101
|
Gregory JM, Livesey MR, McDade K, Selvaraj BT, Barton SK, Chandran S, Smith C. Dysregulation of AMPA receptor subunit expression in sporadic ALS post-mortem brain. J Pathol 2019; 250:67-78. [PMID: 31579943 PMCID: PMC6973025 DOI: 10.1002/path.5351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by progressive motor neuron degeneration. Although there are over 40 genes associated with causal monogenetic mutations, the majority of ALS patients are not genetically determined. Causal ALS mutations are being increasingly mechanistically studied, though how these mechanisms converge and diverge between the multiple known familial causes of ALS (fALS) and sporadic forms of ALS (sALS) and furthermore between different neuron types, is poorly understood. One common pathway that is implicated in selective motor neuron death is enhanced α-amino-3-hydroxyl-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionate (AMPAR)-mediated excitoxicity. Specifically, human in vitro and pathological evidence has linked the C9orf72 repeat expansion mutation to a relative increase in the Ca2+ -permeable AMPAR population due to AMPAR subunit dysregulation. Here, we provide the first comparative quantitative assessment of the expression profile of AMPAR subunit transcripts, using BaseScope, in post-mortem lower motor neurons (spinal cord, anterior horn), upper motor neurons (motor cortex) and neurons of the pre-frontal cortex in sALS and fALS due to mutations in SOD1 and C9orf72. Our data indicated that AMPAR dysregulation is prominent in lower motor neurons in all ALS cases. However, sALS and mutant C9orf72 cases exhibited GluA1 upregulation whereas mutant SOD1 cases displayed GluA2 down regulation. We also showed that sALS cases exhibited widespread AMPAR dysregulation in the motor and pre-frontal cortex, though the exact identity of the AMPAR subunit being dysregulated was dependent on brain region. In contrast, AMPAR dysregulation in mutant SOD1 and C9orf72 cases was restricted to lower motor neurons only. Our data highlight the complex dysregulation of AMPAR subunit expression that reflects both converging and diverging mechanisms at play between different brain regions and between ALS cohorts. © 2019 Authors. Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jenna M Gregory
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Matthew R Livesey
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Karina McDade
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Bhuvaneish T Selvaraj
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Samantha K Barton
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Colin Smith
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| |
Collapse
|
102
|
Malik AR, Willnow TE. Excitatory Amino Acid Transporters in Physiology and Disorders of the Central Nervous System. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20225671. [PMID: 31726793 PMCID: PMC6888459 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) encompass a class of five transporters with distinct expression in neurons and glia of the central nervous system (CNS). EAATs are mainly recognized for their role in uptake of the amino acid glutamate, the major excitatory neurotransmitter. EAATs-mediated clearance of glutamate released by neurons is vital to maintain proper glutamatergic signalling and to prevent toxic accumulation of this amino acid in the extracellular space. In addition, some EAATs also act as chloride channels or mediate the uptake of cysteine, required to produce the reactive oxygen speciesscavenger glutathione. Given their central role in glutamate homeostasis in the brain, as well as their additional activities, it comes as no surprise that EAAT dysfunctions have been implicated in numerous acute or chronic diseases of the CNS, including ischemic stroke and epilepsy, cerebellar ataxias, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease. Here we review the studies in cellular and animal models, as well as in humans that highlight the roles of EAATs in the pathogenesis of these devastating disorders. We also discuss the mechanisms regulating EAATs expression and intracellular trafficking and new exciting possibilities to modulate EAATs and to provide neuroprotection in course of pathologies affecting the CNS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna R. Malik
- Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | | |
Collapse
|
103
|
Edmond EC, Stagg CJ, Turner MR. Therapeutic non-invasive brain stimulation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: rationale, methods and experience. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2019; 90:1131-1138. [PMID: 31072957 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-320213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The neurodegenerative syndrome amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by increased cortical excitability, thought to reflect pathological changes in the balance of local excitatory and inhibitory neuronal influences. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) has been shown to modulate cortical activity, with some protocols showing effects that outlast the stimulation by months. NIBS has been suggested as a potential therapeutic approach for disorders associated with changes in cortical neurophysiology, including ALS. This article reviews NIBS methodology, rationale for its application to ALS and progress to date.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evan C Edmond
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity (OHBA), Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Charlotte J Stagg
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity (OHBA), Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Oxford University, Oxford, UK .,Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity (OHBA), Oxford University, Oxford, UK.,Oxford Centre for Functional MRI of the Brain (FMRIB), Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| |
Collapse
|
104
|
