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Cortical neurodevelopment in pre-manifest Huntington's disease. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 23:101913. [PMID: 31491822 PMCID: PMC6627026 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background The expression of the HTT CAG repeat expansion mutation causes neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease (HD). Objectives: In light of the – mainly in-vitro – evidence suggesting an additional role of huntingtin in neurodevelopment we used 3T MRI to test the hypothesis that in CAG-expanded individuals without clinical signs of HD (preHD) there is evidence for neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Methods We specifically investigated the complexity of cortical folding, a measure of cortical neurodevelopment, employing a novel method to quantify local fractal dimension (FD) measures that uses spherical harmonic reconstructions. Results The complexity of cortical folding differed at a group level between preHD (n = 57) and healthy volunteers (n = 57) in areas of the motor and visual system as well as temporal cortical areas. However, there was no association between the complexity of cortical folding and the loss in putamen volume that was clearly evident in preHD. Conclusions Our results suggest that HTT CAG repeat length may have an influence on cortical folding without evidence that this leads to developmental pathology or was clinically meaningful. This suggests that the HTT CAG-repeat expansion mutation may influence the processes governing cortical neurodevelopment; however, that influence seems independent of the events that lead to neurodegeneration. Measures of cortical neurodevelopment in preclinical Huntington's disease (HD) gene carriers differ from healthy volunteers The influence on cortical folding of the HD gene was not associated with developmental pathology or clinically meaningful The influence of the HD gene on cortical neurodevelopment may differ from that on neurodegeneration
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102
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Irmak D, Fatima A, Gutiérrez-Garcia R, Rinschen MM, Wagle P, Altmüller J, Arrigoni L, Hummel B, Klein C, Frese CK, Sawarkar R, Rada-Iglesias A, Vilchez D. Mechanism suppressing H3K9 trimethylation in pluripotent stem cells and its demise by polyQ-expanded huntingtin mutations. Hum Mol Genet 2019; 27:4117-4134. [PMID: 30452683 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent stem cells are invaluable resources to study development and disease, holding a great promise for regenerative medicine. Here we use human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with Huntington's disease (HD-iPSCs) to shed light into the normal function of huntingtin (HTT) and its demise in disease. We find that HTT binds ATF7IP, a regulator of the histone H3 methyltransferase SETDB1. HTT inhibits the interaction of the ATF7IP-SETDB1 complex with other heterochromatin regulators and transcriptional repressors, maintaining low levels of H3K9 trimethylation (H3K9me3) in hESCs. Loss of HTT promotes global increased H3K9me3 levels and enrichment of H3K9me3 marks at distinct genes, including transcriptional regulators of neuronal differentiation. Although these genes are normally expressed at low amounts in hESCs, HTT knockdown (KD) reduces their induction during neural differentiation. Notably, mutant expanded polyglutamine repeats in HTT diminish its interaction with ATF7IP-SETDB1 complex and trigger H3K9me3 in HD-iPSCs. Conversely, KD of ATF7IP in HD-iPSCs reduces H3K9me3 alterations and ameliorates gene expression changes in their neural counterparts. Taken together, our results indicate ATF7IP as a potential target to correct aberrant H3K9me3 levels induced by mutant HTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilber Irmak
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, Cologne, Germany
| | - Azra Fatima
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ricardo Gutiérrez-Garcia
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, Cologne, Germany
| | - Markus M Rinschen
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, Cologne, Germany
| | - Prerana Wagle
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, Cologne, Germany
| | - Janine Altmüller
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Strasse 21, Cologne, Germany.,Cologne Center for Genomics (CCG), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Laura Arrigoni
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Hummel
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Corinna Klein
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, Cologne, Germany
| | - Christian K Frese
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, Cologne, Germany
| | - Ritwick Sawarkar
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alvaro Rada-Iglesias
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, Cologne, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Robert-Koch-Strasse 21, Cologne, Germany
| | - David Vilchez
- Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Strasse 26, Cologne, Germany
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103
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Rangel-Barajas C, Rebec GV. Overview of Huntington's Disease Models: Neuropathological, Molecular, and Behavioral Differences. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 83:e47. [PMID: 30040221 DOI: 10.1002/cpns.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Transgenic mouse models of Huntington's disease (HD), a neurodegenerative condition caused by a single gene mutation, have been transformative in their ability to reveal the molecular processes and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the HD behavioral phenotype. Three model categories have been generated depending on the genetic context in which the mutation is expressed: truncated, full-length, and knock-in. No single model, however, broadly replicates the behavioral symptoms and massive neuronal loss that occur in human patients. The disparity between model and patient requires careful consideration of what each model has to offer when testing potential treatments. Although the translation of animal data to the clinic has been limited, each model can make unique contributions toward an improved understanding of the neurobehavioral underpinnings of HD. Thus, conclusions based on data obtained from more than one model are likely to have the most success in the search for new treatment targets. © 2018 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Rangel-Barajas
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
| | - George V Rebec
- Program in Neuroscience, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
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104
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Abstract
Nucleotide repeat disorders encompass more than 30 diseases, most of which show dominant inheritance, such as Huntington's disease, spinocerebellar ataxias, and myotonic dystrophies. Yet others, including Friedreich's ataxia, are recessively inherited. A common feature is the presence of a DNA tandem repeat in the disease-associated gene and the propensity of the repeats to expand in germ and in somatic cells, with ensuing neurological and frequently also neuromuscular defects. Repeat expansion is the most frequent event in these diseases; however, sequence contractions, deletions, and mutations have also been reported. Nucleotide repeat sequences are predisposed to adopt non-B-DNA conformations, such as hairpins, cruciform, and intramolecular triple-helix structures (triplexes), also known as H-DNA. For gain-of-function disorders, oligonucleotides can be used to target either transcripts or duplex DNA and in diseases with recessive inheritance oligonucleotides may be used to alter repressive DNA or RNA conformations. Most current treatment strategies are aimed at altering transcript levels, but therapies directed against DNA are also emerging, and novel strategies targeting DNA, instead of RNA, are described. Different mechanisms using modified oligonucleotides are discussed along with the structural aspects of repeat sequences, which can influence binding modes and efficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rula Zain
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Centre for Advanced Therapies, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-141 86, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Centre for Rare Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - C I Edvard Smith
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Centre for Advanced Therapies, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-141 86, Stockholm, Sweden
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105
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Kaemmerer WF, Grondin RC. The effects of huntingtin-lowering: what do we know so far? Degener Neurol Neuromuscul Dis 2019; 9:3-17. [PMID: 30881191 PMCID: PMC6413743 DOI: 10.2147/dnnd.s163808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapies targeting mutant huntingtin DNA, mRNA, and protein have a chance at becoming the first disease-modifying treatments for Huntington’s disease, a fatal inherited neurodegenerative disorder for which only symptom management treatments are available today. This review focuses on evidence addressing several key questions pertinent to huntingtin-lowering, ranging from the functions of wild-type huntingtin (wtHTT) that may be disrupted by huntingtin-lowering treatments through the various ways huntingtin can be lowered, the tolerability of wtHTT-lowering in mice and primates, what has been found in the Ionis Pharmaceutical safety trial of a huntingtin-lowering therapy, and to the question of how much mutant huntingtin may need to be lowered for a therapy to be clinically effective. We conclude that adverse consequences of lowering wtHTT in animals appear to be brain region-specific, and/or dependent upon the animal’s stage of development and the amount by which huntingtin is lowered. Therefore, safe approaches to huntingtin-lowering in patients may be to lower huntingtin only moderately, or lower huntingtin only in the most affected brain regions, or lower huntingtin allele-selectively, or all of the above. Many additional questions about huntingtin-lowering remain open, and will only be answered by upcoming clinical trials, such as whether the delivery approaches currently planned will be adequate to get the treatment to the necessary brain regions, and whether non-allele-selective huntingtin-lowering will be safe in the long run. Meantime, there is a role for preclinical research to address key knowledge gaps, including the effects of non-allele-selective huntingtin-lowering on protein trafficking and viability at the cellular level, the tolerability of wtHTT-lowering in the corticostriatal connections of the primate brain, and the effects of this lowering on the functioning of neurotransmitter systems and the transport of neurotrophic factors to the striatum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard C Grondin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, KY, USA,
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106
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Tabrizi SJ, Ghosh R, Leavitt BR. Huntingtin Lowering Strategies for Disease Modification in Huntington's Disease. Neuron 2019; 101:801-819. [PMID: 30844400 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 160] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is caused by an abnormally expanded CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, which confers a predominant toxic gain of function in the mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. There are currently no disease-modifying therapies available, but approaches that target proximally in disease pathogenesis hold great promise. These include DNA-targeting techniques such as zinc-finger proteins, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and CRISPR/Cas9; post-transcriptional huntingtin-lowering approaches such as RNAi, antisense oligonucleotides, and small-molecule splicing modulators; and novel methods to clear the mHTT protein, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras. Improvements in the delivery and distribution of such agents as well as the development of objective biomarkers of disease and of HTT lowering pharmacodynamic outcomes have brought these potential therapies to the forefront of Huntington's disease research, with clinical trials in patients already underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Tabrizi
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI) at UCL, London, UK.
