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Macro roles for microRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases. Noncoding RNA Res 2018; 3:154-159. [PMID: 30175288 PMCID: PMC6114258 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are typically adult-onset progressive disorders that perturb neuronal function, plasticity and health that arise through a host of one or more genetic and/or environmental factors. Over the last decade, numerous studies have shown that mutations in RNA binding proteins and changes in miRNA profiles within the brain are significantly altered during the progression towards NDs – suggesting miRNAs may be one of these contributing factors. Interestingly, the molecular and cellular functions of miRNAs in NDs is largely understudied and could remain a possible avenue for exploring therapeutic treatments for various NDs. In this review, I describe findings which have implicated miRNAs in various NDs and discuss how future studies focused around miRNA-mediated gene silencing could aid in furthering our understanding of maintaining a healthy brain.
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52
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Taguchi YH, Wang H. Exploring microRNA Biomarker for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E1318. [PMID: 29710810 PMCID: PMC5983737 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is among the severe neuro degenerative diseases that lack widely available effective treatments. As the disease progresses, patients lose the control of voluntary muscles. Although the neuronal degeneration is the cause of this disease, the failure mechanism is still unknown. In order to seek genetic mechanisms that initiate and progress ALS, the association of microRNA (miRNA) expression with this disease was considered. Serum miRNAs from healthy controls, sporadic ALS (sALS), familial ALS (fALS) and ALS mutation carriers were investigated. Principal component analysis (PCA)-based unsupervised feature extraction (FE) was applied to these serum miRNA profiles. As a result, we predict miRNAs that can discriminate patients from healthy controls with high accuracy. Thus, these miRNAs can be potential prognosis miRNA biomarkers for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y-H Taguchi
- Department of Physics, Chuo University, Kasuga, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-855a, Japan.
| | - Hsiuying Wang
- Institute of Statistics, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30010, Taiwan.
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Vrabec K, Boštjančič E, Koritnik B, Leonardis L, Dolenc Grošelj L, Zidar J, Rogelj B, Glavač D, Ravnik-Glavač M. Differential Expression of Several miRNAs and the Host Genes AATK and DNM2 in Leukocytes of Sporadic ALS Patients. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:106. [PMID: 29670510 PMCID: PMC5893848 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic studies have managed to explain many cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through mutations in several genes. However, the cause of a majority of sporadic cases remains unknown. Recently, epigenetics, especially miRNA studies, show some promising aspects. We aimed to evaluate the differential expression of 10 miRNAs, including miR-9, miR-338, miR-638, miR-663a, miR-124a, miR-143, miR-451a, miR-132, miR-206, and let-7b, for which some connection to ALS was shown previously in ALS culture cells, animal models or patients, and in three miRNA host genes, including C1orf61 (miR-9), AATK (miR-338), and DNM2 (miR-638), in leukocyte samples of 84 patients with sporadic ALS. We observed significant aberrant dysregulation across our patient cohort for miR-124a, miR-206, miR-9, let-7b, and miR-638. Since we did not use neurological controls we cannot rule out that the revealed differences in expression of investigated miRNAs are specific for ALS. Nevertheless, the group of these five miRNAs is worth of additional research in leukocytes of larger cohorts from different populations in order to verify their potential association to ALS disease. We also detected a significant up-regulation of the AAKT gene and down-regulation of the DNM2 gene, and thus, for the first time, we connected these with sporadic ALS cases. These findings open up new research toward miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers and epigenetic processes involved in ALS. The detected significant deregulation of AAKT and DNM2 in sporadic ALS also represents an interesting finding. The DNM2 gene was previously found to be mutated in Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy-type CMT2M and centronuclear myopathy (CNM). In addition, as recent studies connected AATK and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and DNM2 and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), these two genes together with our results genetically connect, at least in part, five diseases, including FTD, HSP, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (type CMT2M), CNM, and ALS, thus opening future research toward a better understanding of the cell biology involved in these partly overlapping pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Vrabec
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Emanuela Boštjančič
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Blaž Koritnik
- Division of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lea Leonardis
- Division of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Leja Dolenc Grošelj
- Division of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janez Zidar
- Division of Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neurophysiology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Rogelj
- Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Štefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Biomedical Research Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Damjan Glavač
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Metka Ravnik-Glavač
