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Jagaraj CJ, Shadfar S, Kashani SA, Saravanabavan S, Farzana F, Atkin JD. Molecular hallmarks of ageing in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:111. [PMID: 38430277 PMCID: PMC10908642 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05164-9] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, severely debilitating and rapidly progressing disorder affecting motor neurons in the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. Unfortunately, there are few effective treatments, thus there remains a critical need to find novel interventions that can mitigate against its effects. Whilst the aetiology of ALS remains unclear, ageing is the major risk factor. Ageing is a slowly progressive process marked by functional decline of an organism over its lifespan. However, it remains unclear how ageing promotes the risk of ALS. At the molecular and cellular level there are specific hallmarks characteristic of normal ageing. These hallmarks are highly inter-related and overlap significantly with each other. Moreover, whilst ageing is a normal process, there are striking similarities at the molecular level between these factors and neurodegeneration in ALS. Nine ageing hallmarks were originally proposed: genomic instability, loss of telomeres, senescence, epigenetic modifications, dysregulated nutrient sensing, loss of proteostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, stem cell exhaustion, and altered inter-cellular communication. However, these were recently (2023) expanded to include dysregulation of autophagy, inflammation and dysbiosis. Hence, given the latest updates to these hallmarks, and their close association to disease processes in ALS, a new examination of their relationship to pathophysiology is warranted. In this review, we describe possible mechanisms by which normal ageing impacts on neurodegenerative mechanisms implicated in ALS, and new therapeutic interventions that may arise from this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Jones Jagaraj
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sina Shadfar
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sara Assar Kashani
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Sayanthooran Saravanabavan
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Fabiha Farzana
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- MND Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
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Dar NJ, John U, Bano N, Khan S, Bhat SA. Oxytosis/Ferroptosis in Neurodegeneration: the Underlying Role of Master Regulator Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:1507-1526. [PMID: 37725216 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03646-8] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Oxytosis/ferroptosis is an iron-dependent oxidative form of cell death triggered by lethal accumulation of phospholipid hydroperoxides (PLOOHs) in membranes. Failure of the intricate PLOOH repair system is a principle cause of ferroptotic cell death. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is distinctly vital for converting PLOOHs in membranes to non-toxic alcohols. As such, GPX4 is known as the master regulator of oxytosis/ferroptosis. Ferroptosis has been implicated in a number of disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD), etc.), ischemia/reperfusion injury, and kidney degeneration. Reduced function of GPX4 is frequently observed in degenerative disorders. In this study, we examine how diminished GPX4 function may be a critical event in triggering oxytosis/ferroptosis to perpetuate or initiate the neurodegenerative diseases and assess the possible therapeutic importance of oxytosis/ferroptosis in neurodegenerative disorders. These discoveries are important for advancing our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases because oxytosis/ferroptosis may provide a new target to slow the course of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawab John Dar
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
| | - Urmilla John
- School of Studies in Neuroscience, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India
- School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India
| | - Nargis Bano
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P, India
| | - Sameera Khan
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P, India
| | - Shahnawaz Ali Bhat
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P, India.
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Rizzuti M, Sali L, Melzi V, Scarcella S, Costamagna G, Ottoboni L, Quetti L, Brambilla L, Papadimitriou D, Verde F, Ratti A, Ticozzi N, Comi GP, Corti S, Gagliardi D. Genomic and transcriptomic advances in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 92:102126. [PMID: 37972860 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102126] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most common motor neuron disease. ALS shows substantial clinical and molecular heterogeneity. In vitro and in vivo models coupled with multiomic techniques have provided important contributions to unraveling the pathomechanisms underlying ALS. To date, despite promising results and accumulating knowledge, an effective treatment is still lacking. Here, we provide an overview of the literature on the use of genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics and microRNAs to deeply investigate the molecular mechanisms developing and sustaining ALS. We report the most relevant genes implicated in ALS pathogenesis, discussing the use of different high-throughput sequencing techniques and the role of epigenomic modifications. Furthermore, we present transcriptomic studies discussing the most recent advances, from microarrays to bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing. Finally, we discuss the use of microRNAs as potential biomarkers and promising tools for molecular intervention. The integration of data from multiple omic approaches may provide new insights into pathogenic pathways in ALS by shedding light on diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, helping to stratify patients into clinically relevant subgroups, revealing novel therapeutic targets and supporting the development of new effective therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Rizzuti
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Sali
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Melzi
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Scarcella
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Costamagna
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Linda Ottoboni
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Quetti
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Brambilla
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Federico Verde
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy; Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pietro Comi
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Neuromuscular and Rare Diseases Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Corti
- Neurology Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Delia Gagliardi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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Mimic S, Aru B, Pehlivanoğlu C, Sleiman H, Andjus PR, Yanıkkaya Demirel G. Immunology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - role of the innate and adaptive immunity. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1277399. [PMID: 38105925 PMCID: PMC10723830 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1277399] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This review aims to summarize the latest evidence about the role of innate and adaptive immunity in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a devastating neurodegenerative disease affecting upper and lower motor neurons, which involves essential cells of the immune system that play a basic role in innate or adaptive immunity, that can be neurotoxic or neuroprotective for neurons. However, distinguishing between the sole neurotoxic or neuroprotective function of certain cells such as astrocytes can be challenging due to intricate nature of these cells, the complexity of the microenvironment and the contextual factors. In this review, in regard to innate immunity we focus on the involvement of monocytes/macrophages, microglia, the complement, NK cells, neutrophils, mast cells, and astrocytes, while regarding adaptive immunity, in addition to humoral immunity the most important features and roles of T and B cells are highlighted, specifically different subsets of CD4+ as well as CD8+ T cells. The role of autoantibodies and cytokines is also discussed in distinct sections of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Mimic
- Centre for Laser Microscopy, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry “Jean Giaja”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Başak Aru
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Cemil Pehlivanoğlu
- Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Hadi Sleiman
- Faculty of Medicine, Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Pavle R. Andjus
- Centre for Laser Microscopy, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry “Jean Giaja”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
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Reis AHDEO, Figalo LB, Orsini M, Lemos B. The implications of DNA methylation for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. AN ACAD BRAS CIENC 2023; 95:e20230277. [PMID: 37909610 DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202320230277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex and serious neurodegenerative disorder that develops in consequence of the progressive loss of the upper and lower motor neurons. Cases of ALS are classified as sporadic (sALS), or familial (fALS). Over 90% of cases are sALS, while roughly 10% are related to inherited genetic mutations (fALS). Approximately 70% of the genetic mutations that contribute to fALS have been identified. On the other hand, the majority of the sALS cases have an undetermined genetic contributor and few mutations have been described, despite the advanced genetic analysis methods. Also, several factors contribute to the onset and progression of ALS. Numerous lines of evidence indicate that epigenetic changes are linked to aging, as well as neurodegenerative disorders, such as ALS. In most cases, they act as the heritable regulation of transcription by DNA methylation, histone modification and expression of noncoding RNAs. Mechanisms involving aberrant DNA methylation could be relevant to human ALS pathobiology and therapeutic targeting. Despite advances in research to find factors associated with ALS and more effective treatments, this disease remains complex and has low patient survival. Here, we provide a narrative review of the role of DNA methylation for this complex neurodegenerative disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Helena DE Oliveira Reis
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Departamento de Genética, Pavilhão Haroldo Lisboa da Cunha, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 501F, 20550-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luna B Figalo
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes, Departamento de Genética, Pavilhão Haroldo Lisboa da Cunha, Rua São Francisco Xavier, 524, Sala 501F, 20550-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marco Orsini
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Vigilância em Saúde, Universidade Iguaçu, Av. Abílio Augusto Távora, 2134, 26260-045 Nova Iguaçu, RJ, Brazil
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Departamento de Psiquiatria, Av. Venceslau Brás, 71, Botafogo, 22290-140 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Bernardo Lemos
- Coit Center for longevity and Neurotheraéutics, Departament of pharmacology and toxicology, R Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, 1703 E. Mabel St. PO Box 210207 Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Afonso GJM, Cavaleiro C, Valero J, Mota SI, Ferreiro E. Recent Advances in Extracellular Vesicles in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Emergent Perspectives. Cells 2023; 12:1763. [PMID: 37443797 PMCID: PMC10340215 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131763] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe and incurable neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive death of motor neurons, leading to paralysis and death. It is a rare disease characterized by high patient-to-patient heterogeneity, which makes its study arduous and complex. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as important players in the development of ALS. Thus, ALS phenotype-expressing cells can spread their abnormal bioactive cargo through the secretion of EVs, even in distant tissues. Importantly, owing to their nature and composition, EVs' formation and cargo can be exploited for better comprehension of this elusive disease and identification of novel biomarkers, as well as for potential therapeutic applications, such as those based on stem cell-derived exosomes. This review highlights recent advances in the identification of the role of EVs in ALS etiopathology and how EVs can be promising new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo J. M. Afonso
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (G.J.M.A.); (C.C.)
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- III-Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carla Cavaleiro
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (G.J.M.A.); (C.C.)
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- III-Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jorge Valero
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Sandra I. Mota
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (G.J.M.A.); (C.C.)
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- III-Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Ferreiro
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (G.J.M.A.); (C.C.)
