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Thumbadoo KM, Dieriks BV, Murray HC, Swanson MEV, Yoo JH, Mehrabi NF, Turner C, Dragunow M, Faull RLM, Curtis MA, Siddique T, Shaw CE, Newell KL, Henden L, Williams KL, Nicholson GA, Scotter EL. Hippocampal aggregation signatures of pathogenic UBQLN2 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Brain 2024:awae140. [PMID: 38703371 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathogenic variants in the UBQLN2 gene cause X-linked dominant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and/or frontotemporal dementia characterised by ubiquilin 2 aggregates in neurons of the motor cortex, hippocampus, and spinal cord. However, ubiquilin 2 neuropathology is also seen in sporadic and familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and/or frontotemporal dementia cases not caused by UBQLN2 pathogenic variants, particularly C9orf72-linked cases. This makes the mechanistic role of mutant ubiquilin 2 protein and the value of ubiquilin 2 pathology for predicting genotype unclear. Here we examine a cohort of 44 genotypically diverse amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases with or without frontotemporal dementia, including eight cases with UBQLN2 variants (resulting in p.S222G, p.P497H, p.P506S, p.T487I (two cases), and p.P497L (three cases)). Using multiplexed (5-label) fluorescent immunohistochemistry, we mapped the co-localisation of ubiquilin 2 with phosphorylated TDP-43, dipeptide repeat aggregates, and p62, in the hippocampus of controls (n = 6), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with or without frontotemporal dementia in sporadic (n = 20), unknown familial (n = 3), SOD1-linked (n = 1), FUS-linked (n = 1), C9orf72-linked (n = 5), and UBQLN2-linked (n = 8) cases. We differentiate between i) ubiquilin 2 aggregation together with phosphorylated TDP-43 or dipeptide repeat proteins, and ii) ubiquilin 2 self-aggregation promoted by UBQLN2 pathogenic variants that cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/and frontotemporal dementia. Overall, we describe a hippocampal protein aggregation signature that fully distinguishes mutant from wildtype ubiquilin 2 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with or without frontotemporal dementia, whereby mutant ubiquilin 2 is more prone than wildtype to aggregate independently of driving factors. This neuropathological signature can be used to assess the pathogenicity of UBQLN2 gene variants and to understand the mechanisms of UBQLN2-linked disease.
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Shum C, Hedges EC, Allison J, Lee YB, Arias N, Cocks G, Chandran S, Ruepp MD, Shaw CE, Nishimura AL. Mutations in FUS lead to synaptic dysregulation in ALS-iPSC derived neurons. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:187-195. [PMID: 38242131 PMCID: PMC10874860 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive muscular weakness due to the selective loss of motor neurons. Mutations in the gene Fused in Sarcoma (FUS) were identified as one cause of ALS. Here, we report that mutations in FUS lead to upregulation of synaptic proteins, increasing synaptic activity and abnormal release of vesicles at the synaptic cleft. Consequently, FUS-ALS neurons showed greater vulnerability to glutamate excitotoxicity, which raised neuronal swellings (varicose neurites) and led to neuronal death. Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is an RNA-binding protein known to regulate synaptic protein translation, and its expression is reduced in the FUS-ALS lines. Collectively, our data suggest that a reduction of FMRP levels alters the synaptic protein dynamics, leading to synaptic dysfunction and glutamate excitotoxicity. Here, we present a mechanistic hypothesis linking dysregulation of peripheral translation with synaptic vulnerability in the pathogenesis of FUS-ALS.
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Spargo TP, Opie-Martin S, Hunt GP, Kalia M, Al Khleifat A, Topp SD, Shaw CE, Al-Chalabi A, Iacoangeli A. SOD1-ALS-Browser: a web-utility for investigating the clinical phenotype in SOD1 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023:1-10. [PMID: 37534756 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2236650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Variants in the superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene are among the most common genetic causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Reflecting the wide spectrum of putatively deleterious variants that have been reported to date, it has become clear that SOD1-linked ALS presents a highly variable age at symptom onset and disease duration.Methods: Here we describe an open access web tool for comparative phenotype analysis in ALS: https://sod1-als-browser.rosalind.kcl.ac.uk/. The tool contains a built-in dataset of clinical information from 1383 people with ALS harboring a SOD1 variant resulting in one of 162 unique amino acid sequence alterations and from a non-SOD1 comparator ALS cohort of 13,469 individuals. We present two examples of analyses possible with this tool, testing how the ALS phenotype relates to SOD1 variants that alter amino acid residue hydrophobicity and to distinct variants at the 94th residue of SOD1, where six are sampled.Results and conclusions: The tool provides immediate access to the datasets and enables bespoke analysis of phenotypic trends associated with different protein variants, including the option for users to upload their own datasets for integration with the server data. The tool can be used to study SOD1-ALS and provides an analytical framework to study the differences between other user-uploaded ALS groups and our large reference database of SOD1 and non-SOD1 ALS. The tool is designed to be useful for clinicians and researchers, including those without programming expertise, and is highly flexible in the analyses that can be conducted.
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Hedges EC, Cocks G, Shaw CE, Nishimura AL. Generation of an Open-Access Patient-Derived iPSC Biobank for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disease Modelling. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14051108. [PMID: 37239468 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting the upper and lower motor neurons, causing patients to lose control over voluntary movement, and leading to gradual paralysis and death. There is no cure for ALS, and the development of viable therapeutics has proved challenging, demonstrated by a lack of positive results from clinical trials. One strategy to address this is to improve the tool kit available for pre-clinical research. Here, we describe the creation of an open-access ALS iPSC biobank generated from patients carrying mutations in the TARDBP, FUS, ANXA11, ARPP21, and C9ORF72 genes, alongside healthy controls. To demonstrate the utilisation of these lines for ALS disease modelling, a subset of FUS-ALS iPSCs were differentiated into functionally active motor neurons. Further characterisation revealed an increase in cytoplasmic FUS protein and reduced neurite outgrowth in FUS-ALS motor neurons compared to the control. This proof-of-principle study demonstrates that these novel patient-derived iPSC lines can recapitulate specific and early disease-related ALS phenotypes. This biobank provides a disease-relevant platform for discovery of ALS-associated cellular phenotypes to aid the development of novel treatment strategies.
