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A Study of Gene Expression Changes in Human Spinal and Oculomotor Neurons; Identifying Potential Links to Sporadic ALS. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11040448. [PMID: 32325953 PMCID: PMC7230244 DOI: 10.3390/genes11040448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that causes compromised function of motor neurons and neuronal death. However, oculomotor neurons are largely spared from disease symptoms. The underlying causes for sporadic ALS as well as for the resistance of oculomotor neurons to disease symptoms remain poorly understood. In this bioinformatic-analysis, we compared the gene expression profiles of spinal and oculomotor tissue samples from control individuals and sporadic ALS patients. We show that the genes GAD2 and GABRE (involved in GABA signaling), and CALB1 (involved in intracellular Ca2+ ion buffering) are downregulated in the spinal tissues of ALS patients, but their endogenous levels are higher in oculomotor tissues relative to the spinal tissues. Our results suggest that the downregulation of these genes and processes in spinal tissues are related to sporadic ALS disease progression and their upregulation in oculomotor neurons confer upon them resistance to ALS symptoms. These results build upon prevailing models of excitotoxicity that are relevant to sporadic ALS disease progression and point out unique opportunities for better understanding the progression of neurodegenerative properties associated with sporadic ALS.
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52
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Chottekalapanda RU, Kalik S, Gresack J, Ayala A, Gao M, Wang W, Meller S, Aly A, Schaefer A, Greengard P. AP-1 controls the p11-dependent antidepressant response. Mol Psychiatry 2020; 25:1364-1381. [PMID: 32439846 PMCID: PMC7303013 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-0767-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most widely prescribed drugs for mood disorders. While the mechanism of SSRI action is still unknown, SSRIs are thought to exert therapeutic effects by elevating extracellular serotonin levels in the brain, and remodel the structural and functional alterations dysregulated during depression. To determine their precise mode of action, we tested whether such neuroadaptive processes are modulated by regulation of specific gene expression programs. Here we identify a transcriptional program regulated by activator protein-1 (AP-1) complex, formed by c-Fos and c-Jun that is selectively activated prior to the onset of the chronic SSRI response. The AP-1 transcriptional program modulates the expression of key neuronal remodeling genes, including S100a10 (p11), linking neuronal plasticity to the antidepressant response. We find that AP-1 function is required for the antidepressant effect in vivo. Furthermore, we demonstrate how neurochemical pathways of BDNF and FGF2, through the MAPK, PI3K, and JNK cascades, regulate AP-1 function to mediate the beneficial effects of the antidepressant response. Here we put forth a sequential molecular network to track the antidepressant response and provide a new avenue that could be used to accelerate or potentiate antidepressant responses by triggering neuroplasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Revathy U. Chottekalapanda
- 0000 0001 2166 1519grid.134907.8Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Salina Kalik
- 0000 0001 2166 1519grid.134907.8Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Jodi Gresack
- 0000 0001 2166 1519grid.134907.8Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Alyssa Ayala
- 0000 0001 2166 1519grid.134907.8Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Melanie Gao
- 0000 0001 2166 1519grid.134907.8Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Wei Wang
- 0000 0001 2166 1519grid.134907.8Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Sarah Meller
- 0000 0001 2166 1519grid.134907.8Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Ammar Aly
- 0000 0001 2166 1519grid.134907.8Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Anne Schaefer
- 0000 0001 0670 2351grid.59734.3cFriedman Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029 USA
| | - Paul Greengard
- 0000 0001 2166 1519grid.134907.8Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
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53
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Swenarchuk LE. Nerve, Muscle, and Synaptogenesis. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111448. [PMID: 31744142 PMCID: PMC6912269 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate skeletal neuromuscular junction (NMJ) has long served as a model system for studying synapse structure, function, and development. Over the last several decades, a neuron-specific isoform of agrin, a heparan sulfate proteoglycan, has been identified as playing a central role in synapse formation at all vertebrate skeletal neuromuscular synapses. While agrin was initially postulated to be the inductive molecule that initiates synaptogenesis, this model has been modified in response to work showing that postsynaptic differentiation can develop in the absence of innervation, and that synapses can form in transgenic mice in which the agrin gene is ablated. In place of a unitary mechanism for neuromuscular synapse formation, studies in both mice and zebrafish have led to the proposal that two mechanisms mediate synaptogenesis, with some synapses being induced by nerve contact while others involve the incorporation of prepatterned postsynaptic structures. Moreover, the current model also proposes that agrin can serve two functions, to induce synaptogenesis and to stabilize new synapses, once these are formed. This review examines the evidence for these propositions, and concludes that it remains possible that a single molecular mechanism mediates synaptogenesis at all NMJs, and that agrin acts as a stabilizer, while its role as inducer is open to question. Moreover, if agrin does not act to initiate synaptogenesis, it follows that as yet uncharacterized molecular interactions are required to play this essential inductive role. Several alternatives to agrin for this function are suggested, including focal pericellular proteolysis and integrin signaling, but all require experimental validation.
