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Brenner D, Sieverding K, Srinidhi J, Zellner S, Secker C, Yilmaz R, Dyckow J, Amr S, Ponomarenko A, Tunaboylu E, Douahem Y, Schlag JS, Rodríguez Martínez L, Kislinger G, Niemann C, Nalbach K, Ruf WP, Uhl J, Hollenbeck J, Schirmer L, Catanese A, Lobsiger CS, Danzer KM, Yilmazer-Hanke D, Münch C, Koch P, Freischmidt A, Fetting M, Behrends C, Parlato R, Weishaupt JH. A TBK1 variant causes autophagolysosomal and motoneuron pathology without neuroinflammation in mice. J Exp Med 2024; 221:e20221190. [PMID: 38517332 PMCID: PMC10959724 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20221190] [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: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterozygous mutations in the TBK1 gene can cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The majority of TBK1-ALS/FTD patients carry deleterious loss-of-expression mutations, and it is still unclear which TBK1 function leads to neurodegeneration. We investigated the impact of the pathogenic TBK1 missense variant p.E696K, which does not abolish protein expression, but leads to a selective loss of TBK1 binding to the autophagy adaptor protein and TBK1 substrate optineurin. Using organelle-specific proteomics, we found that in a knock-in mouse model and human iPSC-derived motor neurons, the p.E696K mutation causes presymptomatic onset of autophagolysosomal dysfunction in neurons precipitating the accumulation of damaged lysosomes. This is followed by a progressive, age-dependent motor neuron disease. Contrary to the phenotype of mice with full Tbk1 knock-out, RIPK/TNF-α-dependent hepatic, neuronal necroptosis, and overt autoinflammation were not detected. Our in vivo results indicate autophagolysosomal dysfunction as a trigger for neurodegeneration and a promising therapeutic target in TBK1-ALS/FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Brenner
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Jahnavi Srinidhi
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Susanne Zellner
- Medical Faculty, Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Munich, Germany
| | - Christopher Secker
- Neuroproteomics, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Rüstem Yilmaz
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Julia Dyckow
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Shady Amr
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry II, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Anna Ponomarenko
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Esra Tunaboylu
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Yasmin Douahem
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Joana S. Schlag
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lucía Rodríguez Martínez
- Institute of Neuronal Cell Biology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg Kislinger
- Electron Microscopy Hub, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
| | - Cornelia Niemann
- Electron Microscopy Hub, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
| | - Karsten Nalbach
- Medical Faculty, Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Jonathan Uhl
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Johanna Hollenbeck
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Lucas Schirmer
- Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Alberto Catanese
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian S. Lobsiger
- Institut du Cerveau—Paris Brain Institute—Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, Inserm, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Karin M. Danzer
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ulm, Germany
| | - Deniz Yilmazer-Hanke
- Department of Neurology, Clinical Neuroanatomy Unit, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christian Münch
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Philipp Koch
- University of Heidelberg/Medical Faculty Mannheim, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, Germany
- Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research, Mannheim, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Martina Fetting
- Medical Faculty, Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Munich, Germany
- Electron Microscopy Hub, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich, Germany
| | - Christian Behrends
- Medical Faculty, Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Ludwig-Maximilians-University München, Munich, Germany
| | - Rosanna Parlato
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jochen H. Weishaupt
- Division of Neurodegeneration, Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
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Xie W, Chen J, Cao X, Zhang J, Luo J, Wang Y. Roxithromycin exposure induces motoneuron malformation and behavioral deficits of zebrafish by interfering with the differentiation of motor neuron progenitor cells. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2024; 276:116327. [PMID: 38626605 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116327] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024]
Abstract
Roxithromycin (ROX), a commonly used macrolide antibiotic, is extensively employed in human medicine and livestock industries. Due to its structural stability and resistance to biological degradation, ROX persists as a resilient environmental contaminant, detectable in aquatic ecosystems and food products. However, our understanding of the potential health risks to humans from continuous ROX exposure remains limited. In this study, we used the zebrafish as a vertebrate model to explore the potential developmental toxicity of early ROX exposure, particularly focusing on its effects on locomotor functionality and CaP motoneuron development. Early exposure to ROX induces marked developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos, significantly reducing hatching rates (n=100), body lengths (n=100), and increased malformation rates (n=100). The zebrafish embryos treated with a corresponding volume of DMSO (0.1%, v/v) served as vehicle controls (veh). Moreover, ROX exposure adversely affected the locomotive capacity of zebrafish embryos, and observations in transgenic zebrafish Tg(hb9:eGFP) revealed axonal loss in motor neurons, evident through reduced or irregular axonal lengths (n=80). Concurrently, abnormal apoptosis in ROX-exposed zebrafish embryos intensified alongside the upregulation of apoptosis-related genes (bax, bcl2, caspase-3a). Single-cell sequencing further disclosed substantial effects of ROX on genes involved in the differentiation of motor neuron progenitor cells (ngn1, olig2), axon development (cd82a, mbpa, plp1b, sema5a), and neuroimmunity (aplnrb, aplnra) in zebrafish larvae (n=30). Furthermore, the CaP motor neuron defects and behavioral deficits induced by ROX can be rescued by administering ngn1 agonist (n=80). In summary, ROX exposure leads to early-life abnormalities in zebrafish motor neurons and locomotor behavior by hindering the differentiation of motor neuron progenitor cells and inducing abnormal apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjie Xie
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Engineering Research Center of Key Technique for Biotherapy of Guangdong Province, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Juntao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Engineering Research Center of Key Technique for Biotherapy of Guangdong Province, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaoqian Cao
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiannan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Juanjuan Luo
- Engineering Research Center of Key Technique for Biotherapy of Guangdong Province, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
| | - Yajun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Zhang L, Liu J, Liu M. Transsynaptic degeneration of ventral horn motor neurons exists but plays a minor role in lower motor system dysfunction in acute ischemic rats. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298006. [PMID: 38669239 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298006] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability, acute ischemic stroke can produce far-reaching pathophysiological consequences. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated abnormalities in the lower motor system following stroke, while the existence of Transsynaptic degeneration of contralateral spinal cord ventral horn (VH) neurons is still debated. METHODS Using a rat model of acute ischemic stroke, we analyzed spinal cord VH neuron counts contralaterally and ipsilaterally after stroke with immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, we estimated the overall lower motor unit abnormalities after stroke by simultaneously measuring the modified neurological severity score (mNSS), compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, repetitive nerve stimulation (RNS), spinal cord VH neuron counts, and the corresponding muscle fiber morphology. The activation status of microglia and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2) in the spinal cord VH was also assessed. RESULTS At 7 days after stroke, the contralateral CMAP amplitudes declined to a nadir indicating lower motor function damage, and significant muscle disuse atrophy was observed on the same side; meanwhile, the VH neurons remained intact. At 14 days after focal stroke, lower motor function recovered with alleviated muscle disuse atrophy, while transsynaptic degeneration occurred on the contralateral side with elevated activation of ERK 1/2, along with the occurrence of neurogenic muscle atrophy. No apparent decrement of CMAP amplitude was observed with RNS during the whole experimental process. CONCLUSIONS This study offered an overview of changes in the lower motor system in experimental ischemic rats. We demonstrated that transsynaptic degeneration of contralateral VH neurons occurred when lower motor function significantly recovered, which indicated the minor role of transsynaptic degeneration in lower motor dysfunction during the acute and subacute phases of focal ischemic stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingwen Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingsheng Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Sirtori R, J Gregoire M, M Potts E, Collins A, Donatelli L, Fallini C. LINC complex alterations are a key feature of sporadic and familial ALS/FTD. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:69. [PMID: 38664831 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01778-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects motor neurons, leading to progressive muscle weakness and loss of voluntary muscle control. While the exact cause of ALS is not fully understood, emerging research suggests that dysfunction of the nuclear envelope (NE) may contribute to disease pathogenesis and progression. The NE plays a role in ALS through several mechanisms, including nuclear pore defects, nucleocytoplasmic transport impairment, accumulation of mislocalized proteins, and nuclear morphology abnormalities. The LINC complex is the second biggest multi-protein complex in the NE and consists of the SUN1/2 proteins spanning the inner nuclear membrane and Nesprin proteins embedded in the outer membrane. The LINC complex, by interacting with both the nuclear lamina and the cytoskeleton, transmits mechanical forces to the nucleus regulating its morphology and functional homeostasis. In this study we show extensive alterations to the LINC complex in motor and cortical iPSC-derived neurons and spinal cord organoids carrying the ALS causative mutation in the C9ORF72 gene (C9). Importantly, we show that such alterations are present in vivo in a cohort of sporadic ALS and C9-ALS postmortem spinal cord and motor cortex specimens. We also found that LINC complex disruption strongly correlated with nuclear morphological alterations occurring in ALS neurons, independently of TDP43 mislocalization. Altogether, our data establish morphological and functional alterations to the LINC complex as important events in ALS pathogenic cascade, making this pathway a possible target for both biomarker and therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Sirtori
- Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, 130 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, 120 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
| | - Michelle J Gregoire
- Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, 130 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, 120 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, 9 Greenhouse Road, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
| | - Emily M Potts
- Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, 130 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, 120 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, 9 Greenhouse Road, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
| | - Alicia Collins
- Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, 130 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, 120 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, 9 Greenhouse Road, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
| | - Liviana Donatelli
- Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, 130 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, 120 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, 9 Greenhouse Road, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America
| | - Claudia Fallini
- Ryan Institute for Neuroscience, University of Rhode Island, 130 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America.
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, 120 Flagg Rd, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America.
- Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, University of Rhode Island, 9 Greenhouse Road, 02881, Kingston, RI, United States of America.
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, United States of America.
