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Carpi S, Del Grosso A, De Sarlo M, Colagiorgio L, Scaccini L, Tonazzini I, Parlanti G, Cecchini M. Reliable and Fast Genotyping Protocol for Galactosylceramidase (Galc) in the Twitcher (Twi) Mouse. Biomedicines 2022; 10. [PMID: 36551902 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123146] [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: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Twitcher (Twi) is a neurological Krabbe disease (KD, or globoid cell leukodystrophy) spontaneous mutant line in mice. The genome of the Twi mouse presents a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), leading to an enzymatically inactive galactosylceramidase (Galc) protein that causes KD. In this context, mouse Twi genotyping is an essential step in KD research. To date, the genotyping method used is labor-intensive and often has ambiguous results. Here, we evaluated a novel protocol for the genotype determination of Galc mutation status in Twi mice based on the allele-discrimination real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Here, DNA is extracted from Twi mice (n = 20, pilot study; n = 120, verification study) and control group (n = 10, pilot study; n = 30 verification study) and assessed by allele-discrimination real-time PCR to detect SNP c.355G>A. Using the allele-discrimination PCR, all of the samples are identified correctly with the genotype GG (wild-type, WT), GA (heterozygote, HET), or AA (homozygote, HOM) using the first analysis and no animals are not genotyped. We demonstrated that this novel method can be used to distinguish KD timely, accurately, and without ambiguity in HOM, WT, and HET animals. This protocol represents a great opportunity to increase accuracy and speed in KD research.
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Del Grosso A, Parlanti G, Angella L, Giordano N, Tonazzini I, Ottalagana E, Carpi S, Pellegrino RM, Alabed HBR, Emiliani C, Caleo M, Cecchini M. Chronic lithium administration in a mouse model for Krabbe disease. JIMD Rep 2022; 63:50-65. [PMID: 35028271 PMCID: PMC8743347 DOI: 10.1002/jmd2.12258] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Krabbe disease (KD; or globoid cell leukodystrophy) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficiency of the galactosylceramidase (GALC) enzyme. No cure is currently available for KD. Clinical applied treatments are supportive only. Recently, we demonstrated that two differently acting autophagy inducers (lithium and rapamycin) can improve some KD hallmarks in-vitro, laying the foundation for their in-vivo pre-clinical testing. Here, we test lithium carbonate in-vivo, in the spontaneous mouse model for KD, the Twitcher (TWI) mouse. The drug is administered ad libitum via drinking water (600 mg/L) starting from post natal day 20. We longitudinally monitor the mouse motor performance through the grip strength, the hanging wire and the rotarod tests, and a set of biochemical parameters related to the KD pathogenesis [i.e., GALC enzymatic activity, psychosine (PSY) accumulation and astrogliosis]. Additionally, we investigate the expression of some crucial markers related to the two pathways that could be altered by lithium: the autophagy and the β-catenin-dependent pathways. Results demonstrate that lithium has not a significant rescue effect on the TWI phenotype, although it can slightly and transiently improves muscle strength. We also show that lithium, with this administration protocol, is unable to stimulate autophagy in the TWI mice central nervous system, whereas results suggest that it can restore the β-catenin activation status in the TWI sciatic nerve. Overall, these data provide intriguing inputs for further evaluations of lithium treatment in TWI mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambra Del Grosso
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze‐CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San SilvestroPisaItaly
| | - Gabriele Parlanti
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze‐CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San SilvestroPisaItaly
| | - Lucia Angella
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze‐CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San SilvestroPisaItaly
| | - Nadia Giordano
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei CavalieriPisaItaly
- CNR Neuroscience InstitutePisaItaly
| | - Ilaria Tonazzini
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze‐CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San SilvestroPisaItaly
| | - Elisa Ottalagana
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze‐CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San SilvestroPisaItaly
| | - Sara Carpi
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze‐CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San SilvestroPisaItaly
| | | | - Husam B. R. Alabed
- Department of Chemistry, Biology, and BiotechnologiesUniversity of PerugiaPerugiaItaly
| | - Carla Emiliani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology, and BiotechnologiesUniversity of PerugiaPerugiaItaly
| | - Matteo Caleo
- Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei CavalieriPisaItaly
- CNR Neuroscience InstitutePisaItaly
- Department of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of PaduaPadovaItaly
| | - Marco Cecchini
- NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze‐CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza San SilvestroPisaItaly
