101
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Dhindsa JS, McCall AL, Strickland LM, Fusco AF, Kahn AF, ElMallah MK. Motor axonopathies in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8967. [PMID: 32488044 PMCID: PMC7265344 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65824-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a fatal neuromuscular disease caused by deleterious mutations in the DMD gene which encodes the dystrophin protein. Skeletal muscle weakness and eventual muscle degradation due to loss of dystrophin are well-documented pathological hallmarks of DMD. In contrast, the neuropathology of this disease remains understudied despite the emerging evidence of neurological abnormalities induced by dystrophin loss. Using quantitative morphological analysis of nerve sections, we characterize axonopathies in the phrenic and hypoglossal (XII) nerves of mdx mice. We observe dysfunction in these nerves – which innervate the diaphragm and genioglossus respectively – that we propose contributes to respiratory failure, the most common cause of death in DMD. These observations highlight the importance in the further characterization of the neuropathology of DMD. Additionally, these observations underscore the necessity in correcting both the nervous system pathology in addition to skeletal muscle deficits to ameliorate this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin S Dhindsa
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center Box 2644, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA
| | - Angela L McCall
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center Box 2644, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA
| | - Laura M Strickland
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center Box 2644, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA
| | - Anna F Fusco
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center Box 2644, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA
| | - Amanda F Kahn
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center Box 2644, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA
| | - Mai K ElMallah
- Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center Box 2644, Durham, North Carolina, 27710, USA.
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102
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Salvadores N, Court FA. The necroptosis pathway and its role in age-related neurodegenerative diseases: will it open up new therapeutic avenues in the next decade? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:679-693. [PMID: 32310729 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1758668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Necroptosis is a programmed form of necrotic cell death. Growing evidence demonstrates that necroptosis contributes to cell demise in different pathological conditions including age-dependent neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). These findings open new avenues for understanding the mechanisms of neuronal loss in NDs, which might eventually translate into novel therapeutic interventions. AREAS COVERED We reviewed key aspects of necroptosis, in health and disease, focusing on evidence demonstrating its involvement in the pathogenesis of age-related NDs. We then highlight the activation of this pathway in the mechanism of axonal degeneration. We searched on PubMed the literature regarding necroptosis published between 2008 and 2020 and reviewed all publications were necroptosis was studied in the context of age-related NDs. EXPERT OPINION Axonal loss and neuronal death are the ultimate consequences of NDs that translate into disease phenotypes. Targeting degenerative mechanisms of the neuron appears as a strategy that might cover a wide range of diseases. Thus, the participation of necroptosis as a common mediator of neuronal demise emerges as a promising target for therapeutic intervention. Considering evidence demonstrating that necroptosis mediates axonal degeneration, we propose and discuss the potential of targeting necroptosis-mediated axonal destruction as a strategy to tackle NDs before neuronal loss occurs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Salvadores
- Faculty of Sciences, Center for Integrative Biology, Universidad Mayor , Santiago, Chile.,Fondap Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism , Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe A Court
- Faculty of Sciences, Center for Integrative Biology, Universidad Mayor , Santiago, Chile.,Fondap Geroscience Center for Brain Health and Metabolism , Santiago, Chile
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103
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Paudel YN, Angelopoulou E, Piperi C, Othman I, Shaikh MF. Implication of HMGB1 signaling pathways in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): From molecular mechanisms to pre-clinical results. Pharmacol Res 2020; 156:104792. [PMID: 32278047 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating and rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disorder with no effective disease-modifying treatment up to date. The underlying molecular mechanisms of ALS are not yet completely understood. However, the critical role of the innate immune system and neuroinflammation in ALS pathogenesis has gained increased attention. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a typical damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecule, acting as a pro-inflammatory cytokine mainly through activation of its principal receptors, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) which are crucial components of the innate immune system. HMGB1 is an endogenous ligand for both RAGE and TLR4 that mediate its biological effects. Herein, on the ground of pre-clinical findings we unravel the underlying mechanisms behind the plausible contribution of HMGB1 and its receptors (RAGE and TLR4) in the ALS pathogenesis. Furthermore, we provide an account of the therapeutic outcomes associated with inhibition/blocking of HMGB1 receptor signalling in preventing motor neuron's death and delaying disease progression in ALS experimental models. There is strong evidence that HMGB1, RAGE and TLR4 signaling axes might present potential targets against ALS, opening a novel headway in ALS research that could plausibly bridge the current treatment gap.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yam Nath Paudel
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
| | - Efthalia Angelopoulou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Piperi
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Iekhsan Othman
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Farooq Shaikh
- Neuropharmacology Research Laboratory, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
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104
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Pandya VA, Patani R. Decoding the relationship between ageing and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a cellular perspective. Brain 2020; 143:1057-1072. [PMID: 31851317 PMCID: PMC7174045 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awz360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With an ageing population comes an inevitable increase in the prevalence of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a relentlessly progressive and universally fatal disease characterized by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons within the brain and spinal cord. Indeed, the physiological process of ageing causes a variety of molecular and cellular phenotypes. With dysfunction at the neuromuscular junction implicated as a key pathological mechanism in ALS, and each lower motor unit cell type vulnerable to its own set of age-related phenotypes, the effects of ageing might in fact prove a prerequisite to ALS, rendering the cells susceptible to disease-specific mechanisms. Moreover, we discuss evidence for overlap between age and ALS-associated hallmarks, potentially implicating cell type-specific ageing as a key contributor to this multifactorial and complex disease. With a dearth of disease-modifying therapy currently available for ALS patients and a substantial failure in bench to bedside translation of other potential therapies, the unification of research in ageing and ALS requires high fidelity models to better recapitulate age-related human disease and will ultimately yield more reliable candidate therapeutics for patients, with the aim of enhancing healthspan and life expectancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virenkumar A Pandya
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Rickie Patani
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, University College London Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
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105
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Suzuki N, Akiyama T, Warita H, Aoki M. Omics Approach to Axonal Dysfunction of Motor Neurons in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Front Neurosci 2020; 14:194. [PMID: 32269505 PMCID: PMC7109447 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an intractable adult-onset neurodegenerative disease that leads to the loss of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). The long axons of MNs become damaged during the early stages of ALS. Genetic and pathological analyses of ALS patients have revealed dysfunction in the MN axon homeostasis. However, the molecular pathomechanism for the degeneration of axons in ALS has not been fully elucidated. This review provides an overview of the proposed axonal pathomechanisms in ALS, including those involving the neuronal cytoskeleton, cargo transport within axons, axonal energy supply, clearance of junk protein, neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), and aberrant axonal branching. To improve understanding of the global changes in axons, the review summarizes omics analyses of the axonal compartments of neurons in vitro and in vivo, including a motor nerve organoid approach that utilizes microfluidic devices developed by this research group. The review also discusses the relevance of intra-axonal transcription factors frequently identified in these omics analyses. Local axonal translation and the relationship among these pathomechanisms should be pursued further. The development of novel strategies to analyze axon fractions provides a new approach to establishing a detailed understanding of resilience of long MN and MN pathology in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Neurology, Shodo-kai Southern Tohoku General Hospital, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Akiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Warita
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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106
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Geijo-Barrientos E, Pastore-Olmedo C, De Mingo P, Blanquer M, Gómez Espuch J, Iniesta F, Iniesta NG, García-Hernández A, Martín-Estefanía C, Barrios L, Moraleda JM, Martínez S. Intramuscular Injection of Bone Marrow Stem Cells in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:195. [PMID: 32265627 PMCID: PMC7105864 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Preclinical studies suggest that stem cells may be a valuable therapeutic tool in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As it has been demonstrated that there are molecular changes at the end-plate during the early stages of motorneuron degeneration in animal models, we hypothesize that the local effect of this stem cell delivery method could slow the progressive loss of motor units (MUs) in ALS patients. Methods We designed a Phase I/II clinical trial to study the safety of intramuscularly implanting autologous bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs), including stem cells, in ALS patients and their possible effects on the MU of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. Twenty-two patients participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that consisted of a baseline visit followed by one intramuscular injection of BMNCs, follow-up visits at 30, 90, 180, and 360 days, and an additional year of clinical follow-up. In each patient, one TA muscle was injected with a single dose of BMMCs while the contralateral muscle was given a placebo; the sides were selected randomly. All visits included a complete EMG study of both TA muscles. Results Our results show that (1) the intramuscular injection of BMMCs is a safe procedure; (2) ALS patients show heterogeneities in the degree of TA injury; (3) a comparison of placebo-injected muscles with BMMC-injected muscles showed significant differences in only one parameter, the D50 index used to quantify the Compound Muscle Action Potential (CMAP) scan curve. This parameter was higher in the BMMC-injected TA muscle at both 90 days (placebo side: 29.55 ± 2.89, n = 20; experimental side: 39.25 ± 3.21, n = 20; p < 0.01) and 180 days (placebo side: 29.35 ± 3.29, n = 17; experimental side: 41.24 ± 3.34, n = 17; p < 0.01). Conclusion This procedure had no effect on the TA muscle MU properties, with the exception of the D50 index. Finding differences in just this index supports the fact that it may be much more sensitive than other electrophysiological parameters when studying treatment effects. Given the low number of patients and their heterogeneity, these results justify exploring the efficacy of this procedure in further patients and other muscles, through Phase II trials. Clinical Trial Registration www.clinicaltrials.gov (identifier NCT02286011); EudraCT number 2011-004801-25.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Pastore-Olmedo
- Institute of Neurosciences, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Clinical Neurophysiology Service, San Juan University Hospital, Alicante, Spain
| | - Pedro De Mingo
- Service of Clinical Neurophysiology, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Clinical Hospital, Murcia, Spain
| | - Miguel Blanquer
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy Unit, Hematology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Joaquín Gómez Espuch
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy Unit, Hematology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisca Iniesta
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy Unit, Hematology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Natalia García Iniesta
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy Unit, Hematology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Ana García-Hernández
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy Unit, Hematology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Laura Barrios
- Department of Applied Statistics, SGAI-CSIC, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Moraleda
- Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant and Cell Therapy Unit, Hematology Service, Virgen de la Arrixaca University Hospital, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.,Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
| | - Salvador Martínez
- Institute of Neurosciences, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain.,Institute for Bio-Health Research of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain
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107
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Pape JA, Grose JH. The effects of diet and sex in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2020; 176:301-315. [PMID: 32147204 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2019.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease with no known cure. Approximately 90% of ALS cases are sporadic, suggesting there are multiple contributing factors that influence the disease risk, onset, and progression. Diet and sex are two factors that have been reported to alter ALS risk, onset and progression in humans and in animal models, providing potential modifiers of disease. Several epidemiological studies have identified diets that positively affect ALS patients, including various high-calorie fat or sugar-based diets, while animal models have been developed to test how these diets are working on a molecular level. These diets may offset the metabolic alterations that occur in ALS, such as hypermetabolism, lowered body mass index(BMI), and hyperlipidemia. Sex-dependent differences have also come forth from large-scale epidemiological studies as well as mouse-model studies. In addition, sex hormones have been shown to affect disease risk or progression. Herein, studies on the effects of diet and sex on ALS risk, onset, and progression will be reviewed. Understanding these diet- and sex-dependent outcomes may lead to optimized patient-specific therapies for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Pape
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Provo, United States
| | - J H Grose
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Provo, United States.
