TNRs and reduced global cancer incidences in some CAG TNR diseases. This review discusses both mutant proteins and mutant RNAs as a cause of TNR diseases, with a focus on RNAi and its role in contributing to disease pathology and in suppressing cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea E Murmann
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jindan Yu
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Puneet Opal
- Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Marcus E Peter
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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25
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Lieberman AP, Shakkottai VG, Albin RL. Polyglutamine Repeats in Neurodegenerative Diseases. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2018; 14:1-27. [PMID: 30089230 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-012418-012857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Among the age-dependent protein aggregation disorders, nine neurodegenerative diseases are caused by expansions of CAG repeats encoding polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts. We review the clinical, pathological, and biological features of these inherited disorders. We discuss insights into pathogenesis gleaned from studies of model systems and patients, highlighting work that informs efforts to develop effective therapies. An important conclusion from these analyses is that expanded CAG/polyQ domains are the primary drivers of neurodegeneration, with the biology of carrier proteins influencing disease-specific manifestations. Additionally, it has become apparent that CAG/polyQ repeat expansions produce neurodegeneration via multiple downstream mechanisms, involving both gain- and loss-of-function effects. This conclusion indicates that the likelihood of developing effective therapies targeting single nodes is reduced. The evaluation of treatments for premanifest disease will likely require new investigational approaches. We highlight the opportunities and challenges underlying ongoing work and provide recommendations related to the development of symptomatic and disease-modifying therapies and biomarkers that could inform future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA;
| | - Vikram G Shakkottai
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA; , .,Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - Roger L Albin
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA; , .,Neurology Service and the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA
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26
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Badders NM, Korff A, Miranda HC, Vuppala PK, Smith RB, Winborn BJ, Quemin ER, Sopher BL, Dearman J, Messing J, Kim NC, Moore J, Freibaum BD, Kanagaraj AP, Fan B, Tillman H, Chen PC, Wang Y, Freeman BB, Li Y, Kim HJ, La Spada AR, Taylor JP. Selective modulation of the androgen receptor AF2 domain rescues degeneration in spinal bulbar muscular atrophy. Nat Med 2018; 24:427-437. [PMID: 29505030 PMCID: PMC5975249 DOI: 10.1038/nm.4500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a motor neuron disease caused by toxic gain of function of the androgen receptor (AR). Previously, we found that co-regulator binding through the activation function-2 (AF2) domain of AR is essential for pathogenesis, suggesting that AF2 may be a potential drug target for selective modulation of toxic AR activity. We screened previously identified AF2 modulators for their ability to rescue toxicity in a Drosophila model of SBMA. We identified two compounds, tolfenamic acid (TA) and 1-[2-(4-methylphenoxy)ethyl]-2-[(2-phenoxyethyl)sulfanyl]-1H-benzimidazole (MEPB), as top candidates for rescuing lethality, locomotor function and neuromuscular junction defects in SBMA flies. Pharmacokinetic analyses in mice revealed a more favorable bioavailability and tissue retention of MEPB compared with TA in muscle, brain and spinal cord. In a preclinical trial in a new mouse model of SBMA, MEPB treatment yielded a dose-dependent rescue from loss of body weight, rotarod activity and grip strength. In addition, MEPB ameliorated neuronal loss, neurogenic atrophy and testicular atrophy, validating AF2 modulation as a potent androgen-sparing strategy for SBMA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha M Badders
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ane Korff
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Helen C Miranda
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Pradeep K Vuppala
- Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Shared Resource, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rebecca B Smith
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Brett J Winborn
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Emmanuelle R Quemin
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Bryce L Sopher
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jennifer Dearman
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - James Messing
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Nam Chul Kim
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jennifer Moore
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Brian D Freibaum
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Anderson P Kanagaraj
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Baochang Fan
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Heather Tillman
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Ping-Chung Chen
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yingzhe Wang
- Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Shared Resource, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Burgess B Freeman
- Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Shared Resource, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yimei Li
- Department of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Hong Joo Kim
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Albert R La Spada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Departments of Neurology, Neurobiology and Cell Biology, and the Duke Center for Neurodegeneration & Neurotherapeutics, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - J Paul Taylor
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
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27
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Pennuto M, Rinaldi C. From gene to therapy in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy: Are we there yet? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 465:113-121. [PMID: 28688959 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Abnormal polyglutamine expansions in the androgen receptor (AR) cause a muscular condition, known as Kennedy's disease or spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). The disease is transmitted in an X-linked fashion and is clinically characterized by weakness, atrophy and fasciculations of the limb and bulbar muscles as a result of a toxic gain-of-function of the mutant protein. Notably, affected males also show signs of androgen insensitivity, such as gynaecomastia and reduced fertility. The characterization of the natural history of the disease, the increasing understanding of the mechanism of pathogenesis and the elucidation of the functions of normal and mutant AR have offered a momentum for developing a rational therapeutic strategy for this disease. In this special issue on androgens and AR functions, we will review the molecular, biochemical, and cellular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of SBMA. We will discuss recent advances on therapeutic approaches and opportunities for this yet incurable disease, ranging from androgen deprivation, to gene silencing, to an expanding repertoire of peripheral targets, including muscle. With the advancement of these strategies into the clinic, it can be reasonably anticipated that the landscape of treatment options for SBMA and other neuromuscular conditions will change rapidly in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35121 Padova, Italy.
| | - Carlo Rinaldi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX1 3QX Oxford, UK.
