1
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Tazir M, Nouioua S. Distal hereditary motor neuropathies. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2024:S0035-3787(23)01111-6. [PMID: 38702287 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Distal hereditary motor neuropathies (dHMN) are a group of heterogeneous hereditary disorders characterized by a slowly progressive distal pure motor neuropathy. Electrophysiology, with normal motor and sensory conduction velocities, can suggest the diagnosis of dHMN and guide the genetic study. More than thirty genes are currently associated with HMNs, but around 60 to 70% of cases of dHMN remain uncharacterized genetically. Recent cohort studies showed that HSPB1, GARS, BICB2 and DNAJB2 are among the most frequent dHMN genes and that the prevalence of the disease was calculated as 2.14 and 2.3 per 100,000. The determination of the different genes involved in dHMNs made it possible to observe a genotypic overlap with some other neurogenetic disorders and other hereditary neuropathies such as CMT2, mainly with the HSPB1, HSPB8, BICD2 and TRPV4 genes of AD-inherited transmission and recently observed with SORD gene of AR transmission which seems relatively frequent and potentially curable. Distal hereditary motor neuropathy that predominates in the upper limbs is linked mainly to three genes: GARS, BSCL2 and REEP1, whereas dHMN with vocal cord palsy is associated with SLC5A7, DCTN1 and TRPV4 genes. Among the rare AR forms of dHMN like IGHMBP2 and DNAJB2, the SIGMAR1 gene mutations as well as VRK1 variants are associated with a motor neuropathy phenotype often associated with upper motoneuron involvement. The differential diagnosis of these latter arises with juvenile forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, that could be caused also by variations of these genes, as well as hereditary spastic paraplegia. A differential diagnosis of dHMN related to Brown Vialetto Van Laere syndrome due to riboflavin transporter deficiency is important to consider because of the therapeutic possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem Tazir
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Mustapha Bacha, Algiers, Algeria; Neurosciences Laboratory, University Benyoucef Benkhedda, Algiers, Algeria.
| | - Sonia Nouioua
- Neurosciences Laboratory, University Benyoucef Benkhedda, Algiers, Algeria; Department of Neurology, EHS El Maham, Cherchell,Tipaza, Algeria
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2
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Garcia EL, Steiner RE, Raimer AC, Herring LE, Matera AG, Spring AM. Dysregulation of innate immune signaling in animal models of spinal muscular atrophy. BMC Biol 2024; 22:94. [PMID: 38664795 PMCID: PMC11044505 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01888-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating neuromuscular disease caused by hypomorphic loss of function in the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. SMA presents across a broad spectrum of disease severity. Unfortunately, genetic models of intermediate SMA have been difficult to generate in vertebrates and are thus unable to address key aspects of disease etiology. To address these issues, we developed a Drosophila model system that recapitulates the full range of SMA severity, allowing studies of pre-onset biology as well as late-stage disease processes. RESULTS Here, we carried out transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of mild and intermediate Drosophila models of SMA to elucidate molecules and pathways that contribute to the disease. Using this approach, we elaborated a role for the SMN complex in the regulation of innate immune signaling. We find that mutation or tissue-specific depletion of SMN induces hyperactivation of the immune deficiency (IMD) and Toll pathways, leading to overexpression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and ectopic formation of melanotic masses in the absence of an external challenge. Furthermore, the knockdown of downstream targets of these signaling pathways reduced melanotic mass formation caused by SMN loss. Importantly, we identify SMN as a negative regulator of a ubiquitylation complex that includes Traf6, Bendless, and Diap2 and plays a pivotal role in several signaling networks. CONCLUSIONS In alignment with recent research on other neurodegenerative diseases, these findings suggest that hyperactivation of innate immunity contributes to SMA pathology. This work not only provides compelling evidence that hyperactive innate immune signaling is a primary effect of SMN depletion, but it also suggests that the SMN complex plays a regulatory role in this process in vivo. In summary, immune dysfunction in SMA is a consequence of reduced SMN levels and is driven by cellular and molecular mechanisms that are conserved between insects and mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric L Garcia
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Rebecca E Steiner
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- RNA Discovery and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Centers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599, USA
- Present Address: Lake, Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL, USA
| | - Amanda C Raimer
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599, USA
- Present Address, Radford University, Radford, VA, USA
| | - Laura E Herring
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, USA
| | - A Gregory Matera
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599, USA.
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599, USA.
- RNA Discovery and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Centers, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, 27599, USA.
| | - Ashlyn M Spring
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, 27402, USA.
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3
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Šimić G, Vukić V, Babić M, Banović M, Berečić I, Španić E, Zubčić K, Golubić AT, Barišić Kutija M, Merkler Šorgić A, Vogrinc Ž, Lehman I, Hof PR, Sertić J, Barišić N. Total tau in cerebrospinal fluid detects treatment responders among spinal muscular atrophy types 1-3 patients treated with nusinersen. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14051. [PMID: 36513962 PMCID: PMC10915981 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Considering the substantial variability in treatment response across patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), reliable markers for monitoring response to therapy and predicting treatment responders need to be identified. The study aimed to determine if measured concentrations of disease biomarkers (total tau protein, neurofilament light chain, and S100B protein) correlate with the duration of nusinersen treatment and with scores obtained using functional scales for the assessment of motor abilities. METHODS A total of 30 subjects with SMA treated with nusinersen between 2017 and 2021 at the Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia, were included in this study. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected by lumbar puncture prior to intrathecal application of nusinersen. Protein concentrations in CSF samples were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 26 subjects. The motor functions were assessed using functional motor scales. RESULTS The main finding was significantly decreased total tau correlating with the number of nusinersen doses and motor improvement in the first 18-24 months of treatment (in all SMA patients and SMA type 1 patients). Neurofilament light chain and S100B were not significantly changed after administration of nusinersen. CONCLUSIONS The measurement of total tau concentration in CSF is a reliable index for monitoring the biomarker and clinical response to nusinersen therapy in patients with SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Šimić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain ResearchUniversity of Zagreb School of MedicineZagrebCroatia
| | - Vana Vukić
- Department of PediatricsUniversity Hospital Centre ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | - Marija Babić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain ResearchUniversity of Zagreb School of MedicineZagrebCroatia
| | - Maria Banović
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain ResearchUniversity of Zagreb School of MedicineZagrebCroatia
| | - Ivana Berečić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain ResearchUniversity of Zagreb School of MedicineZagrebCroatia
| | - Ena Španić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain ResearchUniversity of Zagreb School of MedicineZagrebCroatia
| | - Klara Zubčić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain ResearchUniversity of Zagreb School of MedicineZagrebCroatia
| | - Anja Tea Golubić
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Radiation ProtectionUniversity Hospital Centre ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | | | - Ana Merkler Šorgić
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Laboratory for Molecular DiagnosticsUniversity Hospital Centre ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | - Željka Vogrinc
- Department of Laboratory DiagnosticsUniversity Hospital Centre ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | - Ivan Lehman
- Department of PediatricsUniversity Hospital Centre ZagrebZagrebCroatia
| | - Patrick R. Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Friedman Brain Institute, and Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer's DiseaseIcahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Jadranka Sertić
- Department of Laboratory DiagnosticsUniversity Hospital Centre ZagrebZagrebCroatia
- Department of Medical Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of Zagreb School of MedicineZagrebCroatia
| | - Nina Barišić
- Department of PediatricsUniversity Hospital Centre ZagrebZagrebCroatia
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Gonzalez D, Vásquez-Doorman C, Luna A, Allende ML. Modeling Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Zebrafish: Current Advances and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1962. [PMID: 38396640 PMCID: PMC10888324 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25041962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease characterized by degeneration of lower motor neurons (LMNs), causing muscle weakness, atrophy, and paralysis. SMA is caused by mutations in the Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene and can be classified into four subgroups, depending on its severity. Even though the genetic component of SMA is well known, the precise mechanisms underlying its pathophysiology remain elusive. Thus far, there are three FDA-approved drugs for treating SMA. While these treatments have shown promising results, their costs are extremely high and unaffordable for most patients. Thus, more efforts are needed in order to identify novel therapeutic targets. In this context, zebrafish (Danio rerio) stands out as an ideal animal model for investigating neurodegenerative diseases like SMA. Its well-defined motor neuron circuits and straightforward neuromuscular structure offer distinct advantages. The zebrafish's suitability arises from its low-cost genetic manipulation and optical transparency exhibited during larval stages, which facilitates in vivo microscopy. This review explores advancements in SMA research over the past two decades, beginning with the creation of the first zebrafish model. Our review focuses on the findings using different SMA zebrafish models generated to date, including potential therapeutic targets such as U snRNPs, Etv5b, PLS3, CORO1C, Pgrn, Cpg15, Uba1, Necdin, and Pgk1, among others. Lastly, we conclude our review by emphasizing the future perspectives in the field, namely exploiting zebrafish capacity for high-throughput screening. Zebrafish, with its unique attributes, proves to be an ideal model for studying motor neuron diseases and unraveling the complexity of neuromuscular defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Gonzalez
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7800003, RM, Chile
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 8370854, RM, Chile
| | - Constanza Vásquez-Doorman
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7800003, RM, Chile
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 8370854, RM, Chile
| | - Adolfo Luna
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 8370854, RM, Chile
| | - Miguel L Allende
- Millennium Institute Center for Genome Regulation, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 7800003, RM, Chile
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5
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Dabaj I, Ducatez F, Marret S, Bekri S, Tebani A. Neuromuscular disorders in the omics era. Clin Chim Acta 2024; 553:117691. [PMID: 38081447 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2023.117691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Neuromuscular disorders encompass a spectrum of conditions characterized by primary lesions within the peripheral nervous system, which include the anterior horn cell, peripheral nerve, neuromuscular junction, and muscle. In pediatrics, most of these disorders are linked to genetic causes. Despite the considerable progress, the diagnosis of these disorders remains a challenging due to wide clinical presentation, disease heterogeneity and rarity. It is noteworthy that certain neuromuscular disorders, once deemed untreatable, can now be effectively managed through novel therapies. Biomarkers emerge as indispensable tools, serving as objective measures that not only refine diagnostic accuracy but also provide guidance for therapeutic decision-making and the ongoing monitoring of long-term outcomes. Herein a comprehensive review of biomarkers in neuromuscular disorders is provided. We highlight the role of omics-based technologies that further characterize neuromuscular pathophysiology as well as identify potential therapeutic targets to guide treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Dabaj
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Nord/Est/Ile de France Neuromuscular Reference Center CHU Rouen, Department of Neonatalogy, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Neuropediatrics, F-76000 Rouen, France.