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Dermentzaki G, Furlan M, Tanaka I, Leonardi T, Rinchetti P, Passos PMS, Bastos A, Ayala YM, Hanna JH, Przedborski S, Bonanomi D, Pelizzola M, Lotti F. Depletion of Mettl3 in cholinergic neurons causes adult-onset neuromuscular degeneration. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113999. [PMID: 38554281 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113999] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron (MN) demise is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Post-transcriptional gene regulation can control RNA's fate, and defects in RNA processing are critical determinants of MN degeneration. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a post-transcriptional RNA modification that controls diverse aspects of RNA metabolism. To assess the m6A requirement in MNs, we depleted the m6A methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in cells and mice. METTL3 depletion in embryonic stem cell-derived MNs has profound and selective effects on survival and neurite outgrowth. Mice with cholinergic neuron-specific METTL3 depletion display a progressive decline in motor behavior, accompanied by MN loss and muscle denervation, culminating in paralysis and death. Reader proteins convey m6A effects, and their silencing phenocopies METTL3 depletion. Among the m6A targets, we identified transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and discovered that its expression is under epitranscriptomic control. Thus, impaired m6A signaling disrupts MN homeostasis and triggers neurodegeneration conceivably through TDP-43 deregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Dermentzaki
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Departments of Pathology & Cell Biology and Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mattia Furlan
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Iris Tanaka
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Tommaso Leonardi
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Rinchetti
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Departments of Pathology & Cell Biology and Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patricia M S Passos
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Alliny Bastos
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yuna M Ayala
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jacob H Hanna
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Serge Przedborski
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Departments of Pathology & Cell Biology and Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dario Bonanomi
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Mattia Pelizzola
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy; Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Lotti
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Departments of Pathology & Cell Biology and Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Tilsley P, Moutiez A, Brodovitch A, Mendili MME, Testud B, Zaaraoui W, Verschueren A, Attarian S, Guye M, Boucraut J, Grapperon AM, Stellmann JP. Neurofilament Light Chain Levels Interact with Neurodegenerative Patterns and Motor Neuron Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2024; 45:494-503. [PMID: 38548305 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a8154] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease involving rapid motor neuron degeneration leading to brain, primarily precentral, atrophy. Neurofilament light chains are a robust prognostic biomarker highly specific to ALS, yet associations between neurofilament light chains and MR imaging outcomes are not well-understood. We investigated the role of neurofilament light chains as mediators among neuroradiologic assessments, precentral neurodegeneration, and disability in ALS. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed a prospective cohort of 29 patients with ALS (mean age, 56 [SD, 12] years; 18 men) and 36 controls (mean age, 49 [SD, 11] years; 18 men). Patients underwent 3T (n = 19) or 7T (n = 10) MR imaging, serum (n = 23) and CSF (n = 15) neurofilament light chains, and clinical (n = 29) and electrophysiologic (n = 27) assessments. The control group had equivalent 3T (n = 25) or 7T (n = 11) MR imaging. Two trained neuroradiologists performed blinded qualitative assessments of MR imaging anomalies (n = 29 patients, n = 36 controls). Associations between precentral cortical thickness and neurofilament light chains and clinical and electrophysiologic data were analyzed. RESULTS We observed extensive cortical thinning in patients compared with controls. MR imaging analyses showed significant associations between precentral cortical thickness and bulbar or arm impairment following distributions corresponding to the motor homunculus. Finally, uncorrected results showed positive interactions among precentral cortical thickness, serum neurofilament light chains, and electrophysiologic outcomes. Qualitative MR imaging anomalies including global atrophy (P = .003) and FLAIR corticospinal tract hypersignal anomalies (P = .033), correlated positively with serum neurofilament light chains. CONCLUSIONS Serum neurofilament light chains may be an important mediator between clinical symptoms and neuronal loss according to cortical thickness. Furthermore, MR imaging anomalies might have underestimated prognostic value because they seem to indicate higher serum neurofilament light chain levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Tilsley
- From the Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., A.V., M.G., A.-M.G., J.-P.S.), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., M.G., J.-P.S.), Hôpital de la Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - Antoine Moutiez
- Department of Neuroradiology (A.M., B.T., J.-P.S.), Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Alexandre Brodovitch
- Immunology Laboratory (A.B., J.B.), Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals, Conception Hospital, Marseille, France
| | - Mohamed Mounir El Mendili
- From the Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., A.V., M.G., A.-M.G., J.-P.S.), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., M.G., J.-P.S.), Hôpital de la Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - Benoit Testud
- From the Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., A.V., M.G., A.-M.G., J.-P.S.), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., M.G., J.-P.S.), Hôpital de la Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
- Department of Neuroradiology (A.M., B.T., J.-P.S.), Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Wafaa Zaaraoui
- From the Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., A.V., M.G., A.-M.G., J.-P.S.), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., M.G., J.-P.S.), Hôpital de la Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - Annie Verschueren
- From the Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., A.V., M.G., A.-M.G., J.-P.S.), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Referral Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS (A.V., S.A., A.-M.G.), Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France
| | - Shahram Attarian
- Referral Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases and ALS (A.V., S.A., A.-M.G.), Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (S.A.,), Marseille Medical Genetics Center, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Maxime Guye
- From the Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., A.V., M.G., A.-M.G., J.-P.S.), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., M.G., J.-P.S.), Hôpital de la Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
| | - José Boucraut
- Immunology Laboratory (A.B., J.B.), Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals, Conception Hospital, Marseille, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (J.B.) Institut de Neurosciences des Systèmes Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Aude-Marie Grapperon
- From the Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., A.V., M.G., A.-M.G., J.-P.S.), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Jan-Patrick Stellmann
- From the Centre de Résonance Magnétique Biologique et Médicale (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., A.V., M.G., A.-M.G., J.-P.S.), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
- Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals (P.T., M.M.E.M., B.T., W.Z., M.G., J.-P.S.), Hôpital de la Timone, CEMEREM, Marseille, France
- Department of Neuroradiology (A.M., B.T., J.-P.S.), Assistance Publique-Marseille Hospitals, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille, France
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Raghav Y, Dilliott AA, Petrozziello T, Kim SE, Berry JD, Cudkowicz ME, Vakili K, Fraenkel E, Farhan SMK, Sadri-Vakili G. Identification of gene fusions associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Muscle Nerve 2024; 69:477-489. [PMID: 38305586 DOI: 10.1002/mus.28043] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/AIMS Genetics is an important risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disease affecting motor neurons. Recent findings demonstrate that in addition to specific genetic mutations, structural variants caused by genetic instability can also play a causative role in ALS. Genomic instability can lead to deletions, duplications, insertions, inversions, and translocations in the genome, and these changes can sometimes lead to fusion of distinct genes into a single transcript. Gene fusion events have been studied extensively in cancer; however, they have not been thoroughly investigated in ALS. The aim of this study was to determine whether gene fusions are present in ALS. METHODS Gene fusions were identified using STAR Fusion v1.10.0 software in bulk RNA-Seq data from human postmortem samples from publicly available data sets from Target ALS and the New York Genome Center ALS Consortium. RESULTS We report the presence of gene fusion events in several brain regions as well as in spinal cord samples in ALS. Although most gene fusions were intra-chromosomal events between neighboring genes and present in both ALS and control samples, there was a significantly greater number of unique gene fusions in ALS compared to controls. Lastly, we identified specific gene fusions with a significant burden in ALS, that were absent from both control samples and known cancer gene fusion databases. DISCUSSION Collectively, our findings reveal an enrichment of gene fusions in ALS and suggest that these events may be an additional genetic cause linked to ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogindra Raghav
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Allison A Dilliott
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tiziana Petrozziello
- Sean M. Healey &AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Spencer E Kim
- Sean M. Healey &AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James D Berry
- Sean M. Healey &AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Merit E Cudkowicz
- Sean M. Healey &AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Khashayar Vakili
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ernest Fraenkel
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sali M K Farhan
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ghazaleh Sadri-Vakili
- Sean M. Healey &AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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8
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Roos A, Schmitt LI, Hansmann C, Hezel S, Salmanian S, Hentschel A, Meyer N, Marina AD, Kölbel H, Kleinschnitz C, Schara-Schmidt U, Leo M, Hagenacker T. Alteration of LARGE1 abundance in patients and a mouse model of 5q-associated spinal muscular atrophy. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 147:53. [PMID: 38470509 PMCID: PMC10933199 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02709-x] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by recessive pathogenic variants affecting the survival of motor neuron (SMN1) gene (localized on 5q). In consequence, cells lack expression of the corresponding protein. This pathophysiological condition is clinically associated with motor neuron (MN) degeneration leading to severe muscular atrophy. Additionally, vulnerability of other cellular populations and tissues including skeletal muscle has been demonstrated. Although the therapeutic options for SMA have considerably changed, treatment responses may differ thus underlining the persistent need for validated biomarkers. To address this need and to identify novel marker proteins for SMA, we performed unbiased proteomic profiling on cerebrospinal fluid derived (CSF) from genetically proven SMA type 1-3 cases and afterwards performed ELISA studies on CSF and serum samples to validate the potential of a novel biomarker candidates in both body fluids. To further decipher the pathophysiological impact of this biomarker, immunofluorescence studies were carried out on spinal cord and skeletal muscle derived from a 5q-SMA mouse model. Proteomics revealed increase of LARGE1 in CSF derived from adult patients showing a clinical response upon treatment with nusinersen. Moreover, LARGE1 levels were validated in CSF samples of further SMA patients (type 1-3) by ELISA. These studies also unveiled a distinguishment between groups in improvement of motor skills: adult patients do present with lowered level per se at baseline visit while no elevation upon treatment in the pediatric cohort can be observed. ELISA-based studies of serum samples showed no changes in the pediatric cohort but unraveled elevated level in adult patients responding to future intervention with nusinersen, while non-responders did not show a significant increase. Additional immunofluorescence studies of LARGE1 in MN and skeletal muscle of a SMA type 3 mouse model revealed an increase of LARGE1 during disease progression. Our combined data unraveled LARGE1 as a protein dysregulated in serum and CSF of SMA-patients (and in MN and skeletal muscle of SMA mice) holding the potential to serve as a disease marker for SMA and enabling to differentiate between patients responding and non-responding to therapy with nusinersen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Roos
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Disorders, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Brain and Mind Research Institute and Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Linda-Isabell Schmitt
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany.
| | - Christina Hansmann
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefanie Hezel
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Schahin Salmanian
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Andreas Hentschel
- Leibniz-Institut Für Analytische Wissenschaften-ISAS-e.V., Dortmund, Germany, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6B, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Nancy Meyer
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Disorders, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Adela Della Marina
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Disorders, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Heike Kölbel
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Disorders, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Christoph Kleinschnitz
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Schara-Schmidt
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Center for Neuromuscular Disorders, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Markus Leo
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
| | - Tim Hagenacker
- Department of Neurology, Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, 45147, Essen, Germany
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9
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Liu J, Chen Z, Wu R, Yu H, Yang S, Xu J, Wu C, Guo Y, Hua N, Zeng X, Ma Y, Li G, Zhang L, Chen Y, Zeng Y, Ding Y, Lai B. Effects of tail nerve electrical stimulation on the activation and plasticity of the lumbar locomotor circuits and the prevention of skeletal muscle atrophy after spinal cord transection in rats. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14445. [PMID: 37752787 PMCID: PMC10916423 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14445] [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: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Severe spinal cord injury results in the loss of neurons in the relatively intact spinal cord below the injury area and skeletal muscle atrophy in the paralyzed limbs. These pathological processes are significant obstacles for motor function reconstruction. OBJECTIVE We performed tail nerve electrical stimulation (TNES) to activate the motor neural circuits below the injury site of the spinal cord to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms of the excitatory afferent neurons in promoting the reconstruction of locomotor function. METHODS Eight days after T10 spinal cord transection in rats, TNES was performed for 7 weeks. Behavioral scores were assessed weekly. Electrophysiological tests and double retrograde tracings were performed at week 8. RESULTS After 7 weeks of TNES treatment, there was restoration in innervation, the number of stem cells, and mitochondrial metabolism in the rats' hindlimb muscles. Double retrograde tracings of the tail nerve and sciatic nerve further confirmed the presence of synaptic connections between the tail nerve and central pattern generator (CPG) neurons in the lumbar spinal cord, as well as motor neurons innervating the hindlimb muscles. CONCLUSION The mechanisms of TNES induced by the stimulation of primary afferent nerve fibers involves efficient activation of the motor neural circuits in the lumbosacral segment, alterations of synaptic plasticity, and the improvement of muscle and nerve regeneration, which provides the structural and functional foundation for the future use of cutting-edge biological treatment strategies to restore voluntary movement of paralyzed hindlimbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia‐Lin Liu
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Zheng‐Hong Chen
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Rehabilitation Medicine DepartmentThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Rong‐Jie Wu
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Shantou University Medical CollegeShantouGuangdongChina
- Department of OrthopedicsGuangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Hai‐Yang Yu
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Department of OrthopedicsGuangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Shang‐Bin Yang
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Jing Xu
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and DiseaseZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Chuang‐Ran Wu
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Department of OrthopedicsGuangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yi‐Nan Guo
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Nan Hua
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Xiang Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yuan‐Huan Ma
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Institute of Clinical Medicine, South China University of TechnologyGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Ge Li
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Targeted Prevention and Treatment of Heart DiseaseGuangdong Provincial People's Hospital(Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Ling Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Rehabilitation Medicine DepartmentThe First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yuan‐Feng Chen
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Department of OrthopedicsGuangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yuan‐Shan Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and DiseaseZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongJiangsuChina
| | - Ying Ding
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and DiseaseZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Bi‐Qin Lai
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat‐sen University), Ministry of EducationGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Department of Histology and EmbryologyZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and DiseaseZhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongJiangsuChina
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10
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Srikanth UK, Marinaik CB, Rao S, Gomes AR, Rathnamma D, Isloor S, T. Lakshmikanth B, K. Siddaramegowda C, Rizwan A, Byregowda SM, Venkatesha MD, Munivenkatarayappa A, Hegde R. Studies on the sequential pathology of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) in Mouse brain: KFD virus induces apoptosis of neurons in cerebrum and hippocampus. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297143. [PMID: 38427645 PMCID: PMC10906829 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297143] [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: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The sequential pathology of Kyasanur forest disease (KFD) in mouse brain was assessed in this study. Kyasanur forest disease virus (KFDV) strain P9605 used in this study was confirmed by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction targeting the NS5 gene. Mouse Lethal Dose 50 (MLD50) of the virus was determined by in-vivo mice inoculation test. One MLD50 of the KFDV was inoculated intra-cerebrally into 36 mice aged 2-3 weeks. Another group of 36 age-matched mice that served as control group were inoculated with plain media. Six mice each from infected and control groups were euthanized every 24 hrs intervals for six days. Brain tissues were collected in 10% NBF. The collected brain tissues were processed and subjected to histopathological studies by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. Grossly, the infected mice showed symptoms of dullness, hunched back appearance, weakness, sluggish movements with indication of hind quarter paralysis on day four post-infection. These symptoms got aggravated with complete paralysis of the hind quarters, inability to move and death on 5th and 6th day post-infection. Microscopically, the brain showed apoptosis of neurons, perivascular cuffing, gliosis, congestion, neuropil vacuolation, meningitis, degeneration, and necrotic neurons. The real-time RT-PCR on hippocampus of the KFDV-infected mouse brain showed three-fold higher expression levels of Caspase 3, a crucial mediator of apoptosis. The cerebral cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus that control the motor neuron activities and muscle tone were primarily affected, possibly correlating with the gross symptoms of hind quarter paralysis, ataxia, and other motor neuron dysfunctions noticed. Taken together, these findings reveal that KFDV induces apoptosis of neurons in the cerebrum and hippocampus of KFDV infected mice. Further studies are needed to confirm if the lesions noticed in mice brain simulate the brain lesions in humans since gross motor-neuron symptoms are similar in mice as well as humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ullasgowda K. Srikanth
- Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India
- Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India
| | | | - Suguna Rao
- Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India
| | - Amitha Reena Gomes
- Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India
| | | | | | - Bharath T. Lakshmikanth
- Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India
- Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India
| | - Chinmayie K. Siddaramegowda
- Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India
- Veterinary College, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India
| | - Apsana Rizwan
- Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India
| | | | | | | | - Raveendra Hegde
- Institute of Animal Health and Veterinary Biologicals, KVAFSU, Bangalore, India
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11
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Yan J, Wang YM, Hellwig A, Bading H. TwinF interface inhibitor FP802 stops loss of motor neurons and mitigates disease progression in a mouse model of ALS. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101413. [PMID: 38325382 PMCID: PMC10897598 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101413] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Toxic signaling by extrasynaptic NMDA receptors (eNMDARs) is considered an important promoter of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease progression. To exploit this therapeutically, we take advantage of TwinF interface (TI) inhibition, a pharmacological principle that, contrary to classical NMDAR pharmacology, allows selective elimination of eNMDAR-mediated toxicity via disruption of the NMDAR/TRPM4 death signaling complex while sparing the vital physiological functions of synaptic NMDARs. Post-disease onset treatment of the SOD1G93A ALS mouse model with FP802, a modified TI inhibitor with a safe pharmacology profile, stops the progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, resulting in a reduction in the serum biomarker neurofilament light chain, improved motor performance, and an extension of life expectancy. FP802 also effectively blocks NMDA-induced death of neurons in ALS patient-derived forebrain organoids. These results establish eNMDAR toxicity as a key player in ALS pathogenesis. TI inhibitors may provide an effective treatment option for ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yan
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Yu Meng Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Hellwig
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hilmar Bading
- Department of Neurobiology, Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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12
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Huang L, Yi L, Huang H, Zhan S, Chen R, Yue Z. Corticospinal tract: a new hope for the treatment of post-stroke spasticity. Acta Neurol Belg 2024; 124:25-36. [PMID: 37704780 PMCID: PMC10874326 DOI: 10.1007/s13760-023-02377-w] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Post-stroke spasticity (PSS) is the most common complication of stroke but represents only one of the many manifestations of upper motor neuron syndrome. As an upper motor neuron, the corticospinal tract (CST) is the only direct descending motor pathway that innervates the spinal motor neurons and is closely related to the recovery of limb function in patients with PSS. Therefore, promoting axonal remodeling in the CST may help identify new therapeutic strategies for PSS. In this review, we outline the pathological mechanisms of PSS, specifically their relationship with CST, and therapeutic strategies for axonal regeneration of the CST after stroke. We found it to be closely associated with astroglial scarring produced by astrocyte activation and its secretion of neurotrophic factors, mainly after the onset of cerebral ischemia. We hope that this review offers insight into the relationship between CST and PSS and provides a basis for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxing Huang
- College of Acupuncture, Massage and Rehabilitation, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Lizhen Yi
- College of Acupuncture, Massage and Rehabilitation, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Huiyuan Huang
- College of Acupuncture, Massage and Rehabilitation, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Sheng Zhan
- College of Acupuncture, Massage and Rehabilitation, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Ruixue Chen
- College of Acupuncture, Massage and Rehabilitation, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China
| | - Zenghui Yue
- College of Acupuncture, Massage and Rehabilitation, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, 410208, China.