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- III-Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
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Valori CF, Sulmona C, Brambilla L, Rossi D. Astrocytes: Dissecting Their Diverse Roles in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Cells 2023; 12:1450. [PMID: 37296571 PMCID: PMC10252425 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal neurodegenerative disorders often co-occurring in the same patient, a feature that suggests a common origin of the two diseases. Consistently, pathological inclusions of the same proteins as well as mutations in the same genes can be identified in both ALS/FTD. Although many studies have described several disrupted pathways within neurons, glial cells are also regarded as crucial pathogenetic contributors in ALS/FTD. Here, we focus our attention on astrocytes, a heterogenous population of glial cells that perform several functions for optimal central nervous system homeostasis. Firstly, we discuss how post-mortem material from ALS/FTD patients supports astrocyte dysfunction around three pillars: neuroinflammation, abnormal protein aggregation, and atrophy/degeneration. Furthermore, we summarize current attempts at monitoring astrocyte functions in living patients using either novel imaging strategies or soluble biomarkers. We then address how astrocyte pathology is recapitulated in animal and cellular models of ALS/FTD and how we used these models both to understand the molecular mechanisms driving glial dysfunction and as platforms for pre-clinical testing of therapeutics. Finally, we present the current clinical trials for ALS/FTD, restricting our discussion to treatments that modulate astrocyte functions, directly or indirectly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara F. Valori
- Molecular Neuropathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72072 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Sulmona
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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Hur J, Paez-Colasante X, Figueroa-Romero C, Lo TW, Barmada SJ, Paulsen MT, Ljungman M, Alakwaa FM, Savelieff MG, Goutman SA, Feldman EL. miRNA analysis reveals novel dysregulated pathways in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:934-947. [PMID: 36219176 PMCID: PMC9990999 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Its complex pathogenesis and phenotypic heterogeneity hinder therapeutic development and early diagnosis. Altered RNA metabolism is a recurrent pathophysiologic theme, including distinct microRNA (miRNA) profiles in ALS tissues. We profiled miRNAs in accessible biosamples, including skin fibroblasts and whole blood and compared them in age- and sex-matched healthy controls versus ALS participants with and without repeat expansions to chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72; C9-ALS and nonC9-ALS), the most frequent ALS mutation. We identified unique and shared profiles of differential miRNA (DmiRNA) levels in each C9-ALS and nonC9-ALS tissues versus controls. Fibroblast DmiRNAs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR and their target mRNAs by 5-bromouridine and 5-bromouridine-chase sequencing. We also performed pathway analysis to infer biological meaning, revealing anticipated, tissue-specific pathways and pathways previously linked to ALS, as well as novel pathways that could inform future research directions. Overall, we report a comprehensive study of a miRNA profile dataset from C9-ALS and nonC9-ALS participants across two accessible biosamples, providing evidence of dysregulated miRNAs in ALS and possible targets of interest. Distinct miRNA patterns in accessible tissues may also be leveraged to distinguish ALS participants from healthy controls for earlier diagnosis. Future directions may look at potential correlations of miRNA profiles with clinical parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junguk Hur
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | | | - Claudia Figueroa-Romero
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ting-wen Lo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sami J Barmada
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Michelle T Paulsen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Mats Ljungman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Fadhl M Alakwaa
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Masha G Savelieff
- NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Stephen A Goutman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Eva L Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Martínez-Iglesias O, Naidoo V, Carrera I, Corzo L, Cacabelos R. Natural Bioactive Products as Epigenetic Modulators for Treating Neurodegenerative Disorders. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:216. [PMID: 37259364 PMCID: PMC9967112 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020216] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs) are major health issues in Western countries. Despite significant efforts, no effective therapeutics for NDDs exist. Several drugs that target epigenetic mechanisms (epidrugs) have been recently developed for the treatment of NDDs, and several of these are currently being tested in clinical trials. Furthermore, various bioproducts have shown important biological effects for the potential prevention and treatment of these disorders. Here, we review the use of natural products as epidrugs to treat NDDs in order to explore the epigenetic effects and benefits of functional foods and natural bioproducts on neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olaia Martínez-Iglesias
- EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, 15165 Bergondo, Corunna, Spain
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Sierra-Magro A, Bartolome F, Lozano-Muñoz D, Alarcón-Gil J, Gine E, Sanz-SanCristobal M, Alonso-Gil S, Cortes-Canteli M, Carro E, Pérez-Castillo A, Morales-García JA. C/EBPβ Regulates TFAM Expression, Mitochondrial Function and Autophagy in Cellular Models of Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24. [PMID: 36674978 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Since there are only symptomatic treatments available, new cellular and molecular targets involved in the onset and progression of this disease are needed to develop effective treatments. CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein β (C/EBPβ) transcription factor levels are altered in patients with a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that it may be a good therapeutic target for the treatment of PD. A list of genes involved in PD that can be regulated by C/EBPβ was generated by the combination of genetic and in silico data, the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) being among them. In this paper, we observed that C/EBPβ overexpression increased TFAM promoter activity. However, downregulation of C/EBPβ in different PD/neuroinflammation cellular models produced an increase in TFAM levels, together with other mitochondrial markers. This led us to propose an accumulation of non-functional mitochondria possibly due to the alteration of their autophagic degradation in the absence of C/EBPβ. Then, we concluded that C/EBPβ is not only involved in harmful processes occurring in PD, such as inflammation, but is also implicated in mitochondrial function and autophagy in PD-like conditions.
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Shanker OR, Kumar S, Dixit AB, Banerjee J, Tripathi M, Sarat Chandra P. Epigenetics of neurological diseases. Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science 2023; 198:165-184. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
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12
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Giallongo S, Longhitano L, Denaro S, D'Aprile S, Torrisi F, La Spina E, Giallongo C, Mannino G, Lo Furno D, Zappalà A, Giuffrida R, Parenti R, Li Volti G, Tibullo D, Vicario N. The Role of Epigenetics in Neuroinflammatory-Driven Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23. [PMID: 36499544 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by the progressive loss of central and/or peripheral nervous system neurons. Within this context, neuroinflammation comes up as one of the main factors linked to neurodegeneration progression. In fact, neuroinflammation has been recognized as an outstanding factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Interestingly, neuroinflammatory diseases are characterized by dramatic changes in the epigenetic profile, which might provide novel prognostic and therapeutic factors towards neuroinflammatory treatment. Deep changes in DNA and histone methylation, along with histone acetylation and altered non-coding RNA expression, have been reported at the onset of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this work is to review the current knowledge on this field.
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13
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Mazumder S, Kiernan MC, Halliday GM, Timmins HC, Mahoney CJ. The contribution of brain banks to knowledge discovery in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A systematic review. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2022; 48:e12845. [PMID: 35921237 PMCID: PMC9804699 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, considerable efforts have been made to accelerate pathophysiological understanding of fatal neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with brain banks at the forefront. In addition to exploratory disease mechanisms, brain banks have aided our understanding with regard to clinical diagnosis, genetics and cell biology. Across neurodegenerative disorders, the impact of brain tissue in ALS research has yet to be quantified. This review aims to outline (i) how postmortem tissues from brain banks have influenced our understanding of ALS over the last 15 years, (ii) correlate the location of dedicated brain banks with the geographical prevalence of ALS, (iii) identify the frequency of features reported from postmortem studies and (iv) propose common reporting standards for materials obtained from dedicated brain banks. A systematic review was conducted using PubMed and Web of Science databases using key words. From a total of 1439 articles, 73 articles were included in the final review, following PRISMA guidelines. Following a thematic analysis, articles were categorised into five themes; clinico-pathological (13), genetic (20), transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) pathology (12), non-TDP-43 neuronal pathology (nine) and extraneuronal pathology (19). Research primarily focused on the genetics of ALS, followed by protein pathology. About 63% of the brain banks were in the United States of America and United Kingdom. The location of brain banks overall aligned with the incidence of ALS worldwide with 88% of brain banks situated in Europe and North America. An overwhelming lack of consistency in reporting and replicability was observed, strengthening the need for a standardised reporting system. Overall, postmortem material from brain banks generated substantial new knowledge in areas of genetics and proteomics and supports their ongoing role as an important research tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srestha Mazumder
- ForeFront Clinic, Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Matthew C. Kiernan
- ForeFront Clinic, Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Glenda M. Halliday
- Frontier, Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Hannah C. Timmins
- ForeFront Clinic, Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Colin J. Mahoney
- ForeFront Clinic, Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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14
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Abstract
DNA methylation is critical for the normal development and functioning of the human brain, such as the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells, synaptic plasticity, neuronal reparation, learning, and memory. Despite the physical stability of DNA and methylated DNA compared to other epigenetic modifications, some DNA methylation-based biomarkers have translated into clinical practice. Increasing reports indicate a strong association between DNA methylation profiles and various clinical outcomes in neurological diseases, making DNA methylation profiles valuable as novel clinical markers. In this review, we aim to discuss the latest evidence concerning DNA methylation alterations in the development of neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental, and neuropsychiatric diseases. We also highlighted the relationship of DNA methylation alterations with the disease progression and outcome in many neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, and autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samareh Younesian
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1971653313, Iran
| | - Amir-Mohammad Yousefi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1971653313, Iran
| | - Majid Momeny
- The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Seyed H. Ghaffari
- Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1411713135, Iran
| | - Davood Bashash
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1971653313, Iran
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15
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Roy NS, Park NI, Kim NS, Park Y, Kim BY, Kim YD, Yu JK, Kim YI, Um T, Kim S, Choi IY. Comparative Transcriptomics for Genes Related to Berberine and Berbamine Biosynthesis in Berberidaceae. Plants (Basel) 2022; 11:2676. [PMID: 36297700 PMCID: PMC9610958 DOI: 10.3390/plants11202676] [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] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Berberine and berbamine are bioactive compounds of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) present in Berberis species. The contents of berbamine are 20 times higher than berberine in leaf tissues in three closely related species: Berberis koreana, B. thunbergii and B. amurensis. This is the first report on the quantification of berberine compared to the berbamine in the Berberis species. Comparative transcriptome analyses were carried out with mRNAs from the leaf tissues of the three-species. The comparison of the transcriptomes of B. thunbergii and B. amurensis to those of B. koreana, B. thunbergii showed a consistently higher number of differentially expressed genes than B. amurensis in KEGG and DEG analyses. All genes encoding enzymes involved in berberine synthesis were identified and their expressions were variable among the three species. There was a single copy of CYP80A/berbamunine synthase in B. koreana. Methyltransferases and cytochrome P450 mono-oxidases (CYPs) are key enzymes for BIA biosynthesis. The current report contains the copy numbers and other genomic characteristics of the methyltransferases and CYPs in Berberis species. Thus, the contents of the current research are valuable for molecular characterization for the medicinal utilization of the Berberis species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Samir Roy
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Nam-Il Park
- Department of Plant Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, Korea
| | - Nam-Soo Kim
- NBIT, Kangwon National University, Gangwondaehakgil-1, Bodeumkwan 504, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Yeri Park
- Department of Plant Science, Gangneung-Wonju National University, Gangneung 25457, Korea
| | - Bo-Yun Kim
- Plant Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Korea
| | - Young-Dong Kim
- Department of Life Science, Multidisciplinary Genome Institute, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
| | - Ju-Kyung Yu
- Syngenta Crop Protection LLC, 9 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Yong-In Kim
- On Biological Resource Research Institute, Chuncheon 24239, Korea
| | - Taeyoung Um
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
| | - Soonok Kim
- Microorganism Resources Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Korea
| | - Ik-Young Choi
- Agriculture and Life Sciences Research Institute, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Korea
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16
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Glavač D, Mladinić M, Ban J, Mazzone GL, Sámano C, Tomljanović I, Jezernik G, Ravnik-Glavač M. The Potential Connection between Molecular Changes and Biomarkers Related to ALS and the Development and Regeneration of CNS. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911360. [PMID: 36232667 PMCID: PMC9570269 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are one of the greatest medical burdens of the modern age, being mostly incurable and with limited prognostic and diagnostic tools. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of motoneurons, with a complex etiology, combining genetic, epigenetic, and environmental causes. The neuroprotective therapeutic approaches are very limited, while the diagnostics rely on clinical examination and the exclusion of other diseases. The recent advancement in the discovery of molecular pathways and gene mutations involved in ALS has deepened the understanding of the disease pathology and opened the possibility for new treatments and diagnostic procedures. Recently, 15 risk loci with distinct genetic architectures and neuron-specific biology were identified as linked to ALS through common and rare variant association analyses. Interestingly, the quantity of related proteins to these genes has been found to change during early postnatal development in mammalian spinal cord tissue (opossum Monodelphis domestica) at the particular time when neuroregeneration stops being possible. Here, we discuss the possibility that the ALS-related genes/proteins could be connected to neuroregeneration and development. Moreover, since the regulation of gene expression in developmental checkpoints is frequently regulated by non-coding RNAs, we propose that studying the changes in the composition and quantity of non-coding RNA molecules, both in ALS patients and in the developing central nervous (CNS) system of the opossum at the time when neuroregeneration ceases, could reveal potential biomarkers useful in ALS prognosis and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damjan Glavač
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljublana, Slovenia
- Center for Human Genetics & Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Miranda Mladinić
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Jelena Ban
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Graciela L. Mazzone
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Medicina Traslacional (IIMT), CONICET-Universidad Austral, Buenos Aires B1629AHJ, Argentina
| | - Cynthia Sámano
- Departamento de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Unidad Cuajimalpa, Mexico City 05348, Mexico
| | - Ivana Tomljanović
- Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Gregor Jezernik
- Center for Human Genetics & Pharmacogenomics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Metka Ravnik-Glavač
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence:
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17
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Jiang L, Ngo ST. Altered TDP-43 Structure and Function: Key Insights into Aberrant RNA, Mitochondrial, and Cellular and Systemic Metabolism in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Metabolites 2022; 12:709. [PMID: 36005581 PMCID: PMC9415507 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12080709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neuromuscular disorder with no cure available and limited treatment options. ALS is a highly heterogeneous disease, whereby patients present with vastly different phenotypes. Despite this heterogeneity, over 97% of patients will exhibit pathological TAR-DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43) cytoplasmic inclusions. TDP-43 is a ubiquitously expressed RNA binding protein with the capacity to bind over 6000 RNA and DNA targets—particularly those involved in RNA, mitochondrial, and lipid metabolism. Here, we review the unique structure and function of TDP-43 and its role in affecting the aforementioned metabolic processes in ALS. Considering evidence published specifically in TDP-43-relevant in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo models we posit that TDP-43 acts in a positive feedback loop with mRNA transcription/translation, stress granules, cytoplasmic aggregates, and mitochondrial proteins causing a relentless cycle of disease-like pathology eventuating in neuronal toxicity. Given its undeniable presence in ALS pathology, TDP-43 presents as a promising target for mechanistic disease modelling and future therapeutic investigations.