| | - Franklin Ducatez
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Nord/Est/Ile de France Neuromuscular Reference Center CHU Rouen, Department of Neonatalogy, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Neuropediatrics, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Stéphane Marret
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, Nord/Est/Ile de France Neuromuscular Reference Center CHU Rouen, Department of Neonatalogy, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Neuropediatrics, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Soumeya Bekri
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Metabolic Biochemistry, F-76000 Rouen, France
| | - Abdellah Tebani
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM U1245, CHU Rouen, Department of Metabolic Biochemistry, F-76000 Rouen, France
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6
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Garcia EL, Steiner RE, Raimer AC, Herring LE, Matera AG, Spring AM. Dysregulation of innate immune signaling in animal models of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. bioRxiv 2023:2023.12.14.571739. [PMID: 38168196 PMCID: PMC10760185 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.14.571739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Background Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a devastating neuromuscular disease caused by hypomorphic loss of function in the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein. SMA presents across broad spectrum of disease severity. Unfortunately, vertebrate models of intermediate SMA have been difficult to generate and are thus unable to address key aspects of disease etiology. To address these issues, we developed a Drosophila model system that recapitulates the full range of SMA severity, allowing studies of pre-onset biology as well as late-stage disease processes. Results Here, we carried out transcriptomic and proteomic profiling of mild and intermediate Drosophila models of SMA to elucidate molecules and pathways that contribute to the disease. Using this approach, we elaborated a role for the SMN complex in the regulation of innate immune signaling. We find that mutation or tissue-specific depletion of SMN induces hyperactivation of the Immune Deficiency (IMD) and Toll pathways, leading to overexpression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and ectopic formation of melanotic masses in the absence of an external challenge. Furthermore, knockdown of downstream targets of these signaling pathways reduced melanotic mass formation caused by SMN loss. Importantly, we identify SMN as a negative regulator of an ubiquitylation complex that includes Traf6, Bendless and Diap2, and plays a pivotal role in several signaling networks. Conclusions In alignment with recent research on other neurodegenerative diseases, these findings suggest that hyperactivation of innate immunity contributes to SMA pathology. This work not only provides compelling evidence that hyperactive innate immune signaling is a primary effect of SMN depletion, but it also suggests that the SMN complex plays a regulatory role in this process in vivo. In summary, immune dysfunction in SMA is a consequence of reduced SMN levels and is driven by cellular and molecular mechanisms that are conserved between insects and mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric L. Garcia
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington KY, USA
| | - Rebecca E. Steiner
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Amanda C. Raimer
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Laura E. Herring
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - A. Gregory Matera
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
| | - Ashlyn M. Spring
- Integrative Program for Biological and Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill NC, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro NC, USA
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7
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Giorgia Q, Gomez Garcia de la Banda M, Smeriglio P. Role of circulating biomarkers in spinal muscular atrophy: insights from a new treatment era. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1226969. [PMID: 38020652 PMCID: PMC10679720 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1226969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a lower motor neuron disease due to biallelic mutations in the SMN1 gene on chromosome 5. It is characterized by progressive muscle weakness of limbs, bulbar and respiratory muscles. The disease is usually classified in four different phenotypes (1-4) according to age at symptoms onset and maximal motor milestones achieved. Recently, three disease modifying treatments have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), while several other innovative drugs are under study. New therapies have been game changing, improving survival and life quality for SMA patients. However, they have also intensified the need for accurate biomarkers to monitor disease progression and treatment efficacy. While clinical and neurophysiological biomarkers are well established and helpful in describing disease progression, there is a great need to develop more robust and sensitive circulating biomarkers, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and other small molecules. Used alone or in combination with clinical biomarkers, they will play a critical role in enhancing patients' stratification for clinical trials and access to approved treatments, as well as in tracking response to therapy, paving the way to the development of individualized therapeutic approaches. In this comprehensive review, we describe the foremost circulating biomarkers of current significance, analyzing existing literature on non-treated and treated patients with a special focus on neurofilaments and circulating miRNA, aiming to identify and examine their role in the follow-up of patients treated with innovative treatments, including gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Querin Giorgia
- APHP, Service de Neuromyologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre Référent pour les Maladies Neuromusculaires Nord/Est/Ile de France, Paris, France
- Institut de Myologie, I-Motion Clinical Trials Platform, Paris, France
- European Reference Center Network (Euro-NMD ERN), Paris, France
| | - Marta Gomez Garcia de la Banda
- Institut de Myologie, I-Motion Clinical Trials Platform, Paris, France
- APHP, Pediatric Neurology Department, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Centre Référent pour les Maladies Neuromusculaires Nord/Est/Ile de France, Paris, France
- APHP, Pediatric Neurology and ICU Department, Université Paris Saclay, DMU Santé de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré, Garches, France
| | - Piera Smeriglio
- Centre of Research in Myology, Institute of Myology, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Paris, France
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8
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Fay A. Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A (Now) Treatable Neurodegenerative Disease. Pediatr Clin North Am 2023; 70:963-977. [PMID: 37704354 DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2023.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive disease of the lower motor neurons associated with recessive loss of the SMN1 gene, and which leads to worsening weakness and disability, and is fatal in its most severe forms. Over the past six years, three treatments have emerged, two drugs that modify exon splicing and one gene therapy, which have transformed the management of this disease. When treated pre-symptomatically, many children show normal early motor development, and the benefits extend from the newborn period to adulthood. Similar treatment approaches are now under investigation for rare types of SMA associated with genes beyond SMN1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Fay
- University of California, San Francisco, 1875 4th Street., Suite 5A, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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9
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Signoria I, van der Pol WL, Groen EJN. Innovating spinal muscular atrophy models in the therapeutic era. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050352. [PMID: 37787662 PMCID: PMC10565113 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe, monogenetic, neuromuscular disease. A thorough understanding of its genetic cause and the availability of robust models has led to the development and approval of three gene-targeting therapies. This is a unique and exciting development for the field of neuromuscular diseases, many of which remain untreatable. The development of therapies for SMA not only opens the door to future therapeutic possibilities for other genetic neuromuscular diseases, but also informs us about the limitations of such treatments. For example, treatment response varies widely and, for many patients, significant disability remains. Currently available SMA models best recapitulate the severe types of SMA, and these models are genetically and phenotypically more homogeneous than patients. Furthermore, treating patients is leading to a shift in phenotypes with increased variability in SMA clinical presentation. Therefore, there is a need to generate model systems that better reflect these developments. Here, we will first discuss current animal models of SMA and their limitations. Next, we will discuss the characteristics required to future-proof models to assist the field in the development of additional, novel therapies for SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Signoria
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - W. Ludo van der Pol
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ewout J. N. Groen
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands
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10
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Navarro-Martínez A, Vicente-García C, Carvajal JJ. NMJ-related diseases beyond the congenital myasthenic syndromes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1216726. [PMID: 37601107 PMCID: PMC10436495 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1216726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are a special type of chemical synapse that transmits electrical stimuli from motor neurons (MNs) to their innervating skeletal muscle to induce a motor response. They are an ideal model for the study of synapses, given their manageable size and easy accessibility. Alterations in their morphology or function lead to neuromuscular disorders, such as the congenital myasthenic syndromes, which are caused by mutations in proteins located in the NMJ. In this review, we highlight novel potential candidate genes that may cause or modify NMJs-related pathologies in humans by exploring the phenotypes of hundreds of mouse models available in the literature. We also underscore the fact that NMJs may differ between species, muscles or even sexes. Hence the importance of choosing a good model organism for the study of NMJ-related diseases: only taking into account the specific features of the mammalian NMJ, experimental results would be efficiently translated to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristina Vicente-García
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo, CSIC-UPO-JA, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
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Babić M, Banović M, Berečić I, Banić T, Babić Leko M, Ulamec M, Junaković A, Kopić J, Sertić J, Barišić N, Šimić G. Molecular Biomarkers for the Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Pharmacodynamics of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5060. [PMID: 37568462 PMCID: PMC10419842 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12155060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive degenerative illness that affects 1 in every 6 to 11,000 live births. This autosomal recessive disorder is caused by homozygous deletion or mutation of the SMN1 gene (survival motor neuron). As a backup, the SMN1 gene has the SMN2 gene, which produces only 10% of the functional SMN protein. Nusinersen and risdiplam, the first FDA-approved medications, act as SMN2 pre-mRNA splicing modifiers and enhance the quantity of SMN protein produced by this gene. The emergence of new therapies for SMA has increased the demand for good prognostic and pharmacodynamic (response) biomarkers in SMA. This article discusses current molecular diagnostic, prognostic, and pharmacodynamic biomarkers that could be assessed in SMA patients' body fluids. Although various proteomic, genetic, and epigenetic biomarkers have been explored in SMA patients, more research is needed to uncover new prognostic and pharmacodynamic biomarkers (or a combination of biomarkers).