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Chen Z, Reynolds RH, Pardiñas AF, Gagliano Taliun SA, van Rheenen W, Lin K, Shatunov A, Gustavsson EK, Fogh I, Jones AR, Robberecht W, Corcia P, Chiò A, Shaw PJ, Morrison KE, Veldink JH, van den Berg LH, Shaw CE, Powell JF, Silani V, Hardy JA, Houlden H, Owen MJ, Turner MR, Ryten M, Al-Chalabi A. The contribution of Neanderthal introgression and natural selection to neurodegenerative diseases. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 180:106082. [PMID: 36925053 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans are thought to be more susceptible to neurodegeneration than equivalently-aged primates. It is not known whether this vulnerability is specific to anatomically-modern humans or shared with other hominids. The contribution of introgressed Neanderthal DNA to neurodegenerative disorders remains uncertain. It is also unclear how common variants associated with neurodegenerative disease risk are maintained by natural selection in the population despite their deleterious effects. In this study, we aimed to quantify the genome-wide contribution of Neanderthal introgression and positive selection to the heritability of complex neurodegenerative disorders to address these questions. We used stratified-linkage disequilibrium score regression to investigate the relationship between five SNP-based signatures of natural selection, reflecting different timepoints of evolution, and genome-wide associated variants of the three most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders: Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. We found no evidence for enrichment of positively-selected SNPs in the heritability of Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, suggesting that common deleterious disease variants are unlikely to be maintained by positive selection. There was no enrichment of Neanderthal introgression in the SNP-heritability of these disorders, suggesting that Neanderthal admixture is unlikely to have contributed to disease risk. These findings provide insight into the origins of neurodegenerative disorders within the evolution of Homo sapiens and addresses a long-standing debate, showing that Neanderthal admixture is unlikely to have contributed to common genetic risk of neurodegeneration in anatomically-modern humans.
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Adey BN, Cooper-Knock J, Al Khleifat A, Fogh I, van Damme P, Corcia P, Couratier P, Hardiman O, McLaughlin R, Gotkine M, Drory V, Silani V, Ticozzi N, Veldink JH, van den Berg LH, de Carvalho M, Pinto S, Mora Pardina JS, Povedano Panades M, Andersen PM, Weber M, Başak NA, Shaw CE, Shaw PJ, Morrison KE, Landers JE, Glass JD, Vourc’h P, Dobson RJB, Breen G, Al-Chalabi A, Jones AR, Iacoangeli A. Large-scale analyses of CAV1 and CAV2 suggest their expression is higher in post-mortem ALS brain tissue and affects survival. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1112405. [PMID: 36937187 PMCID: PMC10017967 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1112405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Caveolin-1 and Caveolin-2 (CAV1 and CAV2) are proteins associated with intercellular neurotrophic signalling. There is converging evidence that CAV1 and CAV2 (CAV1/2) genes have a role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Disease-associated variants have been identified within CAV1/2 enhancers, which reduce gene expression and lead to disruption of membrane lipid rafts. Methods: Using large ALS whole-genome sequencing and post-mortem RNA sequencing datasets (5,987 and 365 tissue samples, respectively), and iPSC-derived motor neurons from 55 individuals, we investigated the role of CAV1/2 expression and enhancer variants in the ALS phenotype. Results: We report a differential expression analysis between ALS cases and controls for CAV1 and CAV2 genes across various post-mortem brain tissues and three independent datasets. CAV1 and CAV2 expression was consistently higher in ALS patients compared to controls, with significant results across the primary motor cortex, lateral motor cortex, and cerebellum. We also identify increased survival among carriers of CAV1/2 enhancer mutations compared to non-carriers within Project MinE and slower progression as measured by the ALSFRS. Carriers showed a median increase in survival of 345 days. Discussion: These results add to an increasing body of evidence linking CAV1 and CAV2 genes to ALS. We propose that carriers of CAV1/2 enhancer mutations may be conceptualised as an ALS subtype who present a less severe ALS phenotype with a longer survival duration and slower progression. Upregulation of CAV1/2 genes in ALS cases may indicate a causal pathway or a compensatory mechanism. Given prior research supporting the beneficial role of CAV1/2 expression in ALS patients, we consider a compensatory mechanism to better fit the available evidence, although further investigation into the biological pathways associated with CAV1/2 is needed to support this conclusion.
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Planinc D, Muhamood N, Cabassi C, Iniesta R, Shaw CE, Hodson-Tole E, Bashford J. Fasciculation electromechanical latency is prolonged in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 145:71-80. [PMID: 36442378 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), motor neurons become hyperexcitable and spontaneously discharge electrical impulses causing fasciculations. These can be detected by two noninvasive methods: high-density surface electromyography (HDSEMG) and muscle ultrasonography (MUS). We combined these methods simultaneously to explore the electromechanical properties of fasciculations, seeking a novel biomarker of disease. METHODS Twelve ALS patients and thirteen healthy participants each provided up to 24 minutes of recordings from the right biceps brachii (BB) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM). Two automated algorithms (Surface Potential Quantification Engine and a Gaussian mixture model) were applied to HDSEMG and MUS data to identify correlated electromechanical fasciculation events. RESULTS We identified 4,197 correlated electromechanical fasciculation events. HDSEMG reliably detected electromechanical events up to 30 mm below the skin surface with an inverse correlation between amplitude and depth in ALS muscles. Compared to Healthy-GM muscles (mean = 79.8 ms), electromechanical latency was prolonged in ALS-GM (mean = 108.8 ms; p = 0.0458) and ALS-BB (mean = 112.0 ms; p = 0.0128) muscles. Electromechanical latency did not correlate with disease duration, symptom burden, sum muscle power score or fasciculation frequency. CONCLUSIONS Prolonged fasciculation electromechanical latency indicates impairment of the excitation-contraction coupling mechanism, warranting further exploration as a potential novel biomarker of disease in ALS. SIGNIFICANCE This study points to an electromechanical defect within the muscles of ALS patients.