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108
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Analysis of Immunoexpression of Synaptic Proteins in Neuromuscular Junctions of Symptomatic and Presymptomatic mSOD1 Transgenic Mice with Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. BIONANOSCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12668-019-00711-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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109
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Venkatesh K, Mathew A, Koushika SP. Role of actin in organelle trafficking in neurons. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2020; 77:97-109. [DOI: 10.1002/cm.21580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Keertana Venkatesh
- Department of Biological SciencesTata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Amal Mathew
- Department of Biological SciencesTata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
| | - Sandhya P. Koushika
- Department of Biological SciencesTata Institute of Fundamental Research Mumbai India
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110
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Martínez-Muriana A, Pastor D, Mancuso R, Rando A, Osta R, Martínez S, López-Vales R, Navarro X. Combined intramuscular and intraspinal transplant of bone marrow cells improves neuromuscular function in the SOD1 G93A mice. Stem Cell Res Ther 2020; 11:53. [PMID: 32033585 PMCID: PMC7006400 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-020-1573-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The simultaneous contribution of several etiopathogenic disturbances makes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a fatal and challenging disease. Here, we studied two different cell therapy protocols to protect both central and peripheral nervous system in a murine model of ALS. Methods Since ALS begins with a distal axonopathy, in a first assay, we performed injection of bone marrow cells into two hindlimb muscles of transgenic SOD1G93A mice. In a second study, we combined intramuscular and intraspinal injection of bone marrow cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting was used to assess the survival of the transplanted cells into the injected tissues. The mice were assessed from 8 to 16 weeks of age by means of locomotion and electrophysiological tests. After follow-up, the spinal cord was processed for analysis of motoneuron survival and glial cell reactivity. Results We found that, after intramuscular injection, bone marrow cells were able to engraft within the muscle. However, bone marrow cell intramuscular injection failed to promote a general therapeutic effect. In the second approach, we found that bone marrow cells had limited survival in the spinal cord, but this strategy significantly improved motor outcomes. Moreover, we also found that the dual cell therapy tended to preserve spinal motoneurons at late stages of the disease and to reduce microgliosis, although this did not prolong mice survival. Conclusion Overall, our findings suggest that targeting more than one affected area of the motor system at once with bone marrow cell therapy results in a valuable therapeutic intervention for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Martínez-Muriana
- Institute of Neurosciences and Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Diego Pastor
- Centro de Investigación Deportiva, Universidad Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain.,Instituto de Neurociencias, UMH-CSIC, San Juan de Alicante, Spain
| | - Renzo Mancuso
- Institute of Neurosciences and Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,VIB Center for Brain and Disease Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Amaya Rando
- Laboratory of Genetic Biochemistry (LAGENBIO), Health Research Institute of Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosario Osta
- Laboratory of Genetic Biochemistry (LAGENBIO), Health Research Institute of Aragón, Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Rubèn López-Vales
- Institute of Neurosciences and Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - Xavier Navarro
- Institute of Neurosciences and Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. .,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain. .,Faculty of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain.
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111
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Huang SL, Wu LS, Lee M, Chang CW, Cheng WC, Fang YS, Chen YR, Cheng PL, Shen CKJ. A robust TDP-43 knock-in mouse model of ALS. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:3. [PMID: 31964415 PMCID: PMC6975031 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-0881-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, adult-onset degenerative disorder of motor neurons. The diseased spinal cord motor neurons of more than 95% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients are characterized by the mis-metabolism of the RNA/DNA-binding protein TDP-43 (ALS-TDP), in particular, the presence of cytosolic aggregates of the protein. Most available mouse models for the basic or translational studies of ALS-TDP are based on transgenic overexpression of the TDP-43 protein. Here, we report the generation and characterization of mouse lines bearing homologous knock-in of fALS-associated mutation A315T and sALS-associated mutation N390D, respectively. Remarkably, the heterozygous TDP-43 (N390D/+) mice but not those heterozygous for the TDP-43 (A315T/+) mice develop a full spectrum of ALS-TDP-like pathologies at the molecular, cellular and behavioral levels. Comparative analysis of the mutant mice and spinal cord motor neurons (MN) derived from their embryonic stem (ES) cells demonstrates that different ALS-associated TDP-43 mutations possess critical ALS-causing capabilities and pathogenic pathways, likely modified by their genetic background and the environmental factors. Mechanistically, we identify aberrant RNA splicing of spinal cord Bcl-2 pre-mRNA and consequent increase of a negative regulator of autophagy, Bcl-2, which correlate with and are caused by a progressive increase of TDP-43, one of the early events associated with ALS-TDP pathogenesis, in the spinal cord of TDP-43 (N390D/+) mice and spinal cord MN derived from their ES cells. The TDP-43 (N390D/+) knock-in mice appear to be an ideal rodent model for basic as well as translational studies of ALS- TDP.
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112
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Congenic expression of poly-GA but not poly-PR in mice triggers selective neuron loss and interferon responses found in C9orf72 ALS. Acta Neuropathol 2020; 140:121-142. [PMID: 32562018 PMCID: PMC7360660 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-020-02176-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Expansion of a (G4C2)n repeat in C9orf72 causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), but the link of the five repeat-encoded dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins to neuroinflammation, TDP-43 pathology, and neurodegeneration is unclear. Poly-PR is most toxic in vitro, but poly-GA is far more abundant in patients. To directly compare these in vivo, we created congenic poly-GA and poly-PR mice. 40% of poly-PR mice were affected with ataxia and seizures, requiring euthanasia by 6 weeks of age. The remaining poly-PR mice were asymptomatic at 14 months of age, likely due to an 80% reduction of the transgene mRNA in this subgroup. In contrast, all poly-GA mice showed selective neuron loss, inflammation, as well as muscle denervation and wasting requiring euthanasia before 7 weeks of age. In-depth analysis of peripheral organs and blood samples suggests that peripheral organ failure does not drive these phenotypes. Although transgene mRNA levels were similar between poly-GA and affected poly-PR mice, poly-GA aggregated far more abundantly than poly-PR in the CNS and was also found in skeletal muscle. In addition, TDP-43 and other disease-linked RNA-binding proteins co-aggregated in rare nuclear inclusions in the hippocampus and frontal cortex only in poly-GA mice. Transcriptome analysis revealed activation of an interferon-responsive pro-inflammatory microglial signature in end-stage poly-GA but not poly-PR mice. This signature was also found in all ALS patients and enriched in C9orf72 cases. In summary, our rigorous comparison of poly-GA and poly-PR toxicity in vivo indicates that poly-GA, but not poly-PR at the same mRNA expression level, promotes interferon responses in C9orf72 disease and contributes to TDP-43 abnormalities and neuron loss selectively in disease-relevant regions.
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113
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Yuan J, Amin P, Ofengeim D. Necroptosis and RIPK1-mediated neuroinflammation in CNS diseases. Nat Rev Neurosci 2019; 20:19-33. [PMID: 30467385 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-018-0093-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 528] [Impact Index Per Article: 105.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis is crucial for the normal development of the nervous system, whereas neurons in the adult CNS are relatively resistant to this form of cell death. However, under pathological conditions, upregulation of death receptor family ligands, such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF), can sensitize cells in the CNS to apoptosis and a form of regulated necrotic cell death known as necroptosis that is mediated by receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), RIPK3 and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL). Necroptosis promotes further cell death and neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, including multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease. In this Review, we outline the evidence implicating necroptosis in these neurological diseases and suggest that targeting RIPK1 might help to inhibit multiple cell death pathways and ameliorate neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junying Yuan
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Palak Amin
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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114
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Schellino R, Boido M, Vercelli A. JNK Signaling Pathway Involvement in Spinal Cord Neuron Development and Death. Cells 2019; 8:cells8121576. [PMID: 31817379 PMCID: PMC6953032 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK) is a Janus-faced kinase, which, in the nervous system, plays important roles in a broad range of physiological and pathological processes. Three genes, encoding for 10 JNK isoforms, have been identified: jnk1, jnk2, and jnk3. In the developing spinal cord, JNK proteins control neuronal polarity, axon growth/pathfinding, and programmed cell death; in adulthood they can drive degeneration and regeneration, after pathological insults. Indeed, recent studies have highlighted a role for JNK in motor neuron (MN) diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy. In this review we discuss how JNK-dependent signaling regulates apparently contradictory functions in the spinal cord, in both the developmental and adult stages. In addition, we examine the evidence that the specific targeting of JNK signaling pathway may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of MN diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Schellino
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-011-670-6632
| | - Marina Boido
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy
- National Institute of Neuroscience (INN), 10125 Turin, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vercelli
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, 10043 Orbassano (TO), Italy
- National Institute of Neuroscience (INN), 10125 Turin, Italy
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115
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Neuromuscular junction transmission failure is a late phenotype in aging mice. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 86:182-190. [PMID: 31866157 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Neurodegeneration has increasingly been considered an important factor in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia or age-related loss of muscle mass and strength. Experiments were designed to investigate the fidelity of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) transmission across the lifespan in hindlimb muscles of male and female C57BL/6J mice (at 12, 20, 24, 27, and 29 months of age). Single-fiber electromyography recordings demonstrated abrupt onset of NMJ transmission failure at 27 months of age. Failed NMJ transmission was a later onset phenotype as compared with other assessments of motor unit numbers, muscle contractility, and frailty which showed alterations at 20 months of age. Ex vivo NMJ recordings demonstrated no reduction of endplate current amplitude in support of reduced muscle fiber excitability as the cause of failed NMJ transmission in aged mice. Improved understanding of age-related neurodegeneration will likely have important implications in designing novel therapeutic interventions specific for different stages of sarcopenia. Our findings suggest reduced muscle excitability may be a potential therapeutic target for improvement of physical function in older adults.