| | - Rhia Ghosh
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- UBC Centre for Huntington's Disease, Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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107
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Murthy V, Tebaldi T, Yoshida T, Erdin S, Calzonetti T, Vijayvargia R, Tripathi T, Kerschbamer E, Seong IS, Quattrone A, Talkowski ME, Gusella JF, Georgopoulos K, MacDonald ME, Biagioli M. Hypomorphic mutation of the mouse Huntington's disease gene orthologue. PLoS Genet 2019; 15:e1007765. [PMID: 30897080 PMCID: PMC6445486 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Rare individuals with inactivating mutations in the Huntington's disease gene (HTT) exhibit variable abnormalities that imply essential HTT roles during organ development. Here we report phenotypes produced when increasingly severe hypomorphic mutations in the murine HTT orthologue Htt, (HdhneoQ20, HdhneoQ50, HdhneoQ111), were placed over a null allele (Hdhex4/5). The most severe hypomorphic allele failed to rescue null lethality at gastrulation, while the intermediate, though still severe, alleles yielded recessive perinatal lethality and a variety of fetal abnormalities affecting body size, skin, skeletal and ear formation, and transient defects in hematopoiesis. Comparative molecular analysis of wild-type and Htt-null retinoic acid-differentiated cells revealed gene network dysregulation associated with organ development that nominate polycomb repressive complexes and miRNAs as molecular mediators. Together these findings demonstrate that Htt is required both pre- and post-gastrulation to support normal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya Murthy
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Toma Tebaldi
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Toshimi Yoshida
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center (CBRC), Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States of America
| | - Serkan Erdin
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Teresa Calzonetti
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Frederick Community College, Frederick MD, United States of America
| | - Ravi Vijayvargia
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Takshashila Tripathi
- NeuroEpigenetics Laboratory, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Emanuela Kerschbamer
- NeuroEpigenetics Laboratory, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Ihn Sik Seong
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Alessandro Quattrone
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Michael E. Talkowski
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - James F. Gusella
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Katia Georgopoulos
- Cutaneous Biology Research Center (CBRC), Mass General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, United States of America
| | - Marcy E. MacDonald
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, United States of America
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Marta Biagioli
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- NeuroEpigenetics Laboratory, Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
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108
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Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by expanded polyglutamine (polyQ)-encoding repeats in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. Traditionally, HD cellular models consisted of either patient cells not affected by disease or rodent neurons expressing expanded polyQ repeats in HTT. As these models can be limited in their disease manifestation or proper genetic context, respectively, human HD pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are currently under investigation as a way to model disease in patient-derived neurons and other neural cell types. This chapter reviews embryonic stem cell (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models of disease, including published differentiation paradigms for neurons and their associated phenotypes, as well as current challenges to the field such as validation of the PSCs and PSC-derived cells. Highlighted are potential future technical advances to HD PSC modeling, including transdifferentiation, complex in vitro multiorgan/system reconstruction, and personalized medicine. Using a human HD patient model of the central nervous system, hopefully one day researchers can tease out the consequences of mutant HTT (mHTT) expression on specific cell types within the brain in order to identify and test novel therapies for disease.
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109
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Tousley A, Iuliano M, Weisman E, Sapp E, Richardson H, Vodicka P, Alexander J, Aronin N, DiFiglia M, Kegel-Gleason KB. Huntingtin associates with the actin cytoskeleton and α-actinin isoforms to influence stimulus dependent morphology changes. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212337. [PMID: 30768638 PMCID: PMC6377189 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
One response of cells to growth factor stimulus involves changes in morphology driven by the actin cytoskeleton and actin associated proteins which regulate functions such as cell adhesion, motility and in neurons, synaptic plasticity. Previous studies suggest that Huntingtin may be involved in regulating morphology however, there has been limited evidence linking endogenous Huntingtin localization or function with cytoplasmic actin in cells. We found that depletion of Huntingtin in human fibroblasts reduced adhesion and altered morphology and these phenotypes were made worse with growth factor stimulation, whereas the presence of the Huntington's Disease mutation inhibited growth factor induced changes in morphology and increased numbers of vinculin-positive focal adhesions. Huntingtin immunoreactivity localized to actin stress fibers, vinculin-positive adhesion contacts and membrane ruffles in fibroblasts. Interactome data from others has shown that Huntingtin can associate with α-actinin isoforms which bind actin filaments. Mapping studies using a cDNA encoding α-actinin-2 showed that it interacts within Huntingtin aa 399-969. Double-label immunofluorescence showed Huntingtin and α-actinin-1 co-localized to stress fibers, membrane ruffles and lamellar protrusions in fibroblasts. Proximity ligation assays confirmed a close molecular interaction between Huntingtin and α-actinin-1 in human fibroblasts and neurons. Huntingtin silencing with siRNA in fibroblasts blocked the recruitment of α-actinin-1 to membrane foci. These studies support the idea that Huntingtin is involved in regulating adhesion and actin dependent functions including those involving α-actinin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelaide Tousley
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Maria Iuliano
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Weisman
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Heather Richardson
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Petr Vodicka
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Alexander
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Neil Aronin
- Department of Medicine and Cell Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marian DiFiglia
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kimberly B. Kegel-Gleason
- Laboratory of Cellular Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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110
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Priya SB, Gromiha MM. Structural insights into the aggregation mechanism of huntingtin exon 1 protein fragment with different polyQ-lengths. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:10519-10529. [PMID: 30672003 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the expansion of polyglutamine (polyQ) at the N-terminal of the huntingtin exon 1 protein. The detailed structure and the mechanism behind this aggregation remain unclear and it is assumed that the polyQ undergoes a conformational transition to the β-sheet structure when it aggregates. Investigating the misfolding of polyQ facilitates the determination of the molecular mechanism of aggregation and can potentially help in developing a novel approach to inhibit polyQ aggregation. Moreover, the flanking sequences of the polyQ region play a vital role in structural changes and the aggregation mechanism. We performed all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to gain structural insights into the aggregation mechanism using eight different models with glutamine repeat lengths Q27 , Q27 P11 , Q34 , Q35 , Q36 , Q40 , Q50 , and Q50 P11 . In the models without flanking polyPs, we noticed that the transformation of a random coil to β-sheet occurs when the number of Q increases. We also found that the flanking polyPs prevent aggregation by decreasing the probability of forming a β-sheet structure. When polyQ length increases, the 17 N-terminal flanking residues are more likely to adopt a β-sheet conformation from α-helix and coil. From our simulations, we suggest that at least 34 glutamines are required for initiating aggregation and 40 residues length is critical for the aggregation of huntingtin exon 1 protein for disease onset. This study provides structural insights into misfolding and the role of flanking sequences in huntingtin aggregation which will further help in developing therapeutic strategies for Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Binny Priya
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - M Michael Gromiha
- Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.,Advanced Computational Drug Discovery Unit (ACDD), Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
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111
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Wells C, Brennan SE, Keon M, Saksena NK. Prionoid Proteins in the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:271. [PMID: 31780895 PMCID: PMC6861308 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00271] [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: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a growing body of evidence that prionoid protein behaviors are a core element of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) that afflict humans. Common elements in pathogenesis, pathological effects and protein-level behaviors exist between Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), Huntington's Disease (HD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These extend beyond the affected neurons to glial cells and processes. This results in a complicated system of disease progression, which often takes advantage of protective processes to promote the propagation of pathological protein aggregates. This review article provides a current snapshot of knowledge on these proteins and their intrinsic role in the pathogenesis and disease progression seen across NDs.