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18
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Cai Z, Yin K, Liu Q, Liu M, Yang X, Cui L. Association between abnormal expression and methylation of LGALS1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Res 2022; 1792:148022. [PMID: 35872012 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.148022] [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: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE DNA methylation has been identified to play an important role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Galectin-1, encoded by LGALS1 gene, has been proved to be associated with ALS. We aimed to investigate the association between the expression and methylation of LGALS1 in blood samples from ALS patients. METHODS Forty-five patients diagnosed with ALS were enrolled. Thirty-two healthy relatives consisted the control group. Among them, samples from 12 patients and 12 controls consisted the exploration samples. In the exploration samples, mRNA expression levels were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. In all the samples, DNA methylation levels of one CpG island containing 12 CpG sites in the gene promoter were detected by bisulfite sequencing PCR, and galectin-1 levels were examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Associations between the gene expression and methylation level, as well as between the region-specific methylation level and clinical variables were calculated. RESULTS The mRNA expression level of LGALS1 was significantly increased and the promoter of LGALS1 was hypomethylated in ALS patients. Serum galectin-1 levels were significantly elevated in the ALS patients. The ALS group had significantly lower methylation level at certain CpG sites than the control group. There were significant negative associations between abnormal expression and methylation of LGALS1, as well as between region-specific methylation levels and the age of onset. CONCLUSIONS The aberrant expression and DNA methylation of LGALS1 and their association reveals epigenetic changes in ALS patients, which are helpful for early intervention and treatment for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyi Cai
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kaili Yin
- McKusick-Zhang Center for Genetic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingsheng Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xunzhe Yang
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Cui
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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19
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Cai Z, Jia X, Liu M, Yang X, Cui L. Epigenome-wide DNA methylation study of whole blood in patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Chin Med J (Engl) 2022. [PMID: 35853630 DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000002090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Epigenetics, and especially DNA methylation, contributes to the pathogenesis of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS). This study aimed to investigate the role of DNA methylation in SALS using whole blood of SALS patients. Methods: In total, 32 SALS patients and 32 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. DNA was isolated from whole blood collected from the participants. DNA methylation profiles were generated using Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip. Results: We identified 34 significant differentially methylated positions (DMPs) in whole blood from SALS patients, compared with the healthy controls. Of these DMPs, five were hypermethylated and 29 were hypomethylated; they corresponded to 13 genes. For the DMPs, ATAD3B and BLK were hypermethylated, whereas DDO, IQCE, ABCB1, DNAH9, FIGN, NRP1, TMEM87B, CCSAP, ST6GALNAC5, MYOM2, and RUSC1-AS1 were hypomethylated. We also identified 12 differentially methylated regions (DMRs), related to 12 genes (NWD1, LDHD, CIS, IQCE, TNF, PDE1C, LGALS1, CSNK1E, LRRC23, ENO2, ELOVL2, and ELOVL2-AS1). According to data from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes database, DNAH9 and TNF are involved in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathway. Correlation analysis between clinical features and DNA methylation profiling indicated that the methylation level of ELOVL2 and ARID1B was positively associated with the age of onset (r = 0.86, adjust P = 0.001) and disease duration (r = 0.83, adjust P = 0.01), respectively. Conclusions: We found aberrant methylation in DMP- and DMR-related genes, implying that many epigenetic alterations, such as the hypomethylation of DNAH9 and TNF, play important roles in ALS etiology. These findings can be helpful for developing new therapeutic interventions.
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20
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Chen W, Guo L, Li M, Wei C, Li S, Xu R. The pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: mitochondrial dysfunction, protein misfolding and epigenetics. Brain Res 2022;:147904. [PMID: 35390335 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.147904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with multiple complex mechanisms involved. Among them, mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in ALS. Multiple studies have shown that mitochondria are closely associated with reactive oxygen species production and oxidative stress and exhibit different functional states in different genetic backgrounds. In this review we explored the roles of Ca2+, autophagy, mitochondrial quality control in the regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis and their relationship with ALS. In addition, we also summarized and analyzed the roles of protein misfolding and abnormal aggregation in the pathogenesis of ALS. Moreover, we also discussed how epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and protein post-translational modification affect initiation and progression of ALS. Nevertheless, existing events still cannot fully explain the pathogenesis of ALS at present, more studies are required to explore pathological mechanisms of ALS.
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21
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Ruf WP, Hannon E, Freischmidt A, Grozdanov V, Brenner D, Müller K, Knehr A, Günther K, Dorst J, Ammerpohl O, Danzer KM, Mill J, Ludolph AC, Weishaupt JH. Methylome analysis of ALS patients and presymptomatic mutation carriers in blood cells. Neurobiol Aging 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [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] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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22
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Johnson MA, Klickstein JA, Khanna R, Gou Y, Raman M. The Cure VCP Scientific Conference 2021: Molecular and clinical insights into neurodegeneration and myopathy linked to multisystem proteinopathy-1 (MSP-1). Neurobiol Dis 2022; 169:105722. [PMID: 35405261 PMCID: PMC9169230 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2022.105722] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2021 VCP Scientific Conference took place virtually from September 9–10, 2021. This conference, planned and organized by the nonprofit patient advocacy group Cure VCP Disease, Inc. (https://www.curevcp.org), was the first VCP focused meeting since the 215th ENMC International Workshop VCP-related multi-system proteinopathy in 2016 (Evangelista et al., 2016). Mutations in VCP cause a complex and heterogenous disease termed inclusion body myopathy (IBM) with Paget’s disease of the bone (PDB) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) (IBMPFD), or multisystem proteinopathy 1 (MSP-1) Kimonis (n.d.), Kovach et al. (2001), Kimonis et al. (2000). In addition, VCP mutations also cause other age-related neurodegenerative disorders including amyptrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinsonism, Charcot-Marie type II-B, vacuolar tauopathy among others (Korb et al., 2022). The objectives of this conference were as follows: (1) to provide a forum that facilitates sharing of published and unpublished information on physiological roles of p97/VCP, and on how mutations of VCP lead to diseases; (2) to bolster understanding of mechanisms involved in p97/VCP-relevant diseases and to enable identification of therapeutics to treat these conditions; (3) to identify gaps and barriers of further discoveries and translational research in the p97/VCP field; (4) to set a concrete basic and translational research agenda for future studies including crucial discussions on biomarker discoveries and patient longitudinal studies to facilitate near-term clinical trials; (5) to accelerate cross-disciplinary research collaborations among p97/VCP researchers; (6) to enable attendees to learn about new tools and reagents with the potential to facilitate p97/VCP research; (7) to assist trainees in propelling their research and to foster mentorship from leaders in the field; and (8) to promote diversity and inclusion of under-represented minorities in p97/VCP research as diversity is critically important for strong scientific research. Given the range of topics, the VCP Scientific Conference brought together over one hundred and forty individuals representing a diverse group of research scientists, trainees, medical practitioners, industry representatives, and patient advocates. Twenty-five institutions with individuals from thirteen countries attended this virtual meeting. In this report, we summarize the major topics presented at this conference by a range of experts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle A Johnson
- Department of Developmental Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Jacob A Klickstein
- Department of Developmental Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Richa Khanna
- Department of Developmental Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Yunzi Gou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States of America
| | - Malavika Raman
- Department of Developmental Molecular and Chemical Biology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America.
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23
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Rizzuti M, Melzi V, Gagliardi D, Resnati D, Meneri M, Dioni L, Masrori P, Hersmus N, Poesen K, Locatelli M, Biella F, Silipigni R, Bollati V, Bresolin N, Comi GP, Van Damme P, Nizzardo M, Corti S. Insights into the identification of a molecular signature for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis exploiting integrated microRNA profiling of iPSC-derived motor neurons and exosomes. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:189. [PMID: 35286466 PMCID: PMC8921154 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04217-1] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). Most cases are sporadic, whereas 10% are familial. The pathological mechanisms underlying the disease are partially understood, but it is increasingly being recognized that alterations in RNA metabolism and deregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression occur in ALS. In this study, we performed miRNA expression profile analysis of iPSC-derived MNs and related exosomes from familial patients and healthy subjects. We identified dysregulation of miR-34a, miR-335 and miR-625-3p expression in both MNs and exosomes. These miRNAs regulate genes and pathways which correlate with disease pathogenesis, suggesting that studying miRNAs deregulation can contribute to deeply investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease. We also assayed the expression profile of these miRNAs in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of familial (fALS) and sporadic patients (sALS) and we identified a significant dysregulation of miR-34a-3p and miR-625-3p levels in ALS compared to controls. Taken together, all these findings suggest that miRNA analysis simultaneously performed in different human biological samples could represent a promising molecular tool to understand the etiopathogenesis of ALS and to develop new potential miRNA-based strategies in this new propitious therapeutic era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mafalda Rizzuti
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neurology Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Melzi
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neurology Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Delia Gagliardi
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplants, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Resnati
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplants, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Megi Meneri
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neurology Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Dioni
- EPIGET LAB, Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, IRCCS Ca' Granda Foundation Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Pegah Masrori
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Center for Brain and Disease, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nicole Hersmus
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Center for Brain and Disease, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Koen Poesen
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory for Molecular Neurobiomarker Research, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Martina Locatelli
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplants, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Biella
- Department of Physiopathology and Transplants, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Rosamaria Silipigni
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Ca' Granda Foundation Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Bollati
- EPIGET LAB, Unit of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, IRCCS Ca' Granda Foundation Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Nereo Bresolin
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neurology Unit, Milan, Italy.,Department of Physiopathology and Transplants, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pietro Comi
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neurology Unit, Milan, Italy.,Department of Physiopathology and Transplants, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy.,Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neuromuscular and Rare Diseases Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Philip Van Damme
- Department of Neurosciences, Laboratory of Neurobiology, Center for Brain and Disease, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Neurology Department, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Monica Nizzardo
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neurology Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Corti
- Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Neurology Unit, Milan, Italy. .,Department of Physiopathology and Transplants, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy.