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Matamala JM, Arias-Carrasco R, Sanchez C, Uhrig M, Bargsted L, Matus S, Maracaja-Coutinho V, Abarzua S, van Zundert B, Verdugo R, Manque P, Hetz C. Genome-wide circulating microRNA expression profiling reveals potential biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 64:123-138. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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55
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Kumar S, Vijayan M, Reddy PH. MicroRNA-455-3p as a potential peripheral biomarker for Alzheimer's disease. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:3808-3822. [PMID: 28934394 PMCID: PMC6075184 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2017] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of our study was to identify microRNAs (miRNAs) as early detectable peripheral biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease (AD). To achieve our objective, we assessed miRNAs in serum samples from AD patients and Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) subjects relative to healthy controls. We used Affymetrix microarray analysis and validated differentially expressed miRNAs using qRT-PCR. We further validated miRNA data using AD postmortem brains, amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice and AD cell lines. We identified a gradual upregulation of four miRNAs: miR-455-3p, miR-4668-5p, miR-3613-3p and miR-4674. A fifth miRNA, mir-6722, was down-regulated in persons with AD and mild cognitive impairment compared with controls. Validation analysis by qRT-PCR showed significant upregulation of only miR-455-3p (P = 0.007) and miR-4668-5p (P = 0.016) in AD patients compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis of the AD postmortem brains with different Braak stages also showed upregulation of miR-455-3p (P = 0.016). However, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) curve analysis revealed a significant area under curve (AUC) value only for miR-455-3p in the serum (AUROC = 0.79; P = 0.015) and brains (AUROC = 0.86; P = 0.016) of AD patients. Expression analysis of amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice also revealed high level of mmu-miR-455-3p (P = 0.004) in the cerebral cortex (AD-affected) region of brain and low in the non-affected area, i.e. cerebellum. Furthermore, human and mouse neuroblastoma cells treated with the amyloid-β(1-42) peptide also showed a similarly higher expression of miR-455-3p. Functional analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs via the miR-path indicated that miR-455-3p was associated in the regulation of several biological pathways. Genes associated with these pathways were found to have a crucial role in AD pathogenesis. An increase in miR-455-3p expression found in AD patients and Aβ pathologies unveiled its biomarker characteristics and a precise role in AD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - P. Hemachandra Reddy
- Biomarker Unit, Garrison Institute on Aging
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry
- Department of Pharmacology & Neuroscience
- Department of Neurology
- Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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miR-142-3p Is a Key Regulator of IL-1β-Dependent Synaptopathy in Neuroinflammation. J Neurosci 2017; 37:546-561. [PMID: 28100738 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0851-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Revised: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNA) play an important role in post-transcriptional gene regulation of several physiological and pathological processes. In multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory and degenerative disease of the CNS, and in its mouse model, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), miRNA dysregulation has been mainly related to immune system dysfunction and white matter (WM) pathology. However, little is known about their role in gray matter pathology. Here, we explored miRNA involvement in the inflammation-driven alterations of synaptic structure and function, collectively known as synaptopathy, a neuropathological process contributing to excitotoxic neurodegeneration in MS/EAE. Particularly, we observed that miR-142-3p is increased in the CSF of patients with active MS and in EAE brains. We propose miR-142-3p as a molecular mediator of the IL-1β-dependent downregulation of the glial glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST), which causes an enhancement of the glutamatergic transmission in the EAE cerebellum. The synaptic abnormalities mediated by IL-1β and the clinical and neuropathological manifestations of EAE disappeared in miR-142 knock-out mice. Furthermore, we observed that in vivo miR-142-3p inhibition, either by a preventive and local treatment or by a therapeutic and systemic strategy, abolished IL-1β- and GLAST-dependent synaptopathy in EAE wild-type mice. Consistently, miR-142-3p was responsible for the glutamatergic synaptic alterations caused by CSF of patients with MS, and CSF levels of miR-142-3p correlated with prospective MS disease progression. Our findings highlight miR-142-3p as key molecular player in IL-1β-mediated synaptic dysfunction, possibly leading to excitotoxic damage in both EAE and MS diseases. Inhibition of miR-142-3p could be neuroprotective in MS. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Current studies suggest the role of glutamate excitotoxicity in the development and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS) and of its mouse model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The molecular mechanisms linking inflammation and synaptic alterations in MS/EAE are still unknown. Here, we identified miR-142-3p as a determinant molecular actor in inflammation-dependent synaptopathy typical of both MS and EAE. miR-142-3p was upregulated in the CSF of MS patients and in EAE cerebellum. Inhibition of miR-142-3p, locally in EAE brain and in a MS chimeric ex vivo model, recovered glutamatergic synaptic enhancement typical of EAE/MS. We proved that miR-142-3p promoted the IL-1β-dependent glutamate dysfunction by targeting glutamate-aspartate transporter (GLAST), a crucial glial transporter involved in glutamate homeostasis. Finally, we suggest miR-142-3p as a negative prognostic factor in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.