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112
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Sehgal SA, Hammad MA, Tahir RA, Akram HN, Ahmad F. Current Therapeutic Molecules and Targets in Neurodegenerative Diseases Based on in silico Drug Design. Curr Neuropharmacol 2018; 16:649-663. [PMID: 29542412 PMCID: PMC6080102 DOI: 10.2174/1570159x16666180315142137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract: Background As the number of elderly persons increases, neurodegenerative diseases are becoming ubiquitous. There is currently a great need for knowledge concerning management of old-age neurodegenerative diseases; the most important of which are: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease. Objective To summarize the potential of computationally predicted molecules and targets against neurodegenerative diseases. Method Review of literature published since 1997 against neurodegenerative diseases, utilizing as keywords: in silico, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ALS, and Huntington’s disease was conducted. Results and Conclusion Due to the costs associated with experimentation and current ethical law, performing experiments directly on living organisms has become much more difficult. In this scenario, in silico techniques have been successful and have become powerful tools in the search to cure disease. Researchers use the Computer Aided Drug Design pipeline which: 1) generates 3-dimensional structures of target proteins through homology modeling 2) achieves stabilization through molecular dynamics simulation, and 3) exploits molecular docking through large compound libraries. Next generation sequencing is continually producing enormous amounts of raw sequence data while neuroimaging is producing a multitude of raw image data. To solve such pressing problems, these new tools and algorithms are required. This review elaborates precise in silico tools and techniques for drug targets, active molecules, and molecular docking studies, together with future prospects and challenges concerning possible breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheikh Arslan Sehgal
- State Key Laboratory of Biomembrane and Membrane Biotechnology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing, China.,Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Sahiwal, Pakistan.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mirza A Hammad
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics; Chinese Academy of Sciences; Beijing, China
| | - Rana Adnan Tahir
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Sahiwal, Pakistan.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Separation and Analysis in Biomedical and Pharmaceuticals, Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Institute of Technology, China
| | - Hafiza Nisha Akram
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Faheem Ahmad
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan
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113
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Murmann AE, Yu J, Opal P, Peter ME. Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion Diseases, RNAi, and Cancer. Trends Cancer 2018; 4:684-700. [PMID: 30292352 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2018.08.004] [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: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 08/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Many neurodegenerative diseases are caused by unstable trinucleotide repeat (TNR) expansions located in disease-associated genes. siRNAs based on CAG repeat expansions effectively kill cancer cell lines in vitro through RNAi. They also cause significant reduction in tumor growth in a human ovarian cancer mouse model with no toxicity to the treated mice. This suggests that cancer cells are particularly sensitive to CAG TNR-derived siRNAs, and explains a reported inverse correlation between the length of CAG TNRs and reduced global cancer incidences in some CAG TNR diseases. This review discusses both mutant proteins and mutant RNAs as a cause of TNR diseases, with a focus on RNAi and its role in contributing to disease pathology and in suppressing cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea E Murmann
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jindan Yu
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Puneet Opal
- Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Marcus E Peter
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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114
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Abstract
The 25 years since the identification of the gene responsible for Huntington disease (HD) have stood witness to profound discoveries about the nature of the disease and its pathogenesis. Despite this progress, however, the development of disease-modifying therapies has thus far been slow. Preclinical validation of the therapeutic potential of disrupted pathways in HD has led to the advancement of pharmacological agents, both novel and repurposed, for clinical evaluation. The most promising therapeutic approaches include huntingtin (HTT) lowering and modification as well as modulation of neuroinflammation and synaptic transmission. With clinical trials for many of these approaches imminent or currently ongoing, the coming years are promising not only for HD but also for more prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer and Parkinson disease, in which many of these pathways have been similarly implicated.
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115
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Early postnatal behavioral, cellular, and molecular changes in models of Huntington disease are reversible by HDAC inhibition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E8765-E8774. [PMID: 30150378 PMCID: PMC6140493 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1807962115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In Huntington disease (HD) gene carriers the disease-causing mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) is already present during early developmental stages, but, surprisingly, HD patients develop clinical symptoms only many years later. While a developmental role of Huntingtin has been described, so far new therapeutic approaches targeting those early neurodevelopmental processes are lacking. Here, we show that behavioral, cellular, and molecular changes associated with mHTT in the postnatal period of genetic animal models of HD can be reverted using low-dose treatment with a histone deacetylation inhibitor. Our findings support a neurodevelopmental basis for HD and provide proof of concept that pre-HD symptoms, including aberrant neuronal differentiation, are reversible by early therapeutic intervention in vivo. Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by expanded CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT). Although mutant HTT is expressed during embryonic development and throughout life, clinical HD usually manifests later in adulthood. A number of studies document neurodevelopmental changes associated with mutant HTT, but whether these are reversible under therapy remains unclear. Here, we identify very early behavioral, molecular, and cellular changes in preweaning transgenic HD rats and mice. Reduced ultrasonic vocalization, loss of prepulse inhibition, and increased risk taking are accompanied by disturbances of dopaminergic regulation in vivo, reduced neuronal differentiation capacity in subventricular zone stem/progenitor cells, and impaired neuronal and oligodendrocyte differentiation of mouse embryo-derived neural stem cells in vitro. Interventional treatment of this early phenotype with the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) LBH589 led to significant improvement in behavioral changes and markers of dopaminergic neurotransmission and complete reversal of aberrant neuronal differentiation in vitro and in vivo. Our data support the notion that neurodevelopmental changes contribute to the prodromal phase of HD and that early, presymptomatic intervention using HDACi may represent a promising novel treatment approach for HD.
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116
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Croce KR, Yamamoto A. A role for autophagy in Huntington's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 122:16-22. [PMID: 30149183 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The lysosome-mediated degradation pathway known as macroautophagy is the most versatile means through which cells can eliminate and recycle unwanted materials. Through both selective and non-selective means, macroautophagy can degrade a wide range of cargoes from bulk cytosol to organelles and aggregated proteins. Although studies of disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis suggest that autophagic and lysosomal dysfunction directly contributes to disease, this had not been the case for the polyglutamine disorder Huntington's disease (HD), for which there was little indication of a disruption in the autophagic-lysosomal system. This supported the possibility of targeting autophagy as a much needed therapeutic approach to combat this disease. Possibly challenging this view, however, are a recent set of studies suggesting that the protein affected in Huntington's disease, huntingtin, might mechanistically contribute to macroautophagy. In this review, we will explore how autophagy might impact or be impacted by HD pathogenesis, and whether a therapeutic approach centering on autophagy may be possible for this yet incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Croce
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Ai Yamamoto
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States; Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States.
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117
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Rosas-Arellano A, Estrada-Mondragón A, Piña R, Mantellero CA, Castro MA. The Tiny Drosophila Melanogaster for the Biggest Answers in Huntington's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E2398. [PMID: 30110961 PMCID: PMC6121572 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19082398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The average life expectancy for humans has increased over the last years. However, the quality of the later stages of life is low and is considered a public health issue of global importance. Late adulthood and the transition into the later stage of life occasionally leads to neurodegenerative diseases that selectively affect different types of neurons and brain regions, producing motor dysfunctions, cognitive impairment, and psychiatric disorders that are progressive, irreversible, without remission periods, and incurable. Huntington's disease (HD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder. In the 25 years since the mutation of the huntingtin (HTT) gene was identified as the molecule responsible for this neural disorder, a variety of animal models, including the fruit fly, have been used to study the disease. Here, we review recent research that used Drosophila as an experimental tool for improving knowledge about the molecular and cellular mechanisms underpinning HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abraham Rosas-Arellano
- Unidad de Imagenología, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico.
| | - Argel Estrada-Mondragón
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, 581 83 Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Ricardo Piña
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile.
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins, Santiago 8370993, Chile.
| | - Carola A Mantellero
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Américas, Santiago 7500972, Chile.
| | - Maite A Castro
- Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile.
- Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System (CISNe), Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia 5090000, Chile.
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118
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Deverman BE, Ravina BM, Bankiewicz KS, Paul SM, Sah DWY. Gene therapy for neurological disorders: progress and prospects. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2018; 17:641-659. [DOI: 10.1038/nrd.2018.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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119
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120
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Santarriaga S, Haver HN, Kanack AJ, Fikejs AS, Sison SL, Egner JM, Bostrom JR, Seminary ER, Hill RB, Link BA, Ebert AD, Scaglione KM. SRCP1 Conveys Resistance to Polyglutamine Aggregation. Mol Cell 2018; 71:216-228.e7. [PMID: 30029002 PMCID: PMC6091221 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2018.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a group of nine neurodegenerative diseases caused by the expansion of a polyQ tract that results in protein aggregation. Unlike other model organisms, Dictyostelium discoideum is a proteostatic outlier, naturally encoding long polyQ tracts yet resistant to polyQ aggregation. Here we identify serine-rich chaperone protein 1 (SRCP1) as a molecular chaperone that is necessary and sufficient to suppress polyQ aggregation. SRCP1 inhibits aggregation of polyQ-expanded proteins, allowing for their degradation via the proteasome, where SRCP1 is also degraded. SRCP1's C-terminal domain is essential for its activity in cells, and peptides that mimic this domain suppress polyQ aggregation in vitro. Together our results identify a novel type of molecular chaperone and reveal how nature has dealt with the problem of polyQ aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Holly N Haver
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Adam J Kanack
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Alicia S Fikejs
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Samantha L Sison
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - John M Egner
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Jonathan R Bostrom
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Emily R Seminary
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - R Blake Hill
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Brian A Link
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - Allison D Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
| | - K Matthew Scaglione
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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121
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Increased nuclear DNA damage precedes mitochondrial dysfunction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Huntington's disease patients. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9817. [PMID: 29959348 PMCID: PMC6026140 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27985-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting the basal ganglia and is caused by expanded CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene. Except for CAG sizing, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA (mtDNA and nDNA) parameters have not yet proven to be representative biomarkers for disease and future therapy. Here, we identified a general suppression of genes associated with aerobic metabolism in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HD patients compared to controls. In HD, the complex II subunit SDHB was lowered although not sufficiently to affect complex II activity. Nevertheless, we found decreased level of factors associated with mitochondrial biogenesis and an associated dampening of the mitochondrial DNA damage frequency in HD, implying an early defect in mitochondrial activity. In contrast to mtDNA, nDNA from HD patients was four-fold more modified than controls and demonstrated that nDNA integrity is severely reduced in HD. Interestingly, the level of nDNA damage correlated inversely with the total functional capacity (TFC) score; an established functional score of HD. Our data show that PBMCs are a promising source to monitor HD progression and highlights nDNA damage and diverging mitochondrial and nuclear genome responses representing early cellular impairments in HD.