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24
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Hernaiz A, Sanz A, Sentre S, Ranera B, Lopez-Pérez O, Zaragoza P, Badiola JJ, Filali H, Bolea R, Toivonen JM, Martín-Burriel I. Genome-Wide Methylation Profiling in the Thalamus of Scrapie Sheep. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:824677. [PMID: 35252421 PMCID: PMC8888973 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.824677] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Scrapie is a neurodegenerative disorder belonging to the group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). Scrapie occurs in sheep and goats, which are considered good natural animal models of these TSE. Changes in DNA methylation occur in the central nervous system (CNS) of patients suffering from prion-like neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Nevertheless, potential DNA methylation alterations have not yet been investigated in the CNS of any prion disease model or naturally infected cases, neither in humans nor in animals. Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns were studied in the thalamus obtained from sheep naturally infected with scrapie at a clinical stage (n = 4) and from controls (n = 4) by performing a whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) analysis. Ewes carried the scrapie-susceptible ARQ/ARQ PRNP genotype and were sacrificed at a similar age (4–6 years). Although the average genomic methylation levels were similar between the control and the scrapie animals, we identified 8,907 significant differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and 39 promoters (DMPs). Gene Ontology analysis revealed that hypomethylated DMRs were enriched in genes involved in transmembrane transport and cell adhesion, whereas hypermethylated DMRs were related to intracellular signal transduction genes. Moreover, genes highly expressed in specific types of CNS cells and those previously described to be differentially expressed in scrapie brains contained DMRs. Finally, a quantitative PCR (qPCR) validation indicated differences in the expression of five genes (PCDH19, SNCG, WDR45B, PEX1, and CABIN1) that matched the methylation changes observed in the genomic study. Altogether, these results suggest a potential regulatory role of DNA methylation in prion neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelaida Hernaiz
- Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica (LAGENBIO), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Arianne Sanz
- Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica (LAGENBIO), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sara Sentre
- Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica (LAGENBIO), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Beatriz Ranera
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Oscar Lopez-Pérez
- Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica (LAGENBIO), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes (CEETE), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pilar Zaragoza
- Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica (LAGENBIO), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Juan J. Badiola
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes (CEETE), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Hicham Filali
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes (CEETE), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosa Bolea
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes (CEETE), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Janne M. Toivonen
- Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica (LAGENBIO), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Martín-Burriel
- Laboratorio de Genética Bioquímica (LAGENBIO), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Encefalopatías y Enfermedades Transmisibles Emergentes (CEETE), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza-IA2, IIS, Zaragoza, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Inmaculada Martín-Burriel
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25
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Kaur G, Rathod SSS, Ghoneim MM, Alshehri S, Ahmad J, Mishra A, Alhakamy NA. DNA Methylation: A Promising Approach in Management of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biology (Basel) 2022; 11:biology11010090. [PMID: 35053088 PMCID: PMC8773419 DOI: 10.3390/biology11010090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification of genes which affects corresponding gene expression. During the developmental stage, embryonic stem cells undergo various epigenetic modifications to produce different specialized cells. DNA methylation appears as one of the important epigenetic modifications which not only potentiate neuronal development but also have been sought in various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. The present work focuses on the history of DNA methylation, its role in neurodevelopment functions, and how assessment of DNA hypermethylation and hypomethylation can be utilized for the prognosis of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. This review also paves the way for the development of novel treatment strategies based on targeting DNA methylation in neurodegenerative diseases. Abstract DNA methylation, in the mammalian genome, is an epigenetic modification that involves the transfer of a methyl group on the C5 position of cytosine to derive 5-methylcytosine. The role of DNA methylation in the development of the nervous system and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease has been an interesting research area. Furthermore, mutations altering DNA methylation affect neurodevelopmental functions and may cause the progression of several neurodegenerative diseases. Epigenetic modifications in neurodegenerative diseases are widely studied in different populations to uncover the plausible mechanisms contributing to the development and progression of the disease and detect novel biomarkers for early prognosis and future pharmacotherapeutic targets. In this manuscript, we summarize the association of DNA methylation with the pathogenesis of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, such as, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington diseases, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and discuss the potential of DNA methylation as a potential biomarker and therapeutic tool for neurogenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gagandeep Kaur
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India; (G.K.); (S.S.S.R.)
| | - Suraj Singh S. Rathod
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara 144411, Punjab, India; (G.K.); (S.S.S.R.)
| | - Mohammed M. Ghoneim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, AlMaarefa University, Ad Diriyah 13713, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Sultan Alshehri
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Javed Ahmad
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Najran University, Najran 11001, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Awanish Mishra
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER)—Guwahati, Changsari, Kamrup 781101, Assam, India
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +91-972-1554-158 or +91-829-976-4600
| | - Nabil A. Alhakamy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
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26
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Abstract
Neurological diseases are highly prevalent and constitute a significant cause of mortality and disability. Neurological disorders encompass a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative conditions, broadly characterized by injury to the peripheral and/or central nervous system. Although the etiology of neurological diseases varies greatly, they share several characteristics, such as heterogeneity of clinical presentation, non-cell autonomous nature, and diversity of cellular, subcellular, and molecular pathways. Systems biology has emerged as a valuable platform for addressing the challenges of studying heterogeneous neurological diseases. Systems biology has manifold applications to address unmet medical needs for neurological illness, including integrating and correlating different large datasets covering the transcriptome, epigenome, proteome, and metabolome associated with a specific condition. This is particularly useful for disentangling the heterogeneity and complexity of neurological conditions. Hence, systems biology can help in uncovering pathophysiology to develop novel therapeutic targets and assessing the impact of known treatments on disease progression. Additionally, systems biology can identify early diagnostic biomarkers, to help diagnose neurological disease preceded by a long subclinical phase, as well as define the exposome, the collection of environmental toxicants that increase risk of certain neurological diseases. In addition to these current applications, there are numerous potential emergent uses, such as precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masha G Savelieff
- NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Mohamed H Noureldein
- NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Eva L Feldman
- NeuroNetwork for Emerging Therapies, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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27
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Duman JG, Blanco FA, Cronkite CA, Ru Q, Erikson KC, Mulherkar S, Saifullah AB, Firozi K, Tolias KF. Rac-maninoff and Rho-vel: The symphony of Rho-GTPase signaling at excitatory synapses. Small GTPases 2022; 13:14-47. [PMID: 33955328 PMCID: PMC9707551 DOI: 10.1080/21541248.2021.1885264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Synaptic connections between neurons are essential for every facet of human cognition and are thus regulated with extreme precision. Rho-family GTPases, molecular switches that cycle between an active GTP-bound state and an inactive GDP-bound state, comprise a critical feature of synaptic regulation. Rho-GTPases are exquisitely controlled by an extensive suite of activators (GEFs) and inhibitors (GAPs and GDIs) and interact with many different signalling pathways to fulfill their roles in orchestrating the development, maintenance, and plasticity of excitatory synapses of the central nervous system. Among the mechanisms that control Rho-GTPase activity and signalling are cell surface receptors, GEF/GAP complexes that tightly regulate single Rho-GTPase dynamics, GEF/GAP and GEF/GEF functional complexes that coordinate multiple Rho-family GTPase activities, effector positive feedback loops, and mutual antagonism of opposing Rho-GTPase pathways. These complex regulatory mechanisms are employed by the cells of the nervous system in almost every step of development, and prominently figure into the processes of synaptic plasticity that underlie learning and memory. Finally, misregulation of Rho-GTPases plays critical roles in responses to neuronal injury, such as traumatic brain injury and neuropathic pain, and in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, including intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's Disease. Thus, decoding the mechanisms of Rho-GTPase regulation and function at excitatory synapses has great potential for combatting many of the biggest current challenges in mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph G. Duman
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Francisco A. Blanco
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Science Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christopher A. Cronkite
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Qin Ru
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kelly C. Erikson
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shalaka Mulherkar
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ali Bin Saifullah
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karen Firozi
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kimberley F. Tolias
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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28
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Hartung T, Rhein M, Kalmbach N, Thau-Habermann N, Naujock M, Müschen L, Frieling H, Sterneckert J, Hermann A, Wegner F, Petri S. Methylation and Expression of Mutant FUS in Motor Neurons Differentiated From Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells From ALS Patients. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:774751. [PMID: 34869374 PMCID: PMC8640347 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.774751] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive disease leading to degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). Epigenetic modification of gene expression is increasingly recognized as potential disease mechanism. In the present study we generated motor neurons from induced pluripotent stem cells from ALS patients carrying a mutation in the fused in sarcoma gene (FUS) and analyzed expression and promoter methylation of the FUS gene and expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) compared to healthy control cell lines. While mutant FUS neural progenitor cells (NPCs) did not show a difference in FUS and DNMT expression compared to healthy controls, differentiated mutant FUS motor neurons showed significantly lower FUS expression, higher DNMT expression and higher methylation of the proximal FUS gene promoter. Immunofluorescence revealed perceived proximity of cytoplasmic FUS aggregates in ALS MNs together with 5-methylcytosin (5-mC). Targeting disturbed methylation in ALS may therefore restore transcriptional alterations and represent a novel therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Hartung