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28
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Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an adult-onset degenerative disorder of the neuromuscular system resulting in slowly progressive weakness and atrophy of the proximal limb and bulbar muscles. The disease is caused by the expansion of a CAG/glutamine tract in the amino-terminus of the androgen receptor. That SBMA exclusively affects males reflects the fact that critical pathogenic events are hormone-dependent. These include translocation of the polyglutamine androgen receptor from the cytoplasm to the nucleus and unfolding of the mutant protein. Studies of the pathology of SBMA subjects have revealed nuclear aggregates of the mutant androgen receptor, loss of lower motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord, and both neurogenic and myopathic changes in skeletal muscle. Mechanisms underlying disease pathogenesis include toxicity in both lower motor neurons and skeletal muscle, where effects on transcription, intracellular transport, and mitochondrial function have been documented. Therapies to treat SBMA patients remain largely supportive, although experimental approaches targeting androgen action or promoting degradation of the mutant androgen receptor protein or the encoding RNA are under active study.
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29
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X-Linked Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy: From Clinical Genetic Features and Molecular Pathology to Mechanisms Underlying Disease Toxicity. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1049:103-133. [PMID: 29427100 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71779-1_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder caused by a CAG-polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) gene. Unlike other polyQ diseases, where the function of the native causative protein is unknown, the biology of AR is well understood, and this knowledge has informed our understanding of how native AR function interfaces with polyQ-AR dysfunction. Furthermore, ligand-dependent activation of AR has been linked to SBMA disease pathogenesis, and has led to a thorough study of androgen-mediated effects on polyQ-AR stability, degradation, and post-translational modifications, as well as their roles in the disease process. Transcriptional dysregulation, proteostasis dysfunction, and mitochondrial abnormalities are central to polyQ-AR neurotoxicity, most likely via a 'change-of-function' mechanism. Intriguingly, recent work has demonstrated a principal role for skeletal muscle in SBMA disease pathogenesis, indicating that polyQ-AR toxicity initiates in skeletal muscle and results in secondary motor neuron demise. The existence of robust animal models for SBMA has permitted a variety of preclinical trials, driven by recent discoveries of altered cellular processes, and some of this preclinical work has led to human clinical trials. In this chapter, we review SBMA clinical features and disease biology, discuss our current understanding of the cellular and molecular basis of SBMA pathogenesis, and highlight ongoing efforts toward therapy development.
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30
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Hashizume A, Katsuno M, Suzuki K, Hirakawa A, Hijikata Y, Yamada S, Inagaki T, Banno H, Sobue G. Long-term treatment with leuprorelin for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy: natural history-controlled study. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2017; 88:1026-1032. [PMID: 28780536 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2017-316015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prognosis and progression of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a rare X-linked motor neuron disorder caused by trinucleotide repeat expansion in the AR (androgen receptor) gene, after long-term androgen suppression with leuprorelin acetate treatment. METHODS In the present natural history-controlled study, 36 patients with SBMA treated with leuprorelin acetate for up to 84 months (leuprorelin acetate-treated group; LT group) and 29 patients with SBMA with no specific treatment (non-treated group; NT group) were analysed. Disease progression was evaluated by longitudinal quantitative assessment of motor functioning using the revised Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R), and the modified Norris score. In addition, we selected two major clinical endpoint events, namely the occurrence of pneumonia requiring hospitalisation and death, to evaluate disease prognosis following long-term leuprorelin acetate treatment. RESULTS In our analysis of the longitudinal disease progression using the random slope model, we observed a significant difference in the ALSFRS-R total score, the Limb Norris Score, and the Norris Bulbar Score (p=0.005, 0.026 and 0.020, respectively), with the LT group exhibiting a slower per-12-months decline compared with the NT group. As for the event analysis, the prognosis of the LT group was better in comparison to the NT group as for the event-free survival period (p=0.021). CONCLUSION Long-term treatment with leuprorelin acetate appears to delay the functional decline and suppress the incidence of pneumonia and death in subjects with SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Hashizume
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Keisuke Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Department of Clinical Research, Innovation Center for Clinical Research, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akihiro Hirakawa
- Biostatistics Section, Center for Advanced Medicine and Clinical Research, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Hijikata
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Yamada
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tomonori Inagaki
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Banno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.,Research Division of Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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31
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Guber RD, Takyar V, Kokkinis A, Fox DA, Alao H, Kats I, Bakar D, Remaley AT, Hewitt SM, Kleiner DE, Liu CY, Hadigan C, Fischbeck KH, Rotman Y, Grunseich C. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Neurology 2017; 89:2481-2490. [PMID: 29142082 PMCID: PMC5729799 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000004748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence and features of fatty liver disease in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). Methods: Two groups of participants with SBMA were evaluated. In the first group, 22 participants with SBMA underwent laboratory analysis and liver imaging. In the second group, 14 participants with SBMA were compared to 13 female carriers and 23 controls. Liver biopsies were done in 4 participants with SBMA. Results: Evidence of fatty liver disease was detected by magnetic resonance spectroscopy in all participants with SBMA in the first group, with an average dome intrahepatic triacylglycerol of 27% (range 6%–66%, ref ≤5.5%). Liver dome magnetic resonance spectroscopy measurements were significantly increased in participants with SBMA in the second group relative to age- and sex-matched controls, with average disease and male control measurements of 17% and 3%, respectively. Liver biopsies were consistent with simple steatosis in 2 participants and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in 2 others. Conclusions: We observed evidence of nonalcoholic liver disease in nearly all of the participants with SBMA evaluated. These observations expand the phenotypic spectrum of the disease and provide a potential biomarker that can be monitored in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Guber
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Varun Takyar
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Angela Kokkinis
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Derrick A Fox
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Hawwa Alao
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Ilona Kats
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Dara Bakar
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Alan T Remaley
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Stephen M Hewitt
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - David E Kleiner
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Chia-Ying Liu
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Colleen Hadigan
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Kenneth H Fischbeck
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Yaron Rotman
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD
| | - Christopher Grunseich
- From the Neurogenetics Branch (R.D.G., A.K., D.A.F., I.K., D.B., K.H.F., C.G.), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; Liver Diseases Branch (V.T., H.A., Y.R.), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Branch (A.T.R.), National Heart Lung & Blood Institute; Laboratory of Pathology (S.M.H., D.E.K.), National Cancer Institute; Radiology and Imaging Sciences (C.-Y.L.), Clinical Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; and NIH (C.H.), Bethesda, MD.