He S, Zhang W, Zhang X, Xu P, Hong M, Qu S. The 4b-4c loop of excitatory amino acid transporter 1 containing four critical residues essential for substrate transport. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2019; 38:3599-3609. [PMID: 31496428 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2019.1664935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
In the mammalians, the 4b-4c loop of excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) spans more than 50 amino-acid residues that are absent in glutamate transporter homologue of Pyrococcus horikoshii (GltPh). This part of insertion is unique for metazoans and indispensable to the localization of EAATs. The excitatory amino acid transporter (EAAT) 1 is one of the two glial glutamate transporters, which are responsible for efficiently clearing glutamate from the synaptic cleft to prevent neurotoxicity and cell death. Although the crystal structure of EAAT1cryst (a human thermostable EAAT1) was resolved in 2017, the structure-function relationship of the 4b-4c loop has not been elucidated in EAAT1cryst. To investigate the role of the 4b-4c loop, we performed alanine-scanning mutagenesis in the mutants and observed dramatically decreased transport activities in T192A, Y194A, N242A, and G245A mutants. The surface expression of T192A and Y194A mutants even decreased by more than 80%, and most of them were detained in the cytoplasm. However, when T192 and Y194 were substituted with conservative residues, the transport activities and the surface expressions of T192S and Y194F were largely recovered, and their kinetic parameters (Km values) were comparable to the wild-type EAAT1 as well. In contrast, N242 and G245 substituted with conservative residues could not rescue the uptake function, suggesting that N242 and G245 may play irreplaceable roles in the glutamate uptake process. These results indicate that the 4b-4c loop of EAAT1 may not only affect the glutamate uptake activity, but also influence the surface localization of EAAT1 by T192 and Y194.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suifen He
- Central Laboratory and Department of Neurology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University (the First People's Hospital of Shunde Foshan), Foshan, Guangdong, China.,Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- Central Laboratory and Department of Neurology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University (the First People's Hospital of Shunde Foshan), Foshan, Guangdong, China.,Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiuping Zhang
- Teaching Center of Experimental Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Pingyi Xu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mei Hong
- College of Life Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shaogang Qu
- Central Laboratory and Department of Neurology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University (the First People's Hospital of Shunde Foshan), Foshan, Guangdong, China.,Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
105
|
Bonifacino T, Provenzano F, Gallia E, Ravera S, Torazza C, Bossi S, Ferrando S, Puliti A, Van Den Bosch L, Bonanno G, Milanese M. In-vivo genetic ablation of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 slows down disease progression in the SOD1G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 129:79-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
|
106
|
Ravera S, Torazza C, Bonifacino T, Provenzano F, Rebosio C, Milanese M, Usai C, Panfoli I, Bonanno G. Altered glucose catabolism in the presynaptic and perisynaptic compartments of SOD1 G93A mouse spinal cord and motor cortex indicates that mitochondria are the site of bioenergetic imbalance in ALS. J Neurochem 2019; 151:336-350. [PMID: 31282572 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.14819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease that develops because of motor neuron death. Several mechanisms occur supporting neurodegeneration, including mitochondrial dysfunction. Recently, we demonstrated that the synaptosomes from the spinal cord of SOD1G93A mice, an in vitro model of presynapses, displayed impaired mitochondrial metabolism at early pre-symptomatic stages of the disease, whereas perisynaptic astrocyte particles, or gliosomes, were characterized by mild energy impairment only at symptomatic stages. This work aimed to understand whether mitochondrial impairment is a consequence of upstream metabolic damage. We analyzed the critical pathways involved in glucose catabolism at presynaptic and perisynaptic compartments. Spinal cord and motor cortex synaptosomes from SOD1G93A mice displayed high activity of hexokinase and phosphofructokinase, key glycolysis enzymes, and of citrate synthase and malate dehydrogenase, key Krebs cycle enzymes, but did not display high lactate dehydrogenase activity, the key enzyme in lactate fermentation. This enhancement was evident in the spinal cord from the early stages of the disease and in the motor cortex at only symptomatic stages. Conversely, an increase in glycolysis and lactate fermentation activity, but not Krebs cycle activity, was observed in gliosomes from the spinal cord and motor cortex of SOD1G93A mice although only at the symptomatic stages of the disease. The cited enzymatic activities were enhanced in spinal cord and motor cortex homogenates, paralleling the time-course of the effect observed in synaptosomes and gliosomes. The observed metabolic modifications might be considered an attempt to restore altered energetic balance and indicate that mitochondria represent the ultimate site of bioenergetic impairment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Ravera
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Carola Torazza
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Provenzano
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Claudia Rebosio
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cesare Usai
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), Genoa, Italy
| | - Isabella Panfoli
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology and Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research (CEBR), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,IRCCS San Martino Policlinic Hospital, Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