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - M Rhein
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - N Kalmbach
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - N Thau-Habermann
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - M Naujock
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Evotec International GmbH, Göttingen, Germany
| | - L Müschen
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - H Frieling
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hanover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - J Sterneckert
- Center for Regenerative Therapies TU Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - A Hermann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section "Albrecht Kossel", Department of Neurology and Center for Transdisciplinary Neuroscience (CTNR), University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany
| | - F Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - S Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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29
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Lo TW, Figueroa-Romero C, Hur J, Pacut C, Stoll E, Spring C, Lewis R, Nair A, Goutman SA, Sakowski SA, Nagrath S, Feldman EL. Extracellular Vesicles in Serum and Central Nervous System Tissues Contain microRNA Signatures in Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:739016. [PMID: 34776863 PMCID: PMC8586523 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.739016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [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: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a terminalneurodegenerative disease. Clinical and molecular observations suggest that ALS pathology originates at a single site and spreads in an organized and prion-like manner, possibly driven by extracellular vesicles. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) transfer cargo molecules associated with ALS pathogenesis, such as misfolded and aggregated proteins and dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs). However, it is poorly understood whether altered levels of circulating extracellular vesicles or their cargo components reflect pathological signatures of the disease. In this study, we used immuno-affinity-based microfluidic technology, electron microscopy, and NanoString miRNA profiling to isolate and characterize extracellular vesicles and their miRNA cargo from frontal cortex, spinal cord, and serum of sporadic ALS (n = 15) and healthy control (n = 16) participants. We found larger extracellular vesicles in ALS spinal cord versus controls and smaller sized vesicles in ALS serum. However, there were no changes in the number of extracellular vesicles between cases and controls across any tissues. Characterization of extracellular vesicle-derived miRNA cargo in ALS compared to controls identified significantly altered miRNA levels in all tissues; miRNAs were reduced in ALS frontal cortex and spinal cord and increased in serum. Two miRNAs were dysregulated in all three tissues: miR-342-3p was increased in ALS, and miR-1254 was reduced in ALS. Additional miRNAs overlapping across two tissues included miR-587, miR-298, miR-4443, and miR-450a-2-3p. Predicted targets and pathways associated with the dysregulated miRNAs across the ALS tissues were associated with common biological pathways altered in neurodegeneration, including axon guidance and long-term potentiation. A predicted target of one identified miRNA (N-deacetylase and N-sulfotransferase 4; NDST4) was likewise dysregulated in an in vitro model of ALS, verifying potential biological relevance. Together, these findings demonstrate that circulating extracellular vesicle miRNA cargo mirror those of the central nervous system disease state in ALS, and thereby offer insight into possible pathogenic factors and diagnostic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-wen Lo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Junguk Hur
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States
| | - Crystal Pacut
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Evan Stoll
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Calvin Spring
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Rose Lewis
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Athul Nair
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Stephen A. Goutman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Stacey A. Sakowski
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sunitha Nagrath
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Binterface Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Eva L. Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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30
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Abstract
One-carbon metabolism provides the methyl groups for both DNA and histone tail methylation reactions, two of the main epigenetic processes that tightly regulate the chromatin structure and gene expression levels. Several enzymes involved in one-carbon metabolism, as well as several epigenetic enzymes, are regulated by intracellular metabolites and redox cofactors, but their expression levels are in turn regulated by epigenetic modifications, in such a way that metabolism and gene expression reciprocally regulate each other to maintain homeostasis and regulate cell growth, survival, differentiation and response to environmental stimuli. Increasing evidence highlights the contribution of impaired one-carbon metabolism and epigenetic modifications in neurodegeneration. This article provides an overview of DNA and histone tail methylation changes in major neurodegenerative disorders, namely Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, discussing the contribution of oxidative stress and impaired one-carbon and redox metabolism to their onset and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
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31
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Ozyurt T, Gautam M. Differential Epigenetic Signature of Corticospinal Motor Neurons in ALS. Brain Sci 2021; 11:754. [PMID: 34200232 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticospinal motor neurons (CSMN) are an indispensable neuron population for the motor neuron circuitry. They are excitatory projection neurons, which collect information from different regions of the brain and transmit it to spinal cord targets, initiating and controlling motor function. CSMN degeneration is pronounced cellular event in motor neurons diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Genetic mutations contribute to only about ten percent of ALS. Thus understanding the involvement of other factors, such as epigenetic controls, is immensely valuable. Here, we investigated epigenomic signature of CSMN that become diseased due to misfolded SOD1 toxicity and TDP-43 pathology, by performing quantitative analysis of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethycytosine (5hmC) expression profiles during end-stage of the disease in hSOD1G93A, and prpTDP-43A315T mice. Our analysis revealed that expression of 5mC was specifically reduced in CSMN of both hSOD1G93A and prpTDP-43A315T mice. However, 5hmC expression was increased in the CSMN that becomes diseased due to misfolded SOD1 and decreased in CSMN that degenerates due to TDP-43 pathology. These results suggest the presence of a distinct difference between different underlying causes. These differential epigenetic events might modulate the expression profiles of select genes, and ultimately contribute to the different paths that lead to CSMN vulnerability in ALS.
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32
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Menounos S, Hansbro PM, Diwan AD, Das A. Pathophysiological Correlation between Cigarette Smoking and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. NeuroSci 2021; 2:120-34. [DOI: 10.3390/neurosci2020008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cigarette smoke (CS) has been consistently demonstrated to be an environmental risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), although the molecular pathogenic mechanisms involved are yet to be elucidated. Here, we propose different mechanisms by which CS exposure can cause sporadic ALS pathogenesis. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are widely implicated in ALS pathogenesis, with blood–spinal cord barrier disruption also recognised to be involved in the disease process. In addition, immunometabolic, epigenetic and microbiome alterations have been implicated in ALS recently. Identification of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that underpin CS-associated ALS will drive future research to be conducted into new targets for treatment.
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33
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Nabais MF, Laws SM, Lin T, Vallerga CL, Armstrong NJ, Blair IP, Kwok JB, Mather KA, Mellick GD, Sachdev PS, Wallace L, Henders AK, Zwamborn RAJ, Hop PJ, Lunnon K, Pishva E, Roubroeks JAY, Soininen H, Tsolaki M, Mecocci P, Lovestone S, Kłoszewska I, Vellas B, Furlong S, Garton FC, Henderson RD, Mathers S, McCombe PA, Needham M, Ngo ST, Nicholson G, Pamphlett R, Rowe DB, Steyn FJ, Williams KL, Anderson TJ, Bentley SR, Dalrymple-Alford J, Fowder J, Gratten J, Halliday G, Hickie IB, Kennedy M, Lewis SJG, Montgomery GW, Pearson J, Pitcher TL, Silburn P, Zhang F, Visscher PM, Yang J, Stevenson AJ, Hillary RF, Marioni RE, Harris SE, Deary IJ, Jones AR, Shatunov A, Iacoangeli A, van Rheenen W, van den Berg LH, Shaw PJ, Shaw CE, Morrison KE, Al-Chalabi A, Veldink JH, Hannon E, Mill J, Wray NR, McRae AF. Meta-analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation identifies shared associations across neurodegenerative disorders. Genome Biol 2021; 22:90. [PMID: 33771206 PMCID: PMC8004462 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-021-02275-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People with neurodegenerative disorders show diverse clinical syndromes, genetic heterogeneity, and distinct brain pathological changes, but studies report overlap between these features. DNA methylation (DNAm) provides a way to explore this overlap and heterogeneity as it is determined by the combined effects of genetic variation and the environment. In this study, we aim to identify shared blood DNAm differences between controls and people with Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. RESULTS We use a mixed-linear model method (MOMENT) that accounts for the effect of (un)known confounders, to test for the association of each DNAm site with each disorder. While only three probes are found to be genome-wide significant in each MOMENT association analysis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease (and none with Alzheimer's disease), a fixed-effects meta-analysis of the three disorders results in 12 genome-wide significant differentially methylated positions. Predicted immune cell-type proportions are disrupted across all neurodegenerative disorders. Protein inflammatory markers are correlated with profile sum-scores derived from disease-associated immune cell-type proportions in a healthy aging cohort. In contrast, they are not correlated with MOMENT DNAm-derived profile sum-scores, calculated using effect sizes of the 12 differentially methylated positions as weights. CONCLUSIONS We identify shared differentially methylated positions in whole blood between neurodegenerative disorders that point to shared pathogenic mechanisms. These shared differentially methylated positions may reflect causes or consequences of disease, but they are unlikely to reflect cell-type proportion differences.
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Grants
- U24 AG021886 NIA NIH HHS
- U01 AG016976 NIA NIH HHS
- Department of Health
- U01 AG024904 NIA NIH HHS
- 108890/Z/15/Z Wellcome Trust
- 503480 Medical Research Council
- TURNER/OCT15/972-797 Motor Neurone Disease Association
- U01 AG032984 NIA NIH HHS
- R01 HL105756 NHLBI NIH HHS
- 082604/2/07/Z Wellcome Trust
- R01 AG033193 NIA NIH HHS
- National Health and Medical Research Council
- Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Ice Bucket Challenge
- Medical Research Council (UK)
- Economic and Social Research Council
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
- the European Community’s Health Seventh Framework Programme
- Horizon 2020 Programme
- MND Association and the Wellcome Trust.