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Defects in Neuromuscular Transmission May Underlie Motor Dysfunction in Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy. J Neurosci 2017; 36:5094-106. [PMID: 27147661 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3485-15.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) in men is an androgen-dependent neuromuscular disease caused by expanded CAG repeats in the androgen receptor (AR). Whether muscle or motor neuron dysfunction or both underlies motor impairment in SBMA is unknown. Muscles of SBMA mice show significant contractile dysfunction, implicating them as a likely source of motor dysfunction, but whether disease also impairs neuromuscular transmission is an open question. Thus, we examined synaptic function in three well-studied SBMA mouse models-the AR97Q, knock-in (KI), and myogenic141 models-by recording in vitro miniature and evoked end-plate potentials (MEPPs and EPPs, respectively) intracellularly from adult muscle fibers. We found striking defects in neuromuscular transmission suggesting that toxic AR in SBMA impairs both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms. Notably, SBMA causes neuromuscular synapses to become weak and muscles to become hyperexcitable in all three models. Presynaptic defects included deficits in quantal content, reduced size of the readily releasable pool, and impaired short-term facilitation. Postsynaptic defects included prolonged decay times for both MEPPs and EPPs, marked resistance to μ-conotoxin (a sodium channel blocker), and enhanced membrane excitability. Quantitative PCR revealed robust upregulation of mRNAs encoding neonatal isoforms of the AChR (γ-subunit) and the voltage-gated sodium channel (NaV1.5) in diseased adult muscles of all three models, consistent with the observed slowing of synaptic potentials and resistance to μ-conotoxin. These findings suggest that muscles of SBMA patients regress to an immature state that impairs neuromuscular function. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We have discovered that SBMA is accompanied by marked defects in neuromuscular synaptic transmission involving both presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms. For three different mouse models, we find that diseased synapses are weak, having reduced quantal content due to reductions in the size of the readily releasable pool and/or probability of release. Synaptic potentials in diseased adult fibers are slowed, explained by an aberrant upregulation of the neonatal isoform of the acetylcholine receptor. Diseased fibers also show marked resistance to μ-conotoxin, explained by an aberrant upregulation in the neonatal isoform of the sodium channel, and are hyperexcitable, reminiscent of myotonic dystrophy, showing anode-break action potentials. This work identifies several new molecular targets for recovering function in SBMA.