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122
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Evers MM, Miniarikova J, Juhas S, Vallès A, Bohuslavova B, Juhasova J, Skalnikova HK, Vodicka P, Valekova I, Brouwers C, Blits B, Lubelski J, Kovarova H, Ellederova Z, van Deventer SJ, Petry H, Motlik J, Konstantinova P. AAV5-miHTT Gene Therapy Demonstrates Broad Distribution and Strong Human Mutant Huntingtin Lowering in a Huntington's Disease Minipig Model. Mol Ther 2018; 26:2163-2177. [PMID: 30007561 PMCID: PMC6127509 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the huntingtin gene. Previously, we showed strong huntingtin reduction and prevention of neuronal dysfunction in HD rodents using an engineered microRNA targeting human huntingtin, delivered via adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 5 vector with a transgene encoding an engineered miRNA against HTT mRNA (AAV5-miHTT). One of the challenges of rodents as a model of neurodegenerative diseases is their relatively small brain, making successful translation to the HD patient difficult. This is particularly relevant for gene therapy approaches, where distribution achieved upon local administration into the parenchyma is likely dependent on brain size and structure. Here, we aimed to demonstrate the translation of huntingtin-lowering gene therapy to a large-animal brain. We investigated the feasibility, efficacy, and tolerability of one-time intracranial administration of AAV5-miHTT in the transgenic HD (tgHD) minipig model. We detected widespread dose-dependent distribution of AAV5-miHTT throughout the tgHD minipig brain that correlated with the engineered microRNA expression. Both human mutant huntingtin mRNA and protein were significantly reduced in all brain regions transduced by AAV5-miHTT. The combination of widespread vector distribution and extensive huntingtin lowering observed with AAV5-miHTT supports the translation of a huntingtin-lowering gene therapy for HD from preclinical studies into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melvin M Evers
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Jana Miniarikova
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan Juhas
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Astrid Vallès
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Jana Juhasova
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | | | - Petr Vodicka
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Ivona Valekova
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Cynthia Brouwers
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Bas Blits
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jacek Lubelski
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hana Kovarova
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Zdenka Ellederova
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Sander J van Deventer
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Harald Petry
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jan Motlik
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlina Konstantinova
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure biopharma B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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123
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Tang BL. Unconventional Secretion and Intercellular Transfer of Mutant Huntingtin. Cells 2018; 7:cells7060059. [PMID: 29904030 PMCID: PMC6025013 DOI: 10.3390/cells7060059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanism of intercellular transmission of pathological agents in neurodegenerative diseases has received much recent attention. Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a monogenic mutation in the gene encoding Huntingtin (HTT). Mutant HTT (mHTT) harbors a CAG repeat extension which encodes an abnormally long polyglutamine (polyQ) repeat at HTT’s N-terminus. Neuronal pathology in HD is largely due to the toxic gain-of-function by mHTT and its proteolytic products, which forms both nuclear and cytoplasmic aggregates that perturb nuclear gene transcription, RNA splicing and transport as well cellular membrane dynamics. The neuropathological effects of mHTT have been conventionally thought to be cell-autonomous in nature. Recent findings have, however, indicated that mHTT could be secreted by neurons, or transmitted from one neuronal cell to another via different modes of unconventional secretion, as well as via tunneling nanotubes (TNTs). These modes of transmission allow the intercellular spread of mHTT and its aggregates, thus plausibly promoting neuropathology within proximal neuronal populations and between neurons that are connected within neural circuits. Here, the various possible modes for mHTT’s neuronal cell exit and intercellular transmission are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bor Luen Tang
- Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, 117597 Singapore, Singapore.
- NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, 117456 Singapore, Singapore.
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124
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Fan X, Dong J, Zhong S, Wei Y, Wu Q, Yan L, Yong J, Sun L, Wang X, Zhao Y, Wang W, Yan J, Wang X, Qiao J, Tang F. Spatial transcriptomic survey of human embryonic cerebral cortex by single-cell RNA-seq analysis. Cell Res 2018; 28:730-745. [PMID: 29867213 PMCID: PMC6028726 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-018-0053-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The cellular complexity of human brain development has been intensively investigated, although a regional characterization of the entire human cerebral cortex based on single-cell transcriptome analysis has not been reported. Here, we performed RNA-seq on over 4,000 individual cells from 22 brain regions of human mid-gestation embryos. We identified 29 cell sub-clusters, which showed different proportions in each region and the pons showed especially high percentage of astrocytes. Embryonic neurons were not as diverse as adult neurons, although they possessed important features of their destinies in adults. Neuron development was unsynchronized in the cerebral cortex, as dorsal regions appeared to be more mature than ventral regions at this stage. Region-specific genes were comprehensively identified in each neuronal sub-cluster, and a large proportion of these genes were neural disease related. Our results present a systematic landscape of the regionalized gene expression and neuron maturation of the human cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Fan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Biomedical Institute for Pioneering Investigation via Convergence and Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Ji Dong
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Biomedical Institute for Pioneering Investigation via Convergence and Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Suijuan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology; Institute of Brain-Intelligence Science and Technology Zhangjiang Laboratory (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yuan Wei
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Qian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology; Institute of Brain-Intelligence Science and Technology Zhangjiang Laboratory (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Liying Yan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jun Yong
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Le Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology; Institute of Brain-Intelligence Science and Technology Zhangjiang Laboratory (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.,Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Xiaoye Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yangyu Zhao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology; Institute of Brain-Intelligence Science and Technology Zhangjiang Laboratory (Shanghai), Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. .,Shanghai Center for Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China. .,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Jie Qiao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China. .,Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100191, China. .,Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, 100191, China. .,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Fuchou Tang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Life Sciences, Third Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China. .,Biomedical Institute for Pioneering Investigation via Convergence and Center for Reproductive Medicine, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Beijing, 100871, China. .,Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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125
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Abstract
Therapeutics that directly target RNAs are promising for a broad spectrum of disorders, including the neurodegenerative diseases. This is exemplified by the FDA approval of Nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapeutic for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). RNA targeting therapeutics are currently under development for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington's disease (HD), and spinocerebellar ataxias. We have used an ASO approach toward developing a treatment for spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), for targeting the causative gene ATXN2. We demonstrated that reduction of ATXN2 expression in SCA2 mice treated by intracerebroventicular injection (ICV) of ATXN2 ASO delayed motor phenotype onset, improved the expression of several genes demonstrated abnormally reduced by transcriptomic profiling of SCA2 mice, and restored abnormal Purkinje cell firing frequency in acute cerebellar sections. Here we discuss RNA abnormalities in disease and the prospects of targeting neurodegenerative diseases at the level of RNA control using ASOs and other RNA-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel R Scoles
- a Department of Neurology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
| | - Stefan M Pulst
- a Department of Neurology , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , UT , USA
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126
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Vaz RL, Outeiro TF, Ferreira JJ. Zebrafish as an Animal Model for Drug Discovery in Parkinson's Disease and Other Movement Disorders: A Systematic Review. Front Neurol 2018; 9:347. [PMID: 29910763 PMCID: PMC5992294 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2018.00347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Movement disorders can be primarily divided into hypokinetic and hyperkinetic. Most of the hypokinetic syndromes are associated with the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson’s disease (PD). By contrast, hyperkinetic syndromes encompass a broader array of diseases, including dystonia, essential tremor, or Huntington’s disease. The discovery of effective therapies for these disorders has been challenging and has also involved the development and characterization of accurate animal models for the screening of new drugs. Zebrafish constitutes an alternative vertebrate model for the study of movement disorders. The neuronal circuitries involved in movement in zebrafish are well characterized, and most of the associated molecular mechanisms are highly conserved. Particularly, zebrafish models of PD have contributed to a better understanding of the role of several genes implicated in the disease. Furthermore, zebrafish is a vertebrate model particularly suited for large-scale drug screenings. The relatively small size of zebrafish, optical transparency, and lifecycle, are key characteristics that facilitate the study of multiple compounds at the same time. Several transgenic, knockdown, and mutant zebrafish lines have been generated and characterized. Therefore, it is central to critically analyze these zebrafish lines and understand their suitability as models of movement disorders. Here, we revise the pathogenic mechanisms, phenotypes, and responsiveness to pharmacotherapies of zebrafish lines of the most common movement disorders. A systematic review of the literature was conducted by including all studies reporting the characterization of zebrafish models of the movement disorders selected from five bibliographic databases. A total of 63 studies were analyzed, and the most relevant data within the scope of this review were gathered. The majority (62%) of the studies were focused in the characterization of zebrafish models of PD. Overall, the zebrafish models included display conserved biochemical and neurobehavioral features of the phenomenology in humans. Nevertheless, in light of what is known for all animal models available, the use of zebrafish as a model for drug discovery requires further optimization. Future technological developments alongside with a deeper understanding of the molecular bases of these disorders should enable the development of novel zebrafish lines that can prove useful for drug discovery for movement disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita L Vaz
- TechnoPhage, SA, Lisboa, Portugal.,Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tiago F Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,CEDOC, Chronic Diseases Research Centre, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,The Medical School, Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Joaquim J Ferreira
- Faculdade de Medicina, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,CNS-Campus Neurológico Sénior, Torres Vedras, Portugal
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127
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Population-specific genetic modification of Huntington's disease in Venezuela. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007274. [PMID: 29750799 PMCID: PMC5965898 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Modifiers of Mendelian disorders can provide insights into disease mechanisms and guide therapeutic strategies. A recent genome-wide association (GWA) study discovered genetic modifiers of Huntington's disease (HD) onset in Europeans. Here, we performed whole genome sequencing and GWA analysis of a Venezuelan HD cluster whose families were crucial for the original mapping of the HD gene defect. The Venezuelan HD subjects develop motor symptoms earlier than their European counterparts, implying the potential for population-specific modifiers. The main Venezuelan HD family inherits HTT haplotype hap.03, which differs subtly at the sequence level from European HD hap.03, suggesting a different ancestral origin but not explaining the earlier age at onset in these Venezuelans. GWA analysis of the Venezuelan HD cluster suggests both population-specific and population-shared genetic modifiers. Genome-wide significant signals at 7p21.2-21.1 and suggestive association signals at 4p14 and 17q21.2 are evident only in Venezuelan HD, but genome-wide significant association signals at the established European chromosome 15 modifier locus are improved when Venezuelan HD data are included in the meta-analysis. Venezuelan-specific association signals on chromosome 7 center on SOSTDC1, which encodes a bone morphogenetic protein antagonist. The corresponding SNPs are associated with reduced expression of SOSTDC1 in non-Venezuelan tissue samples, suggesting that interaction of reduced SOSTDC1 expression with a population-specific genetic or environmental factor may be responsible for modification of HD onset in Venezuela. Detection of population-specific modification in Venezuelan HD supports the value of distinct disease populations in revealing novel aspects of a disease and population-relevant therapeutic strategies.