- European Research Council (ERC)
- EU Joint Programme – Neurodegenerative Disease Research ()
- EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND)
- Australian Research Council
- Mater Foundation
- ForeFront - NHMRC
- Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
- University of Otago Research Grant, together with financial support from the Jim and Mary Carney Charitable Trust
- Commonwealth Scientific Industrial and research Organization (CSIRO), Edith Cowan University (ECU), Mental Health Research institute (MHRI), National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), Austin Health, CogState Ltd
- National Health and Medical Research Council and the Dementia Collaborative Research Centres program (DCRC2), as well as funding from the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF) and the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Mental Health – funded throug
- EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND), co-funded through the Australian National Health and Medical Research (NHMRC) Council, Motor Neurone Disease Research Institute of Australia Ice Bucket Challenge,
- EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND), United Kingdom Medical Research Council, Economic and Social Research Council, Motor Neuro Disease Association (GB), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre at
- EU Joint Programme - Neurodegenerative Disease Research (JPND), European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, PPP Allowance made available by Health~Holland, Top Sector Life Sciences & Health, Unit
- National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council, Mater Foundation,
- Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (
- University of Otago Research Grant, Jim and Mary Carney Charitable Trust
- Commonwealth Scientific Industrial and research Organization (CSIRO), Edith Cowan University (ECU), Mental Health Research institute (MHRI), National Ageing Research Institute (NARI), Austin Health, CogState Ltd., National Health and Medical Research Counc
- EFPIA companies and SMEs as part of InnoMed (Innovative Medicines in Europe), an Integrated Project funded by the European Union of the Sixth Framework program
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta F Nabais
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- University of Exeter Medical School, RILD Building, RD&E Hospital Wonford, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Simon M Laws
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Dr, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia
| | - Tian Lin
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Costanza L Vallerga
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center, 3015GD, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ian P Blair
- Australian Centre for Precision Health, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, 5001, Australia
| | - John B Kwok
- Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Karen A Mather
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
- Neuroscience Research Australia Institute, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - George D Mellick
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD), Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2031, Australia
- Neuropsychiatric Institute, The Prince of Wales Hospital, UNSW, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Leanne Wallace
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Anjali K Henders
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ramona A J Zwamborn
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul J Hop
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Katie Lunnon
- University of Exeter Medical School, RILD Building, RD&E Hospital Wonford, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Ehsan Pishva
- University of Exeter Medical School, RILD Building, RD&E Hospital Wonford, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Janou A Y Roubroeks
- University of Exeter Medical School, RILD Building, RD&E Hospital Wonford, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Hilkka Soininen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Neurology, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Magda Tsolaki
- 1st Department of Neurology, Memory and Dementia Unit, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Patrizia Mecocci
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Simon Lovestone
- Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Bruno Vellas
- INSERM U 558, University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Sarah Furlong
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Fleur C Garton
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Robert D Henderson
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4019, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, 4029, Australia
| | - Susan Mathers
- Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Parkdale, VIC, 3195, Australia
| | - Pamela A McCombe
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4019, Australia
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, 4029, Australia
| | - Merrilee Needham
- Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia
- Notre Dame University, Fremantle, WA, 6160, Australia
- Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Shyuan T Ngo
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4019, Australia
- The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Garth Nicholson
- ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW, 2139, Australia
| | - Roger Pamphlett
- Discipline of Pathology and Department of Neuropathology, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Dominic B Rowe
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Frederik J Steyn
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, 4029, Australia
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Kelly L Williams
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Tim J Anderson
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Steven R Bentley
- Eskitis Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - John Dalrymple-Alford
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand
- School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Javed Fowder
- Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery (GRIDD), Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jacob Gratten
- Mater Research, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
- Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Glenda Halliday
- Brain and Mind Research Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ian B Hickie
- Brain and Mind Research Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Martin Kennedy
- Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Simon J G Lewis
- Brain and Mind Research Centre, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Grant W Montgomery
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - John Pearson
- Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Toni L Pitcher
- New Zealand Brain Research Institute, Christchurch, New Zealand
- Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Peter Silburn
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Futao Zhang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Peter M Visscher
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jian Yang
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Anna J Stevenson
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Robert F Hillary
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Riccardo E Marioni
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Sarah E Harris
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Ian J Deary
- Department of Psychology, Lothian Birth Cohorts group, University of Edinburgh, 7 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Ashley R Jones
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Aleksey Shatunov
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Alfredo Iacoangeli
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, SE5 9RX, UK
| | - Wouter van Rheenen
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Leonard H van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Cristopher E Shaw
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, SE5 9RX, UK
| | | | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, SE5 9RX, UK
- King's College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Jan H Veldink
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Eilis Hannon
- University of Exeter Medical School, RILD Building, RD&E Hospital Wonford, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter Medical School, RILD Building, RD&E Hospital Wonford, Barrack Road, Exeter, EX2 5DW, UK
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Naomi R Wray
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Allan F McRae
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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Robichaud PP, Arseneault M, O'Connell C, Ouellette RJ, Morin PJ. Circulating cell-free DNA as potential diagnostic tools for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurosci Lett 2021; 750:135813. [PMID: 33705931 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.135813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation has garnered much attention in recent years for its diagnostic potential in multiple conditions including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Conversely, advances regarding the potential diagnostic relevance of DNA methylation status have been sparse in the field of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) even though patients diagnosed with this condition would significantly benefit from improved molecular assays aimed at furthering the current diagnostic and therapeutic options available. This review will provide an overview of the current diagnostic approaches available for ALS diagnosis and discuss the potential clinical usefulness of DNA methylation. We will also present examples of DNA methylation as a diagnostic tool in various types of cancer and neurodegenerative conditions and expand on how circulating cfDNA methylation may be leveraged for the early detection of ALS. In general, this article will reinforce the importance of cfDNA methylation as diagnostic tools and will further highlight its clinical relevance for persons diagnosed with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe-Pierre Robichaud
- Vitalité Health Network, Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, Department of Genetic Services, 330 Université Ave, Moncton, New Brunswick, E1C 2Z3, Canada; Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Pavillon Hôtel-Dieu, 35 Providence Street, Moncton, New Brunswick, E1C 8X3, Canada; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, 18 Antonine-Maillet Avenue, Moncton, New Brunswick, E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - Michael Arseneault
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, 18 Antonine-Maillet Avenue, Moncton, New Brunswick, E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - Colleen O'Connell
- Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation, 800 Priestman Street, Fredericton, New Brunswick, E3B 0C7, Canada
| | - Rodney J Ouellette
- Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Pavillon Hôtel-Dieu, 35 Providence Street, Moncton, New Brunswick, E1C 8X3, Canada
| | - Pier Jr Morin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, 18 Antonine-Maillet Avenue, Moncton, New Brunswick, E1A 3E9, Canada.
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Klingl YE, Pakravan D, Van Den Bosch L. Opportunities for histone deacetylase inhibition in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:1353-1372. [PMID: 32726472 PMCID: PMC9327724 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15217] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease. ALS patients suffer from a progressive loss of motor neurons, leading to respiratory failure within 3 to 5 years after diagnosis. Available therapies only slow down the disease progression moderately or extend the lifespan by a few months. Epigenetic hallmarks have been linked to the disease, creating an avenue for potential therapeutic approaches. Interference with one class of epigenetic enzymes, histone deacetylases, has been shown to affect neurodegeneration in many preclinical models. Consequently, it is crucial to improve our understanding about histone deacetylases and their inhibitors in (pre)clinical models of ALS. We conclude that selective inhibitors with high tolerability and safety and sufficient blood-brain barrier permeability will be needed to interfere with both epigenetic and non-epigenetic targets of these enzymes. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on Neurochemistry in Japan. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.6/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne E. Klingl
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI)KU Leuven‐University of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory of NeurobiologyVIB, Center for Brain & Disease ResearchLeuvenBelgium
| | - Donya Pakravan
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI)KU Leuven‐University of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory of NeurobiologyVIB, Center for Brain & Disease ResearchLeuvenBelgium
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI)KU Leuven‐University of LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Laboratory of NeurobiologyVIB, Center for Brain & Disease ResearchLeuvenBelgium
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Yamaguchi M, Omori K, Asada S, Yoshida H. Epigenetic Regulation of ALS and CMT: A Lesson from Drosophila Models. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22020491. [PMID: 33419039 PMCID: PMC7825332 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the third most common neurodegenerative disorder and is sometimes associated with frontotemporal dementia. Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease (CMT) is one of the most commonly inherited peripheral neuropathies causing the slow progression of sensory and distal muscle defects. Of note, the severity and progression of CMT symptoms markedly vary. The phenotypic heterogeneity of ALS and CMT suggests the existence of modifiers that determine disease characteristics. Epigenetic regulation of biological functions via gene expression without alterations in the DNA sequence may be an important factor. The methylation of DNA, noncoding RNA, and post-translational modification of histones are the major epigenetic mechanisms. Currently, Drosophila is emerging as a useful ALS and CMT model. In this review, we summarize recent studies linking ALS and CMT to epigenetic regulation with a strong emphasis on approaches using Drosophila models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masamitsu Yamaguchi
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; (K.O.); (S.A.)
- Kansai Gakken Laboratory, Kankyo Eisei Yakuhin Co. Ltd., Seika-cho, Kyoto 619-0237, Japan
- Correspondence: (M.Y.); (H.Y.)
| | - Kentaro Omori
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; (K.O.); (S.A.)
| | - Satoshi Asada
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; (K.O.); (S.A.)
| | - Hideki Yoshida
- Department of Applied Biology, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Matsugasaki, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8585, Japan; (K.O.); (S.A.)
- Correspondence: (M.Y.); (H.Y.)
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Abstract
Neuromuscular disorders are a heterogeneous group of conditions affecting the neuromuscular system. The aim of this article is to review the major epigenetic findings in motor neuron diseases and major hereditary muscular dystrophies. DNA methylation changes are observed in both hereditary and sporadic forms, and combining DNA methylation analysis with mutational screening holds the potential for better diagnostic and prognostic accuracy. Novel, less toxic and more selective epigenetic drugs are designed and tested in animal and cell culture models of neuromuscular disorders, and non-coding RNAs are being investigated as either disease biomarkers or targets of therapeutic approaches to restore gene expression levels. Overall, neuromuscular disorder epigenetic biomarkers have a strong potential for clinical applications in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Translational Research & of New Surgical & Medical Technologies, University of Pisa, Via Roma 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy
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Stoccoro A, Smith AR, Mosca L, Marocchi A, Gerardi F, Lunetta C, Cereda C, Gagliardi S, Lunnon K, Migliore L, Coppedè F. Reduced mitochondrial D-loop methylation levels in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:137. [PMID: 32917270 PMCID: PMC7488473 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00933-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mitochondrial dysregulation and aberrant epigenetic mechanisms have been frequently reported in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and several researchers suggested that epigenetic dysregulation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) could contribute to the neurodegenerative process. We recently screened families with mutations in the major ALS causative genes, namely C9orf72, SOD1, FUS, and TARDBP, observing reduced methylation levels of the mtDNA regulatory region (D-loop) only in peripheral lymphocytes of SOD1 carriers. However, until now no studies investigated the potential role of mtDNA methylation impairment in the sporadic form of ALS, which accounts for the majority of disease cases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the D-loop methylation levels and the mtDNA copy number in sporadic ALS patients and compare them to those observed in healthy controls and in familial ALS patients. Pyrosequencing analysis of D-loop methylation levels and quantitative analysis of mtDNA copy number were performed in peripheral white blood cells from 36 sporadic ALS patients, 51 age- and sex-matched controls, and 27 familial ALS patients with germinal mutations in SOD1 or C9orf72 that represent the major familial ALS forms. Results In the total sample, D-loop methylation levels were significantly lower in ALS patients compared to controls, and a significant inverse correlation between D-loop methylation levels and the mtDNA copy number was observed. Stratification of ALS patients into different subtypes revealed that both SOD1-mutant and sporadic ALS patients showed lower D-loop methylation levels compared to controls, while C9orf72-ALS patients showed similar D-loop methylation levels than controls. In healthy controls, but not in ALS patients, D-loop methylation levels decreased with increasing age at sampling and were higher in males compared to females. Conclusions Present data reveal altered D-loop methylation levels in sporadic ALS and confirm previous evidence of an inverse correlation between D-loop methylation levels and the mtDNA copy number, as well as differences among the major familial ALS subtypes. Overall, present results suggest that D-loop methylation and mitochondrial replication are strictly related to each other and could represent compensatory mechanisms to counteract mitochondrial impairment in sporadic and SOD1-related ALS forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Stoccoro
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Lab. of Medical Genetics, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Adam R Smith
- University of Exeter Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, Exeter University, Exeter, UK
| | - Lorena Mosca
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marocchi
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Cristina Cereda
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stella Gagliardi
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Katie Lunnon
- University of Exeter Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, Exeter University, Exeter, UK
| | - Lucia Migliore
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Lab. of Medical Genetics, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Lab. of Medical Genetics, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
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Curzio DD, Gurm M, Turnbull M, Nadeau MJ, Meek B, Rempel JD, Fineblit S, Jonasson M, Hebert S, Ferguson-Parry J, Douville RN. Pro-Inflammatory Signaling Upregulates a Neurotoxic Conotoxin-Like Protein Encrypted Within Human Endogenous Retrovirus-K. Cells 2020; 9:E1584. [PMID: 32629888 DOI: 10.3390/cells9071584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [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: 05/30/2020] [Revised: 06/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron degeneration and spinal cord demyelination are hallmark pathological events in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Endogenous retrovirus-K (ERVK) expression has an established association with ALS neuropathology, with murine modeling pointing to a role for the ERVK envelope (env) gene in disease processes. Here, we describe a novel viral protein cryptically encoded within the ERVK env transcript, which resembles two distinct cysteine-rich neurotoxic proteins: conotoxin proteins found in marine snails and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Tat protein. Consistent with Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-induced retrotransposon expression, the ERVK conotoxin-like protein (CTXLP) is induced by inflammatory signaling. CTXLP is found in the nucleus, impacting innate immune gene expression and NF-κB p65 activity. Using human autopsy specimens from patients with ALS, we further showcase CTXLP expression in degenerating motor cortex and spinal cord tissues, concomitant with inflammation linked pathways, including enhancement of necroptosis marker mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) protein and oligodendrocyte maturation/myelination inhibitor Nogo-A. These findings identify CTXLP as a novel ERVK protein product, which may act as an effector in ALS neuropathology.