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Yersak JM, Montie HL, Chevalier-Larsen ES, Liu Y, Huang L, Rechsteiner M, Merry DE. The 11S Proteasomal Activator REGγ Impacts Polyglutamine-Expanded Androgen Receptor Aggregation and Motor Neuron Viability through Distinct Mechanisms. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:159. [PMID: 28596723 PMCID: PMC5442185 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is caused by expression of a polyglutamine (polyQ)-expanded androgen receptor (AR). The inefficient nuclear proteasomal degradation of the mutant AR results in the formation of nuclear inclusions containing amino-terminal fragments of the mutant AR. PA28γ (also referred to as REGγ) is a nuclear 11S-proteasomal activator with limited proteasome activation capabilities compared to its cytoplasmic 11S (PA28α, PA28β) counterparts. To clarify the role of REGγ in polyQ-expanded AR metabolism, we carried out genetic and biochemical studies in cell models of SBMA. Overexpression of REGγ in a PC12 cell model of SBMA increased polyQ-expanded AR aggregation and contributed to polyQ-expanded AR toxicity in the presence of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). These effects of REGγ were independent of its association with the proteasome and may be due, in part, to the decreased binding of polyQ-expanded AR by the E3 ubiquitin-ligase MDM2. Unlike its effects in PC12 cells, REGγ overexpression rescued transgenic SBMA motor neurons from DHT-induced toxicity in a proteasome binding-dependent manner, suggesting that the degradation of a specific 11S proteasome substrate or substrates promotes motor neuron viability. One potential substrate that we found to play a role in mutant AR toxicity is the splicing factor SC35. These studies reveal that, depending on the cellular context, two biological roles for REGγ impact cell viability in the face of polyQ-expanded AR; a proteasome binding-independent mechanism directly promotes mutant AR aggregation while a proteasome binding-dependent mechanism promotes cell viability. The balance between these functions likely determines REGγ effects on polyQ-expanded AR-expressing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jill M. Yersak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
| | - Heather L. Montie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
| | - Erica S. Chevalier-Larsen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
| | - Lan Huang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
| | - Martin Rechsteiner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of MedicineSalt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Diane E. Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphia, PA, United States
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34
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Borgia D, Malena A, Spinazzi M, Desbats MA, Salviati L, Russell AP, Miotto G, Tosatto L, Pegoraro E, Sorarù G, Pennuto M, Vergani L. Increased mitophagy in the skeletal muscle of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy patients. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:1087-1103. [PMID: 28087734 PMCID: PMC5409076 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) and characterized by the loss of lower motor neurons. Here we investigated pathological processes occurring in muscle biopsy specimens derived from SBMA patients and, as controls, age-matched healthy subjects and patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and neurogenic atrophy. We detected atrophic fibers in the muscle of SBMA, ALS and neurogenic atrophy patients. In addition, SBMA muscle was characterized by the presence of a large number of hypertrophic fibers, with oxidative fibers having a larger size compared with glycolytic fibers. Polyglutamine-expanded AR expression was decreased in whole muscle, yet enriched in the nucleus, and localized to mitochondria. Ultrastructural analysis revealed myofibrillar disorganization and streaming in zones lacking mitochondria and degenerating mitochondria. Using molecular (mtDNA copy number), biochemical (citrate synthase and respiratory chain enzymes) and morphological (dark blue area in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-stained muscle cross-sections) analyses, we found a depletion of the mitochondria associated with enhanced mitophagy. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed an increase of phosphatidylethanolamines and phosphatidylserines in mitochondria isolated from SBMA muscles, as well as a 50% depletion of cardiolipin associated with decreased expression of the cardiolipin synthase gene. These observations suggest a causative link between nuclear polyglutamine-expanded AR accumulation, depletion of mitochondrial mass, increased mitophagy and altered mitochondrial membrane composition in SBMA muscle patients. Given the central role of mitochondria in cell bioenergetics, therapeutic approaches toward improving the mitochondrial network are worth considering to support SBMA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doriana Borgia
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Adriana Malena
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marco Spinazzi
- VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven Center for Human Genetics, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maria Andrea Desbats
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Woman and Child Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy, and IRP Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Leonardo Salviati
- Clinical Genetics Unit, Department of Woman and Child Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy, and IRP Città della Speranza, Padova, Italy
| | - Aaron P Russell
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia
| | - Giovanni Miotto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Proteomic Center of Padova University, VIMM and Padova University Hospital, Padova, Italy
| | - Laura Tosatto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Elena Pegoraro
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Lodovica Vergani
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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35
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Querin G, Sorarù G, Pradat PF. Kennedy disease (X-linked recessive bulbospinal neuronopathy): A comprehensive review from pathophysiology to therapy. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2017; 173:326-337. [PMID: 28473226 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2017.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Kennedy's disease, also known as spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), is a rare, adult-onset, X-linked recessive neuromuscular disease caused by expansion of a CAG repeat sequence in exon 1 of the androgen receptor gene (AR) encoding a polyglutamine (polyQ) tract. The polyQ-expanded AR accumulates in nuclei, and initiates degeneration and loss of motor neurons and dorsal root ganglia. While the disease has long been considered a pure lower motor neuron disease, recently, the presence of major hyper-creatine-kinase (CK)-emia and myopathic alterations on muscle biopsy has suggested the presence of a primary myopathy underlying a wide range of clinical manifestations. The disease, which affects male adults, is characterized by muscle weakness and atrophy localized proximally in the limbs, and bulbar involvement. Sensory disturbances are associated with the motor phenotype, but may be subclinical. The most frequent systemic symptom is gynecomastia related to androgen insensitivity, but other abnormalities, such as heart rhythm and urinary disturbances, have also been reported. The course of the disease is slowly progressive with normal life expectancy. The diagnosis of SBMA is based on genetic testing, with 38 CAG repeats taken as pathogenic. Despite several therapeutic attempts made in mouse models, no effective disease-modifying therapy is yet available, although symptomatic therapy is beneficial for the management of the weakness, fatigue and bulbar symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Querin
- Laboratoire d'imagerie biomédicale, Sorbonne universités, UPMC University Paris 06, CNRS, Inserm, 75013 Paris, France; Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - G Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - P-F Pradat
- Laboratoire d'imagerie biomédicale, Sorbonne universités, UPMC University Paris 06, CNRS, Inserm, 75013 Paris, France; Département des maladies du système nerveux, hôpital Pitié-Salpêtriere, centre référent-SLA, AP-HP, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.