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116
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Cai M, Yang EJ. Hochu-Ekki-To Improves Motor Function in an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Animal Model. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11112644. [PMID: 31689925 PMCID: PMC6893748 DOI: 10.3390/nu11112644] [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: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hochu-ekki-to (Bojungikgi-Tang (BJIGT) in Korea; Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi Tang in Chinese), a traditional herbal prescription, has been widely used in Asia. Hochu-ekki-to (HET) is used to enhance the immune system in respiratory disorders, improve the nutritional status associated with chronic diseases, enhance the mucosal immune system, and improve learning and memory. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is pathologically characterized by motor neuron cell death and muscle paralysis, and is an adult-onset motor neuron disease. Several pathological mechanisms of ALS have been reported by clinical and in vitro/in vivo studies using ALS models. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive, and the critical pathological target needs to be identified before effective drugs can be developed for patients with ALS. Since ALS is a disease involving both motor neuron death and skeletal muscle paralysis, suitable therapy with optimal treatment effects would involve a motor neuron target combined with a skeletal muscle target. Herbal medicine is effective for complex diseases because it consists of multiple components for multiple targets. Therefore, we investigated the effect of the herbal medicine HET on motor function and survival in hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. HET was orally administered once a day for 6 weeks from the age of 2 months (the pre-symptomatic stage) of hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. We used the rota-rod test and foot printing test to examine motor activity, and Western blotting and H&E staining for evaluation of the effects of HET in the gastrocnemius muscle and lumbar (L4–5) spinal cord of mice. We found that HET treatment dramatically inhibited inflammation and oxidative stress both in the spinal cord and gastrocnemius of hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. Furthermore, HET treatment improved motor function and extended the survival of hSOD1G93A transgenic mice. Our findings suggest that HET treatment may modulate the immune reaction in muscles and neurons to delay disease progression in a model of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudan Cai
- Department of Herbal medicine Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Korea.
| | - Eun Jin Yang
- Department of Clinical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Korea.
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117
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Picchiarelli G, Demestre M, Zuko A, Been M, Higelin J, Dieterlé S, Goy MA, Mallik M, Sellier C, Scekic-Zahirovic J, Zhang L, Rosenbohm A, Sijlmans C, Aly A, Mersmann S, Sanjuan-Ruiz I, Hübers A, Messaddeq N, Wagner M, van Bakel N, Boutillier AL, Ludolph A, Lagier-Tourenne C, Boeckers TM, Dupuis L, Storkebaum E. FUS-mediated regulation of acetylcholine receptor transcription at neuromuscular junctions is compromised in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nat Neurosci 2019; 22:1793-1805. [PMID: 31591561 PMCID: PMC6858880 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-019-0498-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) disruption is an early pathogenic event in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Yet, direct links between NMJ pathways and ALS-associated genes such as FUS, whose heterozygous mutations cause aggressive forms of ALS, remain elusive. In a knock-in Fus-ALS mouse model, we identified postsynaptic NMJ defects in newborn homozygous mutants, attributable to mutant FUS toxicity in skeletal muscle. Adult heterozygous knock-in mice displayed smaller neuromuscular endplates that denervated before motor neuron loss, consistent with ‘dying-back’ neuronopathy. FUS was enriched in subsynaptic myonuclei, and this innervation-dependent enrichment was distorted in FUS-ALS. Mechanistically, FUS collaborates with the ETS-transcription factor ERM to stimulate transcription of acetylcholine receptor (AchR) genes. FUS-ALS patient iPSC-derived motor neuron-myotube co-cultures revealed endplate maturation defects due to intrinsic FUS toxicity in both motor neurons and myotubes. Thus, FUS regulates AChR gene expression in subsynaptic myonuclei and muscle-intrinsic toxicity of ALS-mutant FUS may contribute to dying-back motor neuronopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Demestre
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Amila Zuko
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Marije Been
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Julia Higelin
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Moushami Mallik
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Chantal Sellier
- IGBMC, INSERM U964, CNRS UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | | | - Li Zhang
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Céline Sijlmans
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Amr Aly
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sina Mersmann
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | | | | | - Nadia Messaddeq
- IGBMC, INSERM U964, CNRS UMR7104, University of Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Marina Wagner
- Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Nick van Bakel
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Anne-Laurence Boutillier
- Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives et Adaptatives, Université de Strasbourg, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
| | - Albert Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Oberer Eselsberg 45, Ulm, Germany
| | - Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Broad Institute of Harvard University and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany. .,DZNE, Ulm site, Ulm, Germany.
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Université de Strasbourg, INSERM, UMR-S1118, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Erik Storkebaum
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour and Faculty of Science, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. .,Molecular Neurogenetics Laboratory, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster, Germany. .,Faculty of Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany.
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118
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Abrahao A, Meng Y, Llinas M, Huang Y, Hamani C, Mainprize T, Aubert I, Heyn C, Black SE, Hynynen K, Lipsman N, Zinman L. First-in-human trial of blood-brain barrier opening in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using MR-guided focused ultrasound. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4373. [PMID: 31558719 PMCID: PMC6763482 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12426-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 275] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an emerging technology that can accurately and transiently permeabilize the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for targeted drug delivery to the central nervous system. We conducted a single-arm, first-in-human trial to investigate the safety and feasibility of MRgFUS-induced BBB opening in eloquent primary motor cortex in four volunteers with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we show successful BBB opening using MRgFUS as demonstrated by gadolinium leakage at the target site immediately after sonication in all subjects, which normalized 24 hours later. The procedure was well-tolerated with no serious clinical, radiologic or electroencephalographic adverse events. This study demonstrates that non-invasive BBB permeabilization over the motor cortex using MRgFUS is safe, feasible, and reversible in ALS subjects. In future, MRgFUS can be coupled with promising therapeutics providing a targeted delivery platform in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agessandro Abrahao
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada. .,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada. .,Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.
| | - Ying Meng
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Maheleth Llinas
- Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Yuexi Huang
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Clement Hamani
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Todd Mainprize
- Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Isabelle Aubert
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H7, Canada
| | - Chinthaka Heyn
- Department of Medical Imaging, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Odette Cancer Research, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Sandra E Black
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H7, Canada
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Odette Cancer Research, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H7, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H7, Canada
| | - Nir Lipsman
- Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada.,Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
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119
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Li L, Liu J, She H. Targeting Macrophage for the Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. CNS & NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS-DRUG TARGETS 2019; 18:366-371. [PMID: 30963986 DOI: 10.2174/1871527318666190409103831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Background & Objective:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative
disease that specifically affects motor neurons in the brain and in the spinal cord. Patients with amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis usually die from respiratory failure within 3 to 5 years from when the symptoms
first appear. Currently, there is no cure for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Accumulating evidence
suggests that dismantling of neuromuscular junction is an early event in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis.
Conclusion:
It is starting to realized that macrophage malfunction contributes to the disruption of neuromuscular
junction. Modulation of macrophage activation states may stabilize neuromuscular junction
and provide protection against motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lian Li
- Translational Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji Hospital, Stem Cell Research Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Translational Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji Hospital, Stem Cell Research Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hua She
- Translational Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji Hospital, Stem Cell Research Center, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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120
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Becker LA, Gitler AD. A neurodegenerative-disease protein forms beneficial aggregates in healthy muscle. Nature 2019; 563:477-478. [PMID: 30459367 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-018-07141-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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121
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Genin EC, Madji Hounoum B, Bannwarth S, Fragaki K, Lacas-Gervais S, Mauri-Crouzet A, Lespinasse F, Neveu J, Ropert B, Augé G, Cochaud C, Lefebvre-Omar C, Bigou S, Chiot A, Mochel F, Boillée S, Lobsiger CS, Bohl D, Ricci JE, Paquis-Flucklinger V. Mitochondrial defect in muscle precedes neuromuscular junction degeneration and motor neuron death in CHCHD10 S59L/+ mouse. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 138:123-145. [PMID: 30874923 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-01988-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we provided genetic basis showing that mitochondrial dysfunction can trigger motor neuron degeneration, through identification of CHCHD10 encoding a mitochondrial protein. We reported patients, carrying the p.Ser59Leu heterozygous mutation in CHCHD10, from a large family with a mitochondrial myopathy associated with motor neuron disease (MND). Rapidly, our group and others reported CHCHD10 mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia-ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we generated knock-in (KI) mice, carrying the p.Ser59Leu mutation, that mimic the mitochondrial myopathy with mtDNA instability displayed by the patients from our original family. Before 14 months of age, all KI mice developed a fatal mitochondrial cardiomyopathy associated with enhanced mitophagy. CHCHD10S59L/+ mice also displayed neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and motor neuron degeneration with hyper-fragmentation of the motor end plate and moderate but significant motor neuron loss in lumbar spinal cord at the end stage of the disease. At this stage, we observed TDP-43 cytoplasmic aggregates in spinal neurons. We also showed that motor neurons differentiated from human iPSC carrying the p.Ser59Leu mutation were much more sensitive to Staurosporine or glutamate-induced caspase activation than control cells. These data confirm that mitochondrial deficiency associated with CHCHD10 mutations can be at the origin of MND. CHCHD10 is highly expressed in the NMJ post-synaptic part. Importantly, the fragmentation of the motor end plate was associated with abnormal CHCHD10 expression that was also observed closed to NMJs which were morphologically normal. Furthermore, we found OXPHOS deficiency in muscle of CHCHD10S59L/+ mice at 3 months of age in the absence of neuron loss in spinal cord. Our data show that the pathological effects of the p.Ser59Leu mutation target muscle prior to NMJ and motor neurons. They likely lead to OXPHOS deficiency, loss of cristae junctions and destabilization of internal membrane structure within mitochondria at motor end plate of NMJ, impairing neurotransmission. These data are in favor with a key role for muscle in MND associated with CHCHD10 mutations.