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Opie-Martin S, Iacoangeli A, Topp SD, Abel O, Mayl K, Mehta PR, Shatunov A, Fogh I, Bowles H, Limbachiya N, Spargo TP, Al-Khleifat A, Williams KL, Jockel-Balsarotti J, Bali T, Self W, Henden L, Nicholson GA, Ticozzi N, McKenna-Yasek D, Tang L, Shaw PJ, Chio A, Ludolph A, Weishaupt JH, Landers JE, Glass JD, Mora JS, Robberecht W, Damme PV, McLaughlin R, Hardiman O, van den Berg L, Veldink JH, Corcia P, Stevic Z, Siddique N, Silani V, Blair IP, Fan DS, Esselin F, de la Cruz E, Camu W, Basak NA, Siddique T, Miller T, Brown RH, Al-Chalabi A, Shaw CE. The SOD1-mediated ALS phenotype shows a decoupling between age of symptom onset and disease duration. Nat Commun 2022; 13:6901. [PMID: 36371497 PMCID: PMC9653399 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34620-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene variants may cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, some of which are associated with a distinct phenotype. Most studies assess limited variants or sample sizes. In this international, retrospective observational study, we compare phenotypic and demographic characteristics between people with SOD1-ALS and people with ALS and no recorded SOD1 variant. We investigate which variants are associated with age at symptom onset and time from onset to death or censoring using Cox proportional-hazards regression. The SOD1-ALS dataset reports age of onset for 1122 and disease duration for 883 people; the comparator population includes 10,214 and 9010 people respectively. Eight variants are associated with younger age of onset and distinct survival trajectories; a further eight associated with younger onset only and one with distinct survival only. Here we show that onset and survival are decoupled in SOD1-ALS. Future research should characterise rarer variants and molecular mechanisms causing the observed variability.
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Crook-Rumsey M, Musa AM, Iniesta R, Drakakis E, Boutelle MG, Shaw CE, Bashford J. A shortened surface electromyography recording is sufficient to facilitate home fasciculation assessment. Muscle Nerve 2022; 66:625-630. [PMID: 36054838 DOI: 10.1002/mus.27701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION/AIMS Fasciculations are an early clinical hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), amenable to detection by high-density surface electromyography (HDSEMG). In conjunction with the Surface Potential Quantification Engine (SPiQE), HDSEMG offers improved spatial resolution for the analysis of fasciculations. This study aims to establish an optimal recording duration to enable longitudinal remote monitoring in the home. METHODS Twenty patients with ALS and five patients with benign fasciculation syndrome (BFS) underwent serial 30 min HDSEMG recordings from biceps brachii and gastrocnemii. SPiQE was independently applied to abbreviated epochs within each 30-min recording (0-5, 0-10, 0-15, 0-20, and 0-25 min), outputting fasciculation frequency, amplitude median and amplitude interquartile range. Bland-Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to assess agreement with the validated 30-min recording. RESULTS In total, 506 full recordings were included. The 5 min recordings demonstrated diverse and relatively poor agreement with the 30 min baselines across all parameters, muscles and patient groups (ICC = 0.32-0.86). The 15-min recordings provided more acceptable and stable agreement (ICC = 0.78-0.98), which did not substantially improve in longer recordings. DISCUSSION For the detection and quantification of fasciculations in patients with ALS and BFS, HDSEMG recordings can be halved from 30 to 15 min without significantly compromising the primary outputs. Reliance on a shorter recording duration should lead to improved tolerability and repeatability among patients, facilitating longitudinal remote monitoring in patients' homes.
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Trist BG, Genoud S, Roudeau S, Rookyard A, Abdeen A, Cottam V, Hare DJ, White M, Altvater J, Fifita JA, Hogan A, Grima N, Blair IP, Kysenius K, Crouch PJ, Carmona A, Rufin Y, Claverol S, Van Malderen S, Falkenberg G, Paterson DJ, Smith B, Troakes C, Vance C, Shaw CE, Al-Sarraj S, Cordwell S, Halliday G, Ortega R, Double KL. Altered SOD1 maturation and post-translational modification in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spinal cord. Brain 2022; 145:3108-3130. [PMID: 35512359 PMCID: PMC9473357 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant self-assembly and toxicity of wild-type and mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) has been widely examined in silico, in vitro, and in transgenic animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Detailed examination of the protein in disease-affected tissues from ALS patients, however, remains scarce. We employed histological, biochemical and analytical techniques to profile alterations to SOD1 protein deposition, subcellular localization, maturation and post-translational modification in post-mortem spinal cord tissues from ALS cases and controls. Tissues were dissected into ventral and dorsal spinal cord grey matter to assess the specificity of alterations within regions of motor neuron degeneration. We provide evidence of the mislocalization and accumulation of structurally-disordered, immature SOD1 protein conformers in spinal cord motor neurons of SOD1-linked and non-SOD1-linked familial ALS cases, and sporadic ALS cases, compared with control motor neurons. These changes were collectively associated with instability and mismetallation of enzymatically-active SOD1 dimers, as well as alterations to SOD1 post-translational modifications and molecular chaperones governing SOD1 maturation. Atypical changes to SOD1 protein were largely restricted to regions of neurodegeneration in ALS cases, and clearly differentiated all forms of ALS from controls. Substantial heterogeneity in the presence of these changes was also observed between ALS cases. Our data demonstrates that varying forms of SOD1 proteinopathy are a common feature of all forms of ALS, and support the presence of one or more convergent biochemical pathways leading to SOD1 proteinopathy in ALS. The majority of these alterations are specific to regions of neurodegeneration, and may therefore constitute valid targets for therapeutic development.