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57
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MicroRNA Metabolism and Dysregulation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2017; 55:2617-2630. [PMID: 28421535 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0537-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a subset of endogenous, small, non-coding RNA molecules involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of eukaryotic gene expression. Dysregulation in miRNA-related pathways in the central nervous system (CNS) is associated with severe neuronal injury and cell death, which can lead to the development of neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS is a fatal adult onset disease characterized by the selective loss of upper and lower motor neurons. While the pathogenesis of ALS is still largely unknown, familial ALS forms linked to TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma (FUS) gene mutations, as well as sporadic forms, display changes in several steps of RNA metabolism, including miRNA processing. Here, we review the current knowledge about miRNA metabolism and biological functions and their crucial role in ALS pathogenesis with an in-depth analysis on different pathways. A more precise understanding of miRNA involvement in ALS could be useful not only to elucidate their role in the disease etiopathogenesis but also to investigate their potential as disease biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets.
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58
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Serum miRNAs miR-206, 143-3p and 374b-5p as potential biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neurobiol Aging 2017; 55:123-131. [PMID: 28454844 PMCID: PMC5455071 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.03.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2016] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, neurodegenerative condition characterized by loss of motor neurones and progressive muscle wasting. There is no diagnostic test for ALS therefore robust biomarkers would not only be valuable for diagnosis, but also for the classification of disease subtypes, monitoring responses to drugs and tracking disease progression. As regulators of gene expression, microRNAs (miRNAs) are increasingly used for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in various disease states with increasing exploration in neurodegenerative disorders. We hypothesize that circulating blood-based miRNAs will serve as biomarkers and use miRNA profiling to determine miRNA signatures from the serum of sporadic ALS patients compared to healthy controls and patients with diseases that mimic ALS. A number of differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in each set of patient comparisons. Validation in an additional patient cohort showed that miR-206 and miR-143-3p were increased and miR-374b-5p was decreased compared to controls. A continued change in miRNA expression persisted during disease progression indicating the potential use of these particular miRNAs as longitudinal biomarkers in ALS.
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59
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Zhen L, Guo W, Peng M, Liu Y, Zang S, Ji H, Li S, Yang H. Identification of cold-responsive miRNAs in rats by deep sequencing. J Therm Biol 2017; 66:114-124. [PMID: 28477904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2017.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
miRNA is an endogenously noncoding sRNA, which is involved in post-transcription gene expression regulation of growth, tumor development and stress survival. As a biological marker, miRNA has been used for the early diagnosis of diseases and the evaluation of some physiological state. We constructed two small RNA libraries with the serums of rats treated or not with cold conditions (4℃ for 12h) by deep sequencing, in order to understand the miRNAs' expressions of cold-exposed rats and find new cold-responsive biological markers. 485 conserved miRNAs and 287 novel miRNAs were identified in the two libraries by comparing to the known miRNAs of rat in miRBase 21.0 Differential expression analysis showed that 56 conserved miRNAs and 3 novel miRNAs were expressed differentially in low ambient temperature. The qRT-PCR results confirmed that rno-miR-151-3p, rno-miR-210-3p, rno-miR-425-5p, rno-miR-383-5p, rno-miR-92a-3p, rno-miR-98-5p and rno-miR-328a-3p decreased significantly in rats serums treated with cold exposure. The expressions of the 7 miRNAs changed significantly in cold-exposed rats' livers too. rno-miR-383-5p decreased significantly, but all the others increased significantly. Thus, the 7 miRNAs were considered as cold-responsive miRNAs of rat. 670 target genes of the 7 cold-responsive miRNAs were predicted. KEGG analysis showed that they were enriched in 28 pathways and most of them were enriched by metabolic pathway. Overall, the results of this study suggest an important role for selected miRNA's in the response to cold stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhen
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Wenjin Guo
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Mengling Peng
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yanzhi Liu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shucheng Zang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hong Ji
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shize Li
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Huanmin Yang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, China.