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Babić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maria Banović
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Berečić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Tea Banić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Mirjana Babić Leko
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Monika Ulamec
- Department of Pathology, University Clinical Hospital Sestre Milosrdnice Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Pathology, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Alisa Junaković
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Janja Kopić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Jadranka Sertić
- Department of Medical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nina Barišić
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Goran Šimić
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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12
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Nishio H, Niba ETE, Saito T, Okamoto K, Takeshima Y, Awano H. Spinal Muscular Atrophy: The Past, Present, and Future of Diagnosis and Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11939. [PMID: 37569314 PMCID: PMC10418635 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241511939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a lower motor neuron disease with autosomal recessive inheritance. The first cases of SMA were reported by Werdnig in 1891. Although the phenotypic variation of SMA led to controversy regarding the clinical entity of the disease, the genetic homogeneity of SMA was proved in 1990. Five years later, in 1995, the gene responsible for SMA, SMN1, was identified. Genetic testing of SMN1 has enabled precise epidemiological studies, revealing that SMA occurs in 1 of 10,000 to 20,000 live births and that more than 95% of affected patients are homozygous for SMN1 deletion. In 2016, nusinersen was the first drug approved for treatment of SMA in the United States. Two other drugs were subsequently approved: onasemnogene abeparvovec and risdiplam. Clinical trials with these drugs targeting patients with pre-symptomatic SMA (those who were diagnosed by genetic testing but showed no symptoms) revealed that such patients could achieve the milestones of independent sitting and/or walking. Following the great success of these trials, population-based newborn screening programs for SMA (more precisely, SMN1-deleted SMA) have been increasingly implemented worldwide. Early detection by newborn screening and early treatment with new drugs are expected to soon become the standards in the field of SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisahide Nishio
- Faculty of Rehabilitation, Kobe Gakuin University, 518 Arise, Ikawadani-cho, Nishi-ku, Kobe 651-2180, Japan
| | - Emma Tabe Eko Niba
- Laboratory of Molecular and Biochemical Research, Biomedical Research Core Facilities, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan;
| | - Toshio Saito
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Osaka Toneyama Medical Center, 5-1-1 Toneyama, Toyonaka 560-8552, Japan;
| | - Kentaro Okamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Ehime Prefectural Imabari Hospital, 4-5-5 Ishi-cho, Imabari 794-0006, Japan;
| | - Yasuhiro Takeshima
- Department of Pediatrics, Hyogo Medical University, 1-1 Mukogawacho, Nishinomiya 663-8501, Japan;
| | - Hiroyuki Awano
- Organization for Research Initiative and Promotion, Research Initiative Center, Tottori University, 86 Nishi-cho, Yonago 683-8503, Japan;
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13
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Kim JK, Jha NN, Awano T, Caine C, Gollapalli K, Welby E, Kim SS, Fuentes-Moliz A, Wang X, Feng Z, Sera F, Takeda T, Homma S, Ko CP, Tabares L, Ebert AD, Rich MM, Monani UR. A spinal muscular atrophy modifier implicates the SMN protein in SNARE complex assembly at neuromuscular synapses. Neuron 2023; 111:1423-1439.e4. [PMID: 36863345 PMCID: PMC10164130 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Reduced survival motor neuron (SMN) protein triggers the motor neuron disease, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Restoring SMN prevents disease, but it is not known how neuromuscular function is preserved. We used model mice to map and identify an Hspa8G470R synaptic chaperone variant, which suppressed SMA. Expression of the variant in the severely affected mutant mice increased lifespan >10-fold, improved motor performance, and mitigated neuromuscular pathology. Mechanistically, Hspa8G470R altered SMN2 splicing and simultaneously stimulated formation of a tripartite chaperone complex, critical for synaptic homeostasis, by augmenting its interaction with other complex members. Concomitantly, synaptic vesicular SNARE complex formation, which relies on chaperone activity for sustained neuromuscular synaptic transmission, was found perturbed in SMA mice and patient-derived motor neurons and was restored in modified mutants. Identification of the Hspa8G470R SMA modifier implicates SMN in SNARE complex assembly and casts new light on how deficiency of the ubiquitous protein causes motor neuron disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Ki Kim
- Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA; Center for Motor Neuron Biology & Disease, New York, NY, USA
| | - Narendra N Jha
- Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA; Center for Motor Neuron Biology & Disease, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tomoyuki Awano
- Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA; Center for Motor Neuron Biology & Disease, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charlotte Caine
- Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA; Center for Motor Neuron Biology & Disease, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kishore Gollapalli
- Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA; Center for Motor Neuron Biology & Disease, New York, NY, USA
| | - Emily Welby
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Seung-Soo Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea Fuentes-Moliz
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, University of Seville School of Medicine, 41009, Seville, Spain
| | - Xueyong Wang
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Physiology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Zhihua Feng
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Fusako Sera
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Taishi Takeda
- Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA; Center for Motor Neuron Biology & Disease, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shunichi Homma
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Chien-Ping Ko
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Lucia Tabares
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, University of Seville School of Medicine, 41009, Seville, Spain
| | - Allison D Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Mark M Rich
- Department of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Physiology, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Umrao R Monani
- Department of Neurology, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, New York, NY, USA; Center for Motor Neuron Biology & Disease, New York, NY, USA; Colleen Giblin Research Laboratory, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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14
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Hennlein L, Ghanawi H, Gerstner F, Palominos García E, Yildirim E, Saal-Bauernschubert L, Moradi M, Deng C, Klein T, Appenzeller S, Sauer M, Briese M, Simon C, Sendtner M, Jablonka S. Plastin 3 rescues cell surface translocation and activation of TrkB in spinal muscular atrophy. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202204113. [PMID: 36607273 PMCID: PMC9827530 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202204113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastin 3 (PLS3) is an F-actin-bundling protein that has gained attention as a modifier of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) pathology. SMA is a lethal pediatric neuromuscular disease caused by loss of or mutations in the Survival Motor Neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Pathophysiological hallmarks are cellular maturation defects of motoneurons prior to degeneration. Despite the observed beneficial modifying effect of PLS3, the mechanism of how it supports F-actin-mediated cellular processes in motoneurons is not yet well understood. Our data reveal disturbed F-actin-dependent translocation of the Tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB) to the cell surface of Smn-deficient motor axon terminals, resulting in reduced TrkB activation by its ligand brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Improved actin dynamics by overexpression of hPLS3 restores membrane recruitment and activation of TrkB and enhances spontaneous calcium transients by increasing Cav2.1/2 "cluster-like" formations in SMA axon terminals. Thus, our study provides a novel role for PLS3 in supporting correct alignment of transmembrane proteins, a key mechanism for (moto)-neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Hennlein
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hanaa Ghanawi
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Florian Gerstner
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Ezgi Yildirim
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Mehri Moradi
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Chunchu Deng
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Teresa Klein
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Silke Appenzeller
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken; Core Unit Bioinformatics, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus Sauer
- Department of Biotechnology and Biophysics, Biocenter, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Briese
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christian Simon
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Sendtner
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sibylle Jablonka
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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15
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Strathmann EA, Hölker I, Tschernoster N, Hosseinibarkooie S, Come J, Martinat C, Altmüller J, Wirth B. Epigenetic regulation of plastin 3 expression by the macrosatellite DXZ4 and the transcriptional regulator CHD4. Am J Hum Genet 2023; 110:442-459. [PMID: 36812914 PMCID: PMC10027515 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated Plastin 3 (PLS3) levels associate with a wide range of skeletal and neuromuscular disorders and the most common types of solid and hematopoietic cancer. Most importantly, PLS3 overexpression protects against spinal muscular atrophy. Despite its crucial role in F-actin dynamics in healthy cells and its involvement in many diseases, the mechanisms that regulate PLS3 expression are unknown. Interestingly, PLS3 is an X-linked gene and all asymptomatic SMN1-deleted individuals in SMA-discordant families who exhibit PLS3 upregulation are female, suggesting that PLS3 may escape X chromosome inactivation. To elucidate mechanisms contributing to PLS3 regulation, we performed a multi-omics analysis in two SMA-discordant families using lymphoblastoid cell lines and iPSC-derived spinal motor neurons originated from fibroblasts. We show that PLS3 tissue-specifically escapes X-inactivation. PLS3 is located ∼500 kb proximal to the DXZ4 macrosatellite, which is essential for X chromosome inactivation. By applying molecular combing in a total of 25 lymphoblastoid cell lines (asymptomatic individuals, individuals with SMA, control subjects) with variable PLS3 expression, we found a significant correlation between the copy number of DXZ4 monomers and PLS3 levels. Additionally, we identified chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4 (CHD4) as an epigenetic transcriptional regulator of PLS3 and validated co-regulation of the two genes by siRNA-mediated knock-down and overexpression of CHD4. We show that CHD4 binds the PLS3 promoter by performing chromatin immunoprecipitation and that CHD4/NuRD activates the transcription of PLS3 by dual-luciferase promoter assays. Thus, we provide evidence for a multilevel epigenetic regulation of PLS3 that may help to understand the protective or disease-associated PLS3 dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eike A Strathmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Irmgard Hölker
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Nikolai Tschernoster
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Cologne Center for Genomics and West German Genome Center, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Seyyedmohsen Hosseinibarkooie
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - Julien Come
- INSERM/ UEVE UMR 861, Université Paris Saclay, I-STEM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Cecile Martinat
- INSERM/ UEVE UMR 861, Université Paris Saclay, I-STEM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Cologne Center for Genomics and West German Genome Center, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany; Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
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16
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Abstract
Cells use the actin cytoskeleton for many of their functions, including their division, adhesion, mechanosensing, endo- and phagocytosis, migration, and invasion. Actin bundles are the main constituent of actin-rich structures involved in these processes. An ever-increasing number of proteins that crosslink actin into bundles or regulate their morphology is being identified in cells. With recent advances in high-resolution microscopy and imaging techniques, the complex process of bundles formation and the multiple forms of physiological bundles are beginning to be better understood. Here, we review the physiochemical and biological properties of four families of highly conserved and abundant actin-bundling proteins, namely, α-actinin, fimbrin/plastin, fascin, and espin. We describe the similarities and differences between these proteins, their role in the formation of physiological actin bundles, and their properties-both related and unrelated to their bundling abilities. We also review some aspects of the general mechanism of actin bundles formation, which are known from the available information on the activity of the key actin partners involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sudeepa Rajan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dmitri S. Kudryashov
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Emil Reisler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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17
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Muiños-Bühl A, Rombo R, Ling KK, Zilio E, Rigo F, Bennett CF, Wirth B. Long-Term SMN- and Ncald-ASO Combinatorial Therapy in SMA Mice and NCALD-ASO Treatment in hiPSC-Derived Motor Neurons Show Protective Effects. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044198. [PMID: 36835624 PMCID: PMC9961752 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
For SMA patients with only two SMN2 copies, available therapies might be insufficient to counteract lifelong motor neuron (MN) dysfunction. Therefore, additional SMN-independent compounds, supporting SMN-dependent therapies, might be beneficial. Neurocalcin delta (NCALD) reduction, an SMA protective genetic modifier, ameliorates SMA across species. In a low-dose SMN-ASO-treated severe SMA mouse model, presymptomatic intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of Ncald-ASO at postnatal day 2 (PND2) significantly ameliorates histological and electrophysiological SMA hallmarks at PND21. However, contrary to SMN-ASOs, Ncald-ASOs show a shorter duration of action limiting a long-term benefit. Here, we investigated the longer-term effect of Ncald-ASOs by additional i.c.v. bolus injection at PND28. Two weeks after injection of 500 µg Ncald-ASO in wild-type mice, NCALD was significantly reduced in the brain and spinal cord and well tolerated. Next, we performed a double-blinded preclinical study combining low-dose SMN-ASO (PND1) with 2× i.c.v. Ncald-ASO or CTRL-ASO (100 µg at PND2, 500 µg at PND28). Ncald-ASO re-injection significantly ameliorated electrophysiological defects and NMJ denervation at 2 months. Moreover, we developed and identified a non-toxic and highly efficient human NCALD-ASO that significantly reduced NCALD in hiPSC-derived MNs. This improved both neuronal activity and growth cone maturation of SMA MNs, emphasizing the additional protective effect of NCALD-ASO treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anixa Muiños-Bühl
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Roman Rombo
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Eleonora Zilio
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Frank Rigo
- IONIS Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | | | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, University Hospital of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Correspondence:
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18
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Cui Q, Bi H, Lv Z, Wu Q, Hua J, Gu B, Huo C, Tang M, Chen Y, Chen C, Chen S, Zhang X, Wu Z, Lao Z, Sheng N, Shen C, Zhang Y, Wu ZY, Jin Z, Yang P, Liu H, Li J, Bai G. Diverse CMT2 neuropathies are linked to aberrant G3BP interactions in stress granules. Cell 2023; 186:803-820.e25. [PMID: 36738734 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Complex diseases often involve the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2 neuropathies (CMT2) are a group of genetically heterogeneous disorders, in which similar peripheral neuropathology is inexplicably caused by various mutated genes. Their possible molecular links remain elusive. Here, we found that upon environmental stress, many CMT2-causing mutant proteins adopt similar properties by entering stress granules (SGs), where they aberrantly interact with G3BP and integrate into SG pathways. For example, glycyl-tRNA synthetase (GlyRS) is translocated from the cytoplasm into SGs upon stress, where the mutant GlyRS perturbs the G3BP-centric SG network by aberrantly binding to G3BP. This disrupts SG-mediated stress responses, leading to increased stress vulnerability in motoneurons. Disrupting this aberrant interaction rescues SG abnormalities and alleviates motor deficits in CMT2D mice. These findings reveal a stress-dependent molecular link across diverse CMT2 mutants and provide a conceptual framework for understanding genetic heterogeneity in light of environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinqin Cui
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hongyun Bi
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhanyun Lv
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qigui Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jianfeng Hua
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Bokai Gu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chanjuan Huo
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mingmin Tang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University City College School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Yanqin Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Chongjiu Chen
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Sihan Chen
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xinrui Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhangrui Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhengkai Lao
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Nengyin Sheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Chengyong Shen
- Department of Neurobiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310020, China
| | - Yongdeng Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Wu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, China
| | - Zhigang Jin
- College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Peiguo Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China
| | - Huaqing Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University City College School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Ge Bai
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Neurology of Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China; Liangzhu Laboratory, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Science and Brain-Machine Integration, State Key Laboratory of Brain-Machine Intelligence, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 311121, China; NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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19
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Glascock J, Darras BT, Crawford TO, Sumner CJ, Kolb SJ, DiDonato C, Elsheikh B, Howell K, Farwell W, Valente M, Petrillo M, Tingey J, Jarecki J. Identifying Biomarkers of Spinal Muscular Atrophy for Further Development. J Neuromuscul Dis 2023; 10:937-954. [PMID: 37458045 PMCID: PMC10578234 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-230054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by bi-allelic, recessive mutations of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene and reduced expression levels of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Degeneration of alpha motor neurons in the spinal cord causes progressive skeletal muscle weakness. The wide range of disease severities, variable rates of decline, and heterogenous clinical responses to approved disease-modifying treatment remain poorly understood and limit the ability to optimize treatment for patients. Validation of a reliable biomarker(s) with the potential to support early diagnosis, inform disease prognosis and therapeutic suitability, and/or confirm response to treatment(s) represents a significant unmet need in SMA. OBJECTIVES The SMA Multidisciplinary Biomarkers Working Group, comprising 11 experts in a variety of relevant fields, sought to determine the most promising candidate biomarker currently available, determine key knowledge gaps, and recommend next steps toward validating that biomarker for SMA. METHODS The Working Group engaged in a modified Delphi process to answer questions about candidate SMA biomarkers. Members participated in six rounds of reiterative surveys that were designed to build upon previous discussions. RESULTS The Working Group reached a consensus that neurofilament (NF) is the candidate biomarker best poised for further development. Several important knowledge gaps were identified, and the next steps toward filling these gaps were proposed. CONCLUSIONS NF is a promising SMA biomarker with the potential for prognostic, predictive, and pharmacodynamic capabilities. The Working Group has identified needed information to continue efforts toward the validation of NF as a biomarker for SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Basil T. Darras
- Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thomas O. Crawford
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Charlotte J. Sumner
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Department of Neurology and Pediatrics, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephen J. Kolb
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry & Pharmacology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | | | - Bakri Elsheikh
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kelly Howell
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation, Jackson, WY, USA
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20
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Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating neuromuscular disorder caused by recessive mutations in the SMN1 gene, globally affecting ~8-14 newborns per 100,000. The severity of the disease depends on the residual levels of functional survival of motor neuron protein, SMN. SMN is a ubiquitously expressed RNA binding protein involved in a plethora of cellular processes. In this review, we discuss the effects of SMN loss on mitochondrial functions in the neuronal and muscular systems that are the most affected in patients with spinal muscular atrophy. Our aim is to highlight how mitochondrial defects may contribute to disease progression and how restoring mitochondrial functionality may be a promising approach to develop new therapies. We also collected from previous studies a list of transcripts encoding mitochondrial proteins affected in various SMA models. Moreover, we speculate that in adulthood, when motor neurons require only very low SMN levels, the natural deterioration of mitochondria associated with aging may be a crucial triggering factor for adult spinal muscular atrophy, and this requires particular attention for therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Zilio
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Valentina Piano
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Correspondence: (V.P.); (B.W.)
| | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
- Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Correspondence: (V.P.); (B.W.)
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21
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Chen L, Roake CM, Maccallini P, Bavasso F, Dehghannasiri R, Santonicola P, Mendoza-Ferreira N, Scatolini L, Rizzuti L, Esposito A, Gallotta I, Francia S, Cacchione S, Galati A, Palumbo V, Kobin MA, Tartaglia G, Colantoni A, Proietti G, Wu Y, Hammerschmidt M, De Pittà C, Sales G, Salzman J, Pellizzoni L, Wirth B, Di Schiavi E, Gatti M, Artandi S, Raffa GD. TGS1 impacts snRNA 3'-end processing, ameliorates survival motor neuron-dependent neurological phenotypes in vivo and prevents neurodegeneration. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:12400-12424. [PMID: 35947650 PMCID: PMC9757054 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Trimethylguanosine synthase 1 (TGS1) is a highly conserved enzyme that converts the 5'-monomethylguanosine cap of small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) to a trimethylguanosine cap. Here, we show that loss of TGS1 in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and Danio rerio results in neurological phenotypes similar to those caused by survival motor neuron (SMN) deficiency. Importantly, expression of human TGS1 ameliorates the SMN-dependent neurological phenotypes in both flies and worms, revealing that TGS1 can partly counteract the effects of SMN deficiency. TGS1 loss in HeLa cells leads to the accumulation of immature U2 and U4atac snRNAs with long 3' tails that are often uridylated. snRNAs with defective 3' terminations also accumulate in Drosophila Tgs1 mutants. Consistent with defective snRNA maturation, TGS1 and SMN mutant cells also exhibit partially overlapping transcriptome alterations that include aberrantly spliced and readthrough transcripts. Together, these results identify a neuroprotective function for TGS1 and reinforce the view that defective snRNA maturation affects neuronal viability and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Chen
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Lu Chen.
| | | | - Paolo Maccallini
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Bavasso
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Roozbeh Dehghannasiri
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA,Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Natalia Mendoza-Ferreira
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Livia Scatolini
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ludovico Rizzuti
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Ivan Gallotta
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, IGB-ABT, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Sofia Francia
- IFOM-The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy,Istituto di Genetica Molecolare, CNR-Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stefano Cacchione
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Galati
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Palumbo
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Marie A Kobin
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program and Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Gian Gaetano Tartaglia
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy,Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome 00161, Italy,Center for Human Technology, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genoa 16152, Italy
| | - Alessio Colantoni
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy,Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome 00161, Italy,Center for Human Technology, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genoa 16152, Italy
| | - Gabriele Proietti
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome 00161, Italy,Center for Human Technology, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genoa 16152, Italy
| | - Yunming Wu
- Cancer Signaling and Epigenetics Program and Cancer Epigenetics Institute, Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA,Department of Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Matthias Hammerschmidt
- Institute for Zoology, Developmental Biology, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Gabriele Sales
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Julia Salzman
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA,Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Livio Pellizzoni
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University, NY 10032, USA,Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, NY 10032, USA,Department of Neurology, Columbia University, NY 10032, USA
| | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany,Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Elia Di Schiavi
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources, IBBR, CNR, Naples, Italy,Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, IGB-ABT, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Maurizio Gatti
- Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy,Istituto di Biologia e Patologia Molecolari (IBPM) del CNR, Rome, Italy
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22
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Wu Z, Feng Z, Zhu X, Dai Z, Min K, Qiu Y, Yi L, Xu L, Zhu Z. Identification of a novel splicing mutation and genotype-phenotype correlations in rare PLS3-related childhood-onset osteoporosis. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2022; 17:247. [PMID: 35752817 PMCID: PMC9233774 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02380-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background X-linked early-onset osteoporosis, caused by mutations in plastin3 (PLS3), is an extremely rare disease characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and recurrent osteoporotic fractures. There is limited information on genetic and phenotypic spectrum, as well as genotype–phenotype correlations of the disease. Moreover, whether decreased PLS3 levels were also involved in osteoporosis among subjects without PLS3 pathogenic mutations remains unknown. Methods Whole-exome sequencing and bidirectional Sanger sequencing were performed for screening and validation of pathogenic mutations. Serum biochemical parameters and clinical information of the subjects were retrospectively collected. ELISA and online datasets were utilized to investigate the association between PLS3 expression and BMD. Results We identified a novel splicing mutation (c.892-2A > G) which led to the skipping of exon 9 in a family with X-linked early-onset osteoporosis. Scoliosis represents a potential new phenotype in the patients harboring PLS3 mutations, which may be corrected by brace treatment. Genotype–phenotype analysis reveals that there was no significant difference in BMD z-scores between different types of reported mutations including this study (p = 0.5). There is a marginally significant negative correlation between age and BMD z-score (p = 0.059, r = − 0.30). The conditions of osteoporosis in all patients were improved after bisphosphonates therapy, with mean BMD z-score increased from − 2.9 to − 0.57 (p < 0.0001). Serum PLS3 levels in adolescents and adults without PLS3 pathogenic mutations but representing osteoporosis were also evaluated, while no association was found between bone mineral density and PLS3 levels (p > 0.05). Conclusions Our findings expanded the mutation and phenotype spectrum of the rare disease and highlights the importance of early diagnosis and early treatment with bisphosphonates. More reports of cases with PLS3 mutation and function studies of the gene are warranted to understand genotype–phenotype correlations. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13023-022-02380-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhichong Wu
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Joint Scoliosis Research Center of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Nanjing University, Nanjing & Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhenhua Feng
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Joint Scoliosis Research Center of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Nanjing University, Nanjing & Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiufen Zhu
- Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Disease Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhicheng Dai
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Joint Scoliosis Research Center of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Nanjing University, Nanjing & Hong Kong, China
| | - Kaixing Min
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Joint Scoliosis Research Center of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Nanjing University, Nanjing & Hong Kong, China
| | - Yong Qiu
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Joint Scoliosis Research Center of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Nanjing University, Nanjing & Hong Kong, China
| | - Long Yi
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Leilei Xu
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China.,Joint Scoliosis Research Center of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Nanjing University, Nanjing & Hong Kong, China
| | - Zezhang Zhu
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China. .,Joint Scoliosis Research Center of The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Nanjing University, Nanjing & Hong Kong, China.
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23
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Muinos-Bühl A, Rombo R, Janzen E, Ling KK, Hupperich K, Rigo F, Bennett CF, Wirth B. Combinatorial ASO-mediated therapy with low dose SMN and the protective modifier Chp1 is not sufficient to ameliorate SMA pathology hallmarks. Neurobiol Dis 2022; 171:105795. [PMID: 35724821 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating genetically inherited neuromuscular disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, leading to muscle atrophy and weakness. Although SMA is caused by homozygous mutations in SMN1, the disease severity is mainly determined by the copy number of SMN2, an almost identical gene that produces ~10% correctly spliced SMN transcripts. Recently, three FDA- and EMA-approved therapies that either increase correctly spliced SMN2 transcripts (nusinersen and risdiplam) or replace SMN1 (onasemnogen abeparvovec-xioi) have revolutionized the clinical outcome in SMA patients. However, for severely affected SMA individuals carrying only two SMN2 copies even a presymptomatic therapy might be insufficient to fully counteract disease development. Therefore, SMN-independent compounds supporting SMN-dependent therapies represent a promising therapeutic approach. Recently, we have shown a significant amelioration of SMA disease hallmarks in a severely affected SMA mouse carrying a mutant Chp1 allele when combined with low-dose of SMN antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment. CHP1 is a direct interacting partner of PLS3, a strong protective modifier of SMA. Both proteins ameliorate impaired endocytosis in SMA and significantly restore pathological hallmarks in mice. Here, we aimed to pharmacologically reduce CHP1 levels in an ASO-based combinatorial therapy targeting SMN and Chp1. Chp1 modulation is a major challenge since its genetic reduction to ~50% has shown to ameliorate SMA pathology, while the downregulation below that level causes cerebellar ataxia. Efficacy and tolerability studies determined that a single injection of 30 μg Chp1-ASO4 in the CNS is a safe dosage that significantly reduced CHP1 levels to ~50% at postnatal day (PND)14. Unfortunately, neither electrophysiological predictors such as compound muscle action potential (CMAP) or motor unit number estimation (MUNE) nor histological hallmarks of SMA in neuromuscular junction (NMJ), spinal cord or muscle were ameliorated in SMA mice treated with Chp1-ASO4 compared to CTRL-ASO at PND21. Surprisingly, CHP1 levels were almost at control level 4-weeks post injection, indicating a rather short-term effect of the ASO. Therefore, we re-administrated Chp1-ASO4 by i.c.v. bolus injection at PND28. However, no significant improvement of SMA hallmarks were seen at 2 month-of-age either. In conclusion, in contrast to the protective effect of genetically-induced Chp1 reduction on SMA, combinatorial therapy with Chp1- and SMN-ASOs failed to significantly ameliorate the SMA pathology. Chp1-ASOs compared to SMN-ASO proved to have rather short-term effect and even reinjection had no significant impact on SMA progression, suggesting that further optimization of the ASO may be required to fully explore the combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Muinos-Bühl
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
| | - R Rombo
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany.
