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Dhamne SC, Modi ME, Gray A, Bonazzi S, Craig L, Bainbridge E, Lalani L, Super CE, Schaeffer S, Capre K, Lubicka D, Liang G, Burdette D, McTighe SM, Gurnani S, Vermudez SAD, Curtis D, Wilson CJ, Hameed MQ, D'Amore A, Rotenberg A, Sahin M. Seizure reduction in TSC2-mutant mouse model by an mTOR catalytic inhibitor. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023; 10:1790-1801. [PMID: 37545094 PMCID: PMC10578885 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51868] [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: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by autosomal-dominant pathogenic variants in either the TSC1 or TSC2 gene, and it is characterized by hamartomas in multiple organs, such as skin, kidney, lung, and brain. These changes can result in epilepsy, learning disabilities, and behavioral complications, among others. The mechanistic link between TSC and the mechanistic target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is well established, thus mTOR inhibitors can potentially be used to treat the clinical manifestations of the disorder, including epilepsy. METHODS In this study, we tested the efficacy of a novel mTOR catalytic inhibitor (here named Tool Compound 1 or TC1) previously reported to be more brain-penetrant compared with other mTOR inhibitors. Using a well-characterized hypomorphic Tsc2 mouse model, which displays a translationally relevant seizure phenotype, we tested the efficacy of TC1. RESULTS Our results show that chronic treatment with this novel mTOR catalytic inhibitor (TC1), which affects both the mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling complexes, reduces seizure burden, and extends the survival of Tsc2 hypomorphic mice, restoring species typical weight gain over development. INTERPRETATION Novel mTOR catalytic inhibitor TC1 exhibits a promising therapeutic option in the treatment of TSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer C. Dhamne
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Meera E. Modi
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Audrey Gray
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Simone Bonazzi
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Lucas Craig
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Elizabeth Bainbridge
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Lahin Lalani
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Chloe E. Super
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Samantha Schaeffer
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Ketthsy Capre
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Danuta Lubicka
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Guiqing Liang
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | - Doug Burdette
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Sarika Gurnani
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sheryl Anne D. Vermudez
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Daniel Curtis
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical ResearchCambridgeMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Mustafa Q. Hameed
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Angelica D'Amore
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Alexander Rotenberg
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Mustafa Sahin
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Hameed MQ, Hui B, Lin R, MacMullin PC, Pascual‐Leone A, Vermudez SAD, Rotenberg A. Depressed glutamate transporter 1 expression in a mouse model of Dravet syndrome. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023; 10:1695-1699. [PMID: 37452008 PMCID: PMC10502630 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51851] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Dravet syndrome (DS) is a monogenic, often refractory, epilepsy resultant from SCN1A haploinsufficiency in humans. A novel therapeutic target in DS that can be engaged in isolation or as adjunctive therapy is highly desirable. Here, we demonstrate reduced expression of the rodent glutamate transporter type 1 (GLT-1) in a DS mouse model, and in wild type mouse strains where Scn1a haploinsufficiency is most likely to cause epilepsy, indicating that GLT-1 depression may play a role in DS seizures. As GLT-1 can be upregulated by common and safe FDA-approved medications, this strategy may be an attractive, viable, and novel avenue for DS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Q. Hameed
- Neuromodulation Program, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- Department of NeurosurgeryBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Benjamin Hui
- Neuromodulation Program, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Rui Lin
- Neuromodulation Program, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Paul C. MacMullin
- Neuromodulation Program, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Andres Pascual‐Leone
- Neuromodulation Program, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Sheryl Anne D. Vermudez
- Neuromodulation Program, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Alexander Rotenberg
- Neuromodulation Program, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
- FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of NeurologyBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
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Smith M, Arthur B, Cikowski J, Holt C, Gonzalez S, Fisher NM, Vermudez SAD, Lindsley CW, Niswender CM, Gogliotti RG. Clinical and Preclinical Evidence for M 1 Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor Potentiation as a Therapeutic Approach for Rett Syndrome. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1340-1352. [PMID: 35670902 PMCID: PMC9587166 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01254-3] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by developmental regression, loss of communicative ability, stereotyped hand wringing, cognitive impairment, and central apneas, among many other symptoms. RTT is caused by loss-of-function mutations in a methyl-reader known as methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), a protein that links epigenetic changes on DNA to larger chromatin structure. Historically, target identification for RTT has relied heavily on Mecp2 knockout mice; however, we recently adopted the alternative approach of performing transcriptional profiling in autopsy samples from RTT patients. Through this mechanism, we identified muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) as potential therapeutic targets. Here, we characterized a cohort of 40 temporal cortex samples from individuals with RTT and quantified significantly decreased levels of the M1, M2, M3, and M5 mAChRs subtypes relative to neurotypical controls. Of these four subtypes, M1 expression demonstrated a linear relationship with MeCP2 expression, such that M1 levels were only diminished in contexts where MeCP2 was also significantly decreased. Further, we show that M1 potentiation with the positive allosteric modulator (PAM) VU0453595 (VU595) rescued social preference, spatial memory, and associative memory deficits, as well as decreased apneas in Mecp2+/- mice. VU595's efficacy on apneas in Mecp2+/- mice was mediated by the facilitation of the transition from inspiration to expiration. Molecular analysis correlated rescue with normalized global gene expression patterns in the brainstem and hippocampus, as well as increased Gsk3β inhibition and NMDA receptor trafficking. Together, these data suggest that M1 PAMs could represent a new class of RTT therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie Smith
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
- Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, USA
| | - Bright Arthur
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Jakub Cikowski
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
- Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, USA
| | - Calista Holt
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
- Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, USA
| | - Sonia Gonzalez
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA
- Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, USA
| | - Nicole M Fisher
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Sheryl Anne D Vermudez
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Craig W Lindsley
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Colleen M Niswender
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
| | - Rocco G Gogliotti
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL, 60153, USA.
- Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL, 60141, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
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Vermudez SAD, Gogliotti RG, Arthur B, Buch A, Morales C, Moxley Y, Rajpal H, Conn PJ, Niswender CM. Profiling beneficial and potential adverse effects of MeCP2 overexpression in a hypomorphic Rett syndrome mouse model. Genes Brain Behav 2021; 21:e12752. [PMID: 34002468 PMCID: PMC8599502 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
De novo loss-of-function mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) lead to the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome (RTT). Despite promising results from strategies aimed at increasing MeCP2 levels, additional studies exploring how hypomorphic MeCP2 mutations impact the therapeutic window are needed. Here, we investigated the consequences of genetically introducing a wild-type MECP2 transgene in the Mecp2 R133C mouse model of RTT. The MECP2 transgene reversed the majority of RTT-like phenotypes exhibited by male and female Mecp2 R133C mice. However, three core symptom domains were adversely affected in female Mecp2R133C/+ animals; these phenotypes resemble those observed in disease contexts of excess MeCP2. Parallel control experiments in Mecp2Null/+ mice linked these adverse effects to the hypomorphic R133C mutation. Collectively, these data provide evidence regarding the safety and efficacy of genetically overexpressing functional MeCP2 in Mecp2 R133C mice and suggest that personalized approaches may warrant consideration for the clinical assessment of MeCP2-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheryl Anne D. Vermudez
- Department of Pharmacology and Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug DiscoveryVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Rocco G. Gogliotti
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and NeuroscienceLoyola University ChicagoChicagoIllinoisUSA
| | - Bright Arthur
- Department of Pharmacology and Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug DiscoveryVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Aditi Buch
- Department of Pharmacology and Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug DiscoveryVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Clarissa Morales
- Department of Pharmacology and Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug DiscoveryVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Yuta Moxley
- Department of Pharmacology and Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug DiscoveryVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Hemangi Rajpal
- Department of Pharmacology and Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug DiscoveryVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - P. Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology and Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug DiscoveryVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA,Vanderbilt Kennedy CenterVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA,Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical BiologyVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Colleen M. Niswender
- Department of Pharmacology and Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug DiscoveryVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA,Vanderbilt Kennedy CenterVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA,Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical BiologyVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
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Fisher NM, Gogliotti RG, Vermudez SAD, Stansley BJ, Conn PJ, Niswender CM. Genetic Reduction or Negative Modulation of mGlu 7 Does Not Impact Anxiety and Fear Learning Phenotypes in a Mouse Model of MECP2 Duplication Syndrome. ACS Chem Neurosci 2018; 9:2210-2217. [PMID: 29227625 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome and MECP2 Duplication syndrome are neurodevelopmental disorders attributed to loss-of-function mutations in, or duplication of, the gene encoding methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), respectively. We recently reported decreased expression and function of the metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 (mGlu7) in a mouse model of Rett syndrome. Positive allosteric modulation of mGlu7 activity was sufficient to improve several disease phenotypes including cognition. Here, we tested the hypothesis that mGlu7 expression would be reciprocally regulated in a mouse model of MECP2 Duplication syndrome, such that negative modulation of mGlu7 activity would exert therapeutic benefit. To the contrary, we report that mGlu7 is not functionally increased in mice overexpressing MeCP2 and that neither genetic nor pharmacological reduction of mGlu7 activity impacts phenotypes that are antiparallel to those observed in Rett syndrome model mice. These data expand our understanding of how mGlu7 expression and function is affected by changes in MeCP2 dosage and have important implications for the therapeutic development of mGlu7 modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M. Fisher
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Rocco G. Gogliotti
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Sheryl Anne D. Vermudez
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Branden J. Stansley
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - P. Jeffrey Conn
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
| | - Colleen M. Niswender
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232, United States
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