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13
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Cunha-Oliveira T, Montezinho L, Simões RF, Carvalho M, Ferreiro E, Silva FSG. Mitochondria: A Promising Convergent Target for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2024; 13:248. [PMID: 38334639 PMCID: PMC10854804 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030248] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons, for which current treatment options are limited. Recent studies have shed light on the role of mitochondria in ALS pathogenesis, making them an attractive therapeutic intervention target. This review contains a very comprehensive critical description of the involvement of mitochondria and mitochondria-mediated mechanisms in ALS. The review covers several key areas related to mitochondria in ALS, including impaired mitochondrial function, mitochondrial bioenergetics, reactive oxygen species, metabolic processes and energy metabolism, mitochondrial dynamics, turnover, autophagy and mitophagy, impaired mitochondrial transport, and apoptosis. This review also highlights preclinical and clinical studies that have investigated various mitochondria-targeted therapies for ALS treatment. These include strategies to improve mitochondrial function, such as the use of dichloroacetate, ketogenic and high-fat diets, acetyl-carnitine, and mitochondria-targeted antioxidants. Additionally, antiapoptotic agents, like the mPTP-targeting agents minocycline and rasagiline, are discussed. The paper aims to contribute to the identification of effective mitochondria-targeted therapies for ALS treatment by synthesizing the current understanding of the role of mitochondria in ALS pathogenesis and reviewing potential convergent therapeutic interventions. The complex interplay between mitochondria and the pathogenic mechanisms of ALS holds promise for the development of novel treatment strategies to combat this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Cunha-Oliveira
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Liliana Montezinho
- Center for Investigation Vasco da Gama (CIVG), Escola Universitária Vasco da Gama, 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal;
| | - Rui F. Simões
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marcelo Carvalho
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Elisabete Ferreiro
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Filomena S. G. Silva
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, CIBB—Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Mitotag Lda, Biocant Park, 3060-197 Cantanhede, Portugal
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14
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Rezvykh A, Shteinberg D, Bronovitsky E, Ustyugov A, Funikov S. Animal Models of FUS-Proteinopathy: A Systematic Review. Biochemistry (Mosc) 2024; 89:S34-S56. [PMID: 38621743 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924140037] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Mutations that disrupt the function of the DNA/RNA-binding protein FUS could cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative diseases. One of the key features in ALS pathogenesis is the formation of insoluble protein aggregates containing aberrant isoforms of the FUS protein in the cytoplasm of upper and lower motor neurons. Reproduction of human pathology in animal models is the main tool for studying FUS-associated pathology and searching for potential therapeutic agents for ALS treatment. In this review, we provide a systematic analysis of the role of FUS protein in ALS pathogenesis and an overview of the results of modelling FUS-proteinopathy in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Rezvykh
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia
| | - Daniil Shteinberg
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, 142432, Russia
| | | | - Aleksey Ustyugov
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, 142432, Russia
| | - Sergei Funikov
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
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15
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Tetter S, Arseni D, Murzin AG, Buhidma Y, Peak-Chew SY, Garringer HJ, Newell KL, Vidal R, Apostolova LG, Lashley T, Ghetti B, Ryskeldi-Falcon B. TAF15 amyloid filaments in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Nature 2024; 625:345-351. [PMID: 38057661 PMCID: PMC10781619 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06801-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) causes frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, and is often also associated with motor disorders1. The pathological hallmarks of FTLD are neuronal inclusions of specific, abnormally assembled proteins2. In the majority of cases the inclusions contain amyloid filament assemblies of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) or tau, with distinct filament structures characterizing different FTLD subtypes3,4. The presence of amyloid filaments and their identities and structures in the remaining approximately 10% of FTLD cases are unknown but are widely believed to be composed of the protein fused in sarcoma (FUS, also known as translocated in liposarcoma). As such, these cases are commonly referred to as FTLD-FUS. Here we used cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the structures of amyloid filaments extracted from the prefrontal and temporal cortices of four individuals with FTLD-FUS. Surprisingly, we found abundant amyloid filaments of the FUS homologue TATA-binding protein-associated factor 15 (TAF15, also known as TATA-binding protein-associated factor 2N) rather than of FUS itself. The filament fold is formed from residues 7-99 in the low-complexity domain (LCD) of TAF15 and was identical between individuals. Furthermore, we found TAF15 filaments with the same fold in the motor cortex and brainstem of two of the individuals, both showing upper and lower motor neuron pathology. The formation of TAF15 amyloid filaments with a characteristic fold in FTLD establishes TAF15 proteinopathy in neurodegenerative disease. The structure of TAF15 amyloid filaments provides a basis for the development of model systems of neurodegenerative disease, as well as for the design of diagnostic and therapeutic tools targeting TAF15 proteinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diana Arseni
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Yazead Buhidma
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | | | - Holly J Garringer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Kathy L Newell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ruben Vidal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Liana G Apostolova
- Department of Neurology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- The Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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16
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Wei J, Li M, Ye Z, Hu X, He X, Wang J, Chen G, Zou C, Xu D, Zhang H, Yuan J, Zha Y. Elevated peripheral levels of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) and IL-8 as biomarkers of human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:451. [PMID: 38086800 PMCID: PMC10716192 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01713-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating fatal neurodegenerative disease with no cure. Receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) has been proposed to mediate pathogenesis of ALS. Primidone has been identified as an old drug that can also inhibit RIPK1 kinase. We conducted a drug-repurposing biomarker study of primidone as a RIPK1 inhibitor using SOD1G93A mice and ALS patients. SOD1G93A mice treated with primidone showed significant delay of symptomatic onset and improved motor performance. One-hundred-sixty-two ALS participants dosed daily with primidone (62.5 mg) completed 24-week follow-up. A significant reduction was showed in serum levels of RIPK1 and IL-8, which were significantly higher in ALS patients than that of healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Serum RIPK1 levels were correlated positively with the severity of bulbar symptoms (P < 0.05). Our study suggests that serum levels of RIPK1 and IL-8 in peripheral can be used as clinical biomarkers for the activation of RIPK1 in central nervous system in human ALS patients. Repurposing primidone may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for ALS. The effect of primidone for the treatment of other inflammatory diseases may also be considered, since the activation of RIPK1 has been implicated in mediating a variety of inflammatory diseases including COVID-19-associated cytokine release syndrome (CRS). (ChiCTR2200060149).
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Grants
- WJ2021M257 Health and Family Planning Commission of Hubei Province (Hubei Provincial Health Department)
- 2019SHZDZX02 Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission)
- 32070737 National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- 82188101, 91849204, 21837004, 92049303 and 32170755 National Natural Science Foundation of China (National Science Foundation of China)
- 20JC1411600 Shanghai Science and Technology Development Foundation (Shanghai Science and Technology Development Fund)
- 20QA1411500 Shanghai Science and Technology Development Foundation (Shanghai Science and Technology Development Fund)
- Local science and technology development projects guided by the central government (ZYYD2020000202), Hubei Province’s Outstanding Medical Academic Leader program (EWT201947), Project of Hubei Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Rare Diseases of Nervous System, Yichang Training Talents of Innovation Entrepreneurship and Excellence-creating project (JY201701).
- Science and Technology Research Project of Hubei Provincial Department of Education (Q20221214).
- the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies (19DZ2260400), the Shanghai Rising Star Program (21QA1411300) and High-Level Talents Program (20220001787).
- the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB39030600), the National Key R&D Program of China (2022ZD0213200), the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies (19DZ2260400)
- the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (2019SHZDZX02), the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies (19DZ2260400).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wei
- Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair and Department of Neurology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, Yichang Central Hospital, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Hubei Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Rare Diseases of Nervous System, Yichang, 443000, China
| | - Min Li
- Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair and Department of Neurology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, Yichang Central Hospital, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Hubei Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Rare Diseases of Nervous System, Yichang, 443000, China
| | - Zhi Ye
- Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair and Department of Neurology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, Yichang Central Hospital, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Hubei Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Rare Diseases of Nervous System, Yichang, 443000, China
| | - Xinqian Hu
- Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair and Department of Neurology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, Yichang Central Hospital, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Hubei Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Rare Diseases of Nervous System, Yichang, 443000, China
| | - Xiaoyan He
- Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair and Department of Neurology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, Yichang Central Hospital, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Hubei Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Rare Diseases of Nervous System, Yichang, 443000, China
| | - Jia Wang
- Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair and Department of Neurology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, Yichang Central Hospital, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Hubei Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Rare Diseases of Nervous System, Yichang, 443000, China
| | - Gaofeng Chen
- Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair and Department of Neurology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, Yichang Central Hospital, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Hubei Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Rare Diseases of Nervous System, Yichang, 443000, China
| | - Chengyu Zou
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Daichao Xu
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Hongbing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Junying Yuan
- Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Yunhong Zha
- Institute of Neural Regeneration and Repair and Department of Neurology, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, Yichang Central Hospital, College of Basic Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Hubei Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Rare Diseases of Nervous System, Yichang, 443000, China.
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17
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Magrì B, D'Amico AG, Maugeri G, Morello G, La Cognata V, Saccone S, Federico C, Cavallaro S, D'Agata V. Neuroprotective effect of the PACAP-ADNP axis on SOD1G93A mutant motor neuron death induced by trophic factors deprivation. Neuropeptides 2023; 102:102386. [PMID: 37856900 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2023.102386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons in the central nervous system. Mutations in the gene encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) account for approximately in 20% of familial ALS cases. The pathological mechanisms underlying the toxicity induced by mutated SOD1 are still unknown. However, it has been hypothesized that oxidative stress (OS) has a crucial role in motor neuron degeneration in ALS patients. Moreover, it has been described that SOD1 mutation interferes expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a protective key modulator against OS and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. The protective effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) has been demonstrated in various neurological disorders, including ALS. Some of its effects are mediated by the stimulation of an intracellular factor known as activity-dependent protein (ADNP). The role of PACAP-ADNP axis on mutated SOD1 motor neuron degeneration has not been explored, yet. The present study aimed to investigate whether PACAP prevented apoptotic cell death induced by growth factor deprivation through ADNP activation and whether the peptidergic axis can counteract the OS insult. By using an in vitro model of ALS, we demonstrated that PACAP by binding to PAC1 receptor (PAC1R) prevented motor neuron death induced by serum deprivation through induction of the ADNP expression via PKC stimulation. Furthermore, we have also demonstrated that the PACAP/ADNP axis counteracted ROS formation by inducing translocation of the Nfr2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In conclusion, our study provides new insights regarding the protective role of PACAP-ADNP in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedetta Magrì
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Anatomy, Histology and Movement Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | | | - Grazia Maugeri
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Anatomy, Histology and Movement Sciences, University of Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanna Morello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, Via P. Gaifami 18, Catania 95126, Italy
| | - Valentina La Cognata
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, Via P. Gaifami 18, Catania 95126, Italy
| | - Salvatore Saccone
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy
| | - Concetta Federico
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Catania 95123, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, Via P. Gaifami 18, Catania 95126, Italy
| | - Velia D'Agata
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Section of Anatomy, Histology and Movement Sciences, University of Catania, Italy.