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122
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Gentile F, Scarlino S, Falzone YM, Lunetta C, Tremolizzo L, Quattrini A, Riva N. The Peripheral Nervous System in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Opportunities for Translational Research. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:601. [PMID: 31293369 PMCID: PMC6603245 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has been considered as a disorder of the motor neuron (MN) cell body, recent evidences show the non-cell-autonomous pathogenic nature of the disease. Axonal degeneration, loss of peripheral axons and destruction of nerve terminals are early events in the disease pathogenic cascade, anticipating MN degeneration, and the onset of clinical symptoms. Therefore, although ALS and peripheral axonal neuropathies should be differentiated in clinical practice, they also share damage to common molecular pathways, including axonal transport, RNA metabolism and proteostasis. Thus, an extensive evaluation of the molecular events occurring in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) could be fundamental to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of ALS, favoring the discovery of potential disease biomarkers, and new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Gentile
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Scarlino
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Yuri Matteo Falzone
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Lucio Tremolizzo
- Neurology Unit, ALS Clinic, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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123
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The current review analyzes recent findings that suggest that axon degeneration is a druggable process in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and a subset of traumas. RECENT FINDINGS Emerging evidence reveals that axon degeneration is an active and regulated process in the early progression of some neurodegenerative diseases and acute traumas, which is orchestrated through a combination of axon-intrinsic and somatically derived signaling events. The identification of these pathways has presented appealing drug targets whose specificity for the nervous system and phenotypes in mouse models offers significant clinical opportunity. SUMMARY As the biology of axon degeneration becomes clear, so too has the realization that the pathways driving axon degeneration overlap in part with those that drive neuronal apoptosis and, importantly, axon regeneration. Axon-specific disorders like those seen in CIPN, where injury signaling to the nucleus is not a prominent feature, have been shown to benefit from disruption of Sarm1. In injury and disease contexts, where involvement of somatic events is prominent, inhibition of the MAP Kinase DLK exhibits promise for neuroprotection. Here, however, interfering with somatic signaling may preclude the ability of an axon or a circuit to regenerate or functionally adapt following acute injuries.
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124
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Mitochondrial Transport and Turnover in the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. BIOLOGY 2019; 8:biology8020036. [PMID: 31083575 PMCID: PMC6627920 DOI: 10.3390/biology8020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 01/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Neurons are high-energy consuming cells, heavily dependent on mitochondria for ATP generation and calcium buffering. These mitochondrial functions are particularly critical at specific cellular sites, where ionic currents impose a large energetic burden, such as at synapses. The highly polarized nature of neurons, with extremely large axoplasm relative to the cell body, requires mitochondria to be efficiently transported along microtubules to reach distant sites. Furthermore, neurons are post-mitotic cells that need to maintain pools of healthy mitochondria throughout their lifespan. Hence, mitochondrial transport and turnover are essential processes for neuronal survival and function. In neurodegenerative diseases, the maintenance of a healthy mitochondrial network is often compromised. Numerous lines of evidence indicate that mitochondrial impairment contributes to neuronal demise in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), where degeneration of motor neurons causes a fatal muscle paralysis. Dysfunctional mitochondria accumulate in motor neurons affected by genetic or sporadic forms of ALS, strongly suggesting that the inability to maintain a healthy pool of mitochondria plays a pathophysiological role in the disease. This article critically reviews current hypotheses on mitochondrial involvement in the pathogenesis of ALS, focusing on the alterations of mitochondrial axonal transport and turnover in motor neurons.
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125
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Ding C, Hammarlund M. Mechanisms of injury-induced axon degeneration. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2019; 57:171-178. [PMID: 31071521 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 03/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Injury-induced axon degeneration in model organisms and cell culture has emerged as an area of growing interest due to its experimental tractability and to the promise of identifying conserved mechanisms that mediate axon loss in human disease. Injury-induced axon degeneration is also observed within the well-studied process of Wallerian degeneration, a complex phenomenon triggered by axon injury to peripheral nerves in mammals. Recent studies have led to the identification of key molecular components of injury-induced axon degeneration. Axon survival factors, such as NMNAT2, act to protect injured axons from degeneration. By contrast, factors such as SARM1, MAPK, and PHR1 act to promote degeneration. The coordinated activity of these factors determines axon fate after injury. Since axon loss is an early feature of neurodegenerative diseases, it is possible that understanding the molecular mechanism of injury-induced degeneration will lead to new treatments for axon loss in neurodegenerative disease. Here, we discuss the critical pathways for injury-induced axon degeneration across species with an emphasis on their interactions in an integrated signaling network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Ding
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, United States
| | - Marc Hammarlund
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University, New Haven, United States; Department of Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, United States.
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126
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Zalfa C, Rota Nodari L, Vacchi E, Gelati M, Profico D, Boido M, Binda E, De Filippis L, Copetti M, Garlatti V, Daniele P, Rosati J, De Luca A, Pinos F, Cajola L, Visioli A, Mazzini L, Vercelli A, Svelto M, Vescovi AL, Ferrari D. Transplantation of clinical-grade human neural stem cells reduces neuroinflammation, prolongs survival and delays disease progression in the SOD1 rats. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:345. [PMID: 31024007 PMCID: PMC6484011 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1582-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Stem cells are emerging as a therapeutic option for incurable diseases, such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). However, critical issues are related to their origin as well as to the need to deepen our knowledge of the therapeutic actions exerted by these cells. Here, we investigate the therapeutic potential of clinical-grade human neural stem cells (hNSCs) that have been successfully used in a recently concluded phase I clinical trial for ALS patients (NCT01640067). The hNSCs were transplanted bilaterally into the anterior horns of the lumbar spinal cord (four grafts each, segments L3–L4) of superoxide dismutase 1 G93A transgenic rats (SOD1 rats) at the symptomatic stage. Controls included untreated SOD1 rats (CTRL) and those treated with HBSS (HBSS). Motor symptoms and histological hallmarks of the disease were evaluated at three progressive time points: 15 and 40 days after transplant (DAT), and end stage. Animals were treated by transient immunosuppression (for 15 days, starting at time of transplantation). Under these conditions, hNSCs integrated extensively within the cord, differentiated into neural phenotypes and migrated rostro-caudally, up to 3.77 ± 0.63 cm from the injection site. The transplanted cells delayed decreases in body weight and deterioration of motor performance in the SOD1 rats. At 40DAT, the anterior horns at L3–L4 revealed a higher density of motoneurons and fewer activated astroglial and microglial cells. Accordingly, the overall survival of transplanted rats was significantly enhanced with no rejection of hNSCs observed. We demonstrated that the beneficial effects observed after stem cell transplantation arises from multiple events that counteract several aspects of the disease, a crucial feature for multifactorial diseases, such as ALS. The combination of therapeutic approaches that target different pathogenic mechanisms of the disorder, including pharmacology, molecular therapy and cell transplantation, will increase the chances of a clinically successful therapy for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Zalfa
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Rota Nodari
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Vacchi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Maurizio Gelati
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Production Unit of Advanced Therapies (UPTA), Institute for Stem-Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies (ISBReMIT), 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Daniela Profico
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Production Unit of Advanced Therapies (UPTA), Institute for Stem-Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies (ISBReMIT), 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy
| | - Marina Boido
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Elena Binda
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Cancer Stem Cells Unit, Institute for Stem-Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies (ISBReMIT), 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, (FG), Italy
| | - Lidia De Filippis
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies (ISBReMIT), 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, (FG), Italy
| | - Massimiliano Copetti
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Bioinformatics Unit, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, (FG), Italy
| | - Valentina Garlatti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Daniele
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Molecular Genetics Unit, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, (FG), Italy
| | - Jessica Rosati
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Cellular Reprogramming Unit, San Giovanni Rotondo, (FG), Italy
| | - Alessandro De Luca
- Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Molecular Genetics Unit, Viale dei Cappuccini, 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, (FG), Italy
| | - Francesca Pinos
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Cajola
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Letizia Mazzini
- Centro Regionale Esperto SLA Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria "Maggiore della Carità", Novara, Italy
| | - Alessandro Vercelli
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Maria Svelto
- Department of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy
| | - Angelo Luigi Vescovi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milan, Italy. .,Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Production Unit of Advanced Therapies (UPTA), Institute for Stem-Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies (ISBReMIT), 71013, San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy. .,Department of Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
| | - Daniela Ferrari
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milan, Italy.
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Carboxyl-terminal modulator protein regulates Akt signaling during skeletal muscle atrophy in vitro and a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3920. [PMID: 30850672 PMCID: PMC6408440 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-40553-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neuromuscular disease involving motor neuron death, paralysis and, ultimately, respiratory failure. Motor neuron dysfunction leads to target skeletal muscle atrophy involving dysregulation of downstream cell survival, growth and metabolic signaling. Decreased Akt activity is linked to muscle atrophy in ALS and is associated with increased atrophy gene expression. Unfortunately, the regulating mechanism of Akt activity in atrophic muscle remains unclear. Recent research indicates a role of carboxyl-terminal modulator protein (CTMP) in Akt-signaling related neurologic dysfunction and skeletal muscle metabolism. CTMP is known to bind and reduce Akt phosphorylation and activation. We hypothesized that CTMP expression might progressively increase in ALS skeletal muscle as the disease progresses, downregulating Akt activity. We found that CTMP protein expression significantly increased in hindlimb skeletal muscle in the mSOD1G93A mouse model of ALS in late stages of the disease (P < 0.05), which negatively correlated with Akt phosphorylation over this period (R2 = -0.77). Co-immunoprecipitation of Akt revealed CTMP binding in pre-symptomatic and end-stage skeletal muscle, suggesting a possible direct role in reduced Akt signaling during disease progression. Inflammatory TNFα and downstream cellular degradation process markers for autophagy, lysosome production, and atrophy significantly increased in a pattern corresponding to increased CTMP expression and reduced Akt phosphorylation. In an in vitro model of skeletal muscle atrophy, differentiated C2C12 cells exhibited reduced Akt activity and decreased FOXO1 phosphorylation, a process known to promote transcription of atrophy genes in skeletal muscle. These results corresponded with increased Atrogin-1 expression compared to healthy control cells (P < 0.05). Transfection with CTMP siRNA significantly increased Akt phosphorylation in atrophic C2C12 cells, corresponding to significantly decreased CTMP expression. In conclusion, this is the first study to provide evidence for a link between elevated CTMP expression, downregulated Akt phosphorylation and muscle atrophy in ALS and clearly demonstrates a direct influence of CTMP on Akt phosphorylation in an in vitro muscle cell atrophy model.