107
|
Qiu T, Zhang Y, Tang X, Liu X, Wang Y, Zhou C, Luo C, Zhang J. Precentral degeneration and cerebellar compensation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A multimodal MRI analysis. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:3464-3474. [PMID: 31020731 PMCID: PMC6865414 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and intractable neurodegenerative disease of human motor system characterized by progressive muscular weakness and atrophy. A considerable body of research has demonstrated significant structural and functional abnormalities of the primary motor cortex in patients with ALS. In contrast, much less attention has been paid to the abnormalities of cerebellum in this disease. Using multimodal magnetic resonance imagining data of 60 patients with ALS and 60 healthy controls, we examined changes in gray matter volume (GMV), white matter (WM) fractional anisotropy (FA), and functional connectivity (FC) in patients with ALS. Compared with healthy controls, patients with ALS showed decreased GMV in the left precentral gyrus and increased GMV in bilateral cerebellum, decreased FA in the left corticospinal tract and body of corpus callosum, and decreased FC in multiple brain regions, involving bilateral postcentral gyrus, precentral gyrus and cerebellum anterior lobe, among others. Meanwhile, we found significant intermodal correlations among GMV of left precentral gyrus, FA of altered WM tracts, and FC of left precentral gyrus, and that WM microstructural alterations seem to play important roles in mediating the relationship between GMV and FC of the precentral gyrus, as well as the relationship between GMVs of the precentral gyrus and cerebellum. These findings provided evidence for the precentral degeneration and cerebellar compensation in ALS, and the involvement of WM alterations in mediating the relationship between pathologies of the primary motor cortex and cerebellum, which may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Qiu
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduPeople's Republic of China
| | - Yuanchao Zhang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xie Tang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduPeople's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoping Liu
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduPeople's Republic of China
| | - Yue Wang
- Key Laboratory for NeuroInformation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and TechnologyUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduPeople's Republic of China
| | - Chaoyang Zhou
- Department of RadiologySouthwest Hospital, Third Military Medical UniversityChongqingPeople's Republic of China
| | - Chunxia Luo
- Department of NeurologySouthwest Hospital, Third Military Medical UniversityChongqingPeople's Republic of China
| | - Jiuquan Zhang
- Department of RadiologyChongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer HospitalChongqingPeople's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University)Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer HospitalChongqingPeople's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
108
|
Pradhan J, Noakes PG, Bellingham MC. The Role of Altered BDNF/TrkB Signaling in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:368. [PMID: 31456666 PMCID: PMC6700252 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is well recognized for its neuroprotective functions, via activation of its high affinity receptor, tropomysin related kinase B (TrkB). In addition, BDNF/TrkB neuroprotective functions can also be elicited indirectly via activation of adenosine 2A receptors (A2aRs), which in turn transactivates TrkB. Evidence suggests that alterations in BDNF/TrkB, including TrkB transactivation by A2aRs, can occur in several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although enhancing BDNF has been a major goal for protection of dying motor neurons (MNs), this has not been successful. Indeed, there is emerging in vitro and in vivo evidence suggesting that an upregulation of BDNF/TrkB can cause detrimental effects on MNs, making them more vulnerable to pathophysiological insults. For example, in ALS, early synaptic hyper-excitability of MNs is thought to enhance BDNF-mediated signaling, thereby causing glutamate excitotoxicity, and ultimately MN death. Moreover, direct inhibition of TrkB and A2aRs has been shown to protect MNs from these pathophysiological insults, suggesting that modulation of BDNF/TrkB and/or A2aRs receptors may be important in early disease pathogenesis in ALS. This review highlights the relevance of pathophysiological actions of BDNF/TrkB under certain circumstances, so that manipulation of BDNF/TrkB and A2aRs may give rise to alternate neuroprotective therapeutic strategies in the treatment of neural diseases such as ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonu Pradhan
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter G Noakes
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.,Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark C Bellingham
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
109
|
Gonçalves-Ribeiro J, Pina CC, Sebastião AM, Vaz SH. Glutamate Transporters in Hippocampal LTD/LTP: Not Just Prevention of Excitotoxicity. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:357. [PMID: 31447647 PMCID: PMC6691053 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutamate uptake is a process mediated by sodium-dependent glutamate transporters, preventing glutamate spillover from the synapse. Typically, astrocytes express higher amounts of glutamate transporters, thus being responsible for most of the glutamate uptake; nevertheless, neurons can also express these transporters, albeit in smaller concentrations. When not regulated, glutamate uptake can lead to neuronal death. Indeed, the majority of the studies regarding glutamate transporters have focused on excitotoxicity and the subsequent neuronal loss. However, later studies have found that glutamate uptake is not a static process, evincing a possible correlation between this phenomenon and the efficiency of synaptic transmission and plasticity. In this review, we will focus on the role of the increase in glutamate uptake that occurs during long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus, as well as on the impairment of long-term depression (LTD) under the same conditions. The mechanism underpinning the modulatory effect of glutamate transporters over synaptic plasticity still remains unascertained; yet, it appears to have a more prominent effect over the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR), despite changes in other glutamate receptors may also occur.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joana Gonçalves-Ribeiro