| | - E Janzen
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - K K Ling
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA.
| | - K Hupperich
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany
| | - F Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA.
| | - C F Bennett
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA.
| | - B Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany; Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
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24
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López-Cortés A, Echeverría-Garcés G, Ramos-Medina MJ. Molecular Pathogenesis and New Therapeutic Dimensions for Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Biology 2022; 11:biology11060894. [PMID: 35741415 PMCID: PMC9219894 DOI: 10.3390/biology11060894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The condition known as 5q spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating autosomal recessive neuromuscular disease caused by a deficiency of the ubiquitous protein survival of motor neuron (SMN), which is encoded by the SMN1 and SMN2 genes. It is one of the most common pediatric recessive genetic diseases, and it represents the most common cause of hereditary infant mortality. After decades of intensive basic and clinical research efforts, and improvements in the standard of care, successful therapeutic milestones have been developed, delaying the progression of 5q SMA and increasing patient survival. At the same time, promising data from early-stage clinical trials have indicated that additional therapeutic options are likely to emerge in the near future. Here, we provide updated information on the molecular underpinnings of SMA; we also provide an overview of the rapidly evolving therapeutic landscape for SMA, including SMN-targeted therapies, SMN-independent therapies, and combinational therapies that are likely to be key for the development of treatments that are effective across a patient’s lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés López-Cortés
- Programa de Investigación en Salud Global, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Internacional SEK, Quito 170302, Ecuador
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
- Latin American Network for the Implementation and Validation of Clinical Pharmacogenomics Guidelines (RELIVAF-CYTED), 28001 Madrid, Spain; (G.E.-G.); (M.J.R.-M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Gabriela Echeverría-Garcés
- Latin American Network for the Implementation and Validation of Clinical Pharmacogenomics Guidelines (RELIVAF-CYTED), 28001 Madrid, Spain; (G.E.-G.); (M.J.R.-M.)
| | - María José Ramos-Medina
- Latin American Network for the Implementation and Validation of Clinical Pharmacogenomics Guidelines (RELIVAF-CYTED), 28001 Madrid, Spain; (G.E.-G.); (M.J.R.-M.)
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25
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Schwebach CL, Kudryashova E, Agrawal R, Zheng W, Egelman EH, Kudryashov DS. Allosteric regulation controls actin-bundling properties of human plastins. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2022; 29:519-28. [PMID: 35589838 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-022-00771-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Plastins/fimbrins are conserved actin-bundling proteins contributing to motility, cytokinesis and other cellular processes by organizing strikingly different actin assemblies as in aligned bundles and branched networks. We propose that this ability of human plastins stems from an allosteric communication between their actin-binding domains (ABD1/2) engaged in a tight spatial association. Here we show that ABD2 can bind actin three orders of magnitude stronger than ABD1, unless the domains are involved in an equally strong inhibitory engagement. A mutation mimicking physiologically relevant phosphorylation at the ABD1-ABD2 interface greatly weakened their association, dramatically potentiating actin cross-linking. Cryo-EM reconstruction revealed the ABD1-actin interface and enabled modeling of the plastin bridge and domain separation in parallel bundles. We predict that a strong and tunable allosteric inhibition between the domains allows plastins to modulate the cross-linking strength, contributing to remodeling of actin assemblies of different morphologies defining the unique place of plastins in actin organization.
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26
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Maretina MA, Valetdinova KR, Tsyganova NA, Egorova AA, Ovechkina VS, Schiöth HB, Zakian SM, Baranov VS, Kiselev AV. Identification of specific gene methylation patterns during motor neuron differentiation from spinal muscular atrophy patient-derived iPSC. Gene 2022; 811:146109. [PMID: 34871761 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.146109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 05/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy is a progressive motor neuron disorder caused by deletions or point mutations in the SMN1 gene. It is not known why motor neurons are particularly sensitive to a decrease in SMN protein levels and what factors besides SMN2 underlie the high clinical heterogeneity of the disease. Here we studied the methylation patterns of genes on sequential stages of motor neuron differentiation from induced pluripotent stem cells derived from the patients with SMA type I and II. The genes involved in the regulation of pluripotency, neural differentiation as well as those associated with spinal muscular atrophy development were included. The results show that the PAX6, HB9, CHAT, ARHGAP22, and SMN2 genes are differently methylated in cells derived from SMA patients compared to the cells of healthy individuals. This study clarifies the specificities of the disease pathogenesis and extends the knowledge of pathways involved in the SMA progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Maretina
- D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - K R Valetdinova
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novsibirsk, Russia
| | - N A Tsyganova
- D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - A A Egorova
- D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - V S Ovechkina
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novsibirsk, Russia; Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - H B Schiöth
- Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, S-75124 Uppsala, Sweden; Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - S M Zakian
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novsibirsk, Russia; Meshalkin National Medical Research Center, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, 630055 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - V S Baranov
- D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia
| | - A V Kiselev
- D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 199034 Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
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27
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Jablonka S, Hennlein L, Sendtner M. Therapy development for spinal muscular atrophy: perspectives for muscular dystrophies and neurodegenerative disorders. Neurol Res Pract 2022; 4:2. [PMID: 34983696 PMCID: PMC8725368 DOI: 10.1186/s42466-021-00162-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major efforts have been made in the last decade to develop and improve therapies for proximal spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The introduction of Nusinersen/Spinraza™ as an antisense oligonucleotide therapy, Onasemnogene abeparvovec/Zolgensma™ as an AAV9-based gene therapy and Risdiplam/Evrysdi™ as a small molecule modifier of pre-mRNA splicing have set new standards for interference with neurodegeneration. MAIN BODY Therapies for SMA are designed to interfere with the cellular basis of the disease by modifying pre-mRNA splicing and enhancing expression of the Survival Motor Neuron (SMN) protein, which is only expressed at low levels in this disorder. The corresponding strategies also can be applied to other disease mechanisms caused by loss of function or toxic gain of function mutations. The development of therapies for SMA was based on the use of cell culture systems and mouse models, as well as innovative clinical trials that included readouts that had originally been introduced and optimized in preclinical studies. This is summarized in the first part of this review. The second part discusses current developments and perspectives for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, as well as the obstacles that need to be overcome to introduce RNA-based therapies and gene therapies for these disorders. CONCLUSION RNA-based therapies offer chances for therapy development of complex neurodegenerative disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophies, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. The experiences made with these new drugs for SMA, and also the experiences in AAV gene therapies could help to broaden the spectrum of current approaches to interfere with pathophysiological mechanisms in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibylle Jablonka
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 5, 97078, Wuerzburg, Germany.
| | - Luisa Hennlein
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 5, 97078, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Sendtner
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Versbacher Str. 5, 97078, Wuerzburg, Germany.
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Chilcott EM, Muiruri EW, Hirst TC, Yáñez-Muñoz RJ. Systematic review and meta-analysis determining the benefits of in vivo genetic therapy in spinal muscular atrophy rodent models. Gene Ther 2022; 29:498-512. [PMID: 34611322 PMCID: PMC9482879 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-021-00292-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a severe childhood neuromuscular disease for which two genetic therapies, Nusinersen (Spinraza, an antisense oligonucleotide), and AVXS-101 (Zolgensma, an adeno-associated viral vector of serotype 9 AAV9), have recently been approved. We investigated the pre-clinical development of SMA genetic therapies in rodent models and whether this can predict clinical efficacy. We have performed a systematic review of relevant publications and extracted median survival and details of experimental design. A random effects meta-analysis was used to estimate and compare efficacy. We stratified by experimental design (type of genetic therapy, mouse model, route and time of administration) and sought any evidence of publication bias. 51 publications were identified containing 155 individual comparisons, comprising 2573 animals in total. Genetic therapies prolonged survival in SMA mouse models by 3.23-fold (95% CI 2.75-3.79) compared to controls. Study design characteristics accounted for significant heterogeneity between studies and greatly affected observed median survival ratios. Some evidence of publication bias was found. These data are consistent with the extended average lifespan of Spinraza- and Zolgensma-treated children in the clinic. Together, these results support that SMA has been particularly amenable to genetic therapy approaches and highlight SMA as a trailblazer for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellie M. Chilcott
- grid.4970.a0000 0001 2188 881XAGCTlab.org, Centre of Gene and Cell Therapy, Centre for Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, TW20 0EX London, UK ,Present Address: Institute for Women’s Health, UCL, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX UK
| | - Evalyne W. Muiruri
- grid.4970.a0000 0001 2188 881XAGCTlab.org, Centre of Gene and Cell Therapy, Centre for Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, TW20 0EX London, UK
| | - Theodore C. Hirst
- grid.416232.00000 0004 0399 1866Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, BT12 6BA UK
| | - Rafael J. Yáñez-Muñoz
- grid.4970.a0000 0001 2188 881XAGCTlab.org, Centre of Gene and Cell Therapy, Centre for Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, TW20 0EX London, UK
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29
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Comley LH, Kline RA, Thomson AK, Woschitz V, Landeros EV, Osman EY, Lorson CL, Murray LM. OUP accepted manuscript. Hum Mol Genet 2022; 31:3107-3119. [PMID: 35551393 PMCID: PMC9476628 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a childhood motor neuron disease caused by anomalies in the SMN1 gene. Although therapeutics have been approved for the treatment of SMA, there is a therapeutic time window, after which efficacy is reduced. Hallmarks of motor unit pathology in SMA include loss of motor-neurons and neuromuscular junction (NMJs). Following an increase in Smn levels, it is unclear how much damage can be repaired and the degree to which normal connections are re-established. Here, we perform a detailed analysis of motor unit pathology before and after restoration of Smn levels. Using a Smn-inducible mouse model of SMA, we show that genetic restoration of Smn results in a dramatic reduction in NMJ pathology, with restoration of innervation patterns, preservation of axon and endplate number and normalized expression of P53-associated transcripts. Notably, presynaptic swelling and elevated Pmaip levels remained. We analysed the effect of either early or delayed treated of an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) targeting SMN2 on a range of differentially vulnerable muscles. Following ASO administration, the majority of endplates appeared fully occupied. However, there was an underlying loss of axons and endplates, which was more prevalent following a delay in treatment. There was an increase in average motor unit size following both early and delayed treatment. Together this work demonstrates the remarkably regenerative capacity of the motor neuron following Smn restoration, but highlights that recovery is incomplete. This work suggests that there is an opportunity to enhance neuromuscular junction recovery following administration of Smn-enhancing therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura H Comley
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Rachel A Kline
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Alison K Thomson
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Victoria Woschitz
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Eric Villalón Landeros
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205-2185, USA
| | - Erkan Y Osman
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Christian L Lorson
- Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Lyndsay M Murray
- To whom correspondence should be addressed at: College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Old Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK. Tel: +44 131 651 5985;
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Buettner JM, Sime Longang JK, Gerstner F, Apel KS, Blanco-Redondo B, Sowoidnich L, Janzen E, Langenhan T, Wirth B, Simon CM. Central synaptopathy is the most conserved feature of motor circuit pathology across spinal muscular atrophy mouse models. iScience 2021; 24:103376. [PMID: 34825141 PMCID: PMC8605199 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neurodegenerative disease caused by reduced survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Recently, SMN dysfunction has been linked to individual aspects of motor circuit pathology in a severe SMA mouse model. To determine whether these disease mechanisms are conserved, we directly compared the motor circuit pathology of three SMA mouse models. The severe SMNΔ7 model exhibits vast motor circuit defects, including degeneration of motor neurons, spinal excitatory synapses, and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs). In contrast, the Taiwanese model shows very mild motor neuron pathology, but early central synaptic loss. In the intermediate Smn2B/- model, strong pathology of central excitatory synapses and NMJs precedes the late onset of p53-dependent motor neuron death. These pathological events correlate with SMN-dependent splicing dysregulation of specific mRNAs. Our study provides a knowledge base for properly tailoring future studies and identifies central excitatory synaptopathy as a key feature of motor circuit pathology in SMA. Comparison of detailed motor circuit pathology across three SMA mouse models Motor circuit pathology correlates with dysregulation of specific mRNAs Motor neuron death in severe and intermediate SMA models is p53-dependent Central excitatory synaptopathy is the most conserved feature of SMA pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannik M Buettner