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54
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Kline RA, Dissanayake KN, Hurtado ML, Martínez NW, Ahl A, Mole AJ, Lamont DJ, Court FA, Ribchester RR, Wishart TM, Murray LM. Altered mitochondrial bioenergetics are responsible for the delay in Wallerian degeneration observed in neonatal mice. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 130:104496. [PMID: 31176719 PMCID: PMC6704473 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders can manifest throughout the lifespan of an individual, from infant to elderly individuals. Axonal and synaptic degeneration are early and critical elements of nearly all human neurodegenerative diseases and neural injury, however the molecular mechanisms which regulate this process are yet to be fully elucidated. Furthermore, how the molecular mechanisms governing degeneration are impacted by the age of the individual is poorly understood. Interestingly, in mice which are under 3 weeks of age, the degeneration of axons and synapses following hypoxic or traumatic injury is significantly slower. This process, known as Wallerian degeneration (WD), is a molecularly and morphologically distinct subtype of neurodegeneration by which axons and synapses undergo distinct fragmentation and death following a range of stimuli. In this study, we first use an ex-vivo model of axon injury to confirm the significant delay in WD in neonatal mice. We apply tandem mass-tagging quantitative proteomics to profile both nerve and muscle between P12 and P24 inclusive. Application of unbiased in silico workflows to relevant protein identifications highlights a steady elevation in oxidative phosphorylation cascades corresponding to the accelerated degeneration rate. We demonstrate that inhibition of Complex I prevents the axotomy-induced rise in reactive oxygen species and protects axons following injury. Furthermore, we reveal that pharmacological activation of oxidative phosphorylation significantly accelerates degeneration at the neuromuscular junction in neonatal mice. In summary, we reveal dramatic changes in the neuromuscular proteome during post-natal maturation of the neuromuscular system, and demonstrate that endogenous dynamics in mitochondrial bioenergetics during this time window have a functional impact upon regulating the stability of the neuromuscular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Kline
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; Euan McDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, UK; The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Kosala N Dissanayake
- Euan McDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, UK; Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems, University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Maica Llavero Hurtado
- Euan McDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, UK; The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Nicolás W Martínez
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Alexander Ahl
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Alannah J Mole
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; Euan McDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Douglas J Lamont
- Fingerprints Proteomics Facility, Dundee University, Dundee DD1 4HN, United Kingdom
| | - Felipe A Court
- Center for Integrative Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile; Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism, Santiago, Chile; The Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA, United States
| | - Richard R Ribchester
- Euan McDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, UK; Centre for Cognitive and Neural Systems, University of Edinburgh, 1 George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JZ, UK
| | - Thomas M Wishart
- Euan McDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, UK; The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Lyndsay M Murray
- Centre for Discovery Brain Science, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, UK; Euan McDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, UK.
