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Kubat GB, Picone P. Skeletal muscle dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a mitochondrial perspective and therapeutic approaches. Neurol Sci 2024:10.1007/s10072-024-07508-6. [PMID: 38676818 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-024-07508-6] [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: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease that results in the loss of motor neurons and severe skeletal muscle atrophy. The etiology of ALS is linked to skeletal muscle, which can activate a retrograde signaling cascade that destroys motor neurons. This is why satellite cells and mitochondria play a crucial role in the health and performance of skeletal muscles. This review presents current knowledge on the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction, skeletal muscle atrophy, muscle satellite cells, and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) in ALS. It also discusses current therapeutic strategies, including exercise, drugs, stem cells, gene therapy, and the prospective use of mitochondrial transplantation as a viable therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokhan Burcin Kubat
- Department of Mitochondria and Cellular Research, Gulhane Health Sciences Institute, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Pasquale Picone
- Istituto Per La Ricerca E L'Innovazione Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Via U. La Malfa 153, 0146, Palermo, Italy.
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Eskandari E, Negri GL, Tan S, MacAldaz ME, Ding S, Long J, Nielsen K, Spencer SE, Morin GB, Eaves CJ. Dependence of human cell survival and proliferation on the CASP3 prodomain. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:63. [PMID: 38321033 PMCID: PMC10847432 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01826-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms that regulate cell survival and proliferation are important for both the development and homeostasis of normal tissue, and as well as for the emergence and expansion of malignant cell populations. Caspase-3 (CASP3) has long been recognized for its proteolytic role in orchestrating cell death-initiated pathways and related processes; however, whether CASP3 has other functions in mammalian cells that do not depend on its known catalytic activity have remained unknown. To investigate this possibility, we examined the biological and molecular consequences of reducing CASP3 levels in normal and transformed human cells using lentiviral-mediated short hairpin-based knockdown experiments in combination with approaches designed to test the potential rescue capability of different components of the CASP3 protein. The results showed that a ≥50% reduction in CASP3 levels rapidly and consistently arrested cell cycle progression and survival in all cell types tested. Mass spectrometry-based proteomic analyses and more specific flow cytometric measurements strongly implicated CASP3 as playing an essential role in regulating intracellular protein aggregate clearance. Intriguingly, the rescue experiments utilizing different forms of the CASP3 protein showed its prosurvival function and effective removal of protein aggregates did not require its well-known catalytic capability, and pinpointed the N-terminal prodomain of CASP3 as the exclusive component needed in a diversity of human cell types. These findings identify a new mechanism that regulates human cell survival and proliferation and thus expands the complexity of how these processes can be controlled. The graphical abstract illustrates the critical role of CASP3 for sustained proliferation and survival of human cells through the clearance of protein aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebrahim Eskandari
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gian Luca Negri
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Susanna Tan
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Margarita E MacAldaz
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shengsen Ding
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Justin Long
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Karina Nielsen
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sandra E Spencer
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gregg B Morin
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Canada's Michael Smith Genome Sciences Centre, BC Cancer Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Connie J Eaves
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Baena-Lopez LA, Wang L, Wendler F. Cellular stress management by caspases. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 86:102314. [PMID: 38215516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Cellular stress plays a pivotal role in the onset of numerous human diseases. Consequently, the removal of dysfunctional cells, which undergo excessive stress-induced damage via various cell death pathways, including apoptosis, is essential for maintaining organ integrity and function. The evolutionarily conserved family of cysteine-aspartic-proteases, known as caspases, has been a key player in orchestrating apoptosis. However, recent research has unveiled the capability of these enzymes to govern fundamental cellular processes without triggering cell death. Remarkably, some of these non-lethal functions of caspases may contribute to restoring cellular equilibrium in stressed cells. This manuscript discusses how caspases can function as cellular stress managers and their potential impact on human health and disease. Additionally, it sheds light on the limitations of caspase-based therapies, given our still incomplete understanding of the biology of these enzymes, particularly in non-apoptotic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Li Wang
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX13RE, UK
| | - Franz Wendler
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX13RE, UK. https://twitter.com/wendlerfranz
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Wei H, Weaver YM, Yang C, Zhang Y, Hu G, Karner CM, Sieber M, DeBerardinis RJ, Weaver BP. Proteolytic activation of fatty acid synthase signals pan-stress resolution. Nat Metab 2024; 6:113-126. [PMID: 38167727 PMCID: PMC10822777 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00939-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Chronic stress and inflammation are both outcomes and major drivers of many human diseases. Sustained responsiveness despite mitigation suggests a failure to sense resolution of the stressor. Here we show that a proteolytic cleavage event of fatty acid synthase (FASN) activates a global cue for stress resolution in Caenorhabditis elegans. FASN is well established for biosynthesis of the fatty acid palmitate. Our results demonstrate FASN promoting an anti-inflammatory profile apart from palmitate synthesis. Redox-dependent proteolysis of limited amounts of FASN by caspase activates a C-terminal fragment sufficient to downregulate multiple aspects of stress responsiveness, including gene expression, metabolic programs and lipid droplets. The FASN C-terminal fragment signals stress resolution in a cell non-autonomous manner. Consistent with these findings, FASN processing is also seen in well-fed but not fasted male mouse liver. As downregulation of stress responses is critical to health, our findings provide a potential pathway to control diverse aspects of stress responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yi M Weaver
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Chendong Yang
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Guoli Hu
- Department of Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | - Matthew Sieber
- Department of Physiology, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, USA
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