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18
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Stella R, Bonadio RS, Cagnin S, Andreotti R, Massimino ML, Bertoli A, Peggion C. Secreted Metabolome of ALS-Related hSOD1(G93A) Primary Cultures of Myocytes and Implications for Myogenesis. Cells 2023; 12:2751. [PMID: 38067180 PMCID: PMC10706027 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232751] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron (MN) disease associated with progressive muscle atrophy, paralysis, and eventually death. Growing evidence demonstrates that the pathological process leading to ALS is the result of multiple altered mechanisms occurring not only in MNs but also in other cell types inside and outside the central nervous system. In this context, the involvement of skeletal muscle has been the subject of a few studies on patients and ALS animal models. In this work, by using primary myocytes derived from the ALS transgenic hSOD1(G93A) mouse model, we observed that the myogenic capability of such cells was defective compared to cells derived from control mice expressing the nonpathogenic hSOD1(WT) isoform. The correct in vitro myogenesis of hSOD1(G93A) primary skeletal muscle cells was rescued by the addition of a conditioned medium from healthy hSOD1(WT) myocytes, suggesting the existence of an in trans activity of secreted factors. To define a dataset of molecules participating in such safeguard action, we conducted comparative metabolomic profiling of a culture medium collected from hSOD1(G93A) and hSOD1(WT) primary myocytes and report here an altered secretion of amino acids and lipid-based signaling molecules. These findings support the urgency of better understanding the role of the skeletal muscle secretome in the regulation of the myogenic program and mechanisms of ALS pathogenesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Stella
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
| | | | - Stefano Cagnin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy (S.C.)
- CIR-Myo Myology Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Roberta Andreotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy (A.B.)
| | - Maria Lina Massimino
- Neuroscience Institute, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 35131 Padova, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Bertoli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy (A.B.)
- Neuroscience Institute, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 35131 Padova, Italy;
- Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Caterina Peggion
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy (S.C.)
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19
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Shefner JM, Musaro A, Ngo ST, Lunetta C, Steyn FJ, Robitaille R, De Carvalho M, Rutkove S, Ludolph AC, Dupuis L. Skeletal muscle in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain 2023; 146:4425-4436. [PMID: 37327376 PMCID: PMC10629757 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the major adult-onset motor neuron disease, has been viewed almost exclusively as a disease of upper and lower motor neurons, with muscle changes interpreted as a consequence of the progressive loss of motor neurons and neuromuscular junctions. This has led to the prevailing view that the involvement of muscle in ALS is only secondary to motor neuron loss. Skeletal muscle and motor neurons reciprocally influence their respective development and constitute a single functional unit. In ALS, multiple studies indicate that skeletal muscle dysfunction might contribute to progressive muscle weakness, as well as to the final demise of neuromuscular junctions and motor neurons. Furthermore, skeletal muscle has been shown to participate in disease pathogenesis of several monogenic diseases closely related to ALS. Here, we move the narrative towards a better appreciation of muscle as a contributor of disease in ALS. We review the various potential roles of skeletal muscle cells in ALS, from passive bystanders to active players in ALS pathophysiology. We also compare ALS to other motor neuron diseases and draw perspectives for future research and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy M Shefner
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, USA
- College of Medicine, Creighton University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Antonio Musaro
- DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia—Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Scuola Superiore di Studi Avanzati Sapienza (SSAS), Rome, Italy
| | - Shyuan T Ngo
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Christian Lunetta
- Neurorehabilitation Department, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Frederik J Steyn
- Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Richard Robitaille
- Département de neurosciences, CIRCA, Université de Montréal, Montréal H7G 1T7, Canada
| | - Mamede De Carvalho
- Instituto de Fisiologia, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Seward Rutkove
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ulm, Germany
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, UMR-S1118, Mécanismes centraux et périphériques de la neurodégénérescence, CRBS, Strasbourg, France
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20
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Elmansy MF, Reidl CT, Rahaman M, Özdinler PH, Silverman RB. Small molecules targeting different cellular pathologies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Med Res Rev 2023; 43:2260-2302. [PMID: 37243319 PMCID: PMC10592673 DOI: 10.1002/med.21974] [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: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease in which the motor neuron circuitry displays progressive degeneration, affecting mostly the motor neurons in the brain and in the spinal cord. There are no effective cures, albeit three drugs, riluzole, edaravone, and AMX0035 (a combination of sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol), have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, with limited improvement in patients. There is an urgent need to build better and more effective treatment strategies for ALS. Since the disease is very heterogenous, numerous approaches have been explored, such as targeting genetic mutations, decreasing oxidative stress and excitotoxicity, enhancing mitochondrial function and protein degradation mechanisms, and inhibiting neuroinflammation. In addition, various chemical libraries or previously identified drugs have been screened for potential repurposing in the treatment of ALS. Here, we review previous drug discovery efforts targeting a variety of cellular pathologies that occur from genetic mutations that cause ALS, such as mutations in SOD1, C9orf72, FUS, and TARDP-43 genes. These mutations result in protein aggregation, which causes neuronal degeneration. Compounds used to target cellular pathologies that stem from these mutations are discussed and comparisons among different preclinical models are presented. Because the drug discovery landscape for ALS and other motor neuron diseases is changing rapidly, we also offer recommendations for a novel, more effective, direction in ALS drug discovery that could accelerate translation of effective compounds from animals to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed F. Elmansy
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Department of Organometallic and Organometalloid Chemistry, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Cory T. Reidl
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Mizzanoor Rahaman
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - P. Hande Özdinler
- Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Richard B. Silverman
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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21
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Benlefki S, Younes R, Challuau D, Bernard-Marissal N, Hilaire C, Scamps F, Bowerman M, Kothary R, Schneider BL, Raoul C. Differential effect of Fas activation on spinal muscular atrophy motoneuron death and induction of axonal growth. Cell Mol Biol (Noisy-le-grand) 2023; 69:1-8. [PMID: 37953591 DOI: 10.14715/cmb/2023.69.10.1] [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: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are the most common motoneuron diseases affecting adults and infants, respectively. ALS and SMA are both characterized by the selective degeneration of motoneurons. Although different in their genetic etiology, growing evidence indicates that they share molecular and cellular pathogenic signatures that constitute potential common therapeutic targets. We previously described a motoneuron-specific death pathway elicited by the Fas death receptor, whereby vulnerable ALS motoneurons show an exacerbated sensitivity to Fas activation. However, the mechanisms that drive the loss of SMA motoneurons remains poorly understood. Here, we describe an in vitro model of SMA-associated degeneration using primary motoneurons derived from Smn2B/- SMA mice and show that Fas activation selectively triggers death of the proximal motoneurons. Fas-induced death of SMA motoneurons has the molecular signature of the motoneuron-selective Fas death pathway that requires activation of p38 kinase, caspase-8, -9 and -3 as well as upregulation of collapsin response mediator protein 4 (CRMP4). In addition, Rho-associated Kinase (ROCK) is required for Fas recruitment. Remarkably, we found that exogenous activation of Fas also promotes axonal elongation in both wildtype and SMA motoneurons. Axon outgrowth of motoneurons promoted by Fas requires the activity of ERK, ROCK and caspases. This work defines a dual role of Fas signaling in motoneurons that can elicit distinct responses from cell death to axonal growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Melissa Bowerman
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom.
| | - Rashmi Kothary
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Bernard L Schneider
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Cedric Raoul
- INM, Univ Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France.
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22
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Li XG, Liu MS, Cui LY. [Attention should be paid to the importance of genetic testing in clinical practice of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2023; 103:3071-3076. [PMID: 37840177 DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112137-20230516-00796] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease that mainly involves upper and lower motor neurons. It lacks clear biomarkers and can be clearly diagnosed only one and a half years after the onset. Gene test is of great significance for diagnosis, prognosis and genetic counseling. In recent years, several gene therapy studies have entered the clinical trial stage of ALS, among which the antisense oligonucleotide therapy targeting the pathogenic variation of the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene has been launched, and it is urgent to carry out routine gene test in clinical practice. On the basis of progress of ALS gene research in recent years, family history, age of onset and typical clinical manifestations of patients are no longer considered as the basis for genetic testing. However, the target genes of clinical gene testing needs to be further clarified according to the diagnostic purpose, the testing method and scheme need to be standardized, and the genetic consultation before testing should be paid attention to, and the informed consent should be fully achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- X G Li
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - M S Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
| | - L Y Cui
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China
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23
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Xie M, Pallegar PN, Parusel S, Nguyen AT, Wu LJ. Regulation of cortical hyperexcitability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: focusing on glial mechanisms. Mol Neurodegener 2023; 18:75. [PMID: 37858176 PMCID: PMC10585818 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00665-w] [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: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of both upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness, atrophy, paralysis, and eventually death. Motor cortical hyperexcitability is a common phenomenon observed at the presymptomatic stage of ALS. Both cell-autonomous (the intrinsic properties of motor neurons) and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms (cells other than motor neurons) are believed to contribute to cortical hyperexcitability. Decoding the pathological relevance of these dynamic changes in motor neurons and glial cells has remained a major challenge. This review summarizes the evidence of cortical hyperexcitability from both clinical and preclinical research, as well as the underlying mechanisms. We discuss the potential role of glial cells, particularly microglia, in regulating abnormal neuronal activity during the disease progression. Identifying early changes such as neuronal hyperexcitability in the motor system may provide new insights for earlier diagnosis of ALS and reveal novel targets to halt the disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manling Xie
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Praveen N Pallegar
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Sebastian Parusel
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Aivi T Nguyen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Long-Jun Wu
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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Fu RH, Chen HJ, Hong SY. Interaction of the C9orf72-Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-Related Proline-Arginine Dipeptide Repeat Protein with the RNA-Binding Protein NOVA1 Causes Decreased Expression of UNC13A Due to Enhanced Inclusion of Cryptic Exons, Which Is Reversed by Betulin Treatment. Cells 2023; 12:2476. [PMID: 37887320 PMCID: PMC10605128 DOI: 10.3390/cells12202476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
C9orf72 mutations are the most common form of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (C9-ALS). It causes the production of proline-arginine dipeptide repeat proteins (PR-DPRs) in motor neurons (MNs), leading to the molecular pathology characteristic of ALS. UNC13A is critical for maintaining the synaptic function of MNs. Most ALS patients have nuclear deletion of the splicing repressor TDP-43 in MNs, which causes inclusion of the cryptic exon (CE) of UNC13A mRNA, resulting in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay and reduced protein expression. Therefore, in this study, we explored the role of PR-DPR in CE inclusion of UNC13A mRNA. Our results showed that PR-DPR (PR50) induced CE inclusion and decreased the protein expression of UNC13A in human neuronal cell lines. We also identified an interaction between the RNA-binding protein NOVA1 and PR50 by yeast two-hybrid screening. NOVA1 expression is known to be reduced in patients with ALS. We found that knockdown of NOVA1 enhanced CE inclusion of UNC13A mRNA. Furthermore, the naturally occurring triterpene betulin can inhibit the interaction between NOVA1 and PR50, thus preventing CE inclusion of UNC13A mRNA and protein reduction in human neuronal cell lines. This study linked PR-DPR with CE inclusion of UNC13A mRNA and developed candidate therapeutic strategies for C9-ALS using betulin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru-Huei Fu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Ph.D. Program for Aging, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Jye Chen
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Syuan-Yu Hong
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, China Medical University Children’s Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
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Oprisan AL, Popescu BO. Dysautonomia in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14927. [PMID: 37834374 PMCID: PMC10573406 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914927] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease, characterized in its typical presentation by a combination of lower and upper motor neuron symptoms, with a progressive course and fatal outcome. Due to increased recognition of the non-motor symptoms, it is currently considered a multisystem disorder with great heterogeneity, regarding genetical, clinical, and neuropathological features. Often underestimated, autonomic signs and symptoms have been described in patients with ALS, and various method analyses have been used to assess autonomic nervous system involvement. The aim of this paper is to offer a narrative literature review on autonomic disturbances in ALS, based on the scarce data available to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L Oprisan
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Bogdan Ovidiu Popescu
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Neurology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, 020125 Bucharest, Romania
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Neurosciences and Experimental Neurology, Victor Babes National Institute of Pathology, 050096 Bucharest, Romania
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26
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Maranzano A, Verde F, Colombo E, Poletti B, Doretti A, Bonetti R, Gagliardi D, Meneri M, Maderna L, Messina S, Corti S, Morelli C, Silani V, Ticozzi N. Regional spreading pattern is associated with clinical phenotype in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain 2023; 146:4105-4116. [PMID: 37075222 PMCID: PMC10545526 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awad129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence shows that disease spreading in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) follows a preferential pattern with more frequent involvement of contiguous regions from the site of symptom onset. The aim of our study was to assess if: (i) the burden of upper (UMN) and lower motor neuron (LMN) involvement influences directionality of disease spreading; (ii) specific patterns of disease progression are associated with motor and neuropsychological features of different ALS subtypes (classic, bulbar, primary lateral sclerosis, UMN-predominant, progressive muscular atrophy, flail arm, flail leg); and (iii) specific clinical features may help identify ALS subtypes, which remain localized to the site of onset for a prolonged time (regionally entrenching ALS). A single-centre, retrospective cohort of 913 Italian ALS patients was evaluated to assess correlations between directionality of the disease process after symptom onset and motor/neuropsychological phenotype. All patients underwent an extensive evaluation including the following clinical scales: Penn Upper Motor Neuron Score (PUMNS), MRC Scale for Muscle Strength and the Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural ALS Screen (ECAS). The most frequent initial spreading pattern was that towards adjacent horizontal regions (77.3%), which occurred preferentially in patients with lower MRC scores (P = 0.038), while vertical diffusion (21.1%) was associated with higher PUMNS (P < 0.001) and with reduced survival (P < 0.001). Non-contiguous disease spreading was associated with more severe UMN impairment (P = 0.003), while contiguous disease pattern with lower MRC scores. Furthermore, non-contiguous disease spreading was associated with more severe cognitive impairment in both executive and visuospatial ECAS domains. Individuals with regionally entrenching ALS were more frequently female (45.6% versus 36.9%; P = 0.028) and had higher frequencies of symmetric disease onset (40.3% versus 19.7%; P < 0.001) and bulbar phenotype (38.5% versus 16.4%; P < 0.001). Our study suggests that motor phenotypes characterized by a predominant UMN involvement are associated with a vertical pattern of disease progression reflecting ipsilateral spreading within the motor cortex, while those with predominant LMN involvement display more frequently a horizontal spreading from one side of the spinal cord to the other. These observations raise the hypothesis that one of the mechanisms underlying disease spreading in ALS pathology is represented by diffusion of toxic factors in the neuron microenvironment. Finally, it is possible that in our cohort, regionally entrenching ALS forms are mainly observed in patients with atypical bulbar phenotypes, characterized by a slowly progressive course and relatively benign prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Maranzano