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60
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Zondler L, Müller K, Khalaji S, Bliederhäuser C, Ruf WP, Grozdanov V, Thiemann M, Fundel-Clemes K, Freischmidt A, Holzmann K, Strobel B, Weydt P, Witting A, Thal DR, Helferich AM, Hengerer B, Gottschalk KE, Hill O, Kluge M, Ludolph AC, Danzer KM, Weishaupt JH. Peripheral monocytes are functionally altered and invade the CNS in ALS patients. Acta Neuropathol 2016; 132:391-411. [PMID: 26910103 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-016-1548-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting primarily the upper and lower motor neurons. A common feature of all ALS cases is a well-characterized neuroinflammatory reaction within the central nervous system (CNS). However, much less is known about the role of the peripheral immune system and its interplay with CNS resident immune cells in motor neuron degeneration. Here, we characterized peripheral monocytes in both temporal and spatial dimensions of ALS pathogenesis. We found the circulating monocytes to be deregulated in ALS regarding subtype constitution, function and gene expression. Moreover, we show that CNS infiltration of peripheral monocytes correlates with improved motor neuron survival in a genetic ALS mouse model. Furthermore, application of human immunoglobulins or fusion proteins containing only the human Fc, but not the Fab antibody fragment, increased CNS invasion of peripheral monocytes and delayed the disease onset. Our results underline the importance of peripheral monocytes in ALS pathogenesis and are in agreement with a protective role of monocytes in the early phase of the disease. The possibility to boost this beneficial function of peripheral monocytes by application of human immunoglobulins should be evaluated in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Zondler
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kathrin Müller
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Samira Khalaji
- Department of Experimental Physics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Corinna Bliederhäuser
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Wolfgang P Ruf
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Veselin Grozdanov
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Axel Freischmidt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Patrick Weydt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anke Witting
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Dietmar R Thal
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anika M Helferich
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Karin M Danzer
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jochen H Weishaupt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, O25, Niveau 5, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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61
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Common Molecular Pathways in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Trends Mol Med 2016; 22:769-783. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2016.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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62
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Traub R, Mitsumoto H. Recent advances and opportunities for improving diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2016. [DOI: 10.1080/21678707.2016.1213164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Traub
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hiroshi Mitsumoto
- Department of Neurology, The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig MDA/ALS, Research Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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63
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Picher-Martel V, Valdmanis PN, Gould PV, Julien JP, Dupré N. From animal models to human disease: a genetic approach for personalized medicine in ALS. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2016; 4:70. [PMID: 27400686 PMCID: PMC4940869 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-016-0340-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is the most frequent motor neuron disease in adults. Classical ALS is characterized by the death of upper and lower motor neurons leading to progressive paralysis. Approximately 10 % of ALS patients have familial form of the disease. Numerous different gene mutations have been found in familial cases of ALS, such as mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), fused in sarcoma (FUS), C9ORF72, ubiquilin-2 (UBQLN2), optineurin (OPTN) and others. Multiple animal models were generated to mimic the disease and to test future treatments. However, no animal model fully replicates the spectrum of phenotypes in the human disease and it is difficult to assess how a therapeutic effect in disease models can predict efficacy in humans. Importantly, the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of ALS leads to a variety of responses to similar treatment regimens. From this has emerged the concept of personalized medicine (PM), which is a medical scheme that combines study of genetic, environmental and clinical diagnostic testing, including biomarkers, to individualized patient care. In this perspective, we used subgroups of specific ALS-linked gene mutations to go through existing animal models and to provide a comprehensive profile of the differences and similarities between animal models of disease and human disease. Finally, we reviewed application of biomarkers and gene therapies relevant in personalized medicine approach. For instance, this includes viral delivering of antisense oligonucleotide and small interfering RNA in SOD1, TDP-43 and C9orf72 mice models. Promising gene therapies raised possibilities for treating differently the major mutations in familial ALS cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Picher-Martel
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Research Centre of Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, Laval University, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada.
| | - Paul N Valdmanis
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Stanford University, 269 Campus Drive, CCSR 2110, Stanford, CA, 94305-5164, USA
| | - Peter V Gould
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Neuropathology, Department of Medical Biology, CHU de Québec, Hôpital de l'Enfant-Jésus, 1401, 18th street, Québec, QC, Canada, G1J 1Z4
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Research Centre of Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, Laval University, 2601 Chemin de la Canardière, Québec, QC, G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Nicolas Dupré
- Axe Neurosciences & The Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, CHU de Québec, Laval University, 1401, 18th street, Québec, QC, G1J 1Z4, Canada.