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128
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Corey-Bloom J, Haque AS, Park S, Nathan AS, Baker RW, Thomas EA. Salivary levels of total huntingtin are elevated in Huntington's disease patients. Sci Rep 2018; 8:7371. [PMID: 29743609 PMCID: PMC5943337 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-25095-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with Huntington's disease (HD), an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disease, show substantial variability in age-of-onset, symptom severity and course of illness, warranting the need for biomarkers to anticipate and monitor these features. The HD gene encodes the disease protein huntingtin (Htt), a potentially useful biomarker for this disease. In the current study, we determined whether total Htt protein (normal plus mutant; "tHtt") could be reliably measured in human saliva, a body fluid that is much more accessible compared to cerebral spinal fluid or even blood, and whether salivary levels of tHtt were clinically meaningful. We collected 146 saliva samples from manifest HD patients, early-premanifest individuals, late-premanifest patients, gene-negative family members and normal controls. We found that tHtt protein could be reliably and stably detected in human saliva and that tHtt levels were significantly increased in saliva from HD individuals compared to normal controls. Salivary tHtt showed no gender effects, nor were levels correlated with total protein levels in saliva. Salivary tHtt was significantly positively correlated with age, but not age-of-onset or CAG-repeat length. Importantly, salivary tHtt was significantly correlated with several clinical measures, indicating relevance to disease symptom onset and/or severity. Measurements of salivary tHtt offer significant promise as a relevant, non-invasive disease biomarker for HD, and its use could be implemented into clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jody Corey-Bloom
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ameera S Haque
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Sungmee Park
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ajay S Nathan
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Robert W Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Thomas
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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129
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Metaxakis A, Ploumi C, Tavernarakis N. Autophagy in Age-Associated Neurodegeneration. Cells 2018; 7:cells7050037. [PMID: 29734735 PMCID: PMC5981261 DOI: 10.3390/cells7050037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The elimination of abnormal and dysfunctional cellular constituents is an essential prerequisite for nerve cells to maintain their homeostasis and proper function. This is mainly achieved through autophagy, a process that eliminates abnormal and dysfunctional cellular components, including misfolded proteins and damaged organelles. Several studies suggest that age-related decline of autophagy impedes neuronal homeostasis and, subsequently, leads to the progression of neurodegenerative disorders due to the accumulation of toxic protein aggregates in neurons. Here, we discuss the involvement of autophagy perturbation in neurodegeneration and present evidence indicating that upregulation of autophagy holds potential for the development of therapeutic interventions towards confronting neurodegenerative diseases in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios Metaxakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece.
| | - Christina Ploumi
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece.
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece.
| | - Nektarios Tavernarakis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece.
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion 70013, Crete, Greece.
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130
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Thadke SA, Perera JDR, Hridya VM, Bhatt K, Shaikh AY, Hsieh WC, Chen M, Gayathri C, Gil RR, Rule GS, Mukherjee A, Thornton CA, Ly DH. Design of Bivalent Nucleic Acid Ligands for Recognition of RNA-Repeated Expansion Associated with Huntington's Disease. Biochemistry 2018; 57:2094-2108. [PMID: 29562132 PMCID: PMC6091552 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.8b00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
We report the development of a new class of nucleic acid ligands that is comprised of Janus bases and the MPγPNA backbone and is capable of binding rCAG repeats in a sequence-specific and selective manner via, inference, bivalent H-bonding interactions. Individually, the interactions between ligands and RNA are weak and transient. However, upon the installation of a C-terminal thioester and an N-terminal cystine and the reduction of disulfide bond, they undergo template-directed native chemical ligation to form concatenated oligomeric products that bind tightly to the RNA template. In the absence of an RNA target, they self-deactivate by undergoing an intramolecular reaction to form cyclic products, rendering them inactive for further binding. The work has implications for the design of ultrashort nucleic acid ligands for targeting rCAG-repeat expansion associated with Huntington's disease and a number of other related neuromuscular and neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivaji A. Thadke
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery (IBD), Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology (CNAST), Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - J. Dinithi R. Perera
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery (IBD), Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology (CNAST), Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - V. M. Hridya
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, Maharashtra 411008, India
| | - Kirti Bhatt
- Department of Neurology, Box 645, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York 14642, United States
| | - Ashif Y. Shaikh
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery (IBD), Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology (CNAST), Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Wei-Che Hsieh
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery (IBD), Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology (CNAST), Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Mengshen Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Chakicherla Gayathri
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Roberto R. Gil
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Gordon S. Rule
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Arnab Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, Maharashtra 411008, India
| | - Charles A. Thornton
- Department of Neurology, Box 645, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, New York 14642, United States
| | - Danith H. Ly
- Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Institute for Biomolecular Design and Discovery (IBD), Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
- Center for Nucleic Acids Science and Technology (CNAST), Carnegie Mellon University, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
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131
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Liu Y, Qiao F, Leiferman PC, Ross A, Schlenker EH, Wang H. FOXOs modulate proteasome activity in human-induced pluripotent stem cells of Huntington's disease and their derived neural cells. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 26:4416-4428. [PMID: 28973411 PMCID: PMC6075623 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Although it has been speculated that proteasome dysfunction may contribute to the pathogenesis of Huntington's disease (HD), a devastating neurodegenerative disorder, how proteasome activity is regulated in HD affected stem cells and somatic cells remains largely unclear. To better understand the pathogenesis of HD, we analyzed proteasome activity and the expression of FOXO transcription factors in three wild-type (WT) and three HD induced-pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines. HD iPSCs exhibited elevated proteasome activity and higher levels of FOXO1 and FOXO4 proteins. Knockdown of FOXO4 but not FOXO1 expression decreased proteasome activity. Following neural differentiation, the HD-iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) demonstrated lower levels of proteasome activity and FOXO expressions than their WT counterparts. More importantly, overexpression of FOXO4 but not FOXO1 in HD NPCs dramatically enhanced proteasome activity. When HD NPCs were further differentiated into DARPP32-positive neurons, these HD neurons were more susceptible to death than WT neurons and formed Htt aggregates under the condition of oxidative stress. Similar to HD NPCs, HD-iPSC-derived neurons showed reduced proteasome activity and diminished FOXO4 expression compared to WT-iPSC-derived neurons. Furthermore, HD iPSCs had lower AKT activities than WT iPSCs, whereas the neurons derived from HD iPSC had higher AKT activities than their WT counterparts. Inhibiting AKT activity increased both FOXO4 level and proteasome activity, indicating a potential role of AKT in regulating FOXO levels. These data suggest that FOXOs modulate proteasome activity, and thus represents a potentially valuable therapeutic target for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanying Liu
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Fangfang Qiao
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | | | - Alan Ross
- Sanford Medical Genetics Laboratory, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Evelyn H Schlenker
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
| | - Hongmin Wang
- Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, SD 57069, USA
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132
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van Roon-Mom WMC, Roos RAC, de Bot ST. Dose-Dependent Lowering of Mutant Huntingtin Using Antisense Oligonucleotides in Huntington Disease Patients. Nucleic Acid Ther 2018; 28:59-62. [PMID: 29620999 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2018.0720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
On December 11 of 2017, Ionis Pharmaceuticals published a press release announcing dose-dependent reductions of mutant huntingtin protein in their HTTRx Phase 1/2a study in Huntington disease (HD) patients. The results from this Ionis trial have gained much attention from the patient community and the oligonucleotide therapeutics field, since it is the first trial targeting the cause of HD, namely the mutant huntingtin protein, using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). The press release also states that the primary endpoints of the study (safety and tolerability) were met, but does not contain data. This news follows the approval of another therapeutic ASO nusinersen (trade name Spinraza) for a neurological disease, spinal muscular atrophy, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency, in 2016 and 2017, respectively. Combined, this offers hope for the development of the HTTRx therapy for HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raymund A C Roos
- 2 Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Susanne T de Bot
- 2 Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center , Leiden, the Netherlands
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133
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Mackay JP, Nassrallah WB, Raymond LA. Cause or compensation?-Altered neuronal Ca 2+ handling in Huntington's disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2018; 24:301-310. [PMID: 29427371 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12817] [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: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder of typically middle-aged onset for which there is no disease-modifying treatment. Caudate and putamen medium-sized spiny projection neurons (SPNs) most severely degenerate in HD. However, it is unclear why mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) is preferentially toxic to these neurons or why symptoms manifest only relatively late in life. mHTT interacts with numerous neuronal proteins. Likewise, multiple SPN cellular processes have been described as altered in various HD models. Among these, altered neuronal Ca2+ influx and intracellular Ca2+ handling feature prominently and are addressed here. Specifically, we focus on extrasynaptic NMDA-type glutamate receptors, endoplasmic reticulum IP3 receptors, and mitochondria. As mHTT is expressed throughout development, compensatory processes will likely be mounted to mitigate any deleterious effects. Although some compensations can lessen mHTT's disruptive effects, others-such as upregulation of the ER-refilling store-operated Ca2+ channel response-contribute to pathogenesis. A causation-based approach is therefore necessary to decipher the complex sequence of events linking mHTT to neurodegeneration, and to design rational therapeutic interventions. With this in mind, we highlight evidence, or lack thereof, that the above alterations in Ca2+ handling occur early in the disease process, clearly interact with mHTT, and show disease-modifying potential when reversed in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- James P Mackay