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128
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Axonal Degeneration Is Mediated by Necroptosis Activation. J Neurosci 2019; 39:3832-3844. [PMID: 30850513 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0881-18.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Axonal degeneration, which contributes to functional impairment in several disorders of the nervous system, is an important target for neuroprotection. Several individual factors and subcellular events have been implicated in axonal degeneration, but researchers have so far been unable to identify an integrative signaling pathway activating this self-destructive process. Through pharmacological and genetic approaches, we tested whether necroptosis, a regulated cell-death mechanism implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, is involved in axonal degeneration. Pharmacological inhibition of the necroptotic kinase RIPK1 using necrostatin-1 strongly delayed axonal degeneration in the peripheral nervous system and CNS of wild-type mice of either sex and protected in vitro sensory axons from degeneration after mechanical and toxic insults. These effects were also observed after genetic knock-down of RIPK3, a second key regulator of necroptosis, and the downstream effector MLKL (Mixed Lineage Kinase Domain-Like). RIPK1 inhibition prevented mitochondrial fragmentation in vitro and in vivo, a typical feature of necrotic death, and inhibition of mitochondrial fission by Mdivi also resulted in reduced axonal loss in damaged nerves. Furthermore, electrophysiological analysis demonstrated that inhibition of necroptosis delays not only the morphological degeneration of axons, but also the loss of their electrophysiological function after nerve injury. Activation of the necroptotic pathway early during injury-induced axonal degeneration was made evident by increased phosphorylation of the downstream effector MLKL. Our results demonstrate that axonal degeneration proceeds by necroptosis, thus defining a novel mechanistic framework in the axonal degenerative cascade for therapeutic interventions in a wide variety of conditions that lead to neuronal loss and functional impairment.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We show that axonal degeneration triggered by diverse stimuli is mediated by the activation of the necroptotic programmed cell-death program by a cell-autonomous mechanism. This work represents a critical advance for the field since it identifies a defined degenerative pathway involved in axonal degeneration in both the peripheral nervous system and the CNS, a process that has been proposed as an early event in several neurodegenerative conditions and a major contributor to neuronal death. The identification of necroptosis as a key mechanism for axonal degeneration is an important step toward the development of novel therapeutic strategies for nervous-system disorders, particularly those related to chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathies or CNS diseases in which axonal degeneration is a common factor.
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Dysfunction of Neuromuscular Synaptic Transmission and Synaptic Vesicle Recycling in Motor Nerve Terminals of mSOD1 Transgenic Mice with Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. BIONANOSCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s12668-018-0590-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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130
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Camerino GM, Fonzino A, Conte E, De Bellis M, Mele A, Liantonio A, Tricarico D, Tarantino N, Dobrowolny G, Musarò A, Desaphy JF, De Luca A, Pierno S. Elucidating the Contribution of Skeletal Muscle Ion Channels to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in search of new therapeutic options. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3185. [PMID: 30816241 PMCID: PMC6395744 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39676-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of pathogenetic mechanisms is essential to identify new therapeutic approaches in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Here we investigated the role of the most important ion channels in skeletal muscle of an ALS animal model (MLC/SOD1G93A) carrying a mutated SOD1 exclusively in this tissue, avoiding motor-neuron involvement. Ion channels are fundamental proteins for muscle function, and also to sustain neuromuscular junction and nerve integrity. By a multivariate statistical analysis, using machine learning algorithms, we identified the discriminant genes in MLC/SOD1G93A mice. Surprisingly, the expression of ClC-1 chloride channel, present only in skeletal muscle, was reduced. Also, the expression of Protein Kinase-C, known to control ClC-1 activity, was increased, causing its inhibition. The functional characterization confirmed the reduction of ClC-1 activity, leading to hyperexcitability and impaired relaxation. The increased expression of ion channel coupled AMPA-receptor may contribute to sustained depolarization and functional impairment. Also, the decreased expression of irisin, a muscle-secreted peptide protecting brain function, may disturb muscle-nerve connection. Interestingly, the in-vitro application of chelerythrine or acetazolamide, restored ClC-1 activity and sarcolemma hyperexcitability in these mice. These findings show that ion channel function impairment in skeletal muscle may lead to motor-neuron increased vulnerability, and opens the possibility to investigate on new compounds as promising therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Maria Camerino
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Adriano Fonzino
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Elena Conte
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Michela De Bellis
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonietta Mele
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Antonella Liantonio
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Domenico Tricarico
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Nancy Tarantino
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Gabriella Dobrowolny
- DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy.,Center for Life Nano Science at Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Musarò
- DAHFMO-Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy.,Center for Life Nano Science at Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Jean-Francois Desaphy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Polyclinic, 70124, Bari, Italy
| | - Annamaria De Luca
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy
| | - Sabata Pierno
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125, Bari, Italy.
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131
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Neuromuscular magnetic stimulation counteracts muscle decline in ALS patients: results of a randomized, double-blind, controlled study. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2837. [PMID: 30808899 PMCID: PMC6391419 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39313-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to verify whether neuromuscular magnetic stimulation (NMMS) improves muscle function in spinal-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Twenty-two ALS patients were randomized in two groups to receive, daily for two weeks, NMMS in right or left arm (referred to as real-NMMS, rNMMS), and sham NMMS (sNMMS) in the opposite arm. All the patients underwent a median nerve conduction (compound muscle action potential, CMAP) study and a clinical examination that included a handgrip strength test and an evaluation of upper limb muscle strength by means of the Medical Research Council Muscle Scale (MRC). Muscle biopsy was then performed bilaterally on the flexor carpi radialis muscle to monitor morpho-functional parameters and molecular changes. Patients and physicians who performed examinations were blinded to the side of real intervention. The primary outcome was the change in the muscle strength in upper arms. The secondary outcomes were the change from baseline in the CMAP amplitudes, in the nicotinic ACh currents, in the expression levels of a selected panel of genes involved in muscle growth and atrophy, and in histomorphometric parameters of ALS muscle fibers. The Repeated Measures (RM) ANOVA with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction (sphericity not assumed) showed a significant effect [F(3, 63) = 5.907, p < 0.01] of rNMMS on MRC scale at the flexor carpi radialis muscle, thus demonstrating that the rNMMS significantly improves muscle strength in flexor muscles in the forearm. Secondary outcomes showed that the improvement observed in rNMMS-treated muscles was associated to counteracting muscle atrophy, down-modulating the proteolysis, and increasing the efficacy of nicotinic ACh receptors (AChRs). We did not observe any significant difference in pre- and post-stimulation CMAP amplitudes, evoked by median nerve stimulation. This suggests that the improvement in muscle strength observed in the stimulated arm is unlikely related to reinnervation. The real and sham treatments were well tolerated without evident side effects. Although promising, this is a proof of concept study, without an immediate clinical translation, that requires further clinical validation.
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132
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Řehořová M, Vargová I, Forostyak S, Vacková I, Turnovcová K, Kupcová Skalníková H, Vodička P, Kubinová Š, Syková E, Jendelová P. A Combination of Intrathecal and Intramuscular Application of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells Partly Reduces the Activation of Necroptosis in the Spinal Cord of SOD1 G93A Rats. Stem Cells Transl Med 2019; 8:535-547. [PMID: 30802001 PMCID: PMC6525562 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.18-0223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 02/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) in the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We compared the effect of repeated intrathecal applications of hMSC or their conditioned medium (CondM) using lumbar puncture or injection into the muscle (quadriceps femoris), or a combination of both applications in symptomatic SOD1G93A rats. We further assessed the effect of the treatment on three major cell death pathways (necroptosis, apoptosis, and autophagy) in the spinal cord tissue. All the animals were behaviorally tested (grip strength test, Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) test, and rotarod), and the tissue was analyzed immunohistochemically, by qPCR and Western blot. All symptomatic SOD1 rats treated with hMSC had a significantly increased lifespan, improved motor activity and reduced number of Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells. Moreover, a combined hMSC delivery increased motor neuron survival, maintained neuromuscular junctions in quadriceps femoris and substantially reduced the levels of proteins involved in necroptosis (Rip1, mixed lineage kinase‐like protein, cl‐casp8), apoptosis (cl‐casp 9) and autophagy (beclin 1). Furthermore, astrogliosis and elevated levels of Connexin 43 were decreased after combined hMSC treatment. The repeated application of CondM, or intramuscular injections alone, improved motor activity; however, this improvement was not supported by changes at the molecular level. Our results provide new evidence that a combination of repeated intrathecal and intramuscular hMSC applications protects motor neurons and neuromuscular junctions, not only through a reduction of apoptosis and autophagy but also through the necroptosis pathway, which is significantly involved in cell death in rodent SOD1G93A model of ALS. stem cells translational medicine2019;8:535–547
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Řehořová
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic.,Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Ingrid Vargová
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic.,Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Serhiy Forostyak
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic.,Prime Cell Advanced Therapy A.S., Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Irena Vacková
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Karolína Turnovcová
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Petr Vodička
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Science, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Šárka Kubinová
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic.,Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Syková
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Science, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Pavla Jendelová
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Science, Prague, Czech Republic.,Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
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133
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Campanari ML, Bourefis AR, Kabashi E. Diagnostic Challenge and Neuromuscular Junction Contribution to ALS Pathogenesis. Front Neurol 2019; 10:68. [PMID: 30787905 PMCID: PMC6372519 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) represents the major adult-onset motor neuron disease. Both human and animal studies reveal the critical implication of muscle and neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) in the initial phase of this disease. Despite the common efforts, ALS diagnosis remains particularly challenging since many other disorders can overlap yielding similar clinical phenotypic features. A combination of further research on the NMJ parameters that are specific for this disease and laboratory tests are crucial for the early determination of specific changes in the muscle, as well as in motor neuron and the prediction of ALS progression. Also, it could provide a powerful tool in the discrimination of particular ALS and ALS-mimic cases and increase the efficacy of therapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Letizia Campanari
- Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université de Paris 06, Unité Mixte 75, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225 Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, Paris, France.,Imagine Institute, INSERM Unité 1163, Paris Descartes Université, Paris, France
| | - Annis-Rayan Bourefis
- Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université de Paris 06, Unité Mixte 75, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225 Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, Paris, France.,Imagine Institute, INSERM Unité 1163, Paris Descartes Université, Paris, France
| | - Edor Kabashi
- Sorbonne Université, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Université de Paris 06, Unité Mixte 75, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité 1127, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7225 Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière, Paris, France.,Imagine Institute, INSERM Unité 1163, Paris Descartes Université, Paris, France
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134
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Histone deacetylase 4 protects from denervation and skeletal muscle atrophy in a murine model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. EBioMedicine 2019; 40:717-732. [PMID: 30713114 PMCID: PMC6414308 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2019.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Histone deacetylase 4 (HDAC4) has been proposed as a target for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) because it mediates nerve-skeletal muscle interaction and since its expression in skeletal muscle correlates with the severity of the disease. However, our recent studies on the skeletal muscle response upon long-term denervation highlighted the importance of HDAC4 in maintaining muscle integrity. Methods To fully identify the yet uncharacterized HDAC4 functions in ALS, we genetically deleted HDAC4 in skeletal muscles of a mouse model of ALS. Body weight, skeletal muscle, innervation and spinal cord were analyzed over time by morphological and molecular analyses. Transcriptome analysis was also performed to delineate the signaling modulated by HDAC4 in skeletal muscle of a mouse model of ALS. Findings HDAC4 deletion in skeletal muscle caused earlier ALS onset, characterized by body weight loss, muscle denervation and atrophy, and compromised muscle performance, although the main catabolic pathways were not activated. Transcriptome analysis identified the gene networks modulated by HDAC4 in ALS, revealing UCP1 as a top regulator that may be implicated in worsening ALS features. Interpretation HDAC4 plays an important role in preserving innervations and skeletal muscle in ALS, likely by modulating the UCP1 gene network. Our study highlights a possible risk in considering HDAC inhibitors for the treatment of ALS. Fund This work was supported by FIRB grant (RBFR12BUMH) from Ministry of Education, Universities and Research, by Fondazione Veronesi, by Sapienza research project 2017 (RM11715C78539BD8) and Polish National Science Center grant (UMO-2016/21/B/NZ3/03638).