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | | | - Florian Gerstner
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Katharina S Apel
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Beatriz Blanco-Redondo
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Leonie Sowoidnich
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Eva Janzen
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tobias Langenhan
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute of Biochemistry, Division of General Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
| | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christian M Simon
- Carl-Ludwig-Institute for Physiology, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04103, Germany
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Gromova A, La Spada AR. Harmony Lost: Cell-Cell Communication at the Neuromuscular Junction in Motor Neuron Disease. Trends Neurosci 2021; 43:709-724. [PMID: 32846148 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a specialized synapse that is the point of connection between motor neurons and skeletal muscle. Although developmental studies have established the importance of cell-cell communication at the NMJ for the integrity and full functionality of this synapse, the contribution of this structure as a primary driver in motor neuron disease pathogenesis remains uncertain. Here, we consider the biology of the NMJ and review emerging lines of investigation that are highlighting the importance of cell-cell interaction at the NMJ in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Ongoing research may reveal NMJ targets and pathways whose therapeutic modulation will help slow the progression of motor neuron disease, offering a novel treatment paradigm for ALS, SBMA, SMA, and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Gromova
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Albert R La Spada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and Department of Neurology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Abstract
The availability of disease modifying therapies for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has created an urgent need to identify clinically meaningful biomarkers. Biomarkers present a means to measure and evaluate neurological disease across time. Changes in biomarkers provide insight into disease progression and may reveal biologic, physiologic, or pharmacologic phenomena occurring prior to clinical detection. Efforts to identify biomarkers for SMA, a genetic motor neuron disease characterized by motor neuron degeneration and weakness, have culminated in a number of putative molecular and physiologic markers that evaluate biological media (eg, blood and cerebrospinal fluid [CSF]) or nervous system function. Such biomarkers include SMN2 copy number, SMN mRNA and protein levels, neurofilament proteins (NFs), plasma protein analytes, creatine kinase (CK) and creatinine (Crn), and various electrophysiology and imaging measures. SMN2 copy number inversely correlates with disease severity and is the best predictor of clinical outcome in untreated individuals. SMN mRNA and protein are commonly measured in the blood or CSF of patients receiving SMA therapies, particularly those aimed at increasing SMN protein expression, and provide insight into current disease state. NFs have proven to be robust prognostic, disease progression, and pharmacodynamic markers for SMA infants undergoing treatment, but less so for adolescents and adults. Select plasma proteins are altered in SMA individuals and may track response to therapy. CK and Crn from blood correlate with motor function and disease severity status and are useful for predicting which individuals will respond to therapy. Electrophysiology measures comprise the most reliable means for monitoring motor function throughout disease course and are sensitive enough to detect neuromuscular changes before overt clinical manifestation, making them robust predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers. Finally, magnetic resonance imaging and muscle ultrasonography are non-invasive techniques for studying muscle structure and physiology and are useful diagnostic tools, but cannot reliably track disease progression. Importantly, biomarkers can provide information about the underlying mechanisms of disease as well as reveal subclinical disease progression, allowing for more appropriate timing and dosing of therapy for individuals with SMA. Recent therapeutic advancements in SMA have shown promising results, though there is still a great need to identify and understand the impact of biomarkers in modulating disease onset and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan G Pino
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State
University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Kelly A Rich
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State
University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Stephen J Kolb
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State
University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and
Pharmacology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH,
USA
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Butchbach MER. Genomic Variability in the Survival Motor Neuron Genes ( SMN1 and SMN2): Implications for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Phenotype and Therapeutics Development. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157896. [PMID: 34360669 PMCID: PMC8348669 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a leading genetic cause of infant death worldwide that is characterized by loss of spinal motor neurons leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. SMA results from the loss of survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene but retention of its paralog SMN2. The copy numbers of SMN1 and SMN2 are variable within the human population with SMN2 copy number inversely correlating with SMA severity. Current therapeutic options for SMA focus on increasing SMN2 expression and alternative splicing so as to increase the amount of SMN protein. Recent work has demonstrated that not all SMN2, or SMN1, genes are equivalent and there is a high degree of genomic heterogeneity with respect to the SMN genes. Because SMA is now an actionable disease with SMN2 being the primary target, it is imperative to have a comprehensive understanding of this genomic heterogeneity with respect to hybrid SMN1–SMN2 genes generated by gene conversion events as well as partial deletions of the SMN genes. This review will describe this genetic heterogeneity in SMA and its impact on disease phenotype as well as therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. R. Butchbach
- Center for Applied Clinical Genomics, Nemours Children’s Health Delaware, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA;
- Center for Pediatric Research, Nemours Children’s Health Delaware, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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Chaytow H, Faller KME, Huang YT, Gillingwater TH. Spinal muscular atrophy: From approved therapies to future therapeutic targets for personalized medicine. Cell Rep Med 2021; 2:100346. [PMID: 34337562 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating childhood motor neuron disease that, in the most severe cases and when left untreated, leads to death within the first two years of life. Recent therapeutic advances have given hope to families and patients by compensating for the deficiency in survival motor neuron (SMN) protein via gene therapy or other genetic manipulation. However, it is now apparent that none of these therapies will cure SMA alone. In this review, we discuss the three currently licensed therapies for SMA, briefly highlighting their respective advantages and disadvantages, before considering alternative approaches to increasing SMN protein levels. We then explore recent preclinical research that is identifying and targeting dysregulated pathways secondary to, or independent of, SMN deficiency that may provide adjunctive opportunities for SMA. These additional therapies are likely to be key for the development of treatments that are effective across the lifespan of SMA patients. Three licensed SMA therapies increase SMN levels, but are not a cure Other strategies to increase SMN levels are still under development Alternatives target the correction of dysregulated pathways following SMN loss Ultimately, a range of therapies may allow for a tailored treatment
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35
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Fédou C, Camus M, Lescat O, Feuillet G, Mueller I, Ross B, Buléon M, Neau E, Alves M, Goudounéche D, Breuil B, Boizard F, Bardou Q, Casemayou A, Tack I, Dreux S, Batut J, Blader P, Burlet-Schiltz O, Decramer S, Wirth B, Klein J, Saulnier-Blache JS, Buffin-Meyer B, Schanstra JP. Mapping of the amniotic fluid proteome of fetuses with congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract identifies plastin 3 as a protein involved in glomerular integrity. J Pathol 2021; 254:575-588. [PMID: 33987838 DOI: 10.1002/path.5703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Congenital anomalies of the kidney and the urinary tract (CAKUT) are the first cause of chronic kidney disease in childhood. Several genetic and environmental origins are associated with CAKUT, but most pathogenic pathways remain elusive. Considering the amniotic fluid (AF) composition as a proxy for fetal kidney development, we analyzed the AF proteome from non-severe CAKUT (n = 19), severe CAKUT (n = 14), and healthy control (n = 22) fetuses using LC-MS/MS. We identified 471 significant proteins that discriminated the three AF groups with 81% precision. Among them, eight proteins independent of gestational age (CSPG4, LMAN2, ENDOD1, ANGPTL2, PRSS8, NGFR, ROBO4, PLS3) were associated with both the presence and the severity of CAKUT. Among those, five were part of a protein-protein interaction network involving proteins previously identified as being potentially associated with CAKUT. The actin-bundling protein PLS3 (plastin 3) was the only protein displaying a gradually increased AF abundance from control, via non-severe, to severe CAKUT. Immunohistochemistry experiments showed that PLS3 was expressed in the human fetal as well as in both the fetal and the postnatal mouse kidney. In zebrafish embryos, depletion of PLS3 led to a general disruption of embryonic growth including reduced pronephros development. In postnatal Pls3-knockout mice, kidneys were macroscopically normal, but the glomerular ultrastructure showed thickening of the basement membrane and fusion of podocyte foot processes. These structural changes were associated with albuminuria and decreased expression of podocyte markers including Wilms' tumor-1 protein, nephrin, and podocalyxin. In conclusion, we provide the first map of the CAKUT AF proteome that will serve as a reference for future studies. Among the proteins strongly associated with CAKUT, PLS3 did surprisingly not specifically affect nephrogenesis but was found as a new contributor in the maintenance of normal kidney function, at least in part through the control of glomerular integrity. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Fédou
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Mylène Camus
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, UPS, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Ophélie Lescat
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Guylène Feuillet
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Ilka Mueller
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, and Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Bryony Ross
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, and Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Marie Buléon
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Eric Neau
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Melinda Alves
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Dominique Goudounéche
- Centre de Microscopie Electronique Appliquée à la Biologie (CMEAB), Faculté de Médecine Rangueil, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Benjamin Breuil
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Franck Boizard
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Quentin Bardou
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Audrey Casemayou
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France.,Département de Néphrologie et Transplantation d'Organes, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Ivan Tack
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Sophie Dreux
- Unité de Biochimie Fœto-Placentaire, Laboratoire de Biochimie - Hormonologie CHU Robert Debré, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Julie Batut
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Unit (MCD, UMR5077), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI, FR3743), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Patrick Blader
- Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Unit (MCD, UMR5077), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI, FR3743), Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Odile Burlet-Schiltz
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, UPS, CNRS, Toulouse, France
| | - Stéphane Decramer
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France.,Service de Néphrologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital des Enfants, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France.,Centre De Référence des Maladies Rénales Rares du Sud-Ouest (SORARE), Toulouse, France
| | - Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Institute for Genetics, and Center for Rare Diseases Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Julie Klein
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean Sébastien Saulnier-Blache
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Bénédicte Buffin-Meyer
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Joost P Schanstra
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), U1297, Institut of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease, Toulouse, France.,Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France
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Deguise MO, Chehade L, Kothary R. Metabolic Dysfunction in Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5913. [PMID: 34072857 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder leading to paralysis, muscle atrophy, and death. Significant advances in antisense oligonucleotide treatment and gene therapy have made it possible for SMA patients to benefit from improvements in many aspects of the once devastating natural history of the disease. How the depletion of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, the product of the gene implicated in the disease, leads to the consequent pathogenic changes remains unresolved. Over the past few years, evidence toward a potential contribution of gastrointestinal, metabolic, and endocrine defects to disease phenotype has surfaced. These findings ranged from disrupted body composition, gastrointestinal tract, fatty acid, glucose, amino acid, and hormonal regulation. Together, these changes could have a meaningful clinical impact on disease traits. However, it is currently unclear whether these findings are secondary to widespread denervation or unique to the SMA phenotype. This review provides an in-depth account of metabolism-related research available to date, with a discussion of unique features compared to other motor neuron and related disorders.