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64
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Thompson AG, Gray E, Heman-Ackah SM, Mäger I, Talbot K, Andaloussi SE, Wood MJ, Turner MR. Extracellular vesicles in neurodegenerative disease - pathogenesis to biomarkers. Nat Rev Neurol 2016; 12:346-57. [PMID: 27174238 DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2016.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 268] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
To develop effective disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, reliable markers of diagnosis, disease activity and progression are a research priority. The fact that neurodegenerative pathology is primarily associated with distinct subsets of cells in discrete areas of the CNS makes the identification of relevant biomarker molecules a challenge. The trafficking of macromolecules from the CNS to the cerebrospinal fluid and blood, mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs), presents a promising source of CNS-specific biomarkers. EVs are released by almost all cell types and carry a cargo of protein and nucleic acid that varies according to the cell of origin. EV output changes with cell status and reflects intracellular events, so surface marker expression can be used to identify the cell type from which EVs originate. EVs could, therefore, provide an enriched pool of information about core neuropathogenic, cell-specific processes. This Review examines the current knowledge of the biology and function of EVs, discusses the evidence for their involvement in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, and considers their potential as biomarkers of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander G Thompson
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Level 6, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Elizabeth Gray
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Level 6, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Sabrina M Heman-Ackah
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Le Gros Clark Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Imre Mäger
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Le Gros Clark Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Level 6, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Samir El Andaloussi
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Le Gros Clark Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Matthew J Wood
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Le Gros Clark Building, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Level 6, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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65
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The expanding biology of the C9orf72 nucleotide repeat expansion in neurodegenerative disease. Nat Rev Neurosci 2016; 17:383-95. [PMID: 27150398 DOI: 10.1038/nrn.2016.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A nucleotide repeat expansion (NRE) within the chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9orf72) gene was the first of this type of mutation to be linked to multiple neurological conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. The pathogenic mechanisms through which the C9orf72 NRE contributes to these disorders include loss of C9orf72 function and gain-of-function mechanisms of C9orf72 driven by toxic RNA and protein species encoded by the NRE. These mechanisms have been linked to several cellular defects - including nucleocytoplasmic trafficking deficits and nuclear stress - that have been observed in both patients and animal models.
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66
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Benigni M, Ricci C, Jones AR, Giannini F, Al-Chalabi A, Battistini S. Identification of miRNAs as Potential Biomarkers in Cerebrospinal Fluid from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients. Neuromolecular Med 2016; 18:551-560. [PMID: 27119371 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-016-8396-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Since no diagnostic laboratory test exists, the identification of specific biomarkers could be fundamental in clinical practice. microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered promising biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the study was to identify a CSF miRNA set that could differentiate ALS from non-ALS condition. miRNA profiling in CSF from ALS patients (n = 24; eight with C9orf72 expansion) and unaffected control subjects (n = 24) by quantitative reverse transcription PCR identified fourteen deregulated miRNAs. Validation experiments confirmed eight miRNAs as significantly deregulated in ALS. No significant differences were observed between ALS patients with or without C9orf72 expansion. The receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses revealed the highest diagnostic accuracy for the upregulated miR181a-5p and the downregulated miR21-5p and miR15b-5p. The miR181a-5p/miR21-5p and miR181a-5p/miR15b-5p ratios detected ALS with 90 and 85 % sensitivity and 87 and 91 % specificity, respectively, confirming the application potential as disease biomarkers. These deregulated miRNAs are implicated in apoptotic way and provide insight into processes responsible for motor neuron degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Benigni
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Claudia Ricci
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
| | - Ashley R Jones
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Fabio Giannini
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Stefania Battistini
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
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67
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Eitan C, Hornstein E. Vulnerability of microRNA biogenesis in FTD-ALS. Brain Res 2016; 1647:105-111. [PMID: 26778173 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2015.12.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Revised: 12/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The genetics of the neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) turn our attention to RNA metabolism, primarily because many of the identified diseases-associated genes encode for RNA-binding proteins. microRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous noncoding RNAs that play critical roles in maintaining brain integrity. The current review sheds light on miRNA dysregulation in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on FTD-ALS. We propose that miRNAs are susceptible to fail when protein factors that are critical for miRNA biogenesis malfunction. Accordingly, potential insufficiencies of the 'microprocessor' complex, the nucleo-cytoplasmic export of miRNA precursors or their processing by Dicer were recently reported. Furthermore, specific miRNAs are involved in the regulation of pathways that are essential for neuronal survival or function. Any change in the expression of these specific miRNAs or in their ability to recognize their target sequences will have negative consequences. Taken together, recent reports strengthens the hypothesis that dysregulation of miRNAs might play an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, and highlights the miRNA biogenesis machinery as an interesting target for therapeutic interventions for ALS as well as FTD. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled SI:RNA Metabolism in Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Eitan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Eran Hornstein