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Federico Verde
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, 20149, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, ‘Dino Ferrari’ Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Barbara Poletti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Alberto Doretti
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Ruggero Bonetti
- Neurology Residency Program, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Delia Gagliardi
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, ‘Dino Ferrari’ Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20122, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Megi Meneri
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, ‘Dino Ferrari’ Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20122, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Luca Maderna
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Stefano Messina
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Stefania Corti
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, ‘Dino Ferrari’ Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20122, Italy
- Neurology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Claudia Morelli
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, 20149, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, 20149, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, ‘Dino Ferrari’ Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20122, Italy
| | - Nicola Ticozzi
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, 20149, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, ‘Dino Ferrari’ Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, 20122, Italy
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Nakamura R, Tohnai G, Nakatochi M, Atsuta N, Watanabe H, Ito D, Katsuno M, Hirakawa A, Izumi Y, Morita M, Hirayama T, Kano O, Kanai K, Hattori N, Taniguchi A, Suzuki N, Aoki M, Iwata I, Yabe I, Shibuya K, Kuwabara S, Oda M, Hashimoto R, Aiba I, Ishihara T, Onodera O, Yamashita T, Abe K, Mizoguchi K, Shimizu T, Ikeda Y, Yokota T, Hasegawa K, Tanaka F, Nakashima K, Kaji R, Niwa JI, Doyu M, Terao C, Ikegawa S, Fujimori K, Nakamura S, Ozawa F, Morimoto S, Onodera K, Ito T, Okada Y, Okano H, Sobue G. Genetic factors affecting survival in Japanese patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a genome-wide association study and verification in iPSC-derived motor neurons from patients. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2023; 94:816-824. [PMID: 37142397 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-330851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several genetic factors are associated with the pathogenesis of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and its phenotypes, such as disease progression. Here, in this study, we aimed to identify the genes that affect the survival of patients with sporadic ALS. METHODS We enrolled 1076 Japanese patients with sporadic ALS with imputed genotype data of 7 908 526 variants. We used Cox proportional hazards regression analysis with an additive model adjusted for sex, age at onset and the first two principal components calculated from genotyped data to conduct a genome-wide association study. We further analysed messenger RNA (mRNA) and phenotype expression in motor neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-MNs) of patients with ALS. RESULTS Three novel loci were significantly associated with the survival of patients with sporadic ALS-FGF1 at 5q31.3 (rs11738209, HR=2.36 (95% CI, 1.77 to 3.15), p=4.85×10-9), THSD7A at 7p21.3 (rs2354952, 1.38 (95% CI, 1.24 to 1.55), p=1.61×10-8) and LRP1 at 12q13.3 (rs60565245, 2.18 (95% CI, 1.66 to 2.86), p=2.35×10-8). FGF1 and THSD7A variants were associated with decreased mRNA expression of each gene in iPSC-MNs and reduced in vitro survival of iPSC-MNs obtained from patients with ALS. The iPSC-MN in vitro survival was reduced when the expression of FGF1 and THSD7A was partially disrupted. The rs60565245 was not associated with LRP1 mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS We identified three loci associated with the survival of patients with sporadic ALS, decreased mRNA expression of FGF1 and THSD7A and the viability of iPSC-MNs from patients. The iPSC-MN model reflects the association between patient prognosis and genotype and can contribute to target screening and validation for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoichi Nakamura
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Genki Tohnai
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Division of ALS Research, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakatochi
- Public Health Informatics Unit, Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Naoki Atsuta
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hirohisa Watanabe
- Department of Neurology, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, Japan
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ito
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Department of Clinical Research Education, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akihiro Hirakawa
- Department of Clinical Biostatistics, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuishin Izumi
- Department of Neurology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Mitsuya Morita
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Takehisa Hirayama
- Department of Neurology, Toho University Faculty of Medicine, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Osamu Kano
- Department of Neurology, Toho University Faculty of Medicine, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Kanai
- Department of Neurology, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Hattori
- Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Taniguchi
- Department of Neurology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Mie, Japan
| | - Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Ikuko Iwata
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Ichiro Yabe
- Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Kazumoto Shibuya
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kuwabara
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaya Oda
- Department of Neurology, Vihara Hananosato Hospital, Miyoshi, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Rina Hashimoto
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Higashinagoya National Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ikuko Aiba
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Higashinagoya National Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Ishihara
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Osamu Onodera
- Department of Neurology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Toru Yamashita
- Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan
| | - Koji Abe
- Department of Neurology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kouichi Mizoguchi
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Shizuoka Medical Center, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Toshio Shimizu
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Neurological Hospital, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshio Ikeda
- Department of Neurology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Takanori Yokota
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuko Hasegawa
- Division of Neurology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Tanaka
- Department of Neurology and Stroke Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kenji Nakashima
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization, Matsue Medical Center, Matsue, Shimane, Japan
| | - Ryuji Kaji
- Department of Neurology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Niwa
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Manabu Doyu
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Chikashi Terao
- Laboratory for Statistical and Translational Genetics, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shiro Ikegawa
- Laboratory for Bone and Joint Diseases, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Koki Fujimori
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shiho Nakamura
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumiko Ozawa
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Morimoto
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazunari Onodera
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Takuji Ito
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yohei Okada
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gen Sobue
- Brain and Mind Research Center, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
- Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
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28
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Hernández S, Salvany S, Casanovas A, Piedrafita L, Soto-Bernardini MC, Tarabal O, Blasco A, Gras S, Gatius A, Schwab MH, Calderó J, Esquerda JE. Persistent NRG1 Type III Overexpression in Spinal Motor Neurons Has No Therapeutic Effect on ALS-Related Pathology in SOD1 G93A Mice. Neurotherapeutics 2023; 20:1820-1834. [PMID: 37733208 PMCID: PMC10684470 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-023-01424-x] [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] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease affecting upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). Neuregulin-1 (NRG1) is a pleiotropic growth factor that has been shown to be potentially valuable for ALS when supplemented by means of viral-mediated gene therapy. However, these results are inconsistent with other reports. An alternative approach for investigating the therapeutic impact of NRG1 on ALS is the use of transgenic mouse lines with genetically defined NRG1 overexpression. Here, we took advantage of a mouse line with NRG1 type III overexpression in spinal cord α motor neurons (MN) to determine the impact of steadily enhanced NRG1 signalling on mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-induced disease. The phenotype of SOD1G93A-NRG1 double transgenic mice was analysed in detail, including neuropathology and extensive behavioural testing. At least 3 animals per condition and sex were histopathologically assessed, and a minimum of 10 mice per condition and sex were clinically evaluated. The accumulation of misfolded SOD1 (mfSOD1), MN degeneration, and a glia-mediated neuroinflammatory response are pathological hallmarks of ALS progression in SOD1G93A mice. None of these aspects was significantly improved when examined in double transgenic NRG1-SOD1G93A mice. In addition, behavioural testing revealed that NRG1 type III overexpression did not affect the survival of SOD1G93A mice but accelerated disease onset and worsened the motor phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Hernández
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel·lular, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sara Salvany
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel·lular, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Anna Casanovas
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel·lular, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lídia Piedrafita
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel·lular, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - M Clara Soto-Bernardini
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Research in Biotechnology (CIB), Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC), Cartago, Costa Rica
| | - Olga Tarabal
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel·lular, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alba Blasco
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel·lular, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sílvia Gras
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel·lular, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alaó Gatius
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel·lular, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Markus H Schwab
- Paul Flechsig Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jordi Calderó
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel·lular, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Josep E Esquerda
- Unitat de Neurobiologia Cel·lular, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.
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29
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Asakawa K, Handa H, Kawakami K. Dysregulated TDP-43 proteostasis perturbs excitability of spinal motor neurons during brainstem-mediated fictive locomotion in zebrafish. Dev Growth Differ 2023; 65:446-452. [PMID: 37452624 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12879] [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: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Spinal motor neurons (SMNs) are the primary target of degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Degenerating motor neurons accumulate cytoplasmic TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) aggregates in most ALS cases. This SMN pathology can occur without mutation in the coding sequence of the TDP-43-encoding gene, TARDBP. Whether and how wild-type TDP-43 drives pathological changes in SMNs in vivo remains largely unexplored. In this study, we develop a two-photon calcium imaging setup in which tactile-evoked neural responses of motor neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord can be monitored using the calcium indicator GCaMP. We devise a piezo-assisted tactile stimulator that reproducibly evokes a brainstem descending neuron upon tactile stimulation of the head. A direct comparison between caudal primary motor neurons (CaPs) with or without TDP-43 overexpression in contiguous spinal segments demonstrates that CaPs overexpressing TDP-43 display attenuated Ca2+ transients during fictive escape locomotion evoked by the tactile stimulation. These results show that excessive amounts of TDP-43 protein reduce the neuronal excitability of SMNs and potentially contribute to asymptomatic pathological lesions of SMNs and movement disorders in patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhide Asakawa
- Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Handa
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Future Medical Research, Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Kawakami
- Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Japan
- The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima, Japan
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30
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Prior-González M, Lazo-Gómez R, Tapia R. Sodium butyrate does not protect spinal motor neurons from AMPA-induced excitotoxic degeneration in vivo. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm049851. [PMID: 37756598 PMCID: PMC10581382 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049851] [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: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron (MN) loss is the primary pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) is one of several factors involved in nerve-muscle communication during MN loss, hindering muscle reinnervation, as shown in humans and in animal models of ALS, and may explain the differential progression observed in patients with ALS - rapid versus slow progression. In this work, we inhibited HDAC4 activity through the administration of a pan-histone deacetylase inhibitor, sodium butyrate, in an in vivo model of chronic spinal MN death induced by AMPA-mediated excitotoxicity. We infused AMPA into the spinal cord at low and high doses, which mimic the rapid and slow progression observed in humans, respectively. We found that muscle HDAC4 expression was increased by high-dose infusion of AMPA. Treatment of animals with sodium butyrate further decreased expression of muscle HDAC4, although non-significantly, and did not prevent the paralysis or the MN loss induced by AMPA infusion. These results inform on the role of muscle HDAC4 in MN degeneration in vivo and provide insights for the search for more suitable therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Prior-González
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Rafael Lazo-Gómez
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Tapia
- División de Neurociencias, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
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Lee A, Henderson R, Arachchige BJ, Robertson T, McCombe PA. Proteomic investigation of ALS motor cortex identifies known and novel pathogenetic mechanisms. J Neurol Sci 2023; 452:120753. [PMID: 37542825 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2023.120753] [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: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
The key pathological feature in ALS is death of motor neurones from the brain and spinal cord, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this degeneration remain unknown. Quantifying the motor cortex proteome in autopsy brain and comparing tissues from ALS cases and non-ALS controls is critical to understanding these mechanisms. We used Sequential Window Acquisition of All Theoretical Mass Spectra (SWATH-MS) to characterize the proteomes of the motor cortex from ALS cases (n = 8) and control subjects (n = 8). A total of 1427 proteins were identified at a critical local false discovery rate < 5%; 187 of these exhibited significant expression differences between ALS cases and controls. Of these, 91 proteins were significantly upregulated and 96 proteins were significantly downregulated. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that these proteins are involved in molecular transport, protein trafficking, free radical scavenging, lipid metabolism, cell death and survival, nucleic acid metabolism, inflammatory response or amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism. Differentially expressed proteins were subjected to pathway analysis. This revealed abnormalities in pathways involving mitochondrial function, sirtuin signaling, oxidative phosphorylation, glycolysis, phagosome maturation, SNARE signaling, redox regulation and several others. Core analysis revealed mitochondrial dysfunction to be the top canonical pathway. The top-enriched networks involved JNK activation and inhibition of AKT signaling, suggesting that disruption of these signaling pathways could lead to demise of motor neurons in the ALS motor cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aven Lee
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
| | - Robert Henderson
- Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital (RBWH), Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
| | - Buddhika Jayakody Arachchige
- Mass Spectrometry Facility, Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia
| | - Thomas Robertson
- Pathology, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Pamela Ann McCombe
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4029, Australia; Wesley Medical Research, The Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower, QLD 4066, Australia.