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Wolff L, Strathmann EA, Müller I, Mählich D, Veltman C, Niehoff A, Wirth B. Plastin 3 in health and disease: a matter of balance. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5275-301. [PMID: 34023917 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03843-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
For a long time, PLS3 (plastin 3, also known as T-plastin or fimbrin) has been considered a rather inconspicuous protein, involved in F-actin-binding and -bundling. However, in recent years, a plethora of discoveries have turned PLS3 into a highly interesting protein involved in many cellular processes, signaling pathways, and diseases. PLS3 is localized on the X-chromosome, but shows sex-specific, inter-individual and tissue-specific expression variability pointing towards skewed X-inactivation. PLS3 is expressed in all solid tissues but usually not in hematopoietic cells. When escaping X-inactivation, PLS3 triggers a plethora of different types of cancers. Elevated PLS3 levels are considered a prognostic biomarker for cancer and refractory response to therapies. When it is knocked out or mutated in humans and mice, it causes osteoporosis with bone fractures; it is the only protein involved in actin dynamics responsible for osteoporosis. Instead, when PLS3 is upregulated, it acts as a highly protective SMN-independent modifier in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Here, it seems to counteract reduced F-actin levels by restoring impaired endocytosis and disturbed calcium homeostasis caused by reduced SMN levels. In contrast, an upregulation of PLS3 on wild-type level might cause osteoarthritis. This emphasizes that the amount of PLS3 in our cells must be precisely balanced; both too much and too little can be detrimental. Actin-dynamics, regulated by PLS3 among others, are crucial in a lot of cellular processes including endocytosis, cell migration, axonal growth, neurotransmission, translation, and others. Also, PLS3 levels influence the infection with different bacteria, mycosis, and other pathogens.
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Lai D, Alipanahi B, Fontanillas P, Schwantes-An TH, Aasly J, Alcalay RN, Beecham GW, Berg D, Bressman S, Brice A, Brockman K, Clark L, Cookson M, Das S, Van Deerlin V, Follett J, Farrer MJ, Trinh J, Gasser T, Goldwurm S, Gustavsson E, Klein C, Lang AE, Langston JW, Latourelle J, Lynch T, Marder K, Marras C, Martin ER, McLean CY, Mejia-Santana H, Molho E, Myers RH, Nuytemans K, Ozelius L, Payami H, Raymond D, Rogaeva E, Rogers MP, Ross OA, Samii A, Saunders-Pullman R, Schüle B, Schulte C, Scott WK, Tanner C, Tolosa E, Tomkins JE, Vilas D, Trojanowski JQ, Uitti R, Vance JM, Visanji NP, Wszolek ZK, Zabetian CP, Mirelman A, Giladi N, Orr Urtreger A, Cannon P, Fiske B, Foroud T. Genomewide Association Studies of LRRK2 Modifiers of Parkinson's Disease. Ann Neurol 2021; 90:76-88. [PMID: 33938021 PMCID: PMC8252519 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Objective The aim of this study was to search for genes/variants that modify the effect of LRRK2 mutations in terms of penetrance and age‐at‐onset of Parkinson's disease. Methods We performed the first genomewide association study of penetrance and age‐at‐onset of Parkinson's disease in LRRK2 mutation carriers (776 cases and 1,103 non‐cases at their last evaluation). Cox proportional hazard models and linear mixed models were used to identify modifiers of penetrance and age‐at‐onset of LRRK2 mutations, respectively. We also investigated whether a polygenic risk score derived from a published genomewide association study of Parkinson's disease was able to explain variability in penetrance and age‐at‐onset in LRRK2 mutation carriers. Results A variant located in the intronic region of CORO1C on chromosome 12 (rs77395454; p value = 2.5E‐08, beta = 1.27, SE = 0.23, risk allele: C) met genomewide significance for the penetrance model. Co‐immunoprecipitation analyses of LRRK2 and CORO1C supported an interaction between these 2 proteins. A region on chromosome 3, within a previously reported linkage peak for Parkinson's disease susceptibility, showed suggestive associations in both models (penetrance top variant: p value = 1.1E‐07; age‐at‐onset top variant: p value = 9.3E‐07). A polygenic risk score derived from publicly available Parkinson's disease summary statistics was a significant predictor of penetrance, but not of age‐at‐onset. Interpretation This study suggests that variants within or near CORO1C may modify the penetrance of LRRK2 mutations. In addition, common Parkinson's disease associated variants collectively increase the penetrance of LRRK2 mutations. ANN NEUROL 2021;90:82–94
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongbing Lai
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | | | | | - Tae-Hwi Schwantes-An
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Jan Aasly
- Department of Neurology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Roy N Alcalay
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Gary W Beecham
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and Dr. John T. Macdonald Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Daniela Berg
- Department of Neurology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany.,Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susan Bressman
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Alexis Brice
- Sorbonne Université, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), AP-HP, Inserm, CNRS, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Kathrin Brockman
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Lorraine Clark
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY
| | - Mark Cookson
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute of Aging, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Vivianna Van Deerlin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jordan Follett
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroscience, Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, McKnight Brain Institute, L5-101D, UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Matthew J Farrer
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroscience, Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, McKnight Brain Institute, L5-101D, UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Joanne Trinh
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Thomas Gasser
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Emil Gustavsson
- Centre for Applied Neurogenetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Christine Klein
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Anthony E Lang
- The Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - J William Langston
- Departments of Neurology, Neuroscience, and Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | | | - Timothy Lynch
- Dublin Neurological Institute at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Karen Marder
- Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Taub Institute and Sergievsky Center, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
| | - Connie Marras
- The Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | - Eden R Martin
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and Dr. John T. Macdonald Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Cory Y McLean
- 23andMe, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA.,Google LLC, Cambridge, MA
| | | | - Eric Molho
- Department of Neurology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
| | | | - Karen Nuytemans
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and Dr. John T. Macdonald Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Laurie Ozelius
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Haydeh Payami
- Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Deborah Raymond
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Ekaterina Rogaeva
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Department of Neurology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Michael P Rogers
- Department of General Surgery, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL
| | - Owen A Ross
- Departments of Neuroscience and Clinical Genomics, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL.,School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ali Samii
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System and Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Birgitt Schüle
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
| | - Claudia Schulte
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - William K Scott
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and Dr. John T. Macdonald Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Caroline Tanner
- University of California, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA
| | - Eduardo Tolosa
- Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Dolores Vilas
- Parkinson Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona (UB), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Barcelona, Spain
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | -
- 23andMe, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA
| | - Ryan Uitti
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Jeffery M Vance
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics and Dr. John T. Macdonald Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL
| | - Naomi P Visanji
- The Edmond J. Safra Program in Parkinson's Disease and the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Canada
| | | | - Cyrus P Zabetian
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System and Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Anat Mirelman
- Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nir Giladi
- Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Avi Orr Urtreger
- Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Brian Fiske
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, New York, NY
| | - Tatiana Foroud
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
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Servais L, Baranello G, Scoto M, Daron A, Oskoui M. Therapeutic interventions for spinal muscular atrophy: preclinical and early clinical development opportunities. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 30:519-527. [PMID: 33749510 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1904889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease that presents primarily in children. Abnormalities in the SMN1 gene cause reduced levels of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, while a second gene, SMN2, produces low levels of functional SMN protein. Currently available drugs do not cure, so a significant unmet need remains for patients treated after symptom onset. AREAS COVERED Drugs available in the clinic, investigational agents and key questions for researchers are discussed. A pragmatic search of the literature was performed to identify therapies in late stages of preclinical, or in early stages of clinical development. This list was compared to the CureSMA pipeline for completeness. Drugs approved for indications that have potential for impact for SMA were included. These drugs target the primary deficiency in SMN protein or other pathways involved in SMA pathophysiology that are not SMN-protein dependent. EXPERT OPINION Children treated after the onset of symptoms continue to have significant disability. Given the heterogeneity of the population phenotype evidenced by variable response to initial therapy, age at treatment onset and the need to demonstrate added value beyond approved therapeutics, the clinical development of new drugs will be challenging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Servais
- MDUK Neuromuscular Center, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,Neuromuscular Reference Center Disease, Department of Paediatrics, Liege, Belgium and University of Liege, Liège, Belgium
| | - Giovanni Baranello
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mariacristina Scoto
- Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Aurore Daron
- Neuromuscular Reference Center Disease, Department of Paediatrics, Liege, Belgium and University of Liege, Liège, Belgium
| | - Maryam Oskoui
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology & Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Lopez-Manzaneda M, Franco-Espin J, Tejero R, Cano R, Tabares L. Calcium is reduced in presynaptic mitochondria of motor nerve terminals during neurotransmission in SMA mice. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:629-643. [PMID: 33693569 PMCID: PMC8127408 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive degenerative motor neuron disease characterized by symmetrical muscle weakness and atrophy of limb and trunk muscles being the most severe genetic disease in children. In SMA mouse models, motor nerve terminals display neurotransmitter release reduction, endocytosis decrease and mitochondria alterations. The relationship between these changes is, however, not well understood. In the present study, we investigated whether the endocytosis impairment could be related to the functional alteration of the presynaptic mitochondria during action potential (AP) firing. To this aim, we generated a Synaptophysin-pHluorin (SypHy) transgenic mouse, crossed it with Taiwanese SMA mice, and recorded exo- and endocytosis and mitochondria Ca2+ signaling in real-time at ex vivo motor nerve terminals of Taiwanese-SypHy mice. The experiments were performed at the beginning of the motor symptoms to get an integrated view of the nerve terminal’s functional state before degeneration. Our electrophysiological and live imaging results demonstrated that the mitochondria’s capacity to increase matrix-free Ca2+ in SMA mice was significantly limited during nerve AP firing, except when the rate of Ca2+ entry to the cytosol was considerably reduced. These results indicate that both the mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling alterations and the secretion machinery defects are significant players in the dysfunction of the presynaptic terminal in SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Lopez-Manzaneda
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Julio Franco-Espin
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Rocio Tejero
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Raquel Cano
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
| | - Lucia Tabares
- Department of Medical Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
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Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) represents the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized clinically by bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity and postural instability, and a variety of non-motor features. The etiology of PD is unknown, however genetic, environmental and inflammatory factors may influence disease onset and progression. Genetic variability in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 confers significant genotypic and population-attributable risk for LRRK2-parkinsonism that is clinically indistinguishable from idiopathic PD. Nevertheless, the age-associated midbrain pathology observed post-mortem in LRRK2-parkinsonism may involve the abnormal accumulation of either α-synuclein or tau, or just the loss of dopaminergic neurons and gliosis. While diverse biological functions have been described for this multi-domain protein in many cell types, evidence suggests LRRK2 may sense endosomal trafficking to orchestrate dynamic changes in vesicular flux and cytoskeletal architecture. This review posits the long-held belief that synaptic-axonal dysfunction and terminal degeneration may precede dopaminergic cell loss, and provocatively questions how facets of LRRK2 biology may influence this molecular pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Follett
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Matthew J Farrer
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Beijer D, Baets J. The expanding genetic landscape of hereditary motor neuropathies. Brain 2021; 143:3540-3563. [PMID: 33210134 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary motor neuropathies are clinically and genetically diverse disorders characterized by length-dependent axonal degeneration of lower motor neurons. Although currently as many as 26 causal genes are known, there is considerable missing heritability compared to other inherited neuropathies such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Intriguingly, this genetic landscape spans a discrete number of key biological processes within the peripheral nerve. Also, in terms of underlying pathophysiology, hereditary motor neuropathies show striking overlap with several other neuromuscular and neurological disorders. In this review, we provide a current overview of the genetic spectrum of hereditary motor neuropathies highlighting recent reports of novel genes and mutations or recent discoveries in the underlying disease mechanisms. In addition, we link hereditary motor neuropathies with various related disorders by addressing the main affected pathways of disease divided into five major processes: axonal transport, tRNA aminoacylation, RNA metabolism and DNA integrity, ion channels and transporters and endoplasmic reticulum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danique Beijer
- Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neuromuscular Pathology, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jonathan Baets
- Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neuromuscular Pathology, Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Belgium.,Neuromuscular Reference Centre, Department of Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, Belgium
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Ojala KS, Reedich EJ, DiDonato CJ, Meriney SD. In Search of a Cure: The Development of Therapeutics to Alter the Progression of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Brain Sci 2021; 11:194. [PMID: 33562482 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11020194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Until the recent development of disease-modifying therapeutics, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was considered a devastating neuromuscular disease with a poor prognosis for most affected individuals. Symptoms generally present during early childhood and manifest as muscle weakness and progressive paralysis, severely compromising the affected individual’s quality of life, independence, and lifespan. SMA is most commonly caused by the inheritance of homozygously deleted SMN1 alleles with retention of one or more copies of a paralog gene, SMN2, which inversely correlates with disease severity. The recent advent and use of genetically targeted therapies have transformed SMA into a prototype for monogenic disease treatment in the era of genetic medicine. Many SMA-affected individuals receiving these therapies achieve traditionally unobtainable motor milestones and survival rates as medicines drastically alter the natural progression of this disease. This review discusses historical SMA progression and underlying disease mechanisms, highlights advances made in therapeutic research, clinical trials, and FDA-approved medicines, and discusses possible second-generation and complementary medicines as well as optimal temporal intervention windows in order to optimize motor function and improve quality of life for all SMA-affected individuals.