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Hop PJ, Zwamborn RA, Hannon E, Shireby GL, Nabais MF, Walker EM, van Rheenen W, van Vugt JJ, Dekker AM, Westeneng HJ, Tazelaar GH, van Eijk KR, Moisse M, Baird D, Khleifat AA, Iacoangeli A, Ticozzi N, Ratti A, Cooper-Knock J, Morrison KE, Shaw PJ, Basak AN, Chiò A, Calvo A, Moglia C, Canosa A, Brunetti M, Grassano M, Gotkine M, Lerner Y, Zabari M, Vourc’h P, Corcia P, Couratier P, Pardina JSM, Salas T, Dion P, Ross JP, Henderson RD, Mathers S, McCombe PA, Needham M, Nicholson G, Rowe DB, Pamphlett R, Mather KA, Sachdev PS, Furlong S, Garton FC, Henders AK, Lin T, Ngo ST, Steyn FJ, Wallace L, Williams KL, Neto MM, Cauchi RJ, Blair IP, Kiernan MC, Drory V, Povedano M, de Carvalho M, Pinto S, Weber M, Rouleau GA, Silani V, Landers JE, Shaw CE, Andersen PM, McRae AF, van Es MA, Pasterkamp RJ, Wray NR, McLaughlin RL, Hardiman O, Kenna KP, Tsai E, Runz H, Al-Chalabi A, van den Berg LH, Van Damme P, Mill J, Veldink JH. Genome-wide study of DNA methylation shows alterations in metabolic, inflammatory, and cholesterol pathways in ALS. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabj0264. [PMID: 35196023 PMCID: PMC10040186 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abj0264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with an estimated heritability between 40 and 50%. DNA methylation patterns can serve as proxies of (past) exposures and disease progression, as well as providing a potential mechanism that mediates genetic or environmental risk. Here, we present a blood-based epigenome-wide association study meta-analysis in 9706 samples passing stringent quality control (6763 patients, 2943 controls). We identified a total of 45 differentially methylated positions (DMPs) annotated to 42 genes, which are enriched for pathways and traits related to metabolism, cholesterol biosynthesis, and immunity. We then tested 39 DNA methylation-based proxies of putative ALS risk factors and found that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, white blood cell proportions, and alcohol intake were independently associated with ALS. Integration of these results with our latest genome-wide association study showed that cholesterol biosynthesis was potentially causally related to ALS. Last, DNA methylation at several DMPs and blood cell proportion estimates derived from DNA methylation data were associated with survival rate in patients, suggesting that they might represent indicators of underlying disease processes potentially amenable to therapeutic interventions.
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Al Khleifat A, Iacoangeli A, van Vugt JJFA, Bowles H, Moisse M, Zwamborn RAJ, van der Spek RAA, Shatunov A, Cooper-Knock J, Topp S, Byrne R, Gellera C, López V, Jones AR, Opie-Martin S, Vural A, Campos Y, van Rheenen W, Kenna B, Van Eijk KR, Kenna K, Weber M, Smith B, Fogh I, Silani V, Morrison KE, Dobson R, van Es MA, McLaughlin RL, Vourc'h P, Chio A, Corcia P, de Carvalho M, Gotkine M, Panades MP, Mora JS, Shaw PJ, Landers JE, Glass JD, Shaw CE, Basak N, Hardiman O, Robberecht W, Van Damme P, van den Berg LH, Veldink JH, Al-Chalabi A. Structural variation analysis of 6,500 whole genome sequences in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. NPJ Genom Med 2022; 7:8. [PMID: 35091648 PMCID: PMC8799638 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-021-00267-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a strong genetic contribution to Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) risk, with heritability estimates of up to 60%. Both Mendelian and small effect variants have been identified, but in common with other conditions, such variants only explain a little of the heritability. Genomic structural variation might account for some of this otherwise unexplained heritability. We therefore investigated association between structural variation in a set of 25 ALS genes, and ALS risk and phenotype. As expected, the repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene was identified as associated with ALS. Two other ALS-associated structural variants were identified: inversion in the VCP gene and insertion in the ERBB4 gene. All three variants were associated both with increased risk of ALS and specific phenotypic patterns of disease expression. More than 70% of people with respiratory onset ALS harboured ERBB4 insertion compared with 25% of the general population, suggesting respiratory onset ALS may be a distinct genetic subtype.
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Škorić-Milosavljević D, Tadros R, Bosada FM, Tessadori F, van Weerd JH, Woudstra OI, Tjong FV, Lahrouchi N, Bajolle F, Cordell HJ, Agopian A, Blue GM, Barge-Schaapveld DQ, Gewillig M, Preuss C, Lodder EM, Barnett P, Ilgun A, Beekman L, van Duijvenboden K, Bokenkamp R, Müller-Nurasyid M, Vliegen HW, Konings TC, van Melle JP, van Dijk AP, van Kimmenade RR, Roos-Hesselink JW, Sieswerda GT, Meijboom F, Abdul-Khaliq H, Berger F, Dittrich S, Hitz MP, Moosmann J, Riede FT, Schubert S, Galan P, Lathrop M, Munter HM, Al-Chalabi A, Shaw CE, Shaw PJ, Morrison KE, Veldink JH, van den Berg LH, Evans S, Nobrega MA, Aneas I, Radivojkov-Blagojević M, Meitinger T, Oechslin E, Mondal T, Bergin L, Smythe JF, Altamirano-Diaz L, Lougheed J, Bouma BJ, Chaix MA, Kline J, Bassett AS, Andelfinger G, van der Palen RL, Bouvagnet P, Clur SAB, Breckpot J, Kerstjens-Frederikse WS, Winlaw DS, Bauer UM, Mital S, Goldmuntz E, Keavney B, Bonnet D, Mulder BJ, Tanck MW, Bakkers J, Christoffels VM, Boogerd CJ, Postma AV, Bezzina CR. Common Genetic Variants Contribute to Risk of Transposition of the Great Arteries. Circ Res 2022; 130:166-180. [PMID: 34886679 PMCID: PMC8768504 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.120.317107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Dextro-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) is a severe congenital heart defect which affects approximately 1 in 4,000 live births. While there are several reports of D-TGA patients with rare variants in individual genes, the majority of D-TGA cases remain genetically elusive. Familial recurrence patterns and the observation that most cases with D-TGA are sporadic suggest a polygenic inheritance for the disorder, yet this remains unexplored. OBJECTIVE We sought to study the role of common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in risk for D-TGA. METHODS AND RESULTS We conducted a genome-wide association study in an international set of 1,237 patients with D-TGA and identified a genome-wide significant susceptibility locus on chromosome 3p14.3, which was subsequently replicated in an independent case-control set (rs56219800, meta-analysis P=8.6x10-10, OR=0.69 per C allele). SNP-based heritability analysis showed that 25% of variance in susceptibility to D-TGA may be explained by common variants. A genome-wide polygenic risk score derived from the discovery set was significantly associated to D-TGA in the replication set (P=4x10-5). The genome-wide significant locus (3p14.3) co-localizes with a putative regulatory element that interacts with the promoter of WNT5A, which encodes the Wnt Family Member 5A protein known for its role in cardiac development in mice. We show that this element drives reporter gene activity in the developing heart of mice and zebrafish and is bound by the developmental transcription factor TBX20. We further demonstrate that TBX20 attenuates Wnt5a expression levels in the developing mouse heart. CONCLUSIONS This work provides support for a polygenic architecture in D-TGA and identifies a susceptibility locus on chromosome 3p14.3 near WNT5A. Genomic and functional data support a causal role of WNT5A at the locus.