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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68
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Caballero-Hernandez D, Toscano MG, Cejudo-Guillen M, Garcia-Martin ML, Lopez S, Franco JM, Quintana FJ, Roodveldt C, Pozo D. The ‘Omics’ of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Trends Mol Med 2016; 22:53-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2015.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2015] [Revised: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 11/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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69
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Antisense Oligonucleotides for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Transl Neurosci 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-7654-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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70
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Figueroa-Romero C, Hur J, Lunn JS, Paez-Colasante X, Bender DE, Yung R, Sakowski SA, Feldman EL. Expression of microRNAs in human post-mortem amyotrophic lateral sclerosis spinal cords provides insight into disease mechanisms. Mol Cell Neurosci 2015; 71:34-45. [PMID: 26704906 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2015.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2015] [Revised: 11/23/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a late-onset and terminal neurodegenerative disease. The majority of cases are sporadic with unknown causes and only a small number of cases are genetically linked. Recent evidence suggests that post-transcriptional regulation and epigenetic mechanisms, such as microRNAs, underlie the onset and progression of neurodegenerative disorders; therefore, altered microRNA expression may result in the dysregulation of key genes and biological pathways that contribute to the development of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Using systems biology analyses on postmortem human spinal cord tissue, we identified dysregulated mature microRNAs and their potential targets previously implicated in functional process and pathways associated with the pathogenesis of ALS. Furthermore, we report a global reduction of mature microRNAs, alterations in microRNA processing, and support for a role of the nucleotide binding protein, TAR DNA binding protein 43, in regulating sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated microRNAs, thereby offering a potential underlying mechanism for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Junguk Hur
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - J Simon Lunn
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | | | - Diane E Bender
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA
| | - Raymond Yung
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.,Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Care Center, VA Ann Arbor Health System, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA
| | - Stacey A Sakowski
- A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Eva L Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA.,A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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71
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Weydt P, Oeckl P, Huss A, Müller K, Volk AE, Kuhle J, Knehr A, Andersen PM, Prudlo J, Steinacker P, Weishaupt JH, Ludolph AC, Otto M. Neurofilament levels as biomarkers in asymptomatic and symptomatic familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Ann Neurol 2015; 79:152-8. [PMID: 26528863 DOI: 10.1002/ana.24552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 176] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neurofilaments are elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. However, timing of this increase is unknown. To characterize the premanifest disease phase, we performed a cross-sectional study on asymptomatic (n = 12) and symptomatic (n = 64) ALS mutation carriers and family controls (n = 19). Neurofilaments NF-L (neurofilament-light chain) and pNF-H (phosphorylated neurofilament-heavy chain) are normal before symptom onset and increased by at least an order of magnitude at early symptom onset in CSF (pNF-H) or serum and CSF (NF-L). Thus, blood and CSF neurofilament levels are linked to the symptomatic phase of ALS and might serve as objective markers of structural damage to the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Weydt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Patrick Oeckl
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - André Huss
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Alexander E Volk
- Institute for Human Genetics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jens Kuhle
- Neurology, Departments of Medicine and Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Antje Knehr
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Neurosiences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Johannes Prudlo
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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72
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Freischmidt A, Schöpflin M, Feiler MS, Fleck AK, Ludolph AC, Weishaupt JH. Profilin 1 with the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated mutation T109M displays unaltered actin binding and does not affect the actin cytoskeleton. BMC Neurosci 2015; 16:77. [PMID: 26572741 PMCID: PMC4647582 DOI: 10.1186/s12868-015-0214-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The recent identification of several mutations in PFN1, a protein involved in actin dynamics, strengthens the hypothesis that pathology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is linked to cytoskeletal defects. Impaired actin binding is a common denominator of several PFN1 mutations associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, although further mechanisms may also contribute to the death of motor neurons. In this study we examine the actin binding properties of PFN1 carrying the causal T109M mutation and its effects on the actin cytoskeleton. Methods Actin binding of PFN1 T109M was examined by co-immunoprecipitation experiments, a split luciferase complementation assay and a pulldown assay with recombinant PFN1. The actin cytoskeleton was investigated by fluorescence microscopy and by ultracentrifuge separation of globular and filamentous actin fractions followed by Western blotting. Results Using different technical approaches we show that PFN1 T109M displays unaltered actin binding. Furthermore we show that the actin cytoskeleton is not affected by PFN1 carrying the T109M mutation. Conclusion Our data suggest that actin independent mechanisms contribute to the pathogenicity of PFN1 T109M and possibly other PFN1 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Freischmidt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Marcel Schöpflin