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36
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Jesse CM, Bushuven E, Tripathi P, Chandrasekar A, Simon CM, Drepper C, Yamoah A, Dreser A, Katona I, Johann S, Beyer C, Wagner S, Grond M, Nikolin S, Anink J, Troost D, Sendtner M, Goswami A, Weis J. ALS-Associated Endoplasmic Reticulum Proteins in Denervated Skeletal Muscle: Implications for Motor Neuron Disease Pathology. Brain Pathol 2017; 27:781-794. [PMID: 27790792 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alpha-motoneurons and muscle fibres are structurally and functionally interdependent. Both cell types particularly rely on endoplasmic reticulum (ER/SR) functions. Mutations of the ER proteins VAPB, SigR1 and HSP27 lead to hereditary motor neuron diseases (MNDs). Here, we determined the expression profile and localization of these ER proteins/chaperons by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting in biopsy and autopsy muscle tissue of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurogenic muscular atrophies (NMAs) and compared these patterns to mouse models of neurogenic muscular atrophy. Postsynaptic neuromuscular junction staining for VAPB was intense in normal human and mouse muscle and decreased in denervated Nmd2J mouse muscle fibres. In contrast, VAPB levels together with other chaperones and autophagy markers were increased in extrasynaptic regions of denervated muscle fibres of patients with MNDs and other NMAs, especially at sites of focal myofibrillar disintegration (targets). These findings did not differ between NMAs due to ALS and other causes. G93A-SOD1 mouse muscle fibres showed a similar pattern of protein level increases in denervated muscle fibres. In addition, they showed globular VAPB-immunoreactive structures together with misfolded SOD1 protein accumulations, suggesting a primary myopathic change. Our findings indicate that altered expression and localization of these ER proteins and autophagy markers are part of the dynamic response of muscle fibres to denervation. The ER is particularly prominent and vulnerable in both muscle fibres and alpha-motoneurons. Thus, ER pathology could contribute to the selective build-up of degenerative changes in the neuromuscular axis in MNDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Jesse
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Department of Neurosurgery, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - E Bushuven
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - P Tripathi
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - A Chandrasekar
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Helmholtzstr 8/2, Ulm, 89081, Germany
| | - C M Simon
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University of Würzburg, Versbacherstr. 5, Würzburg, 97078, Germany.,Columbia University Medical Center, Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032
| | - C Drepper
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University of Würzburg, Versbacherstr. 5, Würzburg, 97078, Germany.,Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University Hospital Würzburg, Füchsleinstr. 15, Würzburg, 97080, Germany
| | - A Yamoah
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - A Dreser
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - I Katona
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - S Johann
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - C Beyer
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - S Wagner
- Department of Neurology, District Hospital Siegen, Siegen, 57076, Germany
| | - M Grond
- Department of Neurology, District Hospital Siegen, Siegen, 57076, Germany
| | - S Nikolin
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - J Anink
- Academic Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, 1105, AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D Troost
- Academic Medical Centre, Meibergdreef 9, 1105, AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - M Sendtner
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University of Würzburg, Versbacherstr. 5, Würzburg, 97078, Germany
| | - A Goswami
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - J Weis
- Institute of Neuropathology, RWTH Aachen University Medical School, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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37
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Milioto C, Malena A, Maino E, Polanco MJ, Marchioretti C, Borgia D, Pereira MG, Blaauw B, Lieberman AP, Venturini R, Plebani M, Sambataro F, Vergani L, Pegoraro E, Sorarù G, Pennuto M. Beta-agonist stimulation ameliorates the phenotype of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy mice and patient-derived myotubes. Sci Rep 2017; 7:41046. [PMID: 28117338 PMCID: PMC5259768 DOI: 10.1038/srep41046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neuromuscular disease characterized by the loss of lower motor neurons. SBMA is caused by expansions of a polyglutamine tract in the gene coding for androgen receptor (AR). Expression of polyglutamine-expanded AR causes damage to motor neurons and skeletal muscle cells. Here we investigated the effect of β-agonist stimulation in SBMA myotube cells derived from mice and patients, and in knock-in mice. We show that treatment of myotubes expressing polyglutamine-expanded AR with the β-agonist clenbuterol increases their size. Clenbuterol activated the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway and decreased the accumulation of polyglutamine-expanded AR. Treatment of SBMA knock-in mice with clenbuterol, which was started at disease onset, ameliorated motor function and extended survival. Clenbuterol improved muscle pathology, attenuated the glycolytic-to-oxidative metabolic alterations occurring in SBMA muscles and induced hypertrophy of both glycolytic and oxidative fibers. These results indicate that β-agonist stimulation is a novel therapeutic strategy for SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmelo Milioto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience and Brain Technologies, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16163 Genova, Italy.,Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, University of Genova, 16100 Genova, Italy
| | - Adriana Malena
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Eleonora Maino
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Maria J Polanco
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Caterina Marchioretti
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Doriana Borgia
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Marcelo Gomes Pereira
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Bert Blaauw
- Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Roberta Venturini
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Mario Plebani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Department of Experimental &Clinical Medical Sciences (DISM), University of Udine, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Lodovica Vergani