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55
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Ragagnin AMG, Shadfar S, Vidal M, Jamali MS, Atkin JD. Motor Neuron Susceptibility in ALS/FTD. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:532. [PMID: 31316328 PMCID: PMC6610326 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the death of both upper and lower motor neurons (MNs) in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord. The neurodegenerative mechanisms leading to MN loss in ALS are not fully understood. Importantly, the reasons why MNs are specifically targeted in this disorder are unclear, when the proteins associated genetically or pathologically with ALS are expressed ubiquitously. Furthermore, MNs themselves are not affected equally; specific MNs subpopulations are more susceptible than others in both animal models and human patients. Corticospinal MNs and lower somatic MNs, which innervate voluntary muscles, degenerate more readily than specific subgroups of lower MNs, which remain resistant to degeneration, reflecting the clinical manifestations of ALS. In this review, we discuss the possible factors intrinsic to MNs that render them uniquely susceptible to neurodegeneration in ALS. We also speculate why some MN subpopulations are more vulnerable than others, focusing on both their molecular and physiological properties. Finally, we review the anatomical network and neuronal microenvironment as determinants of MN subtype vulnerability and hence the progression of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey M G Ragagnin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sina Shadfar
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marta Vidal
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Md Shafi Jamali
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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56
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Fogarty MJ. Strong links in a weak chain: skeletal muscle fibres in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Physiol 2019; 597:3799-3800. [PMID: 31206712 DOI: 10.1113/jp278331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Fogarty
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
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57
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An D, Fujiki R, Iannitelli DE, Smerdon JW, Maity S, Rose MF, Gelber A, Wanaselja EK, Yagudayeva I, Lee JY, Vogel C, Wichterle H, Engle EC, Mazzoni EO. Stem cell-derived cranial and spinal motor neurons reveal proteostatic differences between ALS resistant and sensitive motor neurons. eLife 2019; 8:44423. [PMID: 31157617 PMCID: PMC6594754 DOI: 10.7554/elife.44423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 06/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) spinal motor neurons (SpMN) progressively degenerate while a subset of cranial motor neurons (CrMN) are spared until late stages of the disease. Using a rapid and efficient protocol to differentiate mouse embryonic stem cells (ESC) to SpMNs and CrMNs, we now report that ESC-derived CrMNs accumulate less human (h)SOD1 and insoluble p62 than SpMNs over time. ESC-derived CrMNs have higher proteasome activity to degrade misfolded proteins and are intrinsically more resistant to chemically-induced proteostatic stress than SpMNs. Chemical and genetic activation of the proteasome rescues SpMN sensitivity to proteostatic stress. In agreement, the hSOD1 G93A mouse model reveals that ALS-resistant CrMNs accumulate less insoluble hSOD1 and p62-containing inclusions than SpMNs. Primary-derived ALS-resistant CrMNs are also more resistant than SpMNs to proteostatic stress. Thus, an ESC-based platform has identified a superior capacity to maintain a healthy proteome as a possible mechanism to resist ALS-induced neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Disi An
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, United States
| | - Ryosuke Fujiki
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Medical Genetics Training Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | | | - John W Smerdon
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, United States
| | - Shuvadeep Maity
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, United States.,Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, United States
| | - Matthew F Rose
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,Medical Genetics Training Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, United States.,Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | - Alon Gelber
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States
| | | | - Ilona Yagudayeva
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, United States
| | - Joun Y Lee
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States
| | - Christine Vogel
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, United States.,Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, United States
| | - Hynek Wichterle
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, United States
| | - Elizabeth C Engle
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,FM Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Medical Genetics Training Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States.,Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, United States.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States.,Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
| | - Esteban Orlando Mazzoni
- Department of Biology, New York University, New York, United States.,NYU Neuroscience Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, United States
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58
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Allodi I, Nijssen J, Benitez JA, Schweingruber C, Fuchs A, Bonvicini G, Cao M, Kiehn O, Hedlund E. Modeling Motor Neuron Resilience in ALS Using Stem Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2019; 12:1329-1341. [PMID: 31080111 PMCID: PMC6565614 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Oculomotor neurons, which regulate eye movement, are resilient to degeneration in the lethal motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It would be highly advantageous if motor neuron resilience could be modeled in vitro. Toward this goal, we generated a high proportion of oculomotor neurons from mouse embryonic stem cells through temporal overexpression of PHOX2A in neuronal progenitors. We demonstrate, using electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry, and RNA sequencing, that in vitro-generated neurons are bona fide oculomotor neurons based on their cellular properties and similarity to their in vivo counterpart in rodent and man. We also show that in vitro-generated oculomotor neurons display a robust activation of survival-promoting Akt signaling and are more resilient to the ALS-like toxicity of kainic acid than spinal motor neurons. Thus, we can generate bona fide oculomotor neurons in vitro that display a resilience similar to that seen in vivo. Bona fide oculomotor neurons can be derived from stem cells by PHOX2A overexpression In vitro- and in vivo-generated oculomotor neurons are transcriptionally similar Stem cell-derived oculomotor neurons display a robust activation of Akt signaling In vitro-generated oculomotor neurons are relatively resilient to ALS-like toxicity
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilary Allodi
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jik Nijssen