- Department of Psychiatry, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Wissam B Nassrallah
- Department of Psychiatry, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience and MD/PhD Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lynn A Raymond
- Department of Psychiatry, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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134
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Miniarikova J, Evers MM, Konstantinova P. Translation of MicroRNA-Based Huntingtin-Lowering Therapies from Preclinical Studies to the Clinic. Mol Ther 2018; 26:947-962. [PMID: 29503201 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 01/30/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The single mutation underlying the fatal neuropathology of Huntington's disease (HD) is a CAG triplet expansion in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which gives rise to a toxic mutant HTT protein. There have been a number of not yet successful therapeutic advances in the treatment of HD. The current excitement in the HD field is due to the recent development of therapies targeting the culprit of HD either at the DNA or RNA level to reduce the overall mutant HTT protein. In this review, we briefly describe short-term and long-term HTT-lowering strategies targeting HTT transcripts. One of the most advanced HTT-lowering strategies is a microRNA (miRNA)-based gene therapy delivered by a single administration of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector to the HD patient. We outline the outcome measures for the miRNA-based HTT-lowering therapy in the context of preclinical evaluation in HD animal and cell models. We highlight the strengths and ongoing queries of the HTT-lowering gene therapy as an HD intervention with a potential disease-modifying effect. This review provides a perspective on the fast-developing HTT-lowering therapies for HD and their translation to the clinic based on existing knowledge in preclinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Miniarikova
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Melvin M Evers
- Department of Research and Development, uniQure, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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135
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Sirtuins as Modifiers of Huntington's Disease (HD) Pathology. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2018; 154:105-145. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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136
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Dragatsis I, Dietrich P, Ren H, Deng YP, Del Mar N, Wang HB, Johnson IM, Jones KR, Reiner A. Effect of early embryonic deletion of huntingtin from pyramidal neurons on the development and long-term survival of neurons in cerebral cortex and striatum. Neurobiol Dis 2017; 111:102-117. [PMID: 29274742 PMCID: PMC5821111 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2017.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We evaluated the impact of early embryonic deletion of huntingtin (htt) from pyramidal neurons on cortical development, cortical neuron survival and motor behavior, using a cre-loxP strategy to inactivate the mouse htt gene (Hdh) in emx1-expressing cell lineages. Western blot confirmed substantial htt reduction in cerebral cortex of these Emx-httKO mice, with residual cortical htt in all likelihood restricted to cortical interneurons of the subpallial lineage and/or vascular endothelial cells. Despite the loss of htt early in development, cortical lamination was normal, as revealed by layer-specific markers. Cortical volume and neuron abundance were, however, significantly less than normal, and cortical neurons showed reduced brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and reduced activation of BDNF signaling pathways. Nonetheless, cortical volume and neuron abundance did not show progressive age-related decline in Emx-httKO mice out to 24 months. Although striatal neurochemistry was normal, reductions in striatal volume and neuron abundance were seen in Emx-httKO mice, which were again not progressive. Weight maintenance was normal in Emx-httKO mice, but a slight rotarod deficit and persistent hyperactivity were observed throughout the lifespan. Our results show that embryonic deletion of htt from developing pallium does not substantially alter migration of cortical neurons to their correct laminar destinations, but does yield reduced cortical and striatal size and neuron numbers. The Emx-httKO mice were persistently hyperactive, possibly due to defects in corticostriatal development. Importantly, deletion of htt from cortical pyramidal neurons did not yield age-related progressive cortical or striatal pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Dragatsis
- Department of Physiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - P Dietrich
- Department of Physiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - H Ren
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - Y P Deng
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - N Del Mar
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - H B Wang
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - I M Johnson
- Department of Physiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States
| | - K R Jones
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, & Developmental Biology, 347 UCB, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - A Reiner
- Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States; Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, United States.
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137
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Gardiner SL, van Belzen MJ, Boogaard MW, van Roon-Mom WMC, Rozing MP, van Hemert AM, Smit JH, Beekman ATF, van Grootheest G, Schoevers RA, Oude Voshaar RC, Roos RAC, Comijs HC, Penninx BWJH, van der Mast RC, Aziz NA. Huntingtin gene repeat size variations affect risk of lifetime depression. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:1277. [PMID: 29225330 PMCID: PMC5802693 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-017-0042-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is a severe neuropsychiatric disorder caused by a cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat expansion in the HTT gene. Although HD is frequently complicated by depression, it is still unknown to what extent common HTT CAG repeat size variations in the normal range could affect depression risk in the general population. Using binary logistic regression, we assessed the association between HTT CAG repeat size and depression risk in two well-characterized Dutch cohorts─the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety and the Netherlands Study of Depression in Older Persons─including 2165 depressed and 1058 non-depressed persons. In both cohorts, separately as well as combined, there was a significant non-linear association between the risk of lifetime depression and HTT CAG repeat size in which both relatively short and relatively large alleles were associated with an increased risk of depression (β = -0.292 and β = 0.006 for the linear and the quadratic term, respectively; both P < 0.01 after adjustment for the effects of sex, age, and education level). The odds of lifetime depression were lowest in persons with a HTT CAG repeat size of 21 (odds ratio: 0.71, 95% confidence interval: 0.52 to 0.98) compared to the average odds in the total cohort. In conclusion, lifetime depression risk was higher with both relatively short and relatively large HTT CAG repeat sizes in the normal range. Our study provides important proof-of-principle that repeat polymorphisms can act as hitherto unappreciated but complex genetic modifiers of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L. Gardiner
- 0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartments of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands ,0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartments of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Martine J. van Belzen
- 0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartments of Clinical Genetics, and Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Merel W. Boogaard
- 0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartments of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands ,0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartments of Clinical Genetics, and Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Willeke M. C. van Roon-Mom
- 0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartments of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten P. Rozing
- 0000 0001 0674 042Xgrid.5254.6Department of Public Health, Section of Social Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Albert M. van Hemert
- 0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartments of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes H. Smit
- 0000 0001 0686 3219grid.466632.3Department of Psychiatry, and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research and Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center/GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Aartjan T. F. Beekman
- 0000 0001 0686 3219grid.466632.3Department of Psychiatry, and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research and Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center/GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard van Grootheest
- 0000 0001 0686 3219grid.466632.3Department of Psychiatry, and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research and Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center/GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert A. Schoevers
- 0000 0000 9558 4598grid.4494.dDepartment of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Richard C. Oude Voshaar
- 0000 0000 9558 4598grid.4494.dDepartment of Psychiatry, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Raymund A. C. Roos
- 0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartments of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hannie C. Comijs
- 0000 0001 0686 3219grid.466632.3Department of Psychiatry, and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research and Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center/GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Brenda W. J. H. Penninx
- 0000 0001 0686 3219grid.466632.3Department of Psychiatry, and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research and Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center/GGZ inGeest, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Roos C. van der Mast
- 0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartments of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands ,0000 0001 0790 3681grid.5284.b Department of Psychiatry, Collaborative Antwerp Psychiatric Research Institute (CAPRI), University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - N. Ahmad Aziz
- 0000000089452978grid.10419.3dDepartments of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands ,0000000121901201grid.83440.3bDepartment of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Huntington’s Disease Centre, University College London Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom
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138