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135
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Pegoraro V, Merico A, Angelini C. MyomiRNAs Dysregulation in ALS Rehabilitation. Brain Sci 2019; 9:brainsci9010008. [PMID: 30634563 PMCID: PMC6356197 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder caused by degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. The disease process leads, because of lower motor neuron involvement, to progressive muscle atrophy, weakness, and fasciculations and for the upper motor neuron involvement leads to spasticity. Muscle atrophy in ALS is caused by a neural dysregulation in the molecular network controlling fast and slow muscle fibers. Denervation and reinnervation processes in skeletal muscle occur in the course of ALS and are modulated by rehabilitation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that are involved in different biological functions under various pathophysiological conditions. MiRNAs can be secreted by various cell types and they are markedly stable in body fluids. MiR-1, miR-133 a miR-133b, and miR-206 are called “myomiRs” and are considered markers of myogenesis during muscle regeneration and contribute to neuromuscular junction stabilization or sprouting. We observed a positive effect of a standard aerobic exercise rehabilitative protocol conducted for six weeks in 18 ALS patients during hospitalization in our center. This is a preliminary study, in which we correlated clinical scales with molecular data on myomiRs. After six weeks of moderate aerobic exercise, we found lower levels in serum of myomiRNAs. Our data suggest that circulating miRNAs changed during skeletal muscle recovery in response to physical rehabilitation in ALS. However, no firm conclusions can be made on the ALS-specific effect of exercise on miRNA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Pegoraro
- Fondazione Ospedale San Camillo IRCCS, via Alberoni 70, 30126 Venezia, Italy.
| | - Antonio Merico
- Fondazione Ospedale San Camillo IRCCS, via Alberoni 70, 30126 Venezia, Italy.
| | - Corrado Angelini
- Fondazione Ospedale San Camillo IRCCS, via Alberoni 70, 30126 Venezia, Italy.
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So E, Mitchell JC, Memmi C, Chennell G, Vizcay-Barrena G, Allison L, Shaw CE, Vance C. Mitochondrial abnormalities and disruption of the neuromuscular junction precede the clinical phenotype and motor neuron loss in hFUSWT transgenic mice. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:463-474. [PMID: 29194538 PMCID: PMC5886082 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
FUS (fused in sarcoma) mislocalization and cytoplasmic aggregation are hallmark pathologies in FUS-related amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Many of the mechanistic hypotheses have focused on a loss of nuclear function in the FUS-opathies, implicating dysregulated RNA transcription and splicing in driving neurodegeneration. Recent studies describe an additional somato-dendritic localization for FUS in the cerebral cortex implying a regulatory role in mRNA transport and local translation at the synapse. Here, we report that FUS is also abundant at the pre-synaptic terminal of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), suggesting an important function for this protein at peripheral synapses. We have previously reported dose and age-dependent motor neuron degeneration in transgenic mice overexpressing human wild-type FUS, resulting in a motor phenotype detected by ∼28 days and death by ∼100 days. Now, we report the earliest structural events using electron microscopy and quantitative immunohistochemistry. Mitochondrial abnormalities in the pre-synaptic motor nerve terminals are detected at postnatal day 6, which are more pronounced at P15 and accompanied by a loss of synaptic vesicles and synaptophysin protein coupled with NMJs of a smaller size at a time when there is no detectable motor neuron loss. These changes occur in the presence of abundant FUS and support a peripheral toxic gain of function. This appearance is typical of a ‘dying-back’ axonopathy, with the earliest manifestation being mitochondrial disruption. These findings support our hypothesis that FUS has an important function at the NMJ, and challenge the ‘loss of nuclear function’ hypothesis for disease pathogenesis in the FUS-opathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva So
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience
| | | | | | - George Chennell
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience.,Wohl Cellular Imaging Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Denmark Hill, London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Gema Vizcay-Barrena
- Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, King's College London, New Hunts House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Leanne Allison
- Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging, King's College London, New Hunts House, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
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137
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De Paola E, Verdile V, Paronetto MP. Dysregulation of microRNA metabolism in motor neuron diseases: Novel biomarkers and potential therapeutics. Noncoding RNA Res 2018; 4:15-22. [PMID: 30891533 PMCID: PMC6404378 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last 15 years, several classes of small regulatory RNAs have been identified, uncovering the widespread impact of non-coding elements in the human genome on cell homeostasis and human diseases. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small, non-coding RNAs, which exert silencing of mRNA targets in a sequence-dependent fashion. Many miRNAs are specifically expressed in the central nervous system, where they display roles in differentiation, neuronal survival, neuronal plasticity and learning. On the other hand, deregulated miRNA/mRNA expression networks are deeply involved in neurodegeneration. Recent findings suggest a role for miRNAs in the pathogenesis of motor neuron diseases. In particular, cell-specific changes in miRNA profile are involved in the motor neuron disease phenotype and might be implicated in their selective vulnerability. Exploitation of noncoding RNAs, in particular miRNAs, for therapeutic strategies is being assessed for implementing current therapies. In this regard, the neuroprotective potential of certain miRNAs could represent a promising potential tool to improve therapies for motor-neuron diseases. This review focuses on emerging roles of miRNAs in motor neuron diseases and on their impact on neuron life-span and integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa De Paola
- University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15, 00135, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Veronica Verdile
- University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15, 00135, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Paola Paronetto
- University of Rome "Foro Italico", Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15, 00135, Rome, Italy.,Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano, 64, 00143, Rome, Italy
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138
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Morgan S, Duguez S, Duddy W. Personalized Medicine and Molecular Interaction Networks in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): Current Knowledge. J Pers Med 2018; 8:E44. [PMID: 30551677 PMCID: PMC6313785 DOI: 10.3390/jpm8040044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple genes and mechanisms of pathophysiology have been implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), suggesting it is a complex systemic disease. With this in mind, applying personalized medicine (PM) approaches to tailor treatment pipelines for ALS patients may be necessary. The modelling and analysis of molecular interaction networks could represent valuable resources in defining ALS-associated pathways and discovering novel therapeutic targets. Here we review existing omics datasets and analytical approaches, in order to consider how molecular interaction networks could improve our understanding of the molecular pathophysiology of this fatal neuromuscular disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Morgan
- Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine, Altnagelvin Hospital Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry, BT47 6SB, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Stephanie Duguez
- Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine, Altnagelvin Hospital Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry, BT47 6SB, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - William Duddy
- Northern Ireland Centre for Stratified Medicine, Altnagelvin Hospital Campus, Ulster University, Londonderry, BT47 6SB, Northern Ireland, UK.