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | | | - Andrea Fuchs
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gillian Bonvicini
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ming Cao
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ole Kiehn
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Eva Hedlund
- Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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59
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Abati E, Bresolin N, Comi G, Corti S. Advances, Challenges, and Perspectives in Translational Stem Cell Therapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:6703-6715. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1554-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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60
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Rizzo F, Nizzardo M, Vashisht S, Molteni E, Melzi V, Taiana M, Salani S, Santonicola P, Di Schiavi E, Bucchia M, Bordoni A, Faravelli I, Bresolin N, Comi GP, Pozzoli U, Corti S. Key role of SMN/SYNCRIP and RNA-Motif 7 in spinal muscular atrophy: RNA-Seq and motif analysis of human motor neurons. Brain 2019; 142:276-294. [PMID: 30649277 PMCID: PMC6351774 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awy330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy is a motor neuron disorder caused by mutations in SMN1. The reasons for the selective vulnerability of motor neurons linked to SMN (encoded by SMN1) reduction remain unclear. Therefore, we performed deep RNA sequencing on human spinal muscular atrophy motor neurons to detect specific altered gene splicing/expression and to identify the presence of a common sequence motif in these genes. Many deregulated genes, such as the neurexin and synaptotagmin families, are implicated in critical motor neuron functions. Motif-enrichment analyses of differentially expressed/spliced genes, including neurexin2 (NRXN2), revealed a common motif, motif 7, which is a target of SYNCRIP. Interestingly, SYNCRIP interacts only with full-length SMN, binding and modulating several motor neuron transcripts, including SMN itself. SYNCRIP overexpression rescued spinal muscular atrophy motor neurons, due to the subsequent increase in SMN and their downstream target NRXN2 through a positive loop mechanism and ameliorated SMN-loss-related pathological phenotypes in Caenorhabditis elegans and mouse models. SMN/SYNCRIP complex through motif 7 may account for selective motor neuron degeneration and represent a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Rizzo
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Nizzardo
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Shikha Vashisht
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Computational Biology, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Erika Molteni
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Computational Biology, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Valentina Melzi
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Taiana
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sabrina Salani
- Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Elia Di Schiavi
- Institute of Bioscience and BioResources, IBBR, CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Monica Bucchia
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Andreina Bordoni
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Irene Faravelli
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nereo Bresolin
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo Pietro Comi
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Uberto Pozzoli
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E. MEDEA, Computational Biology, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - Stefania Corti
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Foundation IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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61
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Yanagi KS, Wu Z, Amaya J, Chapkis N, Duffy AM, Hajdarovic KH, Held A, Mathur AD, Russo K, Ryan VH, Steinert BL, Whitt JP, Fallon JR, Fawzi NL, Lipscombe D, Reenan RA, Wharton KA, Hart AC. Meta-analysis of Genetic Modifiers Reveals Candidate Dysregulated Pathways in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neuroscience 2019; 396:A3-A20. [PMID: 30594291 PMCID: PMC6549511 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that has significant overlap with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Mutations in specific genes have been identified that can cause and/or predispose patients to ALS. However, the clinical variability seen in ALS patients suggests that additional genes impact pathology, susceptibility, severity, and/or progression of the disease. To identify molecular pathways involved in ALS, we undertook a meta-analysis of published genetic modifiers both in patients and in model organisms, and undertook bioinformatic pathway analysis. From 72 published studies, we generated a list of 946 genes whose perturbation (1) impacted ALS in patient populations, (2) altered defects in laboratory models, or (3) modified defects caused by ALS gene ortholog loss of function. Herein, these are all called modifier genes. We found 727 modifier genes that encode proteins with human orthologs. Of these, 43 modifier genes were identified as modifiers of more than one ALS gene/model, consistent with the hypothesis that shared genes and pathways may underlie ALS. Further, we used a gene ontology-based bioinformatic analysis to identify pathways and associated genes that may be important in ALS. To our knowledge this is the first comprehensive survey of ALS modifier genes. This work suggests that shared molecular mechanisms may underlie pathology caused by different ALS disease genes. Surprisingly, few ALS modifier genes have been tested in more than one disease model. Understanding genes that modify ALS-associated defects will help to elucidate the molecular pathways that underlie ALS and provide additional targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine S Yanagi
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Zhijin Wu
- Department of Biostatistics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Joshua Amaya
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Natalie Chapkis
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Amanda M Duffy
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Kaitlyn H Hajdarovic
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Aaron Held
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Arjun D Mathur
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Kathryn Russo
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Veronica H Ryan
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Beatrice L Steinert
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Joshua P Whitt
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Justin R Fallon
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Nicolas L Fawzi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biotechnology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Diane Lipscombe
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Robert A Reenan
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Kristi A Wharton
- Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
| | - Anne C Hart
- Department of Neuroscience, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States; Robert J. and Nancy D. Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, United States.