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Yu M, Fu Y, Liang Y, Song H, Yao Y, Wu P, Yao Y, Pan Y, Wen X, Ma L, Hexige S, Ding Y, Luo S, Lu B. Suppression of MAPK11 or HIPK3 reduces mutant Huntingtin levels in Huntington's disease models. Cell Res 2017; 27:1441-1465. [PMID: 29151587 PMCID: PMC5717400 DOI: 10.1038/cr.2017.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Most neurodegenerative disorders are associated with accumulation of disease-relevant proteins. Among them, Huntington disease (HD) is of particular interest because of its monogenetic nature. HD is mainly caused by cytotoxicity of the defective protein encoded by the mutant Huntingtin gene (HTT). Thus, lowering mutant HTT protein (mHTT) levels would be a promising treatment strategy for HD. Here we report two kinases HIPK3 and MAPK11 as positive modulators of mHTT levels both in cells and in vivo. Both kinases regulate mHTT via their kinase activities, suggesting that inhibiting these kinases may have therapeutic values. Interestingly, their effects on HTT levels are mHTT-dependent, providing a feedback mechanism in which mHTT enhances its own level thus contributing to mHTT accumulation and disease progression. Importantly, knockout of MAPK11 significantly rescues disease-relevant behavioral phenotypes in a knockin HD mouse model. Collectively, our data reveal new therapeutic entry points for HD and target-discovery approaches for similar diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yuhua Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yijiang Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Haikun Song
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yao Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Peng Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yuwei Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yuyin Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xue Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Lixiang Ma
- Department of Anatomy and Histology & Embryology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Saiyin Hexige
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Yu Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Shouqing Luo
- Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, University of Plymouth, Research Way, Plymouth, PL68BU, UK
| | - Boxun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Huashan Hospital, School of Life Sciences, Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
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139
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Shin JW, Lee JM. The prospects of CRISPR-based genome engineering in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2017; 11:1756285617741837. [PMID: 29399048 PMCID: PMC5784517 DOI: 10.1177/1756285617741837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, as gene discovery methods and sequencing technologies have evolved, many genetic variations that significantly increase the risk of or cause neurodegenerative diseases have been identified. However, knowledge of those pathogenic mutations and subsequent mechanism-focused studies has rarely yielded effective treatments, warranting alternative strategies for refining rational therapeutic targets. Nevertheless, with the evolution of gene targeting methods, it has been increasingly recognized that the disease-causing gene itself is the best therapeutic target even when we do not have a full understanding of its biological functions. Considering this, CRISPR/Cas gene editing technology offers the promise of permanently silencing or correcting the disease-causing mutations, potentially overcoming key limitations of RNA-targeting approaches. The versatile CRISPR/Cas-based strategies have the potential to become treatment options for challenging disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we summarize recent reports of preclinical applications of CRISPR/Cas in models of neurodegenerative disorders to provide perspectives on therapeutic gene editing for diseases of the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wan Shin
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, 185 Cambridge Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Medical and Population Genetics Program, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jong-Min Lee
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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140
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Savy CY, Fitchett AE, Blain PG, Morris CM, Judge SJ. Gene expression analysis reveals chronic low level exposure to the pesticide diazinon affects psychological disorders gene sets in the adult rat. Toxicology 2017; 393:90-101. [PMID: 29108742 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2017.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Revised: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Chronic low level exposure to organophosphate (OPs) pesticides in adulthood has been linked to adverse neurobehavioural deficits and psychological disorder symptoms, although this remains a contentious issue. The OP-induced biological changes that could underlie these effects are unclear. We assessed gene expression changes following chronic low level exposure to diazinon, a pesticide with a high dietary exposure risk. Adult male rats were orally exposed to diazinon (0, 1, 2mg/kg, 5days a week for 12 weeks). After 4 weeks, marble burying behaviour was lower in diazinon exposed rats than vehicle exposed rats; this difference persisted for 8 weeks. Chronic diazinon exposure did not significantly inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity, the primary mechanism of action of high level OPs. Affymetrix GeneChip® HT RG-230 PM Arrays were used for gene profiling followed by Ingenuity Pathway analysis. In the hippocampus, the most significant gene expression changes caused by OP exposure were associated with Psychological Disorders, and Cell-To-Cell Signalling and Interaction functions. Genes encoding the AMPA3 glutamate receptor, glutaminase, dopamine transporter and tyrosine hydroxylase were up-regulated, whereas the gene encoding the GABAB1 receptor was down-regulated. In the dorsal raphe nucleus, genes associated with development and the Psychological Disorders function were significantly affected, including the up-regulation of the gene encoding the α1b-adrenoceptor, the major driver of serotoninergic (5-HT) neuronal activity. These data indicate that chronic exposure to diazinon in adulthood, below the threshold to inhibit acetylcholinesterase, stimulates glutamatergic, dopaminergic and serotonergic synaptic transmission which may underlie adverse neurological outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Y Savy
- Medical Toxicology Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AA, UK; Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - Ann E Fitchett
- Medical Toxicology Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AA, UK; Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - Peter G Blain
- Medical Toxicology Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AA, UK; Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - Christopher M Morris
- Medical Toxicology Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AA, UK; Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
| | - Sarah J Judge
- Medical Toxicology Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4AA, UK; Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK.
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141
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Abstract
Huntingtin (HTT) is an essential protein during early embryogenesis and the development of the central nervous system (CNS). Conditional knock-out of mouse Huntingtin (Htt) expression in the CNS beginning during neural development, as well as reducing Htt expression only during embryonic and early postnatal stages, results in neurodegeneration in the adult brain. These findings suggest that HTT is important for the development and/or maintenance of the CNS, but they do not address the question of whether HTT is required specifically in the adult CNS for its normal functions and/or homeostasis. Recently, it was reported that although removing Htt expression in young adult mice causes lethality due to acute pancreatitis, loss of Htt expression in the adult brain is well tolerated and does not result in either motor deficits or neurodegeneration for up to 7 months after Htt inactivation. However, recent studies have also demonstrated that HTT participates in several cellular functions that are important for neuronal homeostasis and survival including sensing reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA damage repair, and stress responses, in addition to its role in selective macroautophagy. In this review, HTT's functions in development and in the adult CNS will be discussed in the context of these recent discoveries, together with a discussion of their potential impact on the design of therapeutic strategies for Huntington's disease (HD) aimed at lowering total HTT expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Scott O. Zeitlin
- Correspondence to: Scott O. Zeitlin, Ph.D., Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia School of Medicine, 409 Lane Rd., Box 801392, MR4-5022, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA. Tel.: +1 434 924 5011; Fax: +1 434 982 4380; E-mail:
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142
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Rindt H, Tom CM, Lorson CL, Mattis VB. Optimization of trans-Splicing for Huntington's Disease RNA Therapy. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:544. [PMID: 29066943 PMCID: PMC5641306 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder caused by a polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion in exon 1 of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. We have previously demonstrated that spliceosome-mediated trans-splicing is a viable molecular strategy to specifically reduce and repair mutant HTT (mtHTT). Here, the targeted tethering efficacy of the pre-mRNA trans-splicing modules (PTM) in HTT was optimized. Various PTMs that targeted the 3′ end of HTT intron 1 or the intron 1 branch point were shown trans-splice into an HTT mini-gene, as well as the endogenous HTT pre-mRNA. PTMs that specifically target the endogenous intron 1 branch point increased the trans-splicing efficacy from 1–5 to 10–15%. Furthermore, lentiviral expression of PTMs in a human HD patient iPSC-derived neural culture significantly reversed two previously established polyQ-length dependent phenotypes. These results suggest that pre-mRNA repair of mtHTT could hold therapeutic benefit and it demonstrates an alternative platform to correct the mRNA product produced by the mtHTT allele in the context of HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansjörg Rindt
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Colton M Tom
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Christian L Lorson
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Virginia B Mattis
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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143
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Abstract
Gene suppression approaches have emerged over the last 20 years as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. These include RNA interference and anti-sense oligonucleotides, both of which act at the post-transcriptional level, and genome-editing techniques, which aim to repair the responsible mutant gene. All serve to inhibit the expression of disease-causing proteins, leading to the potential prevention or even reversal of the disease phenotype. In this review we summarise the main developments in gene suppression strategies, using examples from Huntington's disease and other inherited causes of neurodegeneration, and explore how these might illuminate a path to tackle other proteinopathy-associated dementias in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhia Ghosh
- UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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144
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Searching for Correlations Between the Development of Neurodegenerative Hallmarks: Targeting Huntingtin as a Contributing Factor. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017. [PMID: 28971465 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-57379-3_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
This paper aims to study four general hallmarks of neurodegeneration and the correlations between them, with emphasis on the huntingtin (htt) interactions contributing to their prevention or promotion in its wild-type and mutated forms. Most of the neurodegenerative diseases share same or similar cell dysfunctions and huntingtin seems to associate in an polyglutamine-length dependent manner with components of the mechanisms that can go impaired. Therefore, the protein is proposed as contributing factor to the development of selective neurodegeneration.