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Appleby-Mallinder C, Schaber E, Kirby J, Shaw PJ, Cooper-Knock J, Heath PR, Highley JR. TDP43 proteinopathy is associated with aberrant DNA methylation in human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2020; 47:61-72. [PMID: 32365404 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor neurone (MN) degeneration and death. ALS can be sporadic (sALS) or familial, with a number of associated gene mutations, including C9orf72 (C9ALS). DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism whereby a methyl group is attached to a cytosine (5mC), resulting in gene expression repression. 5mC can be further oxidized to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). DNA methylation has been studied in other neurodegenerative diseases, but little work has been conducted in ALS. AIMS To assess differences in DNA methylation in individuals with ALS and the relationship between DNA methylation and TDP43 pathology. METHODS Post mortem tissue from controls, sALS cases and C9ALS cases were assessed by immunohistochemistry for 5mC and 5hmC in spinal cord, motor cortex and prefrontal cortex. LMNs were extracted from a subset of cases using laser capture microdissection. DNA from these underwent analysis using the MethylationEPIC array to determine which molecular processes were most affected. RESULTS There were higher levels of 5mC and 5hmC in sALS and C9ALS in the residual lower motor neurones (LMNs) of the spinal cord. Importantly, in LMNs with TDP43 pathology there was less nuclear 5mC and 5hmC compared to the majority of residual LMNs that lacked TDP43 pathology. Enrichment analysis of the array data suggested RNA metabolism was particularly affected. CONCLUSIONS DNA methylation is a contributory factor in ALS LMN pathology. This is not so for glia or neocortical neurones.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Appleby-Mallinder
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - E Schaber
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - J Kirby
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - P J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - J Cooper-Knock
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - P R Heath
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - J R Highley
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.,Department of Cellular Pathology, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, United Kingdom
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Canchi S, Swinton MK, Rissman RA, Fields JA. Transcriptomic analysis of brain tissues identifies a role for CCAAT enhancer binding protein β in HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:112. [PMID: 32276639 PMCID: PMC7149918 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01781-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) persist in the era of combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) despite reductions in viral load (VL) and overall disease severity. The mechanisms underlying HAND in the ART era are not well understood but are likely multifactorial, involving alterations in common pathways such as inflammation, autophagy, neurogenesis, and mitochondrial function. Newly developed omics approaches hold potential to identify mechanisms driving neuropathogenesis of HIV in the ART era. METHODS In this study, using 33 postmortem frontal cortex (FC) tissues, neuropathological, molecular, and biochemical analyses were used to determine cellular localization and validate expression levels of the prolific transcription factor (TF), CCAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) β, in brain tissues from HIV+ cognitively normal and HAND cases. RNA sequencing (seq) and transcriptomic analyses were performed on FC tissues including 24 specimens from well-characterized people with HIV that had undergone neurocognitive assessments. In vitro models for brain cells were used to investigate the role of C/EBPβ in mediating gene expression. RESULTS The most robust signal for TF dysregulation was observed in cases diagnosed with minor neurocognitive disorder (MND) compared to cognitive normal (CN) cases. Of particular interest, due to its role in inflammation, autophagy and neurogenesis, C/EBPβ was significantly upregulated in MND compared to CN brains. C/EBPβ was increased at the protein level in HAND brains. C/EBPβ levels were significantly reduced in neurons and increased in astroglia in HAND brains compared to CN. Transfection of human astroglial cells with a plasmid expressing C/EBPβ induced expression of multiple targets identified in the transcriptomic analysis of HAND brains, including dynamin-1-like protein (DNM1L) and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1. Recombinant HIV-Tat reduced and increased C/EBPβ levels in neuronal and astroglial cells, respectively. CONCLUSIONS These findings are the first to present RNAseq-based transcriptomic analyses of HIV+ brain tissues, providing further evidence of altered neuroinflammation, neurogenesis, mitochondrial function, and autophagy in HAND. Interestingly, these studies confirm a role for CEBPβ in regulating inflammation, metabolism, and autophagy in astroglia. Therapeutic strategies aimed at transcriptional regulation of astroglia or downstream pathways may provide relief to HIV+ patients at risk for HAND and other neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranya Canchi
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Mary K. Swinton
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., BSB 3009, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0603 USA
| | - Robert A. Rissman
- Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Jerel Adam Fields
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., BSB 3009, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0603 USA
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Ravnik-Glavač M, Glavač D. Circulating RNAs as Potential Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051714. [PMID: 32138249 PMCID: PMC7084402 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex multi-system neurodegenerative disorder with currently limited diagnostic and no therapeutic options. Despite the intense efforts no clinically applicable biomarkers for ALS are yet established. Most current research is thus focused, in particular, in identifying potential non-invasive circulating biomarkers for more rapid and accurate diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. In this review, we have focused on messenger RNA (mRNA), non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), micro RNAs (miRNAs) and circular RNA (circRNAs) as potential biomarkers for ALS in peripheral blood serum, plasma and cells. The most promising miRNAs include miR-206, miR-133b, miR-27a, mi-338-3p, miR-183, miR-451, let-7 and miR-125b. To test clinical potential of this miRNA panel, a useful approach may be to perform such analysis on larger multi-center scale using similar experimental design. However, other types of RNAs (lncRNAs, circRNAs and mRNAs) that, together with miRNAs, represent RNA networks, have not been yet extensively studied in blood samples of patients with ALS. Additional research has to be done in order to find robust circulating biomarkers and therapeutic targets that will distinguish key RNA interactions in specific ALS-types to facilitate diagnosis, predict progression and design therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Metka Ravnik-Glavač
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence: (M.R.-G.); (D.G.)
| | - Damjan Glavač
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Institute of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Korytkova 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Correspondence: (M.R.-G.); (D.G.)
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Nabais MF, Lin T, Benyamin B, Williams KL, Garton FC, Vinkhuyzen AAE, Zhang F, Vallerga CL, Restuadi R, Freydenzon A, Zwamborn RAJ, Hop PJ, Robinson MR, Gratten J, Visscher PM, Hannon E, Mill J, Brown MA, Laing NG, Mather KA, Sachdev PS, Ngo ST, Steyn FJ, Wallace L, Henders AK, Needham M, Veldink JH, Mathers S, Nicholson G, Rowe DB, Henderson RD, McCombe PA, Pamphlett R, Yang J, Blair IP, McRae AF, Wray NR. Significant out-of-sample classification from methylation profile scoring for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. NPJ Genom Med 2020; 5:10. [PMID: 32140259 PMCID: PMC7046630 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-020-0118-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted DNA methylation association analyses using Illumina 450K data from whole blood for an Australian amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) case–control cohort (782 cases and 613 controls). Analyses used mixed linear models as implemented in the OSCA software. We found a significantly higher proportion of neutrophils in cases compared to controls which replicated in an independent cohort from the Netherlands (1159 cases and 637 controls). The OSCA MOMENT linear mixed model has been shown in simulations to best account for confounders. When combined in a methylation profile score, the 25 most-associated probes identified by MOMENT significantly classified case–control status in the Netherlands sample (area under the curve, AUC = 0.65, CI95% = [0.62–0.68], p = 8.3 × 10−22). The maximum AUC achieved was 0.69 (CI95% = [0.66–0.71], p = 4.3 × 10−34) when cell-type proportion was included in the predictor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta F Nabais
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,2University of Exeter Medical School, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Exeter, Devon EX2 5DW UK
| | - Tian Lin
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Beben Benyamin
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,3Australian Centre for Precision Health, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001 Australia
| | - Kelly L Williams
- 4Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Fleur C Garton
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Anna A E Vinkhuyzen
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Futao Zhang
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Costanza L Vallerga
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Restuadi Restuadi
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Anna Freydenzon
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Ramona A J Zwamborn
- 5Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CG Netherlands
| | - Paul J Hop
- 5Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CG Netherlands
| | - Matthew R Robinson
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Jacob Gratten
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,6Mater Research Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4101 Australia
| | - Peter M Visscher
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,7Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Eilis Hannon
- 2University of Exeter Medical School, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Exeter, Devon EX2 5DW UK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- 2University of Exeter Medical School, Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, Exeter, Devon EX2 5DW UK.,8Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF UK
| | - Matthew A Brown
- 9Australian Translational Genomics Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4102 Australia
| | - Nigel G Laing
- 10The Centre for Medical Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009 Australia.,11Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands, WA 6009 Australia
| | - Karen A Mather
- 12Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031 Australia.,13Neuroscience Research Australia Institute, Randwick, NSW 2031 Australia
| | - Perminder S Sachdev
- 12Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2031 Australia.,14Neuropsychiatric Institute, The Prince of Wales Hospital, University of New South Wales, Randwick, NSW 2031 Australia
| | - Shyuan T Ngo
- 7Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,15The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,16Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4019 Australia
| | - Frederik J Steyn
- 15The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,16Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4019 Australia
| | - Leanne Wallace
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Anjali K Henders
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Merrilee Needham
- 17Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, WA 6150 Australia.,18The University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, WA 6160 Australia.,19Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150 Australia
| | - Jan H Veldink
- 5Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584 CG Netherlands
| | - Susan Mathers
- 20Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Parkdale, VIC 3195 Australia
| | - Garth Nicholson
- 21ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2139 Australia
| | - Dominic B Rowe
- 4Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Robert D Henderson
- 7Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,16Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4019 Australia.,22Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4029 Australia
| | - Pamela A McCombe
- 16Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4019 Australia.,22Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4029 Australia
| | - Roger Pamphlett
- 23Discipline of Pathology and Department of Neuropathology, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2050 Australia
| | - Jian Yang
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,7Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Ian P Blair
- 4Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109 Australia
| | - Allan F McRae
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,7Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
| | - Naomi R Wray
- 1Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia.,7Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072 Australia
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Carrera I, Martínez O, Cacabelos R. Neuroprotection with Natural Antioxidants and Nutraceuticals in the Context of Brain Cell Degeneration: The Epigenetic Connection. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 19:2999-3011. [PMID: 31789133 DOI: 10.2174/1568026619666191202155738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Bioactive antioxidant agents present in selected plants are known to provide the first line of biological defense against oxidative stress. In particular, soluble vitamin C, E, carotenoids and phenolic compounds have demonstrated crucial biological effects in cells against oxidative damage, preventing prevalent chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease. The reported wide range of effects that included anti-aging, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity were studied against degenerative pathologies of the brain. Vitamins and different phytochemicals are important epigenetic modifiers that prevent neurodegeneration. In order to explore the potential antioxidant sources in functional foods and nutraceuticals against neurodegeneration, the present paper aims to show a comprehensive assessment of antioxidant activity at chemical and cellular levels. The effects of the different bioactive compounds available and their antioxidant activity through an epigenetic point of view are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Carrera
- EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Corunna 15166,Spain
| | - Olaia Martínez
- EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Corunna 15166,Spain
| | - Ramón Cacabelos
- EuroEspes Biomedical Research Center, International Center of Neuroscience and Genomic Medicine, Corunna 15166,Spain
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45
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Kim BW, Jeong YE, Wong M, Martin LJ. DNA damage accumulates and responses are engaged in human ALS brain and spinal motor neurons and DNA repair is activatable in iPSC-derived motor neurons with SOD1 mutations. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:7. [PMID: 32005289 PMCID: PMC6995159 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-019-0874-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA damage is implicated in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, relationships between DNA damage accumulation, DNA damage response (DDR), and upper and lower motor neuron vulnerability in human ALS are unclear; furthermore, it is unknown whether epigenetic silencing of DNA repair pathways contributes to ALS pathogenesis. We tested the hypotheses that DNA damage accumulates in ALS motor neurons along with diminished DDR, and that DNA repair genes undergo hypermethylation. Human postmortem CNS tissue was obtained from ALS cases (N = 34) and age-matched controls without neurologic disease (N = 15). Compared to age-matched controls, abasic sites accumulated in genomic DNA of ALS motor cortex and laser capture microdissection-acquired spinal motor neurons but not in motor neuron mitochondrial DNA. By immunohistochemistry, DNA damage accumulated significantly in upper and lower motor neurons in ALS cases as single-stranded DNA and 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (OHdG) compared to age-matched controls. Significant DDR was engaged in ALS motor neurons as evidenced by accumulation of c-Abl, nuclear BRCA1, and ATM activation. DNA damage and DDR were present in motor neurons at pre-attritional stages and throughout the somatodendritic attritional stages of neurodegeneration. Motor neurons with DNA damage were also positive for activated p53 and cleaved caspase-3. Gene-specific promoter DNA methylation pyrosequencing identified the DNA repair genes Ogg1, Apex1, Pnkp and Aptx as hypomethylated in ALS. In human induced-pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons with familial ALS SOD1 mutations, DNA repair capacity was similar to isogenic control motor neurons. Our results show that vulnerable neurons in human ALS accumulate DNA damage, and contrary to our hypothesis, strongly activate and mobilize response effectors and DNA repair genes. This DDR in ALS motor neurons involves recruitment of c-Abl and BRCA1 to the nucleus in vivo, and repair of DNA double-strand breaks in human ALS motor neurons with SOD1 mutations in cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung Woo Kim
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2196, USA
- Division of Neuropathology, the Pathobiology Graduate Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ye Eun Jeong
- Division of Neuropathology, the Pathobiology Graduate Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Margaret Wong
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2196, USA
| | - Lee J Martin
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 558 Ross Building, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 21205-2196, USA.