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Marisa S Feiler
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Ann-Katrin Fleck
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Jochen H Weishaupt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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73
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Keller A, Leidinger P, Meese E, Haas J, Backes C, Rasche L, Behrens JR, Pfuhl C, Wakonig K, Gieß RM, Jarius S, Meder B, Bellmann-Strobl J, Paul F, Pache FC, Ruprecht K. Next-generation sequencing identifies altered whole blood microRNAs in neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder which may permit discrimination from multiple sclerosis. J Neuroinflammation 2015; 12:196. [PMID: 26521232 PMCID: PMC4628234 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-015-0418-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and multiple sclerosis (MS) have a similar clinical phenotype but represent distinct diseases, requiring different therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short non-coding RNAs whose expression profiles can serve as diagnostic biomarkers and which may be involved in the pathophysiology of neuroinflammatory diseases. Here, we analyzed miRNA profiles in serum and whole blood of patients with NMOSD and clinically isolated syndrome (CIS)/relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) as well as healthy controls by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Methods MiRNA expression profiles were determined by NGS in sera of patients with aquaporin-4 antibody-positive NMOSD (n = 20), CIS/RRMS (n = 20), and healthy controls (n = 20) and in whole blood of patients with NMOSD (n = 11), CIS/RRMS (n = 60), and healthy controls (n = 43). Differentially expressed miRNAs were calculated by analysis of variance and t tests. All significance values were corrected for multiple testing. Selected miRNAs were validated in whole blood of patients with NMOSD (n = 18) and CIS/RRMS (n = 19) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results None of 261 miRNAs detected in serum but 178 of 416 miRNAs detected in whole blood showed significantly different expression levels among the three groups. Pairwise comparisons revealed 115 (NMOSD vs. CIS/RRMS), 141 (NMOSD vs. healthy controls), and 44 (CIS/RRMS vs. healthy controls) miRNAs in whole blood with significantly different expression levels. qRT-PCR confirmed different expression levels in whole blood of patients with NMOSD and CIS/RRMS for 9 out of 10 exemplarily chosen miRNAs. In silico enrichment analysis demonstrated an accumulation of altered miRNAs in NMOSD in particular in CD15+ cells (i.e., neutrophils and eosinophils). Conclusions This study identifies a set of miRNAs in whole blood, which may have the potential to discriminate NMOSD from CIS/RRMS and healthy controls. In contrast, miRNA profiles in serum do not appear to be promising diagnostic biomarkers for NMOSD. Enrichment of altered miRNAs in CD15+ neutrophils and eosinophils, which were previously implicated in the pathophysiology of NMOSD, suggests that miRNAs could be involved in the regulation of these cells in NMOSD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-015-0418-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Keller
- Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | | | - Eckart Meese
- Human Genetics, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany.
| | - Jan Haas
- Internal Medicine III, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Christina Backes
- Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | - Ludwig Rasche
- Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. .,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Janina R Behrens
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Catherina Pfuhl
- Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. .,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Katharina Wakonig
- Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. .,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - René M Gieß
- Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. .,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sven Jarius
- Molecular Neuroimmunology Group, Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Benjamin Meder
- Internal Medicine III, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Judith Bellmann-Strobl
- NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Friedemann Paul
- Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. .,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Max Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine and Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Florence C Pache
- Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. .,NeuroCure Clinical Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Klemens Ruprecht
- Department of Neurology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. .,Clinical and Experimental Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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74
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Freischmidt A, Müller K, Zondler L, Weydt P, Mayer B, von Arnim CAF, Hübers A, Dorst J, Otto M, Holzmann K, Ludolph AC, Danzer KM, Weishaupt JH. Serum microRNAs in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurobiol Aging 2015; 36:2660.e15-20. [PMID: 26142125 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression and specific mircoRNA "fingerprints" are thought to contribute to and/or reflect certain disease conditions. Recently, we identified surprisingly homogeneous signatures of circulating miRNAs in the serum of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, which were already present in presymptomatic carriers of ALS gene mutations. Here, we characterize circulating miRNAs in the serum of sporadic ALS patients. We show that, in contrast to familial ALS, miRNA signatures of sporadic ALS are highly heterogeneous suggesting a number of different etiologies. Nevertheless, 2 miRNAs, miR-1234-3p and miR-1825, could be identified to be consistently downregulated in sporadic ALS. Bioinformatic analysis revealed miRNA fingerprints resembling those of familial ALS patients and mutation carriers in 61% of sporadic ALS patients, while the remaining subgroup had clearly different miRNA signatures. These data support a higher than expected contribution of genetic factors also to sporadic ALS. Moreover, our results indicate a more heterogeneous molecular etiology of sporadic ALS compared with (mono)genic cases, which should be considered for the development of disease modifying treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lisa Zondler