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Pegoraro
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
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Giorgetti E, Lieberman AP. Polyglutamine androgen receptor-mediated neuromuscular disease. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:3991-9. [PMID: 27188284 PMCID: PMC5045769 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-016-2275-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
An expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) tract at the amino-terminus of the androgen receptor (AR) confers toxic properties responsible for neuronal and non-neuronal degeneration in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), one of nine polyQ expansion diseases. Both lower motor neurons and peripheral tissues, including skeletal muscle, are affected, supporting the notion that SBMA is not a pure motor neuron disease but a degenerative disorder of the neuromuscular system. Here, we review experimental evidence demonstrating both nerve and muscle degeneration in SBMA model systems and patients. We propose that polyQ AR toxicity targets these components in a time-dependent fashion, with muscle pathology predominating early and motor neuron loss becoming more significant at late stages. This model of pathogenesis has important therapeutic implications, suggesting that symptoms arising from degeneration of nerve or muscle predominate at different points and that directed interventions targeting these components will be variably effective depending upon disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Giorgetti
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, 3510 MSRB1, 1150 West Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Andrew P Lieberman
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, 3510 MSRB1, 1150 West Medical Center Dr., Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Islam MN, Takeshita Y, Yanai A, Imagawa A, Jahan MR, Wroblewski G, Nemoto J, Fujinaga R, Shinoda K. Immunohistochemical analysis of huntingtin-associated protein 1 in adult rat spinal cord and its regional relationship with androgen receptor. Neuroscience 2016; 340:201-217. [PMID: 27984179 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2016.10.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Revised: 10/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) is a neuronal interactor with causatively polyglutamine (polyQ)-expanded huntingtin in Huntington's disease and also associated with pathologically polyQ-expanded androgen receptor (AR) in spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), being considered as a protective factor against neurodegenerative apoptosis. In normal brains, it is abundantly expressed particularly in the limbic-hypothalamic regions that tend to be spared from neurodegeneration, whereas the areas with little HAP1 expression, including the striatum, thalamus, cerebral neocortex and cerebellum, are targets in several neurodegenerative diseases. While the spinal cord is another major neurodegenerative target, HAP1-immunoreactive (ir) structures have yet to be determined there. In the current study, HAP1 expression was immunohistochemically evaluated in light and electron microscopy through the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spinal cords of the adult male rat. Our results showed that HAP1 is specifically expressed in neurons through the spinal segments and that more than 90% of neurons expressed HAP1 in lamina I-II, lamina X, and autonomic preganglionic regions. Double-immunostaining for HAP1 and AR demonstrated that more than 80% of neurons expressed both in laminae I-II and X. In contrast, HAP1 was specifically lacking in the lamina IX motoneurons with or without AR expression. The present study first demonstrated that HAP1 is abundantly expressed in spinal neurons of the somatosensory, viscerosensory, and autonomic regions but absent in somatomotor neurons, suggesting that the spinal motoneurons are, due to lack of putative HAP1 protectivity, more vulnerable to stresses in neurodegenerative diseases than other HAP1-expressing neurons probably involved in spinal sensory and autonomic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Nabiul Islam
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Yukio Takeshita
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Akie Yanai
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Amami Imagawa
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Mir Rubayet Jahan
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Greggory Wroblewski
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Joe Nemoto
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Ryutaro Fujinaga
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan
| | - Koh Shinoda
- Division of Neuroanatomy, Department of Neuroscience, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan.
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40
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Non-Cell-Autonomous Regulation of Retrograde Motoneuronal Axonal Transport in an SBMA Mouse Model. eNeuro 2016; 3:eN-NWR-0062-16. [PMID: 27517091 PMCID: PMC4978821 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0062-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Defects in axonal transport are seen in motoneuronal diseases, but how that impairment comes about is not well understood. In spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a disorder linked to a CAG/polyglutamine repeat expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) gene, the disease-causing AR disrupts axonal transport by acting in both a cell-autonomous fashion in the motoneurons themselves, and in a non-cell-autonomous fashion in muscle. The non-cell-autonomous mechanism is suggested by data from a unique “myogenic” transgenic (TG) mouse model in which an AR transgene expressed exclusively in skeletal muscle fibers triggers an androgen-dependent SBMA phenotype, including defects in retrograde transport. However, motoneurons in this TG model retain the endogenous AR gene, leaving open the possibility that impairments in transport in this model also depend on ARs in the motoneurons themselves. To test whether non-cell-autonomous mechanisms alone can perturb retrograde transport, we generated male TG mice in which the endogenous AR allele has the testicular feminization mutation (Tfm) and, consequently, is nonfunctional. Males carrying the Tfm allele alone show no deficits in motor function or axonal transport, with or without testosterone treatment. However, when Tfm males carrying the myogenic transgene (Tfm/TG) are treated with testosterone, they develop impaired motor function and defects in retrograde transport, having fewer retrogradely labeled motoneurons and deficits in endosomal flux based on time-lapse video microscopy of living axons. These findings demonstrate that non-cell-autonomous disease mechanisms originating in muscle are sufficient to induce defects in retrograde transport in motoneurons.