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Al Khleifat A, Iacoangeli A, Jones AR, van Vugt JJFA, Moisse M, Shatunov A, Zwamborn RAJ, van der Spek RAA, Cooper-Knock J, Topp S, van Rheenen W, Kenna B, Van Eijk KR, Kenna K, Byrne R, López V, Opie-Martin S, Vural A, Campos Y, Weber M, Smith B, Fogh I, Silani V, Morrison KE, Dobson R, van Es MA, McLaughlin RL, Vourc’h P, Chio A, Corcia P, de Carvalho M, Gotkine M, Panades MP, Mora JS, Shaw PJ, Landers JE, Glass JD, Shaw CE, Basak N, Hardiman O, Robberecht W, Van Damme P, van den Berg LH, Veldink JH, Al-Chalabi A. Telomere length analysis in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using large-scale whole genome sequence data. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:1050596. [PMID: 36589292 PMCID: PMC9799999 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.1050596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons, leading to progressive weakness of voluntary muscles, with death following from neuromuscular respiratory failure, typically within 3 to 5 years. There is a strong genetic contribution to ALS risk. In 10% or more, a family history of ALS or frontotemporal dementia is obtained, and the Mendelian genes responsible for ALS in such families have now been identified in about 50% of cases. Only about 14% of apparently sporadic ALS is explained by known genetic variation, suggesting that other forms of genetic variation are important. Telomeres maintain DNA integrity during cellular replication, differ between sexes, and shorten naturally with age. Sex and age are risk factors for ALS and we therefore investigated telomere length in ALS. Methods Samples were from Project MinE, an international ALS whole genome sequencing consortium that includes phenotype data. For validation we used donated brain samples from motor cortex from people with ALS and controls. Ancestry and relatedness were evaluated by principal components analysis and relationship matrices of DNA microarray data. Whole genome sequence data were from Illumina HiSeq platforms and aligned using the Isaac pipeline. TelSeq was used to quantify telomere length using whole genome sequence data. We tested the association of telomere length with ALS and ALS survival using Cox regression. Results There were 6,580 whole genome sequences, reducing to 6,195 samples (4,315 from people with ALS and 1,880 controls) after quality control, and 159 brain samples (106 ALS, 53 controls). Accounting for age and sex, there was a 20% (95% CI 14%, 25%) increase of telomere length in people with ALS compared to controls (p = 1.1 × 10-12), validated in the brain samples (p = 0.03). Those with shorter telomeres had a 10% increase in median survival (p = 5.0×10-7). Although there was no difference in telomere length between sporadic ALS and familial ALS (p=0.64), telomere length in 334 people with ALS due to expanded C9orf72 repeats was shorter than in those without expanded C9orf72 repeats (p = 5.0×10-4). Discussion Although telomeres shorten with age, longer telomeres are a risk factor for ALS and worsen prognosis. Longer telomeres are associated with ALS.
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van Rheenen W, van der Spek RAA, Bakker MK, van Vugt JJFA, Hop PJ, Zwamborn RAJ, de Klein N, Westra HJ, Bakker OB, Deelen P, Shireby G, Hannon E, Moisse M, Baird D, Restuadi R, Dolzhenko E, Dekker AM, Gawor K, Westeneng HJ, Tazelaar GHP, van Eijk KR, Kooyman M, Byrne RP, Doherty M, Heverin M, Al Khleifat A, Iacoangeli A, Shatunov A, Ticozzi N, Cooper-Knock J, Smith BN, Gromicho M, Chandran S, Pal S, Morrison KE, Shaw PJ, Hardy J, Orrell RW, Sendtner M, Meyer T, Başak N, van der Kooi AJ, Ratti A, Fogh I, Gellera C, Lauria G, Corti S, Cereda C, Sproviero D, D'Alfonso S, Sorarù G, Siciliano G, Filosto M, Padovani A, Chiò A, Calvo A, Moglia C, Brunetti M, Canosa A, Grassano M, Beghi E, Pupillo E, Logroscino G, Nefussy B, Osmanovic A, Nordin A, Lerner Y, Zabari M, Gotkine M, Baloh RH, Bell S, Vourc'h P, Corcia P, Couratier P, Millecamps S, Meininger V, Salachas F, Mora Pardina JS, Assialioui A, Rojas-García R, Dion PA, Ross JP, Ludolph AC, Weishaupt JH, Brenner D, Freischmidt A, Bensimon G, Brice A, Durr A, Payan CAM, Saker-Delye S, Wood NW, Topp S, Rademakers R, Tittmann L, Lieb W, Franke A, Ripke S, Braun A, Kraft J, Whiteman DC, Olsen CM, Uitterlinden AG, Hofman A, Rietschel M, Cichon S, Nöthen MM, Amouyel P, Traynor BJ, Singleton AB, Mitne Neto M, Cauchi RJ, Ophoff RA, Wiedau-Pazos M, Lomen-Hoerth C, van Deerlin VM, Grosskreutz J, Roediger A, Gaur N, Jörk A, Barthel T, Theele E, Ilse B, Stubendorff B, Witte OW, Steinbach R, Hübner CA, Graff C, Brylev L, Fominykh V, Demeshonok V, Ataulina A, Rogelj B, Koritnik B, Zidar J, Ravnik-Glavač M, Glavač D, Stević Z, Drory V, Povedano M, Blair IP, Kiernan MC, Benyamin B, Henderson RD, Furlong S, Mathers S, McCombe PA, Needham M, Ngo ST, Nicholson GA, Pamphlett R, Rowe DB, Steyn FJ, Williams KL, Mather KA, Sachdev PS, Henders AK, Wallace L, de Carvalho M, Pinto S, Petri S, Weber M, Rouleau GA, Silani V, Curtis CJ, Breen G, Glass JD, Brown RH, Landers JE, Shaw CE, Andersen PM, Groen EJN, van Es MA, Pasterkamp RJ, Fan D, Garton FC, McRae AF, Davey Smith G, Gaunt TR, Eberle MA, Mill J, McLaughlin RL, Hardiman O, Kenna KP, Wray NR, Tsai E, Runz H, Franke L, Al-Chalabi A, Van Damme P, van den Berg LH, Veldink JH. Common and rare variant association analyses in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis identify 15 risk loci with distinct genetic architectures and neuron-specific biology. Nat Genet 2021; 53:1636-1648. [PMID: 34873335 PMCID: PMC8648564 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00973-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with a lifetime risk of one in 350 people and an unmet need for disease-modifying therapies. We conducted a cross-ancestry genome-wide association study (GWAS) including 29,612 patients with ALS and 122,656 controls, which identified 15 risk loci. When combined with 8,953 individuals with whole-genome sequencing (6,538 patients, 2,415 controls) and a large cortex-derived expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) dataset (MetaBrain), analyses revealed locus-specific genetic architectures in which we prioritized genes either through rare variants, short tandem repeats or regulatory effects. ALS-associated risk loci were shared with multiple traits within the neurodegenerative spectrum but with distinct enrichment patterns across brain regions and cell types. Of the environmental and lifestyle risk factors obtained from the literature, Mendelian randomization analyses indicated a causal role for high cholesterol levels. The combination of all ALS-associated signals reveals a role for perturbations in vesicle-mediated transport and autophagy and provides evidence for cell-autonomous disease initiation in glutamatergic neurons.