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Cottam NC, Bamfo T, Harrington MA, Charvet CJ, Hekmatyar K, Tulin N, Sun J. Cerebellar structural, astrocytic, and neuronal abnormalities in the SMNΔ7 mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy. Brain Pathol 2023; 33:e13162. [PMID: 37218083 PMCID: PMC10467044 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13162] [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: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinalmuscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease that affects as many as 1 in 6000 individuals at birth, making it the leading genetic cause of infant mortality. A growing number of studies indicate that SMA is a multi-system disease. The cerebellum has received little attention even though it plays an important role in motor function and widespread pathology has been reported in the cerebella of SMA patients. In this study, we assessed SMA pathology in the cerebellum using structural and diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, immunohistochemistry, and electrophysiology with the SMNΔ7 mouse model. We found a significant disproportionate loss in cerebellar volume, decrease in afferent cerebellar tracts, selective lobule-specific degeneration of Purkinje cells, abnormal lobule foliation and astrocyte integrity, and a decrease in spontaneous firing of cerebellar output neurons in the SMA mice compared to controls. Our data suggest that defects in cerebellar structure and function due to decreased survival motor neuron (SMN) levels impair the functional cerebellar output affecting motor control, and that cerebellar pathology should be addressed to achieve comprehensive treatment and therapy for SMA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C. Cottam
- Department of Biological SciencesDelaware State UniversityDoverDelawareUSA
| | - Tiffany Bamfo
- Department of Biological SciencesDelaware State UniversityDoverDelawareUSA
| | | | - Christine J. Charvet
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience ResearchDelaware State UniversityDoverDelawareUSA
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and PharmacologyAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabamaUSA
- Department of PsychologyDelaware State UniversityDoverDEUnited States
| | - Khan Hekmatyar
- Center for Biomedical and Brain ImagingUniversity of DelawareNewarkDelawareUSA
- Bioimaging Research Center for Biomedical and Brain ImagingUniversity of GeorgiaAthensGeorgiaUSA
| | - Nikita Tulin
- Department of NeuroscienceTemple UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Jianli Sun
- Department of Biological SciencesDelaware State UniversityDoverDelawareUSA
- Delaware Center for Neuroscience ResearchDelaware State UniversityDoverDelawareUSA
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33
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Miscioscia A, Puthenparampil M, Blasi L, Rinaldi F, Perini P, Sorarù G, Gallo P. Neurodegeneration in the retina of motoneuron diseases: a longitudinal study in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Kennedy's disease. J Neurol 2023; 270:4478-4486. [PMID: 37289322 PMCID: PMC10421755 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-11802-2] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To what extent retinal atrophy in neurodegenerative diseases reflects the severity and/or the chronicity of brain pathology or is a local independent phenomenon remains to be clarified. Moreover, whether retinal atrophy has a clinical (diagnostic and prognostic) value in these diseases remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To add light on the pathological significance and clinical value of retinal atrophy in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Kennedy's disease (KD). METHODS Thirty-five ALS, thirty-seven KD, and forty-nine age-matched healthy controls (HC) were included in a one-year longitudinal study. Spectrum-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed at study entry (T0) and after 12 months (T1). Disease duration and functional rating scale (FRS) for ALS and KD patients were correlated to retinal thicknesses. RESULTS Compared to HC, peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness was significantly thinner in both ALS (p = 0.034) and KD (p = 0.003). pRNFL was thinner in KD compared to ALS, but the difference was not significant. In KD, pRNFL atrophy significantly correlated with both disease severity (r = 0.296, p = 0.035) and disease duration (r = - 0.308, p = 0.013) while no significant correlation was found in ALS (disease severity: r = 0.147, p = 0.238; disease duration: r = - 0.093, p = 0.459). During the follow-up, pRNFL thickness remained stable in KD while significantly decreased in ALS (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence of retinal atrophy in both ALS and KD and suggests that retinal thinning is a primary local phenomenon in motoneuron diseases. The clinical value of pRNFL atrophy in KD is worthy of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Miscioscia
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy.
| | - Marco Puthenparampil
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Blasi
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Neuromuscular Center, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Rinaldi
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Paola Perini
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Neuromuscular Center, Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Gallo
- Department of Neurosciences, DNS, School of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- Multiple Sclerosis Centre of the Veneto Region (CeSMuV), Neurology Clinic, University Hospital of Padua, Via Giustiniani, 5, 35128, Padua, Italy
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Pinkerton M, Lourenco G, Pacheco MT, Halliday GM, Kiernan MC, Tan RH. Survival in sporadic ALS is associated with lower p62 burden in the spinal cord. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2023; 82:769-773. [PMID: 37414530 PMCID: PMC10440721 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlad051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The autophagy marker p62 appears as a consistent component of pathological aggregates in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and its modulation to facilitate protein degradation has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target. Importantly, recent studies have implicated diffuse phosphorylated TDP-43 inclusions that are immuno-negative for p62 in more rapid disease, highlighting the need for better understanding of p62 involvement in ALS pathogenesis. The present study set out to assess p62 pathology in the motor neurons of 31 patients with sporadic ALS that had either a short (<2 years) or longer (4-7 years) disease duration to determine its association with pTDP-43 pathology, motor neuron loss, and survival in sporadic disease. Our results identified significantly more cytoplasmic p62 aggregates in the spinal cord of patients with a shorter survival. Disease duration demonstrated a negative association with p62 burden and density of remaining motor neurons in the spinal cord, suggesting that survival in sporadic ALS is associated with the successful clearance of lower motor neurons with p62 aggregates. These findings implicate the autophagy pathway in ALS survival and provide support for further study of p62 as a potential prognostic biomarker in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Pinkerton
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Guinevere Lourenco
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Glenda M Halliday
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rachel H Tan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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Yang Y, Rowe D, McCann H, Shepherd CE, Kril JJ, Kiernan MC, Halliday GM, Tan RH. Treatment with the copper compound CuATSM has no significant effect on motor neuronal pathology in patients with ALS. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12919. [PMID: 37317638 PMCID: PMC10947464 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [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: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Although the orally available brain-penetrant copper compound CuATSM has demonstrated promising effects in SOD1-linked mouse models, the impact of CuATSM on disease pathology in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains unknown. METHODS The present study set out to address this deficit by performing the first pilot comparative analysis of ALS pathology in patients that had been administered CuATSM and riluzole [N = 6 cases composed of ALS-TDP (n = 5) and ALS-SOD1 (n = 1)] versus riluzole only [N = 6 cases composed of ALS-TDP (n = 4) and ALS-SOD1 (n = 2)]. RESULTS Our results revealed no significant difference in neuron density or TDP-43 burden in the motor cortex and spinal cord of patients that had received CuATSM compared with patients that had not. In patients that had received CuATSM, p62-immunoreactive astrocytes were observed in the motor cortex and reduced Iba1 density was found in the spinal cord. However, no significant difference in measures of astrocytic activity and SOD1 immunoreactivity was found with CuATSM treatment. DISCUSSION These findings, in this first postmortem investigation of patients with ALS in CuATSM trials, demonstrate that in contrast to that seen in preclinical models of disease, CuATSM does not significantly alleviate neuronal pathology or astrogliosis in patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yang
- Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical SciencesUniversity of SydneyCamperdownNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Dominic Rowe
- Macquarie University Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Heather McCann
- Neuroscience Research AustraliaRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
| | | | - Jillian J. Kril
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical SciencesUniversity of SydneyCamperdownNew South WalesAustralia
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical SchoolMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Matthew C. Kiernan
- Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Institute of Clinical NeurosciencesRoyal Prince Alfred HospitalSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Glenda M. Halliday
- Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical SciencesUniversity of SydneyCamperdownNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Rachel H. Tan
- Brain and Mind CentreUniversity of SydneySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical SciencesUniversity of SydneyCamperdownNew South WalesAustralia
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Alhindi A, Shand M, Smith HL, Leite AS, Huang YT, van der Hoorn D, Ridgway Z, Faller KME, Jones RA, Gillingwater TH, Chaytow H. Neuromuscular junction denervation and terminal Schwann cell loss in the hTDP-43 overexpression mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12925. [PMID: 37465879 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12925] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with complex aetiology. Despite evidence of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) denervation and 'dying-back' pathology in models of SOD1-dependent ALS, evidence in other genetic forms of ALS is limited by a lack of suitable animal models. TDP-43, a key mediator protein in ALS, is overexpressed in neurons in Thy1-hTDP-43WT mice. We therefore aimed to comprehensively analyse NMJ pathology in this model of ALS. METHODS Expression of TDP-43 was assessed via western blotting. Immunohistochemistry techniques, alongside NMJ-morph quantification, were used to analyse motor neuron number, NMJ denervation status and terminal Schwann cell morphology. RESULTS We present a time course of progressive, region-specific motor neuron pathology in Thy1-hTDP-43WT mice. Thy1-driven hTDP-43 expression increased steadily, correlating with developing hindlimb motor weakness and associated motor neuron loss in the spinal cord with a median survival of 21 days. Pronounced NMJ denervation was observed in hindlimb muscles, mild denervation in cranial muscles but no evidence of denervation in either forelimb or trunk muscles. NMJ pathology was restricted to motor nerve terminals, with denervation following the same time course as motor neuron loss. Terminal Schwann cells were lost from NMJs in hindlimb muscles, directly correlating with denervation status. CONCLUSIONS Thy1-hTDP-43WT mice represent a severe model of ALS, with NMJ pathology/denervation of distal muscles and motor neuron loss, as observed in ALS patients. This model therefore provides an ideal platform to investigate mechanisms of dying-back pathology, as well as NMJ-targeting disease-modifying therapies in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abrar Alhindi
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Anatomy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Megan Shand
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hannah L Smith
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ana S Leite
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Medicine, UNESP-São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Yu-Ting Huang
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Dinja van der Hoorn
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Zara Ridgway
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kiterie M E Faller
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ross A Jones
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Thomas H Gillingwater
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Helena Chaytow
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Edinburgh, UK
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37
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Calafatti M, Cocozza G, Limatola C, Garofalo S. Microglial crosstalk with astrocytes and immune cells in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1223096. [PMID: 37564648 PMCID: PMC10410456 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1223096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, biomedical research efforts aimed to unravel the mechanisms involved in motor neuron death that occurs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). While the main causes of disease progression were first sought in the motor neurons, more recent studies highlight the gliocentric theory demonstrating the pivotal role of microglia and astrocyte, but also of infiltrating immune cells, in the pathological processes that take place in the central nervous system microenvironment. From this point of view, microglia-astrocytes-lymphocytes crosstalk is fundamental to shape the microenvironment toward a pro-inflammatory one, enhancing neuronal damage. In this review, we dissect the current state-of-the-art knowledge of the microglial dialogue with other cell populations as one of the principal hallmarks of ALS progression. Particularly, we deeply investigate the microglia crosstalk with astrocytes and immune cells reporting in vitro and in vivo studies related to ALS mouse models and human patients. At last, we highlight the current experimental therapeutic approaches that aim to modulate microglial phenotype to revert the microenvironment, thus counteracting ALS progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Calafatti
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Germana Cocozza
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Limatola