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Hoo FK, Hasan Sumon MS, Basri H, Wan Sulaiman WA, Stanslas J, Zaman Hashim H, Young CA. Androgen-modulating agents for spinal bulbar muscular atrophy/Kennedy's disease. THE COCHRANE DATABASE OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS 2015. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd012000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Kee Hoo
- Universiti Putra Malaysia; Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Serdang Malaysia
| | - Md. Shariful Hasan Sumon
- Universiti Putra Malaysia; Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Serdang Malaysia
| | - Hamidon Basri
- Universiti Putra Malaysia; Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Serdang Malaysia
| | - Wan Aliaa Wan Sulaiman
- Universiti Putra Malaysia; Neurology Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences; Serdang Malaysia
| | - Johnson Stanslas
- Universiti Putra Malaysia; Pharmacology and Therapeutic Unit, Department of Medicine; Fakulti Perubatan dan Sains Kesihatan Universiti Putra Malaysia Serdang Selangor Darul Ehsan Malaysia 43400
| | - Hasnur Zaman Hashim
- International Islamic University Malaysia; Neurology Department; No 25, Lorong IM 8/44, Taman Mahkota Putra Indera Mahkota 8 Kuantan Pahang Malaysia 25200
| | - Carolyn A Young
- The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust; Lower Lane Fazakerley Liverpool UK L9 7LJ
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Zboray L, Pluciennik A, Curtis D, Liu Y, Berman-Booty LD, Orr C, Kesler CT, Berger T, Gioeli D, Paschal BM, Merry DE. Preventing the Androgen Receptor N/C Interaction Delays Disease Onset in a Mouse Model of SBMA. Cell Rep 2015; 13:2312-23. [PMID: 26673324 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) and is associated with misfolding and aggregation of the mutant AR. We investigated the role of an interdomain interaction between the amino (N)-terminal FxxLF motif and carboxyl (C)-terminal AF-2 domain in a mouse model of SBMA. Male transgenic mice expressing polyQ-expanded AR with a mutation in the FxxLF motif (F23A) to prevent the N/C interaction displayed substantially improved motor function compared with N/C-intact AR-expressing mice and showed reduced pathological features of SBMA. Serine 16 phosphorylation was substantially enhanced by the F23A mutation; moreover, the protective effect of AR F23A was dependent on this phosphorylation. These results reveal an important role for the N/C interaction on disease onset in mice and suggest that targeting AR conformation could be a therapeutic strategy for patients with SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori Zboray
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Anna Pluciennik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Dana Curtis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Lisa D Berman-Booty
- Department of Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Christopher Orr
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Cristina T Kesler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia Health System, Center for Cell Signaling, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Tamar Berger
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Daniel Gioeli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Bryce M Paschal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia Health System, Center for Cell Signaling, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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43
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Pennuto M, Basso M. In Vitro and In Vivo Modeling of Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy. J Mol Neurosci 2015; 58:365-73. [PMID: 26614347 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-015-0677-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is an X-linked neuromuscular disease characterized by late-onset, progressive degeneration of lower motor neurons and skeletal muscle atrophy. SBMA is caused by expansions of a CAG trinucleotide repeat in the gene encoding the androgen receptor (AR). One striking feature of SBMA is sex specificity: SBMA fully manifests only in males, whereas females show subclinical or mild disease manifestations even when homozygous for the mutation. Since the identification of the mutation responsible for SBMA in 1991, several cell and animal models have been developed to recapitulate the main features of disease in vitro and in vivo. In this review, we describe the most widely used cellular and animal models of SBMA, highlighting advantages and disadvantages in the use of these models to gain mechanistic and therapeutic insights into SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute Lab of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy.
| | - Manuela Basso
- Laboratory of Transcriptional Neurobiology, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy.
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44
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Rinaldi C, Malik B, Greensmith L. Targeted Molecular Therapies for SBMA. J Mol Neurosci 2015; 58:335-42. [PMID: 26576772 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-015-0676-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 11/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a late-onset neuromuscular disease caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor gene which results in progressive spinal and bulbar motor neuron degeneration, and muscle atrophy. Although the causative genetic defect is known, until recently, the molecular pathogenesis of the disease was unclear, resulting in few, if any, targets for therapy development. However, over the past decade, our understanding of the pathomechanisms that play a role in SBMA has increased dramatically, and several of these pathways and mechanisms have now been investigated as possible therapeutic targets. In this review, we discuss some of the key pathomechanisms implicated in SBMA and describe some of the therapeutic strategies that have been tested in SBMA to date, which fall into four main categories: (i) gene silencing; (ii) protein quality control and/or increased protein degradation; (iii) androgen deprivation; and (iv) modulation of AR function. Finally, it is also now clear that in addition to a greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie disease, the development of an effective disease modifying therapy for SBMA will require the coordinated, collaborative effort of research teams with diverse areas of expertise, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies as well as patient groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Rinaldi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK.
| | - Bilal Malik
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Linda Greensmith
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
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45
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Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy is an X-linked neuromuscular disease caused by an expanded repeat in the androgen receptor gene. The mutant protein is toxic to motor neurons and muscle. The toxicity is ligand-dependent and likely involves aberrant interaction of the mutant androgen receptor with other nuclear factors leading to transcriptional dysregulation. Various therapeutic strategies have been effective in transgenic animal models, and the challenge now is to translate these strategies into safe and effective treatment in patients.