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139
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Xiao Y, Karam C, Yi J, Zhang L, Li X, Yoon D, Wang H, Dhakal K, Ramlow P, Yu T, Mo Z, Ma J, Zhou J. ROS-related mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle of an ALS mouse model during the disease progression. Pharmacol Res 2018; 138:25-36. [PMID: 30236524 PMCID: PMC6263743 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress form a vicious cycle that promotes neurodegeneration and muscle wasting. To quantify the disease-stage-dependent changes of mitochondrial function and their relationship to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), we generated double transgenic mice (G93A/cpYFP) that carry human ALS mutation SOD1G93A and mt-cpYFP transgenes, in which mt-cpYFP detects dynamic changes of ROS-related mitoflash events at individual mitochondria level. Compared with wild type mice, mitoflash activity in the SOD1G93A (G93A) mouse muscle showed an increased flashing frequency prior to the onset of ALS symptom (at the age of 2 months), whereas the onset of ALS symptoms (at the age of 4 months) is associated with drastic changes in the kinetics property of mitoflash signal with prolonged full duration at half maximum (FDHM). Elevated levels of cytosolic ROS in skeletal muscle derived from the SOD1G93A mice were confirmed with fluorescent probes, MitoSOX™ Red and ROS Brite™570. Immunoblotting analysis of subcellular mitochondrial fractionation of G93A muscle revealed an increased expression level of cyclophilin D (CypD), a regulatory component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), at the age of 4 months but not at the age of 2 months. Transient overexpressing of SOD1G93A in skeletal muscle of wild type mice directly promoted mitochondrial ROS production with an enhanced mitoflash activity in the absence of motor neuron axonal withdrawal. Remarkably, the SOD1G93A-induced mitoflash activity was attenuated by the application of cyclosporine A (CsA), an inhibitor of CypD. Similar to the observation with the SOD1G93A transgenic mice, an increased expression level of CypD was also detected in skeletal muscle following transient overexpression of SOD1G93A. Overall, this study reveals a disease-stage-dependent change in mitochondrial function that is associated with CypD-dependent mPTP opening; and the ALS mutation SOD1G93A directly contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction in the absence of motor neuron axonal withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajuan Xiao
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Kansas City, USA; Rush University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chehade Karam
- Rush University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jianxun Yi
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Kansas City, USA; Rush University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Lin Zhang
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Kansas City, USA; Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi, China
| | - Xuejun Li
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Kansas City, USA
| | - Dosuk Yoon
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Kansas City, USA
| | - Huan Wang
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Kansas City, USA
| | - Kamal Dhakal
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Kansas City, USA
| | - Paul Ramlow
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Kansas City, USA
| | - Tian Yu
- Zunyi Medical College, Zunyi, China
| | - Zhaohui Mo
- 3rd Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jianjie Ma
- Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Jingsong Zhou
- Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience, Kansas City, USA; Rush University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
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140
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Sun X, Song J, Huang H, Chen H, Qian K. Modeling hallmark pathology using motor neurons derived from the family and sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient-specific iPS cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2018; 9:315. [PMID: 30442180 PMCID: PMC6238404 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-1048-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) represents a devastating, progressive, heterogeneous, and the most common motor neuron (MN) disease. To date, no cure has been available for the condition. Studies with transgenic mice have yielded significant results that help us understand the underlying mechanisms of ALS. Nonetheless, none of more than 30 large clinical trials over the past 20 years proved successful, which led some researchers to challenge the validity of the preclinical models. Methods Human-induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) were established by introducing Sendai virus into fibroblast cells. We established TDP-43 HES by inserting CAG-TDP43 (G298S) cassette or the CAG-EGFP cassette into PPP1R12C-locus of human embryonic stem cells (ESC, H9) by TALEN-mediated homologous recombination. iPSCs or HESC were differentiated to motor neurons and non-motor neuron as control. Relevant biomarkers were detected in different differentiated stages. TDP-43 aggregates, neurofilament, and mitochondria analyses were performed. Results In this study, using iPSCs-derived human MN from an ALS patient with a TDP43 G298S mutation and two sporadic ALS patients, we showed that both sporadic and familial ALS were characterized by TDP-43 aggregates in the surviving MN. Significantly higher neurofilament (NF) inclusion was also found in ALS MN compared with wild-type (WT) GM15 controls (P < 0.05). The neurite mitochondria density was significantly lower in ALS MN than that in the control MNs. Transgenesis of TDP-43 G298S into AAVS locus in human embryonic stem cells reproduced phenotype of patient-derived G289S MN. By challenging MNs with a proteasome inhibitor, we found that MNs were more vulnerable to MG132, with some accompanying phenotype changes, such as TDP43 translocation, NF inclusion, mitochondria distribution impairment, and activation of caspase3. Conclusions Our results suggested that changes in TDP43 protein, NF inclusion, and distribution impairment of mitochondria are common early pathology both in familial and sporadic ALS. These findings will help us gain insight into the pathogenesis of the condition and screen relevant drugs for the disease. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-018-1048-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejiao Sun
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jianyuan Song
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hailong Huang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Kun Qian
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medicine College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Jiefang Avenue 1095, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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141
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Pal A, Glaß H, Naumann M, Kreiter N, Japtok J, Sczech R, Hermann A. High content organelle trafficking enables disease state profiling as powerful tool for disease modelling. Sci Data 2018; 5:180241. [PMID: 30422121 PMCID: PMC6233479 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2018.241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases pose a complex field with various neuronal subtypes and distinct differentially affected intra-neuronal compartments. Modelling of neurodegeneration requires faithful in vitro separation of axons and dendrites, their distal and proximal compartments as well as organelle tracking with defined retrograde versus anterograde directionality. We use microfluidic chambers to achieve compartmentalization and established high throughput live organelle imaging at standardized distal and proximal axonal readout sites in iPSC-derived spinal motor neuron cultures from human amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients to study trafficking phenotypes of potential disease relevance. Our semi-automated pipeline of organelle tracking with FIJI and KNIME yields quantitative, multiparametric high content phenotypic signatures of organelle morphology and their trafficking in axons. We provide here the resultant large datasets to enable systemic signature interrogations for comprehensive and predictive disease modelling, mechanistic dissection and secondary hit validation (e.g. drug screens, genetic screens). Due to the nearly complete coverage of analysed motility events, our quantitative method yields a bias-free statistical power superior over common analyses of a handful of manual kymographs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Pal
- Division of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Hannes Glaß
- Division of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marcel Naumann
- Division of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Nicole Kreiter
- Division of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Julia Japtok
- Division of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ronny Sczech
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Division of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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142
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Vaughan SK, Sutherland NM, Zhang S, Hatzipetros T, Vieira F, Valdez G. The ALS-inducing factors, TDP43 A315T and SOD1 G93A, directly affect and sensitize sensory neurons to stress. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16582. [PMID: 30410094 PMCID: PMC6224462 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34510-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increased recognition that sensory neurons located in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) are affected in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, it remains unknown whether ALS-inducing factors, other than mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G93A), directly affect sensory neurons. Here, we examined the effect of mutant TAR DNA-binding protein 1 (TDP43A315T) on sensory neurons in culture and in vivo. In parallel, we reevaluated sensory neurons expressing SOD1G93A. We found that cultured sensory neurons harboring either TDP43A315T or SOD1G93A grow neurites at a slower rate and elaborate fewer neuritic branches compared to control neurons. The presence of either ALS-causing mutant gene also sensitizes sensory neurons to vincristine, a microtubule inhibitor that causes axonal degeneration. Interestingly, these experiments revealed that cultured sensory neurons harboring TDP43A315T elaborate shorter and less complex neurites, and are more sensitive to vincristine compared to controls and to SOD1G93A expressing sensory neurons. Additionally, levels of two molecules involved in stress responses, ATF3 and PERK are significantly different between sensory neurons harboring TDP43A315T to those with SOD1G93A in vitro and in vivo. These findings demonstrate that sensory neurons are directly affected by two ALS-inducing factors, suggesting important roles for this neuronal subpopulation in ALS-related pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney K Vaughan
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
- Graduate Program in Translational Biology, Medicine and Health, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | | | - Sihui Zhang
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, Virginia, USA
| | | | | | - Gregorio Valdez
- Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, Roanoke, Virginia, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
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143
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Bereman MS, Beri J, Enders JR, Nash T. Machine Learning Reveals Protein Signatures in CSF and Plasma Fluids of Clinical Value for ALS. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16334. [PMID: 30397248 PMCID: PMC6218542 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-34642-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We use shotgun proteomics to identify biomarkers of diagnostic and prognostic value in individuals diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Matched cerebrospinal and plasma fluids were subjected to abundant protein depletion and analyzed by nano-flow liquid chromatography high resolution tandem mass spectrometry. Label free quantitation was used to identify differential proteins between individuals with ALS (n = 33) and healthy controls (n = 30) in both fluids. In CSF, 118 (p-value < 0.05) and 27 proteins (q-value < 0.05) were identified as significantly altered between ALS and controls. In plasma, 20 (p-value < 0.05) and 0 (q-value < 0.05) proteins were identified as significantly altered between ALS and controls. Proteins involved in complement activation, acute phase response and retinoid signaling pathways were significantly enriched in the CSF from ALS patients. Subsequently various machine learning methods were evaluated for disease classification using a repeated Monte Carlo cross-validation approach. A linear discriminant analysis model achieved a median area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.94 with an interquartile range of 0.88–1.0. Three proteins composed a prognostic model (p = 5e-4) that explained 49% of the variation in the ALS-FRS scores. Finally we investigated the specificity of two promising proteins from our discovery data set, chitinase-3 like 1 protein and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, using targeted proteomics in a separate set of CSF samples derived from individuals diagnosed with ALS (n = 11) and other neurological diseases (n = 15). These results demonstrate the potential of a panel of targeted proteins for objective measurements of clinical value in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S Bereman
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA. .,Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA. .,Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA.
| | - Joshua Beri
- Department of Chemistry, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Enders
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
| | - Tara Nash
- Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695, USA
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144
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Howells J, Matamala JM, Park SB, Garg N, Vucic S, Bostock H, Burke D, Kiernan MC. In vivo evidence for reduced ion channel expression in motor axons of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Physiol 2018; 596:5379-5396. [PMID: 30175403 DOI: 10.1113/jp276624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS The progressive loss of motor units in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is initially compensated for by the reinnervation of denervated muscle fibres by surviving motor axons. A disruption in protein homeostasis is thought to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of ALS. The changes in surviving motor neurons were studied by comparing the nerve excitability properties of moderately and severely affected single motor axons from patients with ALS with those from single motor axons in control subjects. A mathematical model indicated that approximately 99% of the differences between the ALS and control units could be explained by a non-selective reduction in the expression of all ion channels. These changes in ALS patients are best explained by a failure in the supply of ion channel and other membrane proteins from the diseased motor neuron. ABSTRACT Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by a progressive loss of motor units and the reinnervation of denervated muscle fibres by surviving motor axons. This reinnervation preserves muscle function until symptom onset, when some 60-80% of motor units have been lost. We have studied the changes in surviving motor neurons by comparing the nerve excitability properties of 31 single motor axons from patients with ALS with those from 21 single motor axons in control subjects. ALS motor axons were classified as coming from moderately or severely affected muscles according to the compound muscle action potential amplitude of the parent muscle. Compared with control units, thresholds were increased, and there was reduced inward and outward rectification and greater superexcitability following a conditioning impulse. These abnormalities were greater in axons from severely affected muscles, and were correlated with loss of fine motor skills. A mathematical model indicated that 99.1% of the differences between the moderately affected ALS and control units could be explained by a reduction in the expression of all ion channels. For the severely affected units, modelling required, in addition, an increase in the current leak through and under the myelin sheath. This might be expected if the anchoring proteins responsible for the paranodal seal were reduced. We conclude that changes in axonal excitability identified in ALS patients are best explained by a failure in the supply of ion channel and other membrane proteins from the diseased motor neuron, a conclusion consistent with recent animal and in vitro human data.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Howells
- Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Susanna B Park
- Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nidhi Garg
- Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Departments of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hugh Bostock
- MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, London, UK.,Institute of Neurology, UCL, Queen Square, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - David Burke
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain & Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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145
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Numata-Uematsu Y, Wakatsuki S, Nagano S, Shibata M, Sakai K, Ichinohe N, Mikoshiba K, Ohshima T, Yamashita N, Goshima Y, Araki T. Inhibition of collapsin response mediator protein-2 phosphorylation ameliorates motor phenotype of ALS model mice expressing SOD1G93A. Neurosci Res 2018; 139:63-68. [PMID: 30194029 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurological disease characterized by the selective degeneration of motor neurons leading to paralysis and immobility. Missense mutations in the gene coding for the Cu2+/Zn2+ superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) accounts for 15-20% of familial ALS, and mice overexpressing ALS-linked SOD1 mutants have been frequently used as an animal model for ALS. Degeneration of motor neurons in ALS progresses in a manner called "dying back", in which the degeneration of synapses and axons precedes the loss of cell bodies. Phosphorylation of collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) is implicated in the progression of neuronal/axonal degeneration of different etiologies. To evaluate the role of CRMP2 phosphorylation in ALS pathogenesis, we utilized CRMP2 S522A knock-in (CRMP2ki/ki) mice, in which the serine residue 522 was homozygously replaced with alanine and thereby making CRMP2 no longer phosphorylatable by CDK5 or GSK3B. We found that the CRMP2ki/ki/SOD1G93A mice showed delay in the progression of the motor phenotype compared to their SOD1G93-Tg littermates. Histological analysis revealed that the CRMP2ki/ki/SOD1G93A mice retained more intact axons and NMJs than their SOD1G93A-Tg littermates. These results suggest that the phosphorylation of CRMP2 may contribute to the axonal degeneration of motor neurons in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yurika Numata-Uematsu
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan
| | - Shuji Wakatsuki
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan
| | - Seiichi Nagano
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan; Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Megumi Shibata
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Sakai
- Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan
| | - Noritaka Ichinohe
- Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Mikoshiba
- Laboratory for Developmental Neurobiology, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Japan
| | - Toshio Ohshima
- Laboratory for Molecular Brain Science, Department of Life Science and Medical Bioscience, Waseda University, Japan
| | - Naoya Yamashita
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan; Department of Pharmacology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Yoshiro Goshima
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Neurobiology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Araki
- Department of Peripheral Nervous System Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.