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Garofalo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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La Cognata V, D’Amico AG, Maugeri G, Morello G, Guarnaccia M, Magrì B, Aronica E, D’Agata V, Cavallaro S. CXCR2 Is Deregulated in ALS Spinal Cord and Its Activation Triggers Apoptosis in Motor Neuron-Like Cells Overexpressing hSOD1-G93A. Cells 2023; 12:1813. [PMID: 37508478 PMCID: PMC10377984 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive depletion of motor neurons (MNs). Recent evidence suggests a role in ALS pathology for the C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), whose expression was found increased at both mRNA and protein level in cortical neurons of sporadic ALS patients. Previous findings also showed that the receptor inhibition is able to prevent iPSC-derived MNs degeneration in vitro and improve neuromuscular function in SOD1-G93A mice. Here, by performing transcriptional analysis and immunofluorescence studies, we detailed the increased expression and localization of CXCR2 and its main ligand CXCL8 in the human lumbar spinal cord of sporadic ALS patients. We further investigated the functional role of CXCR2/ligands axis in NSC-34 motor neuron-like cells expressing human wild-type (WT) or mutant (G93A) SOD1. A significant expression of CXCR2 was found in doxycycline-induced G93A-SOD1-expressing cells, but not in WT cells. In vitro assays showed CXCR2 activation by GROα and MIP2α, two murine endogenous ligands and functional homologs of CXCL8, reduces cellular viability and triggers apoptosis in a dose dependent manner, while treatment with reparixin, a non-competitive allosteric CXCR2 inhibitor, effectively counteracts GROα and MIP2α toxicity, significantly inhibiting the chemokine-induced cell death. Altogether, data further support a role of CXCR2 axis in ALS etiopathogenesis and confirm its pharmacological modulation as a candidate therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina La Cognata
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Agata Grazia D’Amico
- Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Grazia Maugeri
- Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanna Morello
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Guarnaccia
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, 95126 Catania, Italy
| | - Benedetta Magrì
- Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Velia D’Agata
- Section of Human Anatomy and Histology, Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council, 95126 Catania, Italy
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Kume K, Kurashige T, Muguruma K, Morino H, Tada Y, Kikumoto M, Miyamoto T, Akutsu SN, Matsuda Y, Matsuura S, Nakamori M, Nishiyama A, Izumi R, Niihori T, Ogasawara M, Eura N, Kato T, Yokomura M, Nakayama Y, Ito H, Nakamura M, Saito K, Riku Y, Iwasaki Y, Maruyama H, Aoki Y, Nishino I, Izumi Y, Aoki M, Kawakami H. CGG repeat expansion in LRP12 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Am J Hum Genet 2023; 110:1086-1097. [PMID: 37339631 PMCID: PMC10357476 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2023.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons. Although repeat expansion in C9orf72 is its most common cause, the pathogenesis of ALS isn't fully clear. In this study, we show that repeat expansion in LRP12, a causative variant of oculopharyngodistal myopathy type 1 (OPDM1), is a cause of ALS. We identify CGG repeat expansion in LRP12 in five families and two simplex individuals. These ALS individuals (LRP12-ALS) have 61-100 repeats, which contrasts with most OPDM individuals with repeat expansion in LRP12 (LRP12-OPDM), who have 100-200 repeats. Phosphorylated TDP-43 is present in the cytoplasm of iPS cell-derived motor neurons (iPSMNs) in LRP12-ALS, a finding that reproduces the pathological hallmark of ALS. RNA foci are more prominent in muscle and iPSMNs in LRP12-ALS than in LRP12-OPDM. Muscleblind-like 1 aggregates are observed only in OPDM muscle. In conclusion, CGG repeat expansions in LRP12 cause ALS and OPDM, depending on the length of the repeat. Our findings provide insight into the repeat length-dependent switching of phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kodai Kume
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Takashi Kurashige
- Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization Kure Medical Center and Chugoku Cancer Center, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Keiko Muguruma
- Department of iPS Cell Applied Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Morino
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yui Tada
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Mai Kikumoto
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan; Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Miyamoto
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Silvia Natsuko Akutsu
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yukiko Matsuda
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shinya Matsuura
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Masahiro Nakamori
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Ayumi Nishiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Rumiko Izumi
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Niihori
- Department of Medical Genetics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Masashi Ogasawara
- Department of Neuromuscular Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Centre of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Centre Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Eura
- Department of Neuromuscular Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Centre of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Centre Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tamaki Kato
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mamoru Yokomura
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Nakayama
- Department of Neurology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Hidefumi Ito
- Department of Neurology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | | | - Kayoko Saito
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuichi Riku
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Yasushi Iwasaki
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute for Medical Science of Aging, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Maruyama
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yoko Aoki
- Department of Medical Genetics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Ichizo Nishino
- Department of Neuromuscular Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Centre of Neurology and Psychiatry, National Centre Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuishin Izumi
- Department of Neurology, Tokushima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Hideshi Kawakami
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
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Barone C, Qi X. Altered Metabolism in Motor Neuron Diseases: Mechanism and Potential Therapeutic Target. Cells 2023; 12:1536. [PMID: 37296656 PMCID: PMC10252517 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111536] [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: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor Neuron Diseases (MND) are neurological disorders characterized by a loss of varying motor neurons resulting in decreased physical capabilities. Current research is focused on hindering disease progression by determining causes of motor neuron death. Metabolic malfunction has been proposed as a promising topic when targeting motor neuron loss. Alterations in metabolism have also been noted at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and skeletal muscle tissue, emphasizing the importance of a cohesive system. Finding metabolism changes consistent throughout both neurons and skeletal muscle tissue could pose as a target for therapeutic intervention. This review will focus on metabolic deficits reported in MNDs and propose potential therapeutic targets for future intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xin Qi
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4970, USA;
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Tzeplaeff L, Wilfling S, Requardt MV, Herdick M. Current State and Future Directions in the Therapy of ALS. Cells 2023; 12:1523. [PMID: 37296644 PMCID: PMC10252394 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting upper and lower motor neurons, with death resulting mainly from respiratory failure three to five years after symptom onset. As the exact underlying causative pathological pathway is unclear and potentially diverse, finding a suitable therapy to slow down or possibly stop disease progression remains challenging. Varying by country Riluzole, Edaravone, and Sodium phenylbutyrate/Taurursodiol are the only drugs currently approved in ALS treatment for their moderate effect on disease progression. Even though curative treatment options, able to prevent or stop disease progression, are still unknown, recent breakthroughs, especially in the field of targeting genetic disease forms, raise hope for improved care and therapy for ALS patients. In this review, we aim to summarize the current state of ALS therapy, including medication as well as supportive therapy, and discuss the ongoing developments and prospects in the field. Furthermore, we highlight the rationale behind the intense research on biomarkers and genetic testing as a feasible way to improve the classification of ALS patients towards personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Tzeplaeff
- Department of Neurology, Rechts der Isar Hospital, Technical University of Munich, 81675 München, Germany
| | - Sibylle Wilfling
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany;
- Center for Human Genetics Regensburg, 93059 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Maria Viktoria Requardt
- Formerly: Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, Münster University Hospital (UKM), 48149 Münster, Germany;
| | - Meret Herdick
- Precision Neurology, University of Lübeck, 23562 Luebeck, Germany
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Kandhavivorn W, Glaß H, Herrmannsdörfer T, Böckers TM, Uhlarz M, Gronemann J, Funk RHW, Pietzsch J, Pal A, Hermann A. Restoring Axonal Organelle Motility and Regeneration in Cultured FUS-ALS Motoneurons through Magnetic Field Stimulation Suggests an Alternative Therapeutic Approach. Cells 2023; 12:1502. [PMID: 37296623 PMCID: PMC10252208 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111502] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating motoneuron disease characterized by sustained loss of neuromuscular junctions, degenerating corticospinal motoneurons and rapidly progressing muscle paralysis. Motoneurons have unique features, essentially a highly polarized, lengthy architecture of axons, posing a considerable challenge for maintaining long-range trafficking routes for organelles, cargo, mRNA and secretion with a high energy effort to serve crucial neuronal functions. Impaired intracellular pathways implicated in ALS pathology comprise RNA metabolism, cytoplasmic protein aggregation, cytoskeletal integrity for organelle trafficking and maintenance of mitochondrial morphology and function, cumulatively leading to neurodegeneration. Current drug treatments only have marginal effects on survival, thereby calling for alternative ALS therapies. Exposure to magnetic fields, e.g., transcranial magnetic stimulations (TMS) on the central nervous system (CNS), has been broadly explored over the past 20 years to investigate and improve physical and mental activities through stimulated excitability as well as neuronal plasticity. However, studies of magnetic treatments on the peripheral nervous system are still scarce. Thus, we investigated the therapeutic potential of low frequency alternating current magnetic fields on cultured spinal motoneurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of FUS-ALS patients and healthy persons. We report a remarkable restoration induced by magnetic stimulation on axonal trafficking of mitochondria and lysosomes and axonal regenerative sprouting after axotomy in FUS-ALS in vitro without obvious harmful effects on diseased and healthy neurons. These beneficial effects seem to derive from improved microtubule integrity. Thus, our study suggests the therapeutic potential of magnetic stimulations in ALS, which awaits further exploration and validation in future long-term in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wonphorn Kandhavivorn
- Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD-EMFL), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (W.K.); (T.H.); (M.U.); (J.G.)
- Institute of Anatomy, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Hannes Glaß
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany;
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, D-18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Thomas Herrmannsdörfer
- Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD-EMFL), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (W.K.); (T.H.); (M.U.); (J.G.)
| | - Tobias M. Böckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Ulm, D-89081 Ulm, Germany;
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) Ulm, D-89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Marc Uhlarz
- Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD-EMFL), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (W.K.); (T.H.); (M.U.); (J.G.)
| | - Jonas Gronemann
- Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD-EMFL), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (W.K.); (T.H.); (M.U.); (J.G.)
| | - Richard H. W. Funk
- Institute of Anatomy, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany
- Dresden International University, D-01067 Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Pietzsch
- Department of Radiopharmaceutical and Chemical Biology, Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, D-01328 Dresden, Germany
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, School of Science, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Arun Pal
- Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory (HLD-EMFL), Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, D-01328 Dresden, Germany; (W.K.); (T.H.); (M.U.); (J.G.)
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, D-01307 Dresden, Germany;
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section “Albrecht Kossel”, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, D-18147 Rostock, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, D-18147 Rostock, Germany
- Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR), University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, D-18147 Rostock, Germany
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Inguscio CR, Lacavalla MA, Cisterna B, Zancanaro C, Malatesta M. Physical Training Chronically Stimulates the Motor Neuron Cell Nucleus in the Ts65Dn Mouse, a Model of Down Syndrome. Cells 2023; 12:1488. [PMID: 37296609 PMCID: PMC10252427 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111488] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a genetically-based disease based on the trisomy of chromosome 21 (Hsa21). DS is characterized by intellectual disability in association with several pathological traits among which early aging and altered motor coordination are prominent. Physical training or passive exercise were found to be useful in counteracting motor impairment in DS subjects. In this study we used the Ts65Dn mouse, a widely accepted animal model of DS, to investigate the ultrastructural architecture of the medullary motor neuron cell nucleus taken as marker of the cell functional state. Using transmission electron microscopy, ultrastructural morphometry, and immunocytochemistry we carried out a detailed investigation of possible trisomy-related alteration(s) of nuclear constituents, which are known to vary their amount and distribution as a function of nuclear activity, as well as the effect of adapted physical training upon them. Results demonstrated that trisomy per se affects nuclear constituents to a limited extent; however, adapted physical training is able to chronically stimulate pre-mRNA transcription and processing activity in motor neuron nuclei of trisomic mice, although to a lesser extent than in their euploid mates. These findings are a step towards understanding the mechanisms underlying the positive effect of physical activity in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Carlo Zancanaro
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, I-37134 Verona, Italy; (C.R.I.); (M.A.L.); (B.C.); (M.M.)