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Gotkine M, de Majo M, Wong CH, Topp SD, Michaelson-Cohen R, Epsztejn-Litman S, Eiges R, Y YL, Kanaan M, Shaked HM, Alahmady N, Vance C, Newhouse SJ, Breen G, Nishimura AL, Shaw CE, Smith BN. A recessive S174X mutation in Optineurin causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis through a loss of function via allele-specific nonsense-mediated decay. Neurobiol Aging 2021; 106:351.e1-351.e6. [PMID: 34272080 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Loss of function (LoF) mutations in Optineurin can cause recessive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with some heterozygous LoF mutations associated with dominant ALS. The molecular mechanisms underlying the variable inheritance pattern associated with OPTN mutations have remained elusive. We identified that affected members of a consanguineous Middle Eastern ALS kindred possessed a novel homozygous p.S174X OPTN mutation. Analysis of these primary fibroblast lines from family members identified that the p.S174X mutation reduces OPTN mRNA expression in an allele-dependent fashion by nonsense mediated decay. Western blotting correlated a reduced expression in heterozygote carriers but a complete absence of OPTN protein in the homozygous carrier. This data suggests that the p.S174X truncation mutation causes recessive ALS through LoF. However, functional analysis detected a significant increase in mitophagy markers TOM20 and COXIV, and higher rates of mitochondrial respiration and ATP levels in heterozygous carriers only. This suggests that heterozygous LoF OPTN mutations may not be causative in a Mendelian manner but may potentially behave as contributory ALS risk factors.
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Johnson JO, Chia R, Miller DE, Li R, Kumaran R, Abramzon Y, Alahmady N, Renton AE, Topp SD, Gibbs JR, Cookson MR, Sabir MS, Dalgard CL, Troakes C, Jones AR, Shatunov A, Iacoangeli A, Al Khleifat A, Ticozzi N, Silani V, Gellera C, Blair IP, Dobson-Stone C, Kwok JB, Bonkowski ES, Palvadeau R, Tienari PJ, Morrison KE, Shaw PJ, Al-Chalabi A, Brown RH, Calvo A, Mora G, Al-Saif H, Gotkine M, Leigh F, Chang IJ, Perlman SJ, Glass I, Scott AI, Shaw CE, Basak AN, Landers JE, Chiò A, Crawford TO, Smith BN, Traynor BJ. Association of Variants in the SPTLC1 Gene With Juvenile Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. JAMA Neurol 2021; 78:1236-1248. [PMID: 34459874 PMCID: PMC8406220 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2021.2598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Importance Juvenile amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare form of ALS characterized by age of symptom onset less than 25 years and a variable presentation. Objective To identify the genetic variants associated with juvenile ALS. Design, Setting, and Participants In this multicenter family-based genetic study, trio whole-exome sequencing was performed to identify the disease-associated gene in a case series of unrelated patients diagnosed with juvenile ALS and severe growth retardation. The patients and their family members were enrolled at academic hospitals and a government research facility between March 1, 2016, and March 13, 2020, and were observed until October 1, 2020. Whole-exome sequencing was also performed in a series of patients with juvenile ALS. A total of 66 patients with juvenile ALS and 6258 adult patients with ALS participated in the study. Patients were selected for the study based on their diagnosis, and all eligible participants were enrolled in the study. None of the participants had a family history of neurological disorders, suggesting de novo variants as the underlying genetic mechanism. Main Outcomes and Measures De novo variants present only in the index case and not in unaffected family members. Results Trio whole-exome sequencing was performed in 3 patients diagnosed with juvenile ALS and their parents. An additional 63 patients with juvenile ALS and 6258 adult patients with ALS were subsequently screened for variants in the SPTLC1 gene. De novo variants in SPTLC1 (p.Ala20Ser in 2 patients and p.Ser331Tyr in 1 patient) were identified in 3 unrelated patients diagnosed with juvenile ALS and failure to thrive. A fourth variant (p.Leu39del) was identified in a patient with juvenile ALS where parental DNA was unavailable. Variants in this gene have been previously shown to be associated with autosomal-dominant hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy, type 1A, by disrupting an essential enzyme complex in the sphingolipid synthesis pathway. Conclusions and Relevance These data broaden the phenotype associated with SPTLC1 and suggest that patients presenting with juvenile ALS should be screened for variants in this gene.
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Lee YB, Scotter EL, Lee DY, Troakes C, Mitchell J, Rogelj B, Gallo JM, Shaw CE. Cytoplasmic TDP-43 is involved in cell fate during stress recovery. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:166-175. [PMID: 34378050 PMCID: PMC8743001 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Transactive response DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is an RNA processing protein central to the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Nuclear TDP-43 mislocalizes in patients to the cytoplasm, where it forms ubiquitin-positive inclusions in affected neurons and glia. Physiologically, cytoplasmic TDP-43 is associated with stress granules (SGs). Here, we explored TDP-43 cytoplasmic accumulation and stress granule formation following osmotic and oxidative stress. We show that sorbitol drives TDP-43 redistribution to the cytoplasm, while arsenite induces the recruitment of cytoplasmic TDP-43 to TIA-1 positive SGs. We demonstrate that inducing acute oxidative stress after TDP-43 cytoplasmic relocalization by osmotic shock induces poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, which triggers cellular toxicity. Recruitment of cytoplasmic TDP-43 to polyribosomes occurs in an SH-SY5Y cellular stress model and is observed in FTD brain lysate. Moreover, the processing body (P-body) marker DCP1a is detected in TDP-43 granules during recovery from stress. Overall, this study supports a central role for cytoplasmic TDP-43 in controlling protein translation in stressed cells.