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146
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Transplantation of human bone marrow stem cells into symptomatic ALS mice enhances structural and functional blood-spinal cord barrier repair. Exp Neurol 2018; 310:33-47. [PMID: 30172620 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2018] [Revised: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence shows alterations in the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) in ALS patients and in animal models of disease, mainly by endothelial cell (EC) damage. Repair of the altered barrier in the CNS by replacement of ECs via cell transplantation may be a new therapeutic approach for ALS. Recently, we demonstrated positive effects towards BSCB repair by intravenous administration of unmodified human bone marrow CD34+ (hBM34+) cells at different doses into symptomatic ALS mice. However, particular benefits of these transplanted cells on microvascular integrity in symptomatic ALS mice are still unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine the structural and functional spinal cord capillary integrity in symptomatic ALS mice after intravenous administration of hBM34+ cells. The G93A mice at 13 weeks of age intravenously received one of three different cell doses (5 × 104, 5 × 105, or 1 × 106) and were euthanized at 17 weeks of age (4 weeks post-transplant). Control groups were media-treated and non-carrier mutant SOD1 gene mice. Capillary ultrastructural (electron microscopy), immunohistochemical (laminin and HuNu), and histological (myelin and capillary density) analyses were performed in the cervical and lumbar spinal cords. Capillary permeability in the spinal cords was determined by Evans Blue (EB) injection. Results showed significant restoration of ultrastructural capillary morphology, improvement of basement membrane integrity, enhancement of axonal myelin coherence, and stabilization of capillary density in the spinal cords primarily of ALS mice receiving the high dose of 1 × 106 cells. Moreover, substantial reduction of parenchymal EB levels was determined in these mice, confirming our previous results on capillary permeability. Additionally, transplanted cells were detected in blood smears of sacrificed late symptomatic mice by HuNu marker. Altogether, these results provide novel evidence that unmodified bone marrow hematopoietic stem cell treatment at optimal dose might be beneficial for structural and functional repair of the damaged BSCB in advanced stage of ALS, potentially resulting in delayed disease progression by increased motor neuron survival.
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147
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Commisso B, Ding L, Varadi K, Gorges M, Bayer D, Boeckers TM, Ludolph AC, Kassubek J, Müller OJ, Roselli F. Stage-dependent remodeling of projections to motor cortex in ALS mouse model revealed by a new variant retrograde-AAV9. eLife 2018; 7:36892. [PMID: 30136928 PMCID: PMC6125125 DOI: 10.7554/elife.36892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive degeneration of motoneurons in the primary motor cortex (pMO) and in spinal cord. However, the pathogenic process involves multiple subnetworks in the brain and functional MRI studies demonstrate an increase in functional connectivity in areas connected to pMO despite the ongoing neurodegeneration. The extent and the structural basis of the motor subnetwork remodeling in experimentally tractable models remain unclear. We have developed a new retrograde AAV9 to quantitatively map the projections to pMO in the SOD1(G93A) ALS mouse model. We show an increase in the number of neurons projecting from somatosensory cortex to pMO at presymptomatic stages, followed by an increase in projections from thalamus, auditory cortex and contralateral MO (inputs from 20 other structures remains unchanged) as disease advances. The stage- and structure-dependent remodeling of projection to pMO in ALS may provide insights into the hyperconnectivity observed in ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lingjun Ding
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Karl Varadi
- Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Gorges
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - David Bayer
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Department of Anatomy and Cell biology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Jan Kassubek
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Oliver J Müller
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.,Department of Anatomy and Cell biology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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148
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Gatto RG, Amin MY, Deyoung D, Hey M, Mareci TH, Magin RL. Ultra-High Field Diffusion MRI Reveals Early Axonal Pathology in Spinal Cord of ALS mice. Transl Neurodegener 2018; 7:20. [PMID: 30128146 PMCID: PMC6097419 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-018-0122-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease characterized by a progressive degeneration of motor neurons leading to paralysis. Our previous MRI diffusion tensor imaging studies detected early white matter changes in the spinal cords of mice carrying the G93A-SOD1 mutation. Here, we extend those studies using ultra-high field MRI (17.6 T) and fluorescent microscopy to investigate the appearance of early structural and connectivity changes in the spinal cords of ALS mice. Methods The spinal cords from presymptomatic and symptomatic mice (80 to 120 days of age) were scanned (ex-vivo) using diffusion-weighted MRI. The fractional anisotropy (FA), axial (AD) and radial (RD) diffusivities were calculated for axial slices from the thoracic, cervical and lumbar regions of the spinal cords. The diffusion parameters were compared with fluorescence microscopy and membrane cellular markers from the same tissue regions. Results At early stages of the disease (day 80) in the lumbar region, we found, a 19% decrease in FA, a 9% decrease in AD and a 35% increase in RD. Similar changes were observed in cervical and thoracic spinal cord regions. Differences between control and ALS mice groups at the symptomatic stages (day 120) were larger. Quantitative fluorescence microscopy at 80 days, demonstrated a 22% reduction in axonal area and a 22% increase in axonal density. Tractography and quantitative connectome analyses measured by edge weights showed a 52% decrease in the lumbar regions of the spinal cords of this ALS mice group. A significant increase in ADC (23.3%) in the ALS mice group was related to an increase in aquaporin markers. Conclusions These findings suggest that the combination of ultra-high field diffusion MRI with fluorescent ALS mice reporters is a useful approach to detect and characterize presymptomatic white matter micro-ultrastructural changes and axonal connectivity anomalies in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo G Gatto
- 1Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, 808 S. Wood St. Rm 578 M/C 512, Chicago, IL 60612 USA
| | - Manish Y Amin
- 2Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Daniel Deyoung
- 2Department of Physics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Matthew Hey
- 3Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Thomas H Mareci
- 4Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Richard L Magin
- 5Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
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149
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Gatto RG, Li W, Gao J, Magin RL. In vivo diffusion MRI detects early spinal cord axonal pathology in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. NMR IN BIOMEDICINE 2018; 31:e3954. [PMID: 30117615 DOI: 10.1002/nbm.3954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exhibits contrast that identifies macro- and microstructural changes in neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies have shown that MR diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can observe changes in spinal cord white matter in animals and humans affected with symptomatic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The goal of this preclinical work was to investigate the sensitivity of DTI for the detection of signs of tissue damage before symptoms appear. High-field MRI data were acquired using a 9.4-T animal scanner to examine the spinal cord of an ALS mouse model at pre- and post-symptomatic stages (days 80 and 120, respectively). The MRI results were validated using yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) via optical microscopy of spinal cord tissue slices collected from the YFP,G93A-SOD1 mouse strain. DTI maps of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) signal intensity, mean diffusivity (MD), fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AD) and radial diffusivity (RD) were computed for axial slices of the lumbar region of the spinal cord. Significant changes were observed in FA (6.7% decrease, p < 0.01), AD (19.5% decrease, p < 0.01) and RD (16.1% increase, p < 0.001) at postnatal day 80 (P80). These differences were correlated with changes in axonal fluorescence intensity and membrane cellular markers. This study demonstrates the value of DTI as a potential tool to detect the underlying pathological progression associated with ALS, and may accelerate the discovery of therapeutic strategies for patients with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo G Gatto
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Weiguo Li
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Bioengineering, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jin Gao
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Bioengineering, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Richard L Magin
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Bioengineering, Chicago, IL, USA
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150
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Arginine Methyltransferase PRMT8 Provides Cellular Stress Tolerance in Aging Motoneurons. J Neurosci 2018; 38:7683-7700. [PMID: 30054395 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3389-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging contributes to cellular stress and neurodegeneration. Our understanding is limited regarding the tissue-restricted mechanisms providing protection in postmitotic cells throughout life. Here, we show that spinal cord motoneurons exhibit a high abundance of asymmetric dimethyl arginines (ADMAs) and the presence of this posttranslational modification provides protection against environmental stress. We identify protein arginine methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8) as a tissue-restricted enzyme responsible for proper ADMA level in postmitotic neurons. Male PRMT8 knock-out mice display decreased muscle strength with aging due to premature destabilization of neuromuscular junctions. Mechanistically, inhibition of methyltransferase activity or loss of PRMT8 results in accumulation of unrepaired DNA double-stranded breaks and decrease in the cAMP response-element-binding protein 1 (CREB1) level. As a consequence, the expression of CREB1-mediated prosurvival and regeneration-associated immediate early genes is dysregulated in aging PRMT8 knock-out mice. The uncovered role of PRMT8 represents a novel mechanism of stress tolerance in long-lived postmitotic neurons and identifies PRMT8 as a tissue-specific therapeutic target in the prevention of motoneuron degeneration.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Although most of the cells in our body have a very short lifespan, postmitotic neurons must survive for many decades. Longevity of a cell within the organism depends on its ability to properly regulate signaling pathways that counteract perturbations, such as DNA damage, oxidative stress, or protein misfolding. Here, we provide evidence that tissue-specific regulators of stress tolerance exist in postmitotic neurons. Specifically, we identify protein arginine methyltransferase 8 (PRMT8) as a cell-type-restricted arginine methyltransferase in spinal cord motoneurons (MNs). PRMT8-dependent arginine methylation is required for neuroprotection against age-related increased of cellular stress. Tissue-restricted expression and the enzymatic activity of PRMT8 make it an attractive target for drug development to delay the onset of neurodegenerative disorders.
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