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Zargani M, Ramirez-Campillo R, Arabzadeh E. Swimming and L-arginine loaded chitosan nanoparticles ameliorates aging-induced neuron atrophy, autophagy marker LC3, GABA and BDNF-TrkB pathway in the spinal cord of rats. Pflugers Arch 2023; 475:621-635. [PMID: 36869900 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-023-02795-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Aging is associated with muscle atrophy, and erosion and destruction of neuronal pathways in the spinal cord. The study aim was to assess the effect of swimming training (Sw) and L-arginine loaded chitosan nanoparticles (LA-CNPs) on the sensory and motor neuron population, autophagy marker LC3, total oxidant status/total antioxidant capacity, behavioural test, GABA and BDNF-TrkB pathway in the spinal cord of aging rats. The rats were randomized to five groups: young (8-weeks) control (n = 7), old control (n = 7), old Sw (n = 7), old LA-CNPs (n = 7) and old Sw + LA-CNPs (n = 7). Groups under LA-CNPs supplementation received 500 mg/kg/day. Sw groups performed a swimming exercise programme 5 days per week for 6 weeks. Upon the completion of the interventions the rats were euthanized and the spinal cord was fixed and frozen for histological assessment, IHC, and gene expression analysis. The old group had more atrophy in the spinal cord with higher changes in LC3 as an indicator of autophagy in the spinal cord compared to the young group (p < 0.0001). The old Sw + LA-CNPs group increased (improved) spinal cord GABA (p = 0.0187), BDNF (p = 0.0003), TrkB (p < 0.0001) gene expression, decreased autophagy marker LC3 protein (p < 0.0001), nerve atrophy and jumping/licking latency (p < 0.0001), improved sciatic functional index score and total oxidant status/total antioxidant capacity compared to the old group (p < 0.0001). In conclusion, swimming and LA-CNPs seems to ameliorate aging-induced neuron atrophy, autophagy marker LC3, oxidant-antioxidant status, functional restoration, GABA and BDNF-TrkB pathway in the spinal cord of aging rats. Our study provides experimental evidence for a possible positive role of swimming and L-arginine loaded chitosan nanoparticles to decrease complications of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Zargani
- Department of Exercise Physiology, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran
| | - Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Laboratory, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, 7591538, Santiago, Chile
| | - Ehsan Arabzadeh
- Exercise Physiology Research Center, Life Style Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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van Hummel A, Sabale M, Przybyla M, van der Hoven J, Chan G, Feiten AF, Chung RS, Ittner LM, Ke YD. TDP-43 pathology and functional deficits in wild-type and ALS/FTD mutant cyclin F mouse models. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12902. [PMID: 36951214 PMCID: PMC10946706 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by a progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons leading to muscle weakness and eventually death. Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) presents clinically with significant behavioural decline. Approximately 10% of cases have a known family history, and disease-linked mutations in multiple genes have been identified in FTD and ALS. More recently, ALS and FTD-linked variants have been identified in the CCNF gene, which accounts for an estimated 0.6% to over 3% of familial ALS cases. METHODS In this study, we developed the first mouse models expressing either wild-type (WT) human CCNF or its mutant pathogenic variant S621G to recapitulate key clinical and neuropathological features of ALS and FTD linked to CCNF disease variants. We expressed human CCNF WT or CCNFS621G throughout the murine brain by intracranial delivery of adeno-associated virus (AAV) to achieve widespread delivery via somatic brain transgenesis. RESULTS These mice developed behavioural abnormalities, similar to the clinical symptoms of FTD patients, as early as 3 months of age, including hyperactivity and disinhibition, which progressively deteriorated to include memory deficits by 8 months of age. Brains of mutant CCNF_S621G mice displayed an accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins with elevated levels of phosphorylated TDP-43 present in both CCNF_WT and mutant CCNF_S621G mice. We also investigated the effects of CCNF expression on interaction targets of CCNF and found elevated levels of insoluble splicing factor proline and glutamine-rich (SFPQ). Furthermore, cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions were found in both CCNF_WT and mutant CCNF_S621G mice, recapitulating the key hallmark of FTD/ALS pathology. CONCLUSIONS In summary, CCNF expression in mice reproduces clinical presentations of ALS, including functional deficits and TDP-43 neuropathology with altered CCNF-mediated pathways contributing to the pathology observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika van Hummel
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Miheer Sabale
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Magdalena Przybyla
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Julia van der Hoven
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Gabriella Chan
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Astrid F. Feiten
- Biomedical Center (BMC), Division of Metabolic Biochemistry, Faculty of MedicineLudwig‐Maximilians‐Universität MünchenMunich81377Germany
| | - Roger S. Chung
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Lars M. Ittner
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Yazi D. Ke
- Dementia Research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human SciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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Fabbrizio P, Margotta C, D’Agostino J, Suanno G, Quetti L, Bendotti C, Nardo G. Intramuscular IL-10 Administration Enhances the Activity of Myogenic Precursor Cells and Improves Motor Function in ALS Mouse Model. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071016. [PMID: 37048088 PMCID: PMC10093513 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071016] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most common adult motor neuron disease, with a poor prognosis, a highly unmet therapeutic need, and a burden on health care costs. Hitherto, strategies aimed at protecting motor neurons have missed or modestly delayed ALS due to a failure in countering the irreversible muscular atrophy. We recently provided direct evidence underlying the pivotal role of macrophages in preserving skeletal muscle mass. Based on these results, we explored whether the modulation of macrophage muscle response and the enhancement of satellite cell differentiation could effectively promote the generation of new myofibers and counteract muscle dysfunction in ALS mice. For this purpose, disease progression and the survival of SOD1G93A mice were evaluated following IL-10 injections in the hindlimb skeletal muscles. Thereafter, we used ex vivo methodologies and in vitro approaches on primary cells to assess the effect of the treatment on the main pathological signatures. We found that IL-10 improved the motor performance of ALS mice by enhancing satellite cells and the muscle pro-regenerative activity of macrophages. This resulted in delayed muscle atrophy and motor neuron loss. Our findings provide the basis for a suitable adjunct multisystem therapeutic approach that pinpoints a primary role of muscle pathology in ALS.
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Schreiber S, Bernal J, Arndt P, Schreiber F, Müller P, Morton L, Braun-Dullaeus RC, Valdés-Hernández MDC, Duarte R, Wardlaw JM, Meuth SG, Mietzner G, Vielhaber S, Dunay IR, Dityatev A, Jandke S, Mattern H. Brain Vascular Health in ALS Is Mediated through Motor Cortex Microvascular Integrity. Cells 2023; 12:957. [PMID: 36980297 PMCID: PMC10047140 DOI: 10.3390/cells12060957] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain vascular health appears to be critical for preventing the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and slowing its progression. ALS patients often demonstrate cardiovascular risk factors and commonly suffer from cerebrovascular disease, with evidence of pathological alterations in their small cerebral blood vessels. Impaired vascular brain health has detrimental effects on motor neurons: vascular endothelial growth factor levels are lowered in ALS, which can compromise endothelial cell formation and the integrity of the blood-brain barrier. Increased turnover of neurovascular unit cells precedes their senescence, which, together with pericyte alterations, further fosters the failure of toxic metabolite removal. We here provide a comprehensive overview of the pathogenesis of impaired brain vascular health in ALS and how novel magnetic resonance imaging techniques can aid its detection. In particular, we discuss vascular patterns of blood supply to the motor cortex with the number of branches from the anterior and middle cerebral arteries acting as a novel marker of resistance and resilience against downstream effects of vascular risk and events in ALS. We outline how certain interventions adapted to patient needs and capabilities have the potential to mechanistically target the brain microvasculature towards favorable motor cortex blood supply patterns. Through this strategy, we aim to guide novel approaches to ALS management and a better understanding of ALS pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Schreiber
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) within the Helmholtz Association, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jose Bernal
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) within the Helmholtz Association, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Arndt
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) within the Helmholtz Association, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Frank Schreiber
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) within the Helmholtz Association, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Patrick Müller
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) within the Helmholtz Association, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine/Cardiology and Angiology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Lorena Morton
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Roberto Duarte
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, UK Dementia Research Institute Centre, Edinburgh EH16 4UX, UK
| | - Joanna Marguerite Wardlaw
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, UK Dementia Research Institute Centre, Edinburgh EH16 4UX, UK
| | - Sven Günther Meuth
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Grazia Mietzner
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Vielhaber
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Ildiko Rita Dunay
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Dityatev
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) within the Helmholtz Association, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Solveig Jandke
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Medical Faculty, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) within the Helmholtz Association, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Hendrik Mattern
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) within the Helmholtz Association, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), 39106 Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Biomedical Magnetic Resonance, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, 39120 Magdeburg, Germany
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Nhieu J, Milbauer L, Lerdall T, Najjar F, Wei CW, Ishida R, Ma Y, Kagechika H, Wei LN. Targeting Cellular Retinoic Acid Binding Protein 1 with Retinoic Acid-like Compounds to Mitigate Motor Neuron Degeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:4980. [PMID: 36902410 PMCID: PMC10002585 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054980] [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: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
All-trans-retinoic Acid (atRA) is the principal active metabolite of Vitamin A, essential for various biological processes. The activities of atRA are mediated by nuclear RA receptors (RARs) to alter gene expression (canonical activities) or by cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1 (CRABP1) to rapidly (minutes) modulate cytosolic kinase signaling, including calcium calmodulin-activated kinase 2 (CaMKII) (non-canonical activities). Clinically, atRA-like compounds have been extensively studied for therapeutic applications; however, RAR-mediated toxicity severely hindered the progress. It is highly desirable to identify CRABP1-binding ligands that lack RAR activity. Studies of CRABP1 knockout (CKO) mice revealed CRABP1 to be a new therapeutic target, especially for motor neuron (MN) degenerative diseases where CaMKII signaling in MN is critical. This study reports a P19-MN differentiation system, enabling studies of CRABP1 ligands in various stages of MN differentiation, and identifies a new CRABP1-binding ligand C32. Using the P19-MN differentiation system, the study establishes C32 and previously reported C4 as CRABP1 ligands that can modulate CaMKII activation in the P19-MN differentiation process. Further, in committed MN cells, elevating CRABP1 reduces excitotoxicity-triggered MN death, supporting a protective role for CRABP1 signaling in MN survival. C32 and C4 CRABP1 ligands were also protective against excitotoxicity-triggered MN death. The results provide insight into the potential of signaling pathway-selective, CRABP1-binding, atRA-like ligands in mitigating MN degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Nhieu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Liming Milbauer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Thomas Lerdall
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Fatimah Najjar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Chin-Wen Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ryosuke Ishida
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| | - Yue Ma
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kagechika
- Institute of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 2-3-10 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan
| | - Li-Na Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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49
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Gautam M, Genç B, Helmold B, Ahrens A, Kuka J, Makrecka-Kuka M, Günay A, Koçak N, Aguilar-Wickings IR, Keefe D, Zheng G, Swaminathan S, Redmon M, Zariwala HA, Özdinler PH. SBT-272 improves TDP-43 pathology in ALS upper motor neurons by modulating mitochondrial integrity, motility, and function. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 178:106022. [PMID: 36716828 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial defects are one of the common underlying causes of neuronal vulnerability in neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and TDP-43 pathology is the most commonly observed proteinopathy. Disrupted inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) reported in the upper motor neurons (UMNs) of ALS patients with TDP-43 pathology is recapitulated in the UMNs of well-characterized hTDP-43 mouse model of ALS. The construct validity, such as shared and common cellular pathology in mice and human, offers a unique opportunity to test treatment strategies that may translate to patients. SBT-272 is a well-tolerated brain-penetrant small molecule that stabilizes cardiolipin, a phospholipid found in IMM, thereby restoring mitochondrial structure and respiratory function. We investigated whether SBT-272 can improve IMM structure and health in UMNs diseased with TDP-43 pathology in our well-characterized UMN reporter line for ALS. We found that SBT-272 significantly improved mitochondrial structural integrity and restored mitochondrial motility and function. This led to improved health of diseased UMNs in vitro. In comparison to edaravone and AMX0035, SBT-272 appeared more effective in restoring health of diseased UMNs. Chronic treatment of SBT-272 for sixty days starting at an early symptomatic stage of the disease in vivo led to a significant reduction in astrogliosis, microgliosis, and TDP-43 pathology in the ALS motor cortex. Our results underscore the therapeutic potential of SBT-272, especially within the context of TDP-43 pathology and mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Gautam
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Barış Genç
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Benjamin Helmold
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Angela Ahrens
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Janis Kuka
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), Aizkraukles Street 21, LV-2006 Riga, Latvia
| | - Marina Makrecka-Kuka
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), Aizkraukles Street 21, LV-2006 Riga, Latvia
| | - Aksu Günay
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Nuran Koçak
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Izaak R Aguilar-Wickings
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Dennis Keefe
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Guozhu Zheng
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Suchitra Swaminathan
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 675 N St Clair Fl 21 Ste 100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Martin Redmon
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Hatim A Zariwala
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - P Hande Özdinler
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 675 N St Clair Fl 21 Ste 100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Dr, Evanston, IL 60208, USA..
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50
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Liu W, Zhu SO, Guo YL, Tu LF, Zhen YQ, Zhao RY, Ou-Yang L, Kurihara H, He RR, Liu B. BL-918, a small-molecule activator of ULK1, induces cytoprotective autophagy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis therapy. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2023; 44:524-537. [PMID: 36042292 PMCID: PMC9958028 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-022-00972-w] [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: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of the most common fatal neurodegenerative diseases in adults. ALS pathogenesis is associated with toxic SOD1 aggregates generated by mutant SOD1. Since autophagy is responsible for the clearance of toxic protein aggregates including SOD1 aggregates, autophagy induction has been considered as a potential strategy for treating ALS. Autophagic signaling is initiated by unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) complex. We previously identified that BL-918 as a specific ULK1 activator, which exerted cytoprotective effect against Parkinson's disease in vitro and in vivo. In this study we investigated whether BL-918 exerted a therapeutic effect against ALS, and characterized its pharmacokinetic profile in rats. In hSODG93A-NSC34 cells, treatment with BL-918 (5, 10 μM) dose-dependently induced ULK1-dependent autophagy, and eliminated toxic SOD1 aggregates. In SODG93A mice, administration of BL-918 (40, 80 mg/kg, b.i.d., i.g.) dose-dependently prolonged lifespan and improved the motor function, and enhanced the clearance of SOD1 aggregates in spinal cord and cerebral cortex through inducing autophagy. In the pharmacokinetic study conducted in rats, we found BL-918 and its 2 metabolites (M8 and M10) present in spinal cord and brain; after intragastric and intravenous administration, BL-918 reached the highest blood concentration compared to M8 and M10. Collectively, ULK1 activator BL-918 displays a therapeutic potential on ALS through inducing cytoprotective autophagy. This study provides a further clue for autophagic dysfunction in ALS pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Shi-Ou Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yu-Lin Guo
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Long-Fang Tu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yong-Qi Zhen
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Rong-Yan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Liang Ou-Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Hiroshi Kurihara
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Rong-Rong He
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of TCM and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
- Guangdong Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine & Disease Susceptibility, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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