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Wienke J, Mertens JS, Garcia S, Lim J, Wijngaarde CA, Yeo JG, Meyer A, van den Hoogen LL, Tekstra J, Hoogendijk JE, Otten HG, Fritsch-Stork RDE, de Jager W, Seyger MMB, Thurlings RM, de Jong EMGJ, van der Kooi AJ, van der Pol WL, Arkachaisri T, Radstake TRDJ, van Royen-Kerkhof A, van Wijk F. Biomarker profiles of endothelial activation and dysfunction in rare systemic autoimmune diseases: implications for cardiovascular risk. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 60:785-801. [PMID: 32810267 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Vasculopathy is an important hallmark of systemic chronic inflammatory connective tissue diseases (CICTD) and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk. We investigated disease-specific biomarker profiles associated with endothelial dysfunction, angiogenic homeostasis and (tissue) inflammation, and their relation to disease activity in rare CICTD. METHODS A total of 38 serum proteins associated with endothelial (dys)function and inflammation were measured by multiplex-immunoassay in treatment-naive patients with localized scleroderma (LoS, 30), eosinophilic fasciitis (EF, 8) or (juvenile) dermatomyositis (34), 119 (follow-up) samples during treatment, and 65 controls. Data were analysed by unsupervised clustering, Spearman correlations, non-parametric t test and ANOVA. RESULTS The systemic CICTD, EF and dermatomyositis, had distinct biomarker profiles, with 'signature' markers galectin-9 (dermatomyositis) and CCL4, CCL18, CXCL9, fetuin, fibronectin, galectin-1 and TSP-1 (EF). In LoS, CCL18, CXCL9 and CXCL10 were subtly increased. Furthermore, dermatomyositis and EF shared upregulation of markers related to interferon (CCL2, CXCL10), endothelial activation (VCAM-1), inhibition of angiogenesis (angiopoietin-2, sVEGFR-1) and inflammation/leucocyte chemo-attraction (CCL19, CXCL13, IL-18, YKL-40), as well as disturbance of the Angiopoietin-Tie receptor system and VEGF-VEGFR system. These profiles were related to disease activity, and largely normalized during treatment. However, a subgroup of CICTD patients showed continued elevation of CXCL10, CXCL13, galectin-9, IL-18, TNFR2, VCAM-1, and/or YKL-40 during clinically inactive disease, possibly indicating subclinical interferon-driven inflammation and/or endothelial dysfunction. CONCLUSION CICTD-specific biomarker profiles revealed an anti-angiogenic, interferon-driven environment during active disease, with incomplete normalization under treatment. This warrants further investigation into monitoring of vascular biomarkers during clinical follow-up, or targeted interventions to minimize cardiovascular risk in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Wienke
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jorre S Mertens
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Samuel Garcia
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Johan Lim
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Neuroscience Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Camiel A Wijngaarde
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joo Guan Yeo
- Rheumatology and Immunology Service, Department of Paediatric Subspecialties, KK Women's and Children's Hospital and Duke-NUS Medical School, Duke, NUS, Singapore.,Translational Immunology Institute, SingHealth-Academic Medical Centre, Duke, NUS, Singapore
| | - Alain Meyer
- Service de Physiologie et d'Explorations Fonctionnelles, Centre, de Référence des, Maladies Autoimmunes Rares, Rhumatologie, Institut de Physiologie, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, France
| | - Lucas L van den Hoogen
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Janneke Tekstra
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jessica E Hoogendijk
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Henny G Otten
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ruth D E Fritsch-Stork
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Sigmund Freud Private University, Vienna, Austria, Vienna, Austria.,Medizinische Abteilung Hanusch Krankenhaus und Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Osteologie, Vienna, Austria
| | - Wilco de Jager
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke M B Seyger
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Rogier M Thurlings
- Department of Rheumatic Diseases, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Elke M G J de Jong
- Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Anneke J van der Kooi
- Department of Neurology, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Neuroscience Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - W Ludo van der Pol
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Thaschawee Arkachaisri
- Rheumatology and Immunology Service, Department of Paediatric Subspecialties, KK Women's and Children's Hospital and Duke-NUS Medical School, Duke, NUS, Singapore
| | - Timothy R D J Radstake
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Annet van Royen-Kerkhof
- Paediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Femke van Wijk
- Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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45
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Warman-Chardon J, Jasmin BJ, Kothary R, Parks RJ. Report on the 5th Ottawa International Conference on Neuromuscular Disease & Biology -October 17-19, 2019, Ottawa, Canada. J Neuromuscul Dis 2021; 8:323-334. [PMID: 33492242 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-219001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jodi Warman-Chardon
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Canada.,Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Bernard J Jasmin
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Rashmi Kothary
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Canada.,Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Robin J Parks
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Canada.,Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Canada
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Abstract
The path from gene discovery to therapy in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) has been a highly challenging endeavor, but also led to one of the most successful stories in neurogenetics. In SMA, a neuromuscular disorder with an often fatal outcome until recently, with those affected never able to sit, stand, or walk, children now achieve these motoric abilities and almost age-based development when treated presymptomatically. This review summarizes the challenges along this 30-year journey. It is also meant to inspire early-career scientists not to give up when things become difficult but to try to uncover the biological underpinnings and transform the challenge into the next big discovery. Without doubt, the improvements seen with the three therapeutic strategies in SMA are impressive; many open questions remain and are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brunhilde Wirth
- Institute of Human Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 34, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
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Abstract
Infantile-onset spinal muscular atrophy is the quintessential example of a disorder characterized by a predominantly neurodegenerative phenotype that nevertheless stems from perturbations in a housekeeping protein. Resulting from low levels of the Survival of Motor Neuron (SMN) protein, spinal muscular atrophy manifests mainly as a lower motor neuron disease. Why this is so and whether other cell types contribute to the classic spinal muscular atrophy phenotype continue to be the subject of intense investigation and are only now gaining appreciation. Yet, what is emerging is sometimes as puzzling as it is instructive, arguing for a careful re-examination of recent study outcomes, raising questions about established dogma in the field and making the case for a greater focus on milder spinal muscular atrophy models as tools to identify key mechanisms driving selective neuromuscular dysfunction in the disease. This review examines the evidence for novel molecular and cellular mechanisms that have recently been implicated in spinal muscular atrophy, highlights breakthroughs, points out caveats and poses questions that ought to serve as the basis of new investigations to better understand and treat this and other more common neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kishore Gollapalli
- Department of Neurology; Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeong-Ki Kim
- Department of Neurology; Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Umrao R Monani
- Department of Neurology; Department of Pathology & Cell Biology; Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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48
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Rouzier C, Chaussenot A, Paquis-Flucklinger V. Molecular diagnosis and genetic counseling for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Arch Pediatr 2020; 27:7S9-7S14. [DOI: 10.1016/s0929-693x(20)30270-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Vu-Han TL, Weiß C, Pumberger M. Novel therapies for spinal muscular atrophy are likely changing the patient phenotype. Spine J 2020; 20:1893-1898. [PMID: 32858169 DOI: 10.1016/j.spinee.2020.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Tu-Lan Vu-Han
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Berlin Mitte; Charité University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany.
| | - Claudia Weiß
- Center for chronically sick children, Department of Neuropediatrics; Charité University, Medicine Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin 13353, Germany
| | - Matthias Pumberger
- Center for Musculoskeletal Surgery Berlin Mitte; Charité University Medicine Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, Berlin 10117, Germany
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50
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Menduti G, Rasà DM, Stanga S, Boido M. Drug Screening and Drug Repositioning as Promising Therapeutic Approaches for Spinal Muscular Atrophy Treatment. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:592234. [PMID: 33281605 PMCID: PMC7689316 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.592234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is the most common genetic disease affecting infants and young adults. Due to mutation/deletion of the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene, SMA is characterized by the SMN protein lack, resulting in motor neuron impairment, skeletal muscle atrophy and premature death. Even if the genetic causes of SMA are well known, many aspects of its pathogenesis remain unclear and only three drugs have been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (Nusinersen-Spinraza; Onasemnogene abeparvovec or AVXS-101-Zolgensma; Risdiplam-Evrysdi): although assuring remarkable results, the therapies show some important limits including high costs, still unknown long-term effects, side effects and disregarding of SMN-independent targets. Therefore, the research of new therapeutic strategies is still a hot topic in the SMA field and many efforts are spent in drug discovery. In this review, we describe two promising strategies to select effective molecules: drug screening (DS) and drug repositioning (DR). By using compounds libraries of chemical/natural compounds and/or Food and Drug Administration-approved substances, DS aims at identifying new potentially effective compounds, whereas DR at testing drugs originally designed for the treatment of other pathologies. The drastic reduction in risks, costs and time expenditure assured by these strategies make them particularly interesting, especially for those diseases for which the canonical drug discovery process would be long and expensive. Interestingly, among the identified molecules by DS/DR in the context of SMA, besides the modulators of SMN2 transcription, we highlighted a convergence of some targeted molecular cascades contributing to SMA pathology, including cell death related-pathways, mitochondria and cytoskeleton dynamics, neurotransmitter and hormone modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marina Boido
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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