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Mohseni R, Ashrafi MR, Ai J, Nikougoftar M, Mohammadi M, Ghahvechi-Akbari M, Shoae-Hassani A, Hamidieh AA. Overexpression of SMN2 Gene in Motoneuron-Like Cells Differentiated from Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Ponasterone A. J Mol Neurosci 2018; 67:247-257. [PMID: 30535775 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-018-1232-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Cell therapy and stem cell transplantation strategies have provided potential therapeutic approaches for the treatment of neurological disorders. Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) are abundant adult stem cells with low immunogenicity, which can be used for allogeneic cell replacement therapies. Differentiation of ADMSCs into acetylcholine-secreting motoneurons (MNs) is a promising treatment for MN diseases, such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which is associated with the level of SMN1 gene expression. The SMN2 gene plays an important role in MN disorders, as it can somewhat compensate for the lack of SMN1 expression in SMA patients. Although the differentiation potential of ADMSCs into MNs has been previously established, overexpression of SMN2 gene in a shorter period with a longer survival has yet to be elucidated. Ponasterone A (PNA), an ecdysteroid hormone activating the PI3K/Akt pathway, was studied as a new steroid to promote SMN2 overexpression in MNs differentiated from ADMSCs. After induction with retinoic acid, sonic hedgehog, forskolin, and PNA, MN phenotypes were differentiated from ADMSCs, and immunochemical staining, specific for β-tubulin, neuron-specific enolase, and choline acetyltransferase, was performed. Also, the results of real-time PCR assay indicated nestin, Pax6, Nkx2.2, Hb9, Olig2, and SMN2 expression in the differentiated cells. After 2 weeks of treatment, cultures supplemented with PNA showed a longer survival and a 1.2-fold increase in the expression of SMN2 (an overall 5.6-fold increase; *P ≤ 0.05), as confirmed by the Western blot analysis. The PNA treatment increased the levels of ChAT, Isl1, Hb9, and Nkx2 expression in MN-like cells. Our findings highlight the role of PNA in the upregulation of SMN2 genes from MSC-derived MN-like cells, which may serve as a potential candidate in cellular therapy for SMA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashin Mohseni
- Applied Cell Sciences and Tissue Engineering Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Reza Ashrafi
- Pediatric Neurology Division, Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Jafar Ai
- Applied Cell Sciences and Tissue Engineering Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahin Nikougoftar
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion medicine, Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization (IBTO), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Mohammadi
- Pediatric Neurology Division, Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masood Ghahvechi-Akbari
- Pediatric Neurology Division, Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Shoae-Hassani
- Applied Cell Sciences and Tissue Engineering Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Ali Hamidieh
- Applied Cell Sciences and Tissue Engineering Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. .,Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Department, Children's Medical Center, Pediatric Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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63
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De Santis R, Garone MG, Pagani F, de Turris V, Di Angelantonio S, Rosa A. Direct conversion of human pluripotent stem cells into cranial motor neurons using a piggyBac vector. Stem Cell Res 2018; 29:189-196. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2018.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
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Hu H, Lin H, Duan W, Cui C, Li Z, Liu Y, Wang W, Wen D, Wang Y, Li C. Intrathecal Injection of scAAV9-hIGF1 Prolongs the Survival of ALS Model Mice by Inhibiting the NF-kB Pathway. Neuroscience 2018; 381:1-10. [PMID: 29447858 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic, fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of upper and lower motor neurons. Currently, there is no effective drug for ALS. Recent studies in ALS model mice have shown that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) may be a promising therapeutic drug. We demonstrate that self-complementary adeno-associated virus serum type 9 encoding the human IGF1 (scAAV9-hIGF1) could significantly postpone the onset and slow down the progression of the disease owning to inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, the results were supported by experiments in which the CRISPR/Cas9 system was used to knock-down IGF1 in ALS mice (mIGF1). Our data indicate that IGF1-mediated suppression of NF-κB activation in microglia is a novel molecular mechanism underlying MN death in ALS. It provides new insight into IGF1 and points toward novel therapeutic targets of IGF1 in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- HaoJie Hu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China; Department of Neurology, The First People's Hospital of Guiyang, Guiyang City, China
| | - HuiQian Lin
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China; Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Shijiazhuang City, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - WeiSong Duan
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China
| | - Can Cui
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China
| | - ZhongYao Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China
| | - YaKun Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China
| | - Wan Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China
| | - Di Wen
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China
| | - ChunYan Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, China; Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Heping West Road 215, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China.