- Division of Neuropathology, the Pathobiology Graduate Training Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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46
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Stankiewicz TR, Pena C, Bouchard RJ, Linseman DA. Dysregulation of Rac or Rho elicits death of motor neurons and activation of these GTPases is altered in the G93A mutant hSOD1 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurobiol Dis 2020; 136:104743. [PMID: 31931138 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2020.104743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rho GTPases play a central role in neuronal survival; however, the antagonistic relationship between Rac and Rho in the regulation of motor neuron survival remains poorly defined. In the current study, we demonstrate that treatment with NSC23766, a selective inhibitor of the Rac-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factors, Tiam1 and Trio, is sufficient to induce the death of embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived motor neurons. The mode of cell death is primarily apoptotic and is characterized by caspase-3 activation, de-phosphorylation of ERK5 and AKT, and nuclear translocation of the BH3-only protein Bad. As opposed to the inhibition of Rac, motor neuron cell death is also induced by constitutive activation of Rho, via a mechanism that depends on Rho kinase (ROCK) activity. Investigation of Rac and Rho in the G93A mutant, human Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (hSOD1) mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), revealed that active Rac1-GTP is markedly decreased in spinal cord motor neurons of transgenic mice at disease onset and end-stage, when compared to age-matched wild type (WT) littermates. Furthermore, although there is no significant change in active RhoA-GTP, total RhoB displays a striking redistribution from motor neuron nuclei in WT mouse spinal cord to motor neuron axons in end-stage G93A mutant hSOD1 mice. Collectively, these data suggest that the intricate balance between pro-survival Rac signaling and pro-apoptotic Rho/ROCK signaling is critical for motor neuron survival and therefore, disruption in the balance of their activities and/or localization may contribute to the death of motor neurons in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trisha R Stankiewicz
- University of Denver, Department of Biological Sciences, Denver, CO 80208, United States
| | - Claudia Pena
- University of Denver, Department of Biological Sciences, Denver, CO 80208, United States
| | - Ron J Bouchard
- Research Service, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO, 80220, United States
| | - Daniel A Linseman
- University of Denver, Department of Biological Sciences, Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, and Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging, 2155 E. Wesley Ave., Denver, CO, 80208, United States.
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Oeckl P, Weydt P, Thal DR, Weishaupt JH, Ludolph AC, Otto M. Proteomics in cerebrospinal fluid and spinal cord suggests UCHL1, MAP2 and GPNMB as biomarkers and underpins importance of transcriptional pathways in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 139:119-134. [PMID: 31701227 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-02093-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [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: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease and the proteins and pathways involved in the pathophysiology are not fully understood. Even less is known about the preclinical disease phase. To uncover new ALS-related proteins and pathways, we performed a comparative proteomic analysis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of asymptomatic (n = 14) and symptomatic (n = 14) ALS mutation carriers and sporadic ALS patients (n = 12) as well as post-mortem human spinal cord tissue (controls: n = 7, ALS, n = 8). Using a CSF-optimized proteomic workflow, we identified novel (e.g., UCHL1, MAP2, CAPG, GPNMB, HIST1H4A, HIST1H2B) and well-described (e.g., NEFL, NEFH, NEFM, CHIT1, CHI3L1) protein level changes in CSF of sporadic and genetic ALS patients with enrichment of proteins related to transcription, cell cycle and lipoprotein remodeling (total protein IDs: 2303). No significant alteration was observed in asymptomatic ALS mutation carriers representing the prodromal disease phase. We confirmed UCHL1, MAP2, CAPG and GPNMB as novel biomarker candidates for ALS in an independent validation cohort of patients (n = 117) using multiple reaction monitoring. In spinal cord tissue, 292 out of 6810 identified proteins were significantly changed in ALS with enrichment of proteins involved in mRNA splicing and of the neurofilament compartment. In conclusion, our proteomic data in asymptomatic ALS mutation carriers support the hypothesis of a sudden disease onset instead of a long preclinical phase. Both CSF and tissue proteomic data indicate transcriptional pathways to be amongst the most affected. UCHL1, MAP2 and GPNMB are promising ALS biomarker candidates which might provide additional value to the established neurofilaments in patient follow-up and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Oeckl
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Patrick Weydt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Dietmar R Thal
- Laboratory of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and Department of Pathology, UZ Leuven, Louvain, Belgium
| | - Jochen H Weishaupt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, Oberer Eselsberg 45, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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Gomez L, Odom GJ, Young JI, Martin ER, Liu L, Chen X, Griswold AJ, Gao Z, Zhang L, Wang L. coMethDMR: accurate identification of co-methylated and differentially methylated regions in epigenome-wide association studies with continuous phenotypes. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:e98. [PMID: 31291459 PMCID: PMC6753499 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [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: 03/24/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent technology has made it possible to measure DNA methylation profiles in a cost-effective and comprehensive genome-wide manner using array-based technology for epigenome-wide association studies. However, identifying differentially methylated regions (DMRs) remains a challenging task because of the complexities in DNA methylation data. Supervised methods typically focus on the regions that contain consecutive highly significantly differentially methylated CpGs in the genome, but may lack power for detecting small but consistent changes when few CpGs pass stringent significance threshold after multiple comparison. Unsupervised methods group CpGs based on genomic annotations first and then test them against phenotype, but may lack specificity because the regional boundaries of methylation are often not well defined. We present coMethDMR, a flexible, powerful, and accurate tool for identifying DMRs. Instead of testing all CpGs within a genomic region, coMethDMR carries out an additional step that selects co-methylated sub-regions first. Next, coMethDMR tests association between methylation levels within the sub-region and phenotype via a random coefficient mixed effects model that models both variations between CpG sites within the region and differential methylation simultaneously. coMethDMR offers well-controlled Type I error rate, improved specificity, focused testing of targeted genomic regions, and is available as an open-source R package.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lissette Gomez
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Gabriel J Odom
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Juan I Young
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.,Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Eden R Martin
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.,Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Lizhong Liu
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Xi Chen
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Anthony J Griswold
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.,Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Zhen Gao
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Lanyu Zhang
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Lily Wang
- John P. Hussman Institute for Human Genomics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.,Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.,Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation, Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA.,Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Figueroa-Romero C, Guo K, Murdock BJ, Paez-Colasante X, Bassis CM, Mikhail KA, Pawlowski KD, Evans MC, Taubman GF, McDermott AJ, O'Brien PD, Savelieff MG, Hur J, Feldman EL. Temporal evolution of the microbiome, immune system and epigenome with disease progression in ALS mice. Dis Model Mech 2019; 13:dmm041947. [PMID: 31597644 PMCID: PMC6906635 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.041947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a terminal neurodegenerative disease. Genetic predisposition, epigenetic changes, aging and accumulated life-long environmental exposures are known ALS risk factors. The complex and dynamic interplay between these pathological influences plays a role in disease onset and progression. Recently, the gut microbiome has also been implicated in ALS development. In addition, immune cell populations are differentially expanded and activated in ALS compared to healthy individuals. However, the temporal evolution of both the intestinal flora and the immune system relative to symptom onset in ALS is presently not fully understood. To better elucidate the timeline of the various potential pathological factors, we performed a longitudinal study to simultaneously assess the gut microbiome, immunophenotype and changes in ileum and brain epigenetic marks relative to motor behavior and muscle atrophy in the mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G93A) familial ALS mouse model. We identified alterations in the gut microbial environment early in the life of SOD1G93A animals followed by motor dysfunction and muscle atrophy, and immune cell expansion and activation, particularly in the spinal cord. Global brain cytosine hydroxymethylation was also altered in SOD1G93A animals at disease end-stage compared to control mice. Correlation analysis confirmed interrelationships with the microbiome and immune system. This study serves as a starting point to more deeply comprehend the influence of gut microorganisms and the immune system on ALS onset and progression. Greater insight may help pinpoint novel biomarkers and therapeutic interventions to improve diagnosis and treatment for ALS patients.This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kai Guo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Benjamin J Murdock
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Christine M Bassis
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kristen A Mikhail
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Matthew C Evans
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
| | | | - Andrew J McDermott
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Phillipe D O'Brien
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Masha G Savelieff
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Junguk Hur
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Eva L Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Theme 6 Tissue biomarkers. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2019; 20:206-16. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2019.1646994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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