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46
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Onset Manifestations of Spinal and Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (Kennedy's Disease). J Mol Neurosci 2015; 58:321-9. [PMID: 26482145 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-015-0663-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is regarded as a disorder with adult onset between third and fifth decade of life. However, there is increasing evidence that SBMA may start already before adulthood. The present study investigated the following: (1) Which clinical manifestations have been described so far in the literature as initial manifestations? (2) Which was the age at onset of these manifestations? and (3) Is age at onset dependent on the CAG-repeat length if non-motor manifestations are additionally considered? Data for this review were identified by searches of MEDLINE using appropriate search terms. Onset manifestations in SBMA can be classified as frequent, rare, motor, non-motor, or questionable. Frequent are muscle weakness, cramps, fasciculations/twitching, tremor, dysarthria, dysphagia, or gynecomastia. Rare are myalgia, easy fatigability, exercise intolerance, polyneuropathy, hyper-CKemia, under-masculinized genitalia, scrotal hypospadias, microphallus, laryngospasm, or oligospermia. Questionable manifestations include sensory disturbances, cognitive impairment, increased pituitary volume, diabetes, reduced tongue pressure, elevated creatine-kinase, or low androgens/high estrogens. Age at onset is highly variable ranging from 4-76 years. Non-motor manifestations develop usually before motor manifestations. Age at onset depends on what is considered as an onset manifestation. Considering non-motor onset manifestations, age at onset is independent of the CAG-repeat size. In conclusion, age at onset of SBMA depends on what is regarded as onset manifestation. If non-motor manifestations are additionally considered, age at onset is independent of the CAG-repeat length. Since life expectancy is hardly reduced in SBMA, re-investigation of patients from published studies with regard to their initial disease profiles is recommended.
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47
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Berger TR, Montie HL, Jain P, Legleiter J, Merry DE. Identification of novel polyglutamine-expanded aggregation species in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. Brain Res 2015; 1628:254-264. [PMID: 26453288 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 09/26/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Polyglutamine-repeat disorders are part of a larger family of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by protein misfolding and aggregation. In spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), polyglutamine expansion within the androgen receptor (AR) causes progressive debilitating muscular atrophy and lower motor neuron loss in males. Although soluble polyglutamine-expanded aggregation species are considered toxic intermediates in the aggregation process, relatively little is known about the spectrum of structures that are formed. Here we identify novel polyglutamine-expanded AR aggregates that are SDS-soluble and bind the toxicity-predicting antibody 3B5H10. Soluble, 3B5H10-reactive aggregation species exist in low-density conformations and are larger by atomic force microscopy, suggesting that they may be less compact than later-stage, insoluble aggregates. We demonstrate disease-relevance in vivo and draw correlations with toxicity in vitro. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI: Neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamar R Berger
- Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Heather L Montie
- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Department of Bio-Medical Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Pranav Jain
- West Virginia University, Department of Chemistry, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Justin Legleiter
- West Virginia University, Department of Chemistry, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Diane E Merry
- Thomas Jefferson University, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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48
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McGurk L, Berson A, Bonini NM. Drosophila as an In Vivo Model for Human Neurodegenerative Disease. Genetics 2015; 201:377-402. [PMID: 26447127 PMCID: PMC4596656 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.115.179457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With the increase in the ageing population, neurodegenerative disease is devastating to families and poses a huge burden on society. The brain and spinal cord are extraordinarily complex: they consist of a highly organized network of neuronal and support cells that communicate in a highly specialized manner. One approach to tackling problems of such complexity is to address the scientific questions in simpler, yet analogous, systems. The fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has been proven tremendously valuable as a model organism, enabling many major discoveries in neuroscientific disease research. The plethora of genetic tools available in Drosophila allows for exquisite targeted manipulation of the genome. Due to its relatively short lifespan, complex questions of brain function can be addressed more rapidly than in other model organisms, such as the mouse. Here we discuss features of the fly as a model for human neurodegenerative disease. There are many distinct fly models for a range of neurodegenerative diseases; we focus on select studies from models of polyglutamine disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that illustrate the type and range of insights that can be gleaned. In discussion of these models, we underscore strengths of the fly in providing understanding into mechanisms and pathways, as a foundation for translational and therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leeanne McGurk
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Amit Berson
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Nancy M Bonini
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
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49
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Abstract
Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, or Kennedy disease, is a slowly progressive X-linked neuromuscular disease caused by a trinucleotide (CAG) repeat expansion in the androgen receptor gene. Affected males typically develop weakness in their mid-40s as well as evidence of androgen insensitivity with reduced fertility and gynecomastia. Diagnosis is often delayed because of decreased awareness of the disease, although genetic testing allows for direct diagnosis. Therapeutic strategies to block the toxicity of the mutant androgen receptor have been unsuccessful thus far, and evaluation of additional candidate therapies is underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Grunseich
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, 35 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - Kenneth H Fischbeck
- Neurogenetics Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, 35 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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50
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Trinucleotide repeats and protein folding and disease: the perspective from studies with the androgen receptor. Future Sci OA 2015; 1:FSO47. [PMID: 28031874 PMCID: PMC5137883 DOI: 10.4155/fso.15.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The androgen receptor (AR), a ligand activated transcription factor plays a number of roles in reproduction, homeostasis and pathogenesis of disease. It has two major polymorphic sequences; a polyglutamine and a polyglycine repeat that determine the length of the protein and influence receptor folding, structure and function. Here, we review the role the folding of the AR plays in the pathogenesis of spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a neuromuscular degenerative disease arising from expansion of the polyglutamine repeat. We discuss current management for SBMA patients and how research on AR structure function may lead to future drug treatments.
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