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65
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Tosolini AP, Sleigh JN. Motor Neuron Gene Therapy: Lessons from Spinal Muscular Atrophy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:405. [PMID: 29270111 PMCID: PMC5725447 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are severe nervous system diseases characterized by the degeneration of lower motor neurons. They share a number of additional pathological, cellular, and genetic parallels suggesting that mechanistic and clinical insights into one disorder may have value for the other. While there are currently no clinical ALS gene therapies, the splice-switching antisense oligonucleotide, nusinersen, was recently approved for SMA. This milestone was achieved through extensive pre-clinical research and patient trials, which together have spawned fundamental insights into motor neuron gene therapy. We have thus tried to distil key information garnered from SMA research, in the hope that it may stimulate a more directed approach to ALS gene therapy. Not only must the type of therapeutic (e.g., antisense oligonucleotide vs. viral vector) be sensibly selected, but considerable thought must be applied to the where, which, what, and when in order to enhance treatment benefit: to where (cell types and tissues) must the drug be delivered and how can this be best achieved? Which perturbed pathways must be corrected and can they be concurrently targeted? What dosing regime and concentration should be used? When should medication be administered? These questions are intuitive, but central to identifying and optimizing a successful gene therapy. Providing definitive solutions to these quandaries will be difficult, but clear thinking about therapeutic testing is necessary if we are to have the best chance of developing viable ALS gene therapies and improving upon early generation SMA treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Tosolini
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James N Sleigh
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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66
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Bowerman M, Murray LM, Scamps F, Schneider BL, Kothary R, Raoul C. Pathogenic commonalities between spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Converging roads to therapeutic development. Eur J Med Genet 2017; 61:685-698. [PMID: 29313812 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are the two most common motoneuron disorders, which share typical pathological hallmarks while remaining genetically distinct. Indeed, SMA is caused by deletions or mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene whilst ALS, albeit being mostly sporadic, can also be caused by mutations within genes, including superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), Fused in Sarcoma (FUS), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72). However, it has come to light that these two diseases may be more interlinked than previously thought. Indeed, it has recently been found that FUS directly interacts with an Smn-containing complex, mutant SOD1 perturbs Smn localization, Smn depletion aggravates disease progression of ALS mice, overexpression of SMN in ALS mice significantly improves their phenotype and lifespan, and duplications of SMN1 have been linked to sporadic ALS. Beyond genetic interactions, accumulating evidence further suggests that both diseases share common pathological identities such as intrinsic muscle defects, neuroinflammation, immune organ dysfunction, metabolic perturbations, defects in neuron excitability and selective motoneuron vulnerability. Identifying common molecular effectors that mediate shared pathologies in SMA and ALS would allow for the development of therapeutic strategies and targeted gene therapies that could potentially alleviate symptoms and be equally beneficial in both disorders. In the present review, we will examine our current knowledge of pathogenic commonalities between SMA and ALS, and discuss how furthering this understanding can lead to the establishment of novel therapeutic approaches with wide-reaching impact on multiple motoneuron diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Bowerman
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom; Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom; Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, United Kingdom
| | - Lyndsay M Murray
- Euan McDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research and Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Frédérique Scamps
- The Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, Inserm UMR1051, Univ Montpellier, Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Bernard L Schneider
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rashmi Kothary
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Departments of Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Cédric Raoul
- The Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, Inserm UMR1051, Univ Montpellier, Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier, France.
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67
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Osborn TM, Beagan J, Isacson O. Increased motor neuron resilience by small molecule compounds that regulate IGF-II expression. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 110:218-230. [PMID: 29113829 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The selective vulnerability of motor neurons in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is evident by sparing of a few subpopulations during this fast progressing and debilitating degenerative disease. By studying the gene expression profile of resilient vs. vulnerable motor neuron populations we can gain insight in what biomolecules and pathways may contribute to the resilience and vulnerability. Several genes have been found to be differentially expressed in the vulnerable motor neurons of the cervical spinal cord as compared to the spared motor neurons in CNIII/IV. One gene that is differentially expressed and present at higher levels in less vulnerable motor neurons is insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). The motor neuron protective effect of IGF-II has been demonstrated both in vitro and in SOD1 transgenic mice. Here, we have screened a library of small molecule compounds and identified inducers of IGF-II mRNA and protein expression. Several identified compounds significantly protected motor neurons from glutamate excitotoxicity in vitro. One of the compounds, vardenafil, resulted in a complete motor neuron protection, an effect that was reversed by blocking receptors of IGF-II. When administered to naïve rats vardenafil was present in the cerebrospinal fluid and increased IGF-II mRNA expression in the spinal cord. When administered to SOD1 transgenic mice, there was a significant delay in motor symptom onset and prolonged survival. Vardenafil also increased IGF-II mRNA and protein levels in motor neurons derived from healthy subject and ALS patient iPSCs, activated a human IGF-II promoter and improved survival of ALS-patient derived motor neurons in culture. Our findings suggest that modulation of genes differentially expressed in vulnerable and resilient motor neurons may be a useful therapeutic approach for motor neuron disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresia M Osborn
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
| | - Jonathan Beagan
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Ole Isacson
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, McLean Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
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68
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Nel M, Jalali Sefid Dashti M, Gamieldien J, Heckmann JM. Exome sequencing identifies targets in the treatment-resistant ophthalmoplegic subphenotype of myasthenia gravis. Neuromuscul Disord 2017; 27:816-825. [PMID: 28673556 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2017.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Treatment-resistant ophthalmoplegia (OP-MG) is not uncommon in individuals with African genetic ancestry and myasthenia gravis (MG). To identify OP-MG susceptibility genes, extended whole exome sequencing was performed using extreme phenotype sampling (11 OP-MG vs 4 control-MG) all with acetylcholine receptor-antibody positive MG. This approach identified 356 variants that were twice as frequent in OP-MG compared to control-MG individuals. After performing probability test estimates and filtering variants according to those 'suggestive' of association with OP-MG (p < 0.05), only three variants remained which were expressed in extraocular muscles. Validation in 25 OP-MG and 50 control-MG cases supported the association of DDX17delG (p = 0.014) and SPTLC3insACAC (p = 0.055) with OP-MG, but ST8SIA1delCCC could not be verified by Sanger sequencing. A parallel approach, using a semantic model informed by current knowledge of MG-pathways, identified an African-specific interleukin-6 receptor (IL6R) variant, IL6R c.*3043 T>C, that was more frequent in OP-MG compared to control-MG cases (p = 0.069) and population controls (p = 0.043). A weighted genetic risk score, derived from the odds ratios of association of these variants with OP-MG, correlated with the OP-MG phenotype as opposed to control MG. This unbiased approach implicates several potentially functional gene variants in the gangliosphingolipid and myogenesis pathways in the development of the OP-MG subphenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Nel
- Neurology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Junaid Gamieldien
- South African National Bioinformatics Institute, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa
| | - Jeannine M Heckmann
- Neurology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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69
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Nijssen J, Comley LH, Hedlund E. Motor neuron vulnerability and resistance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 133:863-885. [PMID: 28409282 PMCID: PMC5427160 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1708-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 04/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the fatal disease-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-upper (corticospinal) motor neurons (MNs) and lower somatic MNs, which innervate voluntary muscles, degenerate. Importantly, certain lower MN subgroups are relatively resistant to degeneration, even though pathogenic proteins are typically ubiquitously expressed. Ocular MNs (OMNs), including the oculomotor, trochlear and abducens nuclei (CNIII, IV and VI), which regulate eye movement, persist throughout the disease. Consequently, eye-tracking devices are used to enable paralysed ALS patients (who can no longer speak) to communicate. Additionally, there is a gradient of vulnerability among spinal MNs. Those innervating fast-twitch muscle are most severely affected and degenerate first. MNs innervating slow-twitch muscle can compensate temporarily for the loss of their neighbours by re-innervating denervated muscle until later in disease these too degenerate. The resistant OMNs and the associated extraocular muscles (EOMs) are anatomically and functionally very different from other motor units. The EOMs have a unique set of myosin heavy chains, placing them outside the classical characterization spectrum of all skeletal muscle. Moreover, EOMs have multiple neuromuscular innervation sites per single myofibre. Spinal fast and slow motor units show differences in their dendritic arborisations and the number of myofibres they innervate. These motor units also differ in their functionality and excitability. Identifying the molecular basis of cell-intrinsic pathways that are differentially activated between resistant and vulnerable MNs could reveal mechanisms of selective neuronal resistance, degeneration and regeneration and lead to therapies preventing progressive MN loss in ALS. Illustrating this, overexpression of OMN-enriched genes in spinal MNs, as well as suppression of fast spinal MN-enriched genes can increase the lifespan of ALS mice. Here, we discuss the pattern of lower MN degeneration in ALS and review the current literature on OMN resistance in ALS and differential spinal MN vulnerability. We also reflect upon the non-cell autonomous components that are involved in lower MN degeneration in ALS.