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Lee YB, Baskaran P, Gomez-Deza J, Chen HJ, Nishimura AL, Smith BN, Troakes C, Adachi Y, Stepto A, Petrucelli L, Gallo JM, Hirth F, Rogelj B, Guthrie S, Shaw CE. C9orf72 poly GA RAN-translated protein plays a key role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis via aggregation and toxicity. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:318-320. [PMID: 32888026 PMCID: PMC8248939 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Hedges EC, Topp S, Shaw CE, Nishimura AL. Generation of six induced pluripotent stem cell lines from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with associated genetic mutations in either FUS or ANXA11. Stem Cell Res 2021; 52:102246. [PMID: 33610019 PMCID: PMC7988463 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2021.102246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons, causing gradual paralysis, and resulting in death 3-5 years from diagnosis. ALS causative mutations have been identified in multiple genes, including Fused in sarcoma (FUS), and recently characterized Annexin A11 (ANXA11). We have derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from six ALS patient lymphoblastoid cell lines, three with mutations in FUS (Q519E, R521H, R522G), and three with mutations in ANXA11 (G38R, D40G, R235Q). These lines have been characterized and provide a novel resource for investigation into ALS pathology.
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Iacoangeli A, Fogh I, Selvackadunco S, Topp SD, Shatunov A, van Rheenen W, Al-Khleifat A, Opie-Martin S, Ratti A, Calvo A, Van Damme P, Robberecht W, Chio A, Dobson RJ, Hardiman O, Shaw CE, van den Berg LH, Andersen PM, Smith BN, Silani V, Veldink JH, Breen G, Troakes C, Al-Chalabi A, Jones AR. SCFD1 expression quantitative trait loci in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are differentially expressed. Brain Commun 2021; 3:fcab236. [PMID: 34708205 PMCID: PMC8545614 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcab236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence indicates that common variants found in genome-wide association studies increase risk of disease through gene regulation via expression Quantitative Trait Loci. Using multiple genome-wide methods, we examined if Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms increase risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis through expression Quantitative Trait Loci, and whether expression Quantitative Trait Loci expression is consistent across people who had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and those who did not. In combining public expression Quantitative Trait Loci data with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis genome-wide association studies, we used Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization to confirm that SCFD1 was the only gene that was genome-wide significant in mediating Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis risk via expression Quantitative Trait Loci (Summary-data-based Mendelian Randomization beta = 0.20, standard error = 0.04, P-value = 4.29 × 10-6). Using post-mortem motor cortex, we tested whether expression Quantitative Trait Loci showed significant differences in expression between Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (n = 76) and controls (n = 25), genome-wide. Of 20 757 genes analysed, the two most significant expression Quantitative Trait Loci to show differential in expression between Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and controls involve two known Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis genes (SCFD1 and VCP). Cis-acting SCFD1 expression Quantitative Trait Loci downstream of the gene showed significant differences in expression between Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and controls (top expression Quantitative Trait Loci beta = 0.34, standard error = 0.063, P-value = 4.54 × 10-7). These SCFD1 expression Quantitative Trait Loci also significantly modified Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis survival (number of samples = 4265, hazard ratio = 1.11, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.17, P-value = 2.06 × 10-4) and act as an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis trans-expression Quantitative Trait Loci hotspot for a wider network of genes enriched for SCFD1 function and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis pathways. Using gene-set analyses, we found the genes that correlate with this trans-expression Quantitative Trait Loci hotspot significantly increase risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (beta = 0.247, standard deviation = 0.017, P = 0.001) and schizophrenia (beta = 0.263, standard deviation = 0.008, P-value = 1.18 × 10-5), a disease that genetically correlates with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In summary, SCFD1 expression Quantitative Trait Loci are a major factor in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, not only influencing disease risk but are differentially expressed in post-mortem Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. SCFD1 expression Quantitative Trait Loci show distinct expression profiles in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis that correlate with a wider network of genes that also confer risk of the disease and modify the disease's duration.
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Cooper-Knock J, Zhang S, Kenna KP, Moll T, Franklin JP, Allen S, Nezhad HG, Iacoangeli A, Yacovzada NY, Eitan C, Hornstein E, Elhaik E, Celadova P, Bose D, Farhan S, Fishilevich S, Lancet D, Morrison KE, Shaw CE, Al-Chalabi A, Veldink JH, Kirby J, Snyder MP, Shaw PJ. Rare Variant Burden Analysis within Enhancers Identifies CAV1 as an ALS Risk Gene. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108456. [PMID: 33264630 PMCID: PMC7710676 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable neurodegenerative disease. CAV1 and CAV2 organize membrane lipid rafts (MLRs) important for cell signaling and neuronal survival, and overexpression of CAV1 ameliorates ALS phenotypes in vivo. Genome-wide association studies localize a large proportion of ALS risk variants within the non-coding genome, but further characterization has been limited by lack of appropriate tools. By designing and applying a pipeline to identify pathogenic genetic variation within enhancer elements responsible for regulating gene expression, we identify disease-associated variation within CAV1/CAV2 enhancers, which replicate in an independent cohort. Discovered enhancer mutations reduce CAV1/CAV2 expression and disrupt MLRs in patient-derived cells, and CRISPR-Cas9 perturbation proximate to a patient mutation is sufficient to reduce CAV1/CAV2 expression in neurons. Additional enrichment of ALS-associated mutations within CAV1 exons positions CAV1 as an ALS risk gene. We propose CAV1/CAV2 overexpression as a personalized medicine target for ALS.