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Patrick Weydt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Benjamin Mayer
- Institute for Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Karlheinz Holzmann
- Genomics-Core Facility, University Hospital Ulm, Center for Biomedical Research, Ulm, Germany
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75
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Dirren E, Aebischer J, Rochat C, Towne C, Schneider BL, Aebischer P. SOD1 silencing in motoneurons or glia rescues neuromuscular function in ALS mice. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2015; 2:167-84. [PMID: 25750921 PMCID: PMC4338957 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an incurable disorder mainly characterized by motoneuron degeneration. Mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene account for 20% of familial forms of the disease. Mutant SOD1 exerts multiple pathogenic effects through the gain of toxic properties in both neurons and glial cells. Here, we compare AAV-based gene therapy suppressing expression of mutant SOD1 in either motoneurons or astrocytes. Methods AAV vectors encoding microRNA against human SOD1 were administered to G93ASOD1 mice either by intracerebroventricular injections in pups or by lumbar intrathecal injections in adults. Vector systems were designed to suppress SOD1 expression predominantly in either spinal motoneurons or astrocytes. Electrophysiological and behavioral tests were performed on treated animals to evaluate disease progression. Results Following vector injection in G93ASOD1 pups, efficient silencing of SOD1 expression was achieved in motoneurons and/or astrocytes. Most complete protection of motor units was obtained when targeting human SOD1 predominantly in motoneurons. Suppressing SOD1 mainly in astrocytes led to preserved muscle innervation despite only partial protection of spinal motoneurons. In both cases, injection in pups led to full recovery of neuromuscular function and significantly prolonged survival. Vector injections in adult mice also achieved significant protection of neuromuscular function, which was highest when motoneurons were targeted. Interpretation These results suggest that AAV-mediated SOD1 silencing is an effective approach to prevent motoneuron degeneration caused by SOD1 mutation. AAV vectors suppressing SOD1 in motoneurons delay disease onset and show effective neuroprotection. On the other hand, AAV-based SOD1 silencing in astrocytes rescues neuromuscular function following initial denervation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Dirren
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julianne Aebischer
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cylia Rochat
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Christopher Towne
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bernard L Schneider
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Aebischer
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL Lausanne, Switzerland
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76
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Grasso M, Piscopo P, Crestini A, Confaloni A, Denti MA. Circulating microRNAs in Neurodegenerative Diseases. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2015; 106:151-169. [PMID: 26608203 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-0348-0955-9_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are caused by a combination of events that impair normal neuronal function. Although they are considered different disorders, there are overlapping features among them from the clinical, pathological, and genetic points of view. Synaptic dysfunction and loss, neurite retraction, and the appearance of other abnormalities such as axonal transport defects normally precede the neuronal loss that is a relatively late event. The diagnosis of many neurodegenerative diseases is mainly based on patient's cognitive function analysis, and the development of diagnostic methods is complicated by the brain's capacity to compensate for neuronal loss over a long period of time. This results in the late clinical manifestation of symptoms, a time when successful treatment is no longer feasible. Thus, a noninvasive diagnostic method based on early events detection is particularly important. In the last years, some biomarkers expressed in human body fluids have been proposed. microRNAs (miRNAs), with their high stability, tissue- or cell type-specific expression, lower cost, and shorter time in the assay development, could constitute a good tool to obtain an early disease diagnosis for a wide number of human pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases. The possibilities and challenges of using these small RNA molecules as a signature for neurodegenerative disorders is a highly promising approach for developing minimally invasive screening tests and to identify new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margherita Grasso
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Paola Piscopo
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Crestini
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Annamaria Confaloni
- Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela A Denti
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy. .,Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council (CNR), Padova, Italy.
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77
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Lee YB, Rogelj B, Shaw CE. A serum microRNA signature for amyotrophic lateral sclersosis reveals convergent RNA processing defects and identifies presymptomatic mutation carriers. Brain 2014; 137:2875-6. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/awu262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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78
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Logroscino
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Unit, Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, Department of Clinical Research in Neurology of the University of Bari at Pia Fondazione Card G Panico, Hospital Tricase, University Aldo Moro, Bari 73 039, Italy.
| | - Albert Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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