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70
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Therapeutic Strategies Under Development Targeting Inflammatory Mechanisms in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:2789-2813. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0532-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 04/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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71
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Genome-wide RNA-seq of iPSC-derived motor neurons indicates selective cytoskeletal perturbation in Brown-Vialetto disease that is partially rescued by riboflavin. Sci Rep 2017; 7:46271. [PMID: 28382968 PMCID: PMC5382781 DOI: 10.1038/srep46271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Riboflavin is essential in numerous cellular oxidation/reduction reactions but is not synthesized by mammalian cells. Riboflavin absorption occurs through the human riboflavin transporters RFVT1 and RFVT3 in the intestine and RFVT2 in the brain. Mutations in these genes are causative for the Brown–Vialetto–Van Laere (BVVL), childhood-onset syndrome characterized by a variety of cranial nerve palsies as well as by spinal cord motor neuron (MN) degeneration. Why mutations in RFVTs result in a neural cell–selective disorder is unclear. As a novel tool to gain insights into the pathomechanisms underlying the disease, we generated MNs from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from BVVL patients as an in vitro disease model. BVVL-MNs explained a reduction in axon elongation, partially improved by riboflavin supplementation. RNA sequencing profiles and protein studies of the cytoskeletal structures showed a perturbation in the neurofilament composition in BVVL-MNs. Furthermore, exploring the autophagy–lysosome pathway, we observed a reduced autophagic/mitophagic flux in patient MNs. These features represent emerging pathogenetic mechanisms in BVVL-associated neurodegeneration, partially rescued by riboflavin supplementation. Our data showed that this therapeutic strategy could have some limits in rescuing all of the disease features, suggesting the need to develop complementary novel therapeutic strategies.
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72
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Bryan MR, Bowman AB. Manganese and the Insulin-IGF Signaling Network in Huntington's Disease and Other Neurodegenerative Disorders. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2017; 18:113-142. [PMID: 28889265 PMCID: PMC6559248 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-60189-2_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease resulting in motor impairment and death in patients. Recently, several studies have demonstrated insulin or insulin-like growth factor (IGF) treatment in models of HD, resulting in potent amelioration of HD phenotypes via modulation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. Administration of IGF and insulin can rescue microtubule transport, metabolic function, and autophagy defects, resulting in clearance of Huntingtin (HTT) aggregates, restoration of mitochondrial function, amelioration of motor abnormalities, and enhanced survival. Manganese (Mn) is an essential metal to all biological systems but, in excess, can be toxic. Interestingly, several studies have revealed the insulin-mimetic effects of Mn-demonstrating Mn can activate several of the same metabolic kinases and increase peripheral and neuronal insulin and IGF-1 levels in rodent models. Separate studies have shown mouse and human striatal neuroprogenitor cell (NPC) models exhibit a deficit in cellular Mn uptake, indicative of a Mn deficiency. Furthermore, evidence from the literature reveals a striking overlap between cellular consequences of Mn deficiency (i.e., impaired function of Mn-dependent enzymes) and known HD endophenotypes including excitotoxicity, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and decreased mitochondrial function. Here we review published evidence supporting a hypothesis that (1) the potent effect of IGF or insulin treatment on HD models, (2) the insulin-mimetic effects of Mn, and (3) the newly discovered Mn-dependent perturbations in HD may all be functionally related. Together, this review will present the intriguing possibility that intricate regulatory cross-talk exists between Mn biology and/or toxicology and the insulin/IGF signaling pathways which may be deeply connected to HD pathology and, perhaps, other neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) and other neuropathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miles R Bryan
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
| | - Aaron B Bowman
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
- Vanderbilt Center in Molecular Toxicology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA
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Targeting Motor End Plates for Delivery of Adenoviruses: An Approach to Maximize Uptake and Transduction of Spinal Cord Motor Neurons. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33058. [PMID: 27619631 PMCID: PMC5020496 DOI: 10.1038/srep33058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy can take advantage of the skeletal muscles/motor neurons anatomical relationship to restrict gene expression to the spinal cord ventral horn. Furthermore, recombinant adenoviruses are attractive viral-vectors as they permit spatial and temporal modulation of transgene expression. In the literature, however, several inconsistencies exist with regard to the intramuscular delivery parameters of adenoviruses. The present study is an evaluation of the optimal injection sites on skeletal muscle, time course of expression and mice’s age for maximum transgene expression in motor neurons. Targeting motor end plates yielded a 2.5-fold increase in the number of transduced motor neurons compared to injections performed away from this region. Peak adenoviral transgene expression in motor neurons was detected after seven days. Further, greater numbers of transduced motor neurons were found in juvenile (3–7 week old) mice as compared with adults (8+ weeks old). Adenoviral injections produced robust transgene expression in motor neurons and skeletal myofibres. In addition, dendrites of transduced motor neurons were shown to extend well into the white matter where the descending motor pathways are located. These results also provide evidence that intramuscular delivery of adenovirus can be a suitable gene therapy approach to treat spinal cord injury.
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