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145
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Wild EJ, Tabrizi SJ. Therapies targeting DNA and RNA in Huntington's disease. Lancet Neurol 2017; 16:837-847. [PMID: 28920889 PMCID: PMC5604739 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(17)30280-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 191] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 05/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
No disease-slowing treatment exists for Huntington's disease, but its monogenic inheritance makes it an appealing candidate for the development of therapies targeting processes close to its genetic cause. Huntington's disease is caused by CAG repeat expansions in the HTT gene, which encodes the huntingtin protein; development of therapies to target HTT transcription and the translation of its mRNA is therefore an area of intense investigation. Huntingtin-lowering strategies include antisense oligonucleotides and RNA interference targeting mRNA, and zinc finger transcriptional repressors and CRISPR-Cas9 methods aiming to reduce transcription by targeting DNA. An intrathecally delivered antisense oligonucleotide that aims to lower huntingtin is now well into its first human clinical trial, with other antisense oligonucleotides expected to enter trials in the next 1-2 years and virally delivered RNA interference and zinc finger transcriptional repressors in advanced testing in animal models. Recent advances in the design and delivery of therapies to target HTT RNA and DNA are expected to improve their efficacy, safety, tolerability, and duration of effect in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Wild
- Huntington's Disease Centre, University College London Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK.
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- Huntington's Disease Centre, University College London Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
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146
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Szlachcic WJ, Wiatr K, Trzeciak M, Figlerowicz M, Figiel M. The Generation of Mouse and Human Huntington Disease iPS Cells Suitable for In vitro Studies on Huntingtin Function. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:253. [PMID: 28848389 PMCID: PMC5550714 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of CAG repeats in huntingtin (HTT) gene, resulting in expanded polyglutamine tract in HTT protein. Although, HD has its common onset in adulthood, subtle symptoms in patients may occur decades before diagnosis, and molecular and cellular changes begin much earlier, even in cells that are not yet lineage committed such as stem cells. Studies in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) HD models have demonstrated that multiple molecular processes are altered by the mutant HTT protein and suggested its silencing as a promising therapeutic strategy. Therefore, we aimed to generate HD iPS cells with stable silencing of HTT and further to investigate the effects of HTT knock-down on deregulations of signaling pathways e.g., p53 downregulation, present in cells already in pluripotent state. We designed a gene silencing strategy based on RNAi cassette in piggyBAC vector for constant shRNA expression. Using such system we delivered and tested several shRNA targeting huntingtin in mouse HD YAC128 iPSC and human HD109, HD71, and Control iPSC. The most effective shRNA (shHTT2) reagent stably silenced HTT in all HD iPS cells and remained active upon differentiation to neural stem cells (NSC). When investigating the effects of HTT silencing on signaling pathways, we found that in mouse HD iPSC lines expressing shRNA the level of mutant HTT inversely correlated with p53 levels, resulting in p53 level normalization upon silencing of mutant HTT. We also found that p53 deregulation continues into the NSC developmental stage and it was reversed upon HTT silencing. In addition, we observed subtle effects of silencing on proteins of Wnt/β-catenin and ERK1/2 signaling pathways. In summary, we successfully created the first mouse and human shRNA-expressing HD iPS cells with stable and continuous HTT silencing. Moreover, we demonstrated reversal of HD p53 phenotype in mouse HD iPSC, therefore, the stable knockdown of HTT is well-suited for investigation on HD cellular pathways, and is potentially useful as a stand-alone therapy or component of cell therapy. In addition, the total HTT knock-down in our human cells has further implications for mutant allele selective approach in iPSC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wojciech J Szlachcic
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of SciencesPoznań, Poland
| | - Kalina Wiatr
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of SciencesPoznań, Poland
| | - Marta Trzeciak
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of SciencesPoznań, Poland
| | - Marek Figlerowicz
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of SciencesPoznań, Poland
| | - Maciej Figiel
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of SciencesPoznań, Poland
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147
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Interaction of misfolded proteins and mitochondria in neurodegenerative disorders. Biochem Soc Trans 2017; 45:1025-1033. [PMID: 28733489 DOI: 10.1042/bst20170024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The number of the people affected by neurodegenerative disorders is growing dramatically due to the ageing of population. The major neurodegenerative diseases share some common pathological features including the involvement of mitochondria in the mechanism of pathology and misfolding and the accumulation of abnormally aggregated proteins. Neurotoxicity of aggregated β-amyloid, tau, α-synuclein and huntingtin is linked to the effects of these proteins on mitochondria. All these misfolded aggregates affect mitochondrial energy metabolism by inhibiting diverse mitochondrial complexes and limit ATP availability in neurones. β-Amyloid, tau, α-synuclein and huntingtin are shown to be involved in increased production of reactive oxygen species, which can be generated in mitochondria or can target this organelle. Most of these aggregated proteins are capable of deregulating mitochondrial calcium handling that, in combination with oxidative stress, lead to opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. Despite some of the common features, aggregated β-amyloid, tau, α-synuclein and huntingtin have diverse targets in mitochondria that can partially explain neurotoxic effect of these proteins in different brain regions.
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148
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Jimenez-Sanchez M, Licitra F, Underwood BR, Rubinsztein DC. Huntington's Disease: Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Strategies. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2017; 7:cshperspect.a024240. [PMID: 27940602 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a024240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a late-onset neurodegenerative disease caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat in the gene encoding the huntingtin protein. Despite its well-defined genetic origin, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the disease are unclear and complex. Here, we review some of the currently known functions of the wild-type huntingtin protein and discuss the deleterious effects that arise from the expansion of the CAG repeats, which are translated into an abnormally long polyglutamine tract. Finally, we outline some of the therapeutic strategies that are currently being pursued to slow down the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jimenez-Sanchez
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Floriana Licitra
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin R Underwood
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry, Beechcroft, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge CB21 5EF, United Kingdom
| | - David C Rubinsztein
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge CB2 0XY, United Kingdom
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149
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Morigaki R, Goto S. Striatal Vulnerability in Huntington's Disease: Neuroprotection Versus Neurotoxicity. Brain Sci 2017; 7:brainsci7060063. [PMID: 28590448 PMCID: PMC5483636 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci7060063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat encoding an abnormally long polyglutamine tract (PolyQ) in the huntingtin (Htt) protein. In HD, striking neuropathological changes occur in the striatum, including loss of medium spiny neurons and parvalbumin-expressing interneurons accompanied by neurodegeneration of the striosome and matrix compartments, leading to progressive impairment of reasoning, walking and speaking abilities. The precise cause of striatal pathology in HD is still unknown; however, accumulating clinical and experimental evidence suggests multiple plausible pathophysiological mechanisms underlying striatal neurodegeneration in HD. Here, we review and discuss the characteristic neurodegenerative patterns observed in the striatum of HD patients and consider the role of various huntingtin-related and striatum-enriched proteins in neurotoxicity and neuroprotection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryoma Morigaki
- Parkinson's Disease and Dystonia Research Center, Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disorders Research, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
| | - Satoshi Goto
- Parkinson's Disease and Dystonia Research Center, Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disorders Research, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770-8503, Japan.
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150
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Cambon K, Zimmer V, Martineau S, Gaillard MC, Jarrige M, Bugi A, Miniarikova J, Rey M, Hassig R, Dufour N, Auregan G, Hantraye P, Perrier AL, Déglon N. Preclinical Evaluation of a Lentiviral Vector for Huntingtin Silencing. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2017; 5:259-276. [PMID: 28603746 PMCID: PMC5453866 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder resulting from a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) protein. There is currently no cure for this disease, but recent studies suggest that RNAi to downregulate the expression of both normal and mutant HTT is a promising therapeutic approach. We previously developed a small hairpin RNA (shRNA), vectorized in an HIV-1-derived lentiviral vector (LV), that reduced pathology in an HD rodent model. Here, we modified this vector for preclinical development by using a tat-independent third-generation LV (pCCL) backbone and removing the original reporter genes. We demonstrate that this novel vector efficiently downregulated HTT expression in vitro in striatal neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of HD patients. It reduced two major pathological HD hallmarks while triggering a minimal inflammatory response, up to 6 weeks after injection, when administered by stereotaxic surgery in the striatum of an in vivo rodent HD model. Further assessment of this shRNA vector in vitro showed proper processing by the endogenous silencing machinery, and we analyzed gene expression changes to identify potential off-targets. These preclinical data suggest that this new shRNA vector fulfills primary biosafety and efficiency requirements for further development in the clinic as a cure for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Cambon
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Virginie Zimmer
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Research Center, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Martineau
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marie-Claude Gaillard
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Margot Jarrige
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR861, I-Stem, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
- UEVE UMR861, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
- CECS, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Aurore Bugi
- CECS, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Jana Miniarikova
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure, 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Rey
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Research Center, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raymonde Hassig
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Noelle Dufour
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Gwenaelle Auregan
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Philippe Hantraye
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Anselme L. Perrier
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR861, I-Stem, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
- UEVE UMR861, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Nicole Déglon
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Research Center, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Corresponding author: Nicole Déglon, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LNCM), Pavillon 3, Avenue de Beaumont, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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