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Kelly M, Lavrov A, Garcia-Gancedo L, Parr J, Hart R, Chiwera T, Shaw CE, Al-Chalabi A, Marsden R, Turner MR, Talbot K. The use of biotelemetry to explore disease progression markers in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2020; 21:563-573. [PMID: 32573278 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2020.1773501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore novel, real-world biotelemetry disease progression markers in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to compare with clinical gold-standard measures. Methods: This was an exploratory, non-controlled, non-drug 2-phase study comprising a variable length Pilot Phase (n = 5) and a 48-week Core study Phase (n = 25; NCT02447952). Patients with mild or moderate ALS wore biotelemetry sensors for ∼3 days/month at home, measuring physical activity, heart rate variability (HRV), and speech over 48 weeks. These measures were assessed longitudinally in relation to ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score and forced vital capacity (FVC); assessed by telephone [monthly] and clinic visits [every 12 weeks]). Results: Pilot Phase data supported progression into the Core Phase, where a decline in physical activity from baseline followed ALS progression as measured by ALSFRS-R and FVC. Four endpoints showed moderate or strong between-patient correlations with ALSFRS-R total and gross motor domain scores (defined as a correlation coefficient of ≥0.5 or >0.7, respectively): average daytime active; percentage of daytime active; total daytime activity score; total 24-hour activity score. Moderate correlations were observed between speech endpoints and ALSFRS-R bulbar domain scores; HRV data quality was insufficient for reliable assessment. The sensor was generally well tolerated; 6/25 patients reported mostly mild or moderate intensity skin and subcutaneous tissue disorder adverse events. Conclusions: Biotelemetry measures of physical activity in this Pilot Study tracked ALS progression over time, highlighting their potential as endpoints for future clinical trials. A larger, formally powered study is required to further support activity endpoints as novel disease progression markers.
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Wu JJ, Cai A, Greenslade JE, Higgins NR, Fan C, Le NTT, Tatman M, Whiteley AM, Prado MA, Dieriks BV, Curtis MA, Shaw CE, Siddique T, Faull RLM, Scotter EL, Finley D, Monteiro MJ. ALS/FTD mutations in UBQLN2 impede autophagy by reducing autophagosome acidification through loss of function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:15230-15241. [PMID: 32513711 PMCID: PMC7334651 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917371117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in UBQLN2 cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and other neurodegenerations. However, the mechanism by which the UBQLN2 mutations cause disease remains unclear. Alterations in proteins involved in autophagy are prominent in neuronal tissue of human ALS UBQLN2 patients and in a transgenic P497S UBQLN2 mouse model of ALS/FTD, suggesting a pathogenic link. Here, we show UBQLN2 functions in autophagy and that ALS/FTD mutant proteins compromise this function. Inactivation of UBQLN2 expression in HeLa cells reduced autophagic flux and autophagosome acidification. The defect in acidification was rescued by reexpression of wild type (WT) UBQLN2 but not by any of the five different UBQLN2 ALS/FTD mutants tested. Proteomic analysis and immunoblot studies revealed P497S mutant mice and UBQLN2 knockout HeLa and NSC34 cells have reduced expression of ATP6v1g1, a critical subunit of the vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) pump. Knockout of UBQLN2 expression in HeLa cells decreased turnover of ATP6v1g1, while overexpression of WT UBQLN2 increased biogenesis of ATP6v1g1 compared with P497S mutant UBQLN2 protein. In vitro interaction studies showed that ATP6v1g1 binds more strongly to WT UBQLN2 than to ALS/FTD mutant UBQLN2 proteins. Intriguingly, overexpression of ATP6v1g1 in UBQLN2 knockout HeLa cells increased autophagosome acidification, suggesting a therapeutic approach to overcome the acidification defect. Taken together, our findings suggest that UBQLN2 mutations drive pathogenesis through a dominant-negative loss-of-function mechanism in autophagy and that UBQLN2 functions as an important regulator of the expression and stability of ATP6v1g1. These findings may have important implications for devising therapies to treat UBQLN2-linked ALS/FTD.
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Lahrouchi N, Tadros R, Crotti L, Mizusawa Y, Postema PG, Beekman L, Walsh R, Hasegawa K, Barc J, Ernsting M, Turkowski KL, Mazzanti A, Beckmann BM, Shimamoto K, Diamant UB, Wijeyeratne YD, Kucho Y, Robyns T, Ishikawa T, Arbelo E, Christiansen M, Winbo A, Jabbari R, Lubitz SA, Steinfurt J, Rudic B, Loeys B, Shoemaker MB, Weeke PE, Pfeiffer R, Davies B, Andorin A, Hofman N, Dagradi F, Pedrazzini M, Tester DJ, Bos JM, Sarquella-Brugada G, Campuzano Ó, Platonov PG, Stallmeyer B, Zumhagen S, Nannenberg EA, Veldink JH, van den Berg LH, Al-Chalabi A, Shaw CE, Shaw PJ, Morrison KE, Andersen PM, Müller-Nurasyid M, Cusi D, Barlassina C, Galan P, Lathrop M, Munter M, Werge T, Ribasés M, Aung T, Khor CC, Ozaki M, Lichtner P, Meitinger T, van Tintelen JP, Hoedemaekers Y, Denjoy I, Leenhardt A, Napolitano C, Shimizu W, Schott JJ, Gourraud JB, Makiyama T, Ohno S, Itoh H, Krahn AD, Antzelevitch C, Roden DM, Saenen J, Borggrefe M, Odening KE, Ellinor PT, Tfelt-Hansen J, Skinner JR, van den Berg MP, Olesen MS, Brugada J, Brugada R, Makita N, Breckpot J, Yoshinaga M, Behr ER, Rydberg A, Aiba T, Kääb S, Priori SG, Guicheney P, Tan HL, Newton-Cheh C, Ackerman MJ, Schwartz PJ, Schulze-Bahr E, Probst V, Horie M, Wilde AA, Tanck MWT, Bezzina CR. Transethnic Genome-Wide Association Study Provides Insights in the Genetic Architecture and Heritability of Long QT Syndrome. Circulation 2020; 142:324-338. [PMID: 32429735 PMCID: PMC7382531 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.120.045956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a rare genetic disorder and a major preventable cause of sudden cardiac death in the young. A causal rare genetic variant with large effect size is identified in up to 80% of probands (genotype positive) and cascade family screening shows incomplete penetrance of genetic variants. Furthermore, a proportion of cases meeting diagnostic criteria for LQTS remain genetically elusive despite genetic testing of established genes (genotype negative). These observations raise the possibility that common genetic variants with small effect size contribute to the clinical picture of LQTS. This study aimed to characterize and quantify the contribution of common genetic variation to LQTS disease susceptibility.
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