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Katabuchi AU, Godoy V, Shil P, Moser A, Maegawa GHB. Serendipitous effects of β-cyclodextrin on murine model of Krabbe disease. Mol Genet Metab Rep 2018; 15:98-9. [PMID: 30023296 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgmr.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 03/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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Teixeira CA, Miranda CO, Sousa VF, Santos TE, Malheiro AR, Solomon M, Maegawa GH, Brites P, Sousa MM. Early axonal loss accompanied by impaired endocytosis, abnormal axonal transport, and decreased microtubule stability occur in the model of Krabbe's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2014; 66:92-103. [PMID: 24607884 PMCID: PMC4307018 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In Krabbe's disease (KD), a leukodystrophy caused by β-galactosylceramidase deficiency, demyelination and a myelin-independent axonopathy contributes to the severe neuropathology. Beyond axonopathy, we show that in Twitcher mice, a model of KD, a decreased number of axons both in the PNS and in the CNS, and of neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), occurred before the onset of demyelination. Despite the early axonal loss, and although in vitro Twitcher neurites degenerated over time, Twitcher DRG neurons displayed an initial neurite overgrowth and, following sciatic nerve injury, Twitcher axons were regeneration-competent, at a time point where axonopathy was already ongoing. Psychosine, the toxic substrate that accumulates in KD, induced lipid raft clustering. At the mechanistic level, TrkA recruitment to lipid rafts was dysregulated in Twitcher neurons, and defective activation of the ERK1/2 and AKT pathways was identified. Besides defective recruitment of signaling molecules to lipid rafts, the early steps of endocytosis and the transport of endocytic and synaptic vesicles were impaired in Twitcher DRG neurons. Defects in axonal transport, specifically in the retrograde component, correlated with decreased levels of dynein, abnormal levels of post-translational tubulin modifications and decreased microtubule stability. The identification of the axonal defects that precede demyelination in KD, together with the finding that Twitcher axons are regeneration-competent when axonopathy is already installed, opens new windows of action to effectively correct the neuropathology that characterizes this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Andreia Teixeira
- Nerve Regeneration Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Catarina Oliveira Miranda
- Nerve Regeneration Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar, 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal
| | - Vera Filipe Sousa
- Nerve Regeneration Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar, 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal
| | - Telma Emanuela Santos
- Nerve Regeneration Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Malheiro
- Nerve Regeneration Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Melani Solomon
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Gustavo H Maegawa
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine and Department of Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Pedro Brites
- Nerve Regeneration Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mónica Mendes Sousa
- Nerve Regeneration Group, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal.
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Ribbens JJ, Moser AB, Hubbard WC, Bongarzone ER, Maegawa GHB. Characterization and application of a disease-cell model for a neurodegenerative lysosomal disease. Mol Genet Metab 2014; 111:172-83. [PMID: 24094551 PMCID: PMC3946682 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2013.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Revised: 09/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Disease-cell models that recapitulate specific molecular phenotypes are essential for the investigation of molecular pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases including lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) with predominant neurological manifestations. Herein we report the development and characterization of a cell model for a rapid neurodegenerative LSDs, globoid-cell leukodystrophy (GLD), mostly known as Krabbe disease. GLD is caused by the deficiency of β-galactocerebrosidase (GALC), a lysosomal enzyme that hydrolyzes two glycosphingolipids, psychosine and galactosylceramide. Unfortunately, the available culture fibroblasts from GLD patients consist of a limited research tool as these cells fail to accumulate psychosine, the central pathogenic glycosphingolipid in this LSD that results in severe demyelination. Firstly, we obtained brain samples from the Twitcher (Twi) mice (GALC(twi/twi)), the natural mouse model with GALC deficiency. We immortalized the primary neuroglial cultured cells with SV40 large T antigen, generating the 145M-Twi and the 145C-Wt cell lines from the Twi and control mice, respectively. Both cell lines expressed specific oligodendrocyte markers including A2B5 and GalC. The 145M-Twi cells showed biochemical and cellular disturbances related to GLD neuropathogenesis including remarkable caspase-3 activation, release of cytochrome C into the cytosol and expansion of the lysosomal compartment. Under treatment with glycosphingolipids, 145M-Twi cells showed increased LC3B levels, a marker of autophagy. Using the LC-MS/MS method that we developed, the 145M-Twi cells showed significantly higher levels of psychosine. The 145M-Twi and 145C-Wt lines allowed the development of a robust throughput LC-MS/MS assay to measure cellular psychosine levels. In this throughput assay, l-cycloserine showed to significantly reduce the 145M-Twi cellular levels of psychosine. The established 145M-Twi cells are powerful research tools to investigate the neurologically relevant pathogenic pathways as well as to develop primary screening assays for the identification of therapeutic agents for GLD and potentially other glycosphingolipid disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jameson J Ribbens
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ann B Moser
- Kennedy Krieger Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Walter C Hubbard
- Division of Clinical Pharmacology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Ernesto R Bongarzone
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Gustavo H B Maegawa
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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