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Carolina Campos Pina
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Maria Sebastião
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sandra Henriques Vaz
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.,Instituto de Farmacologia e Neurociências, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
110
|
Peng JJ, Lin SH, Liu YT, Lin HC, Li TN, Yao CK. A circuit-dependent ROS feedback loop mediates glutamate excitotoxicity to sculpt the Drosophila motor system. eLife 2019; 8:47372. [PMID: 31318331 PMCID: PMC6682402 DOI: 10.7554/elife.47372] [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: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is known to mediate glutamate excitotoxicity in neurological diseases. However, how ROS burdens can influence neural circuit integrity remains unclear. Here, we investigate the impact of excitotoxicity induced by depletion of Drosophila Eaat1, an astrocytic glutamate transporter, on locomotor central pattern generator (CPG) activity, neuromuscular junction architecture, and motor function. We show that glutamate excitotoxicity triggers a circuit-dependent ROS feedback loop to sculpt the motor system. Excitotoxicity initially elevates ROS, thereby inactivating cholinergic interneurons and consequently changing CPG output activity to overexcite motor neurons and muscles. Remarkably, tonic motor neuron stimulation boosts muscular ROS, gradually dampening muscle contractility to feedback-enhance ROS accumulation in the CPG circuit and subsequently exacerbate circuit dysfunction. Ultimately, excess premotor excitation of motor neurons promotes ROS-activated stress signaling that alters neuromuscular junction architecture. Collectively, our results reveal that excitotoxicity-induced ROS can perturb motor system integrity through a circuit-dependent mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jhan-Jie Peng
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Institute of Biochemical Sciences, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Shih-Han Lin
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Yu-Tzu Liu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Hsin-Chieh Lin
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Tsai-Ning Li
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Chi-Kuang Yao
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.,Institute of Biochemical Sciences, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
111
|
Genin EC, Madji Hounoum B, Bannwarth S, Fragaki K, Lacas-Gervais S, Mauri-Crouzet A, Lespinasse F, Neveu J, Ropert B, Augé G, Cochaud C, Lefebvre-Omar C, Bigou S, Chiot A, Mochel F, Boillée S, Lobsiger CS, Bohl D, Ricci JE, Paquis-Flucklinger V. Mitochondrial defect in muscle precedes neuromuscular junction degeneration and motor neuron death in CHCHD10 S59L/+ mouse. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 138:123-145. [PMID: 30874923 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-01988-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we provided genetic basis showing that mitochondrial dysfunction can trigger motor neuron degeneration, through identification of CHCHD10 encoding a mitochondrial protein. We reported patients, carrying the p.Ser59Leu heterozygous mutation in CHCHD10, from a large family with a mitochondrial myopathy associated with motor neuron disease (MND). Rapidly, our group and others reported CHCHD10 mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia-ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we generated knock-in (KI) mice, carrying the p.Ser59Leu mutation, that mimic the mitochondrial myopathy with mtDNA instability displayed by the patients from our original family. Before 14 months of age, all KI mice developed a fatal mitochondrial cardiomyopathy associated with enhanced mitophagy. CHCHD10S59L/+ mice also displayed neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and motor neuron degeneration with hyper-fragmentation of the motor end plate and moderate but significant motor neuron loss in lumbar spinal cord at the end stage of the disease. At this stage, we observed TDP-43 cytoplasmic aggregates in spinal neurons. We also showed that motor neurons differentiated from human iPSC carrying the p.Ser59Leu mutation were much more sensitive to Staurosporine or glutamate-induced caspase activation than control cells. These data confirm that mitochondrial deficiency associated with CHCHD10 mutations can be at the origin of MND. CHCHD10 is highly expressed in the NMJ post-synaptic part. Importantly, the fragmentation of the motor end plate was associated with abnormal CHCHD10 expression that was also observed closed to NMJs which were morphologically normal. Furthermore, we found OXPHOS deficiency in muscle of CHCHD10S59L/+ mice at 3 months of age in the absence of neuron loss in spinal cord. Our data show that the pathological effects of the p.Ser59Leu mutation target muscle prior to NMJ and motor neurons. They likely lead to OXPHOS deficiency, loss of cristae junctions and destabilization of internal membrane structure within mitochondria at motor end plate of NMJ, impairing neurotransmission. These data are in favor with a key role for muscle in MND associated with CHCHD10 mutations.
Collapse
|
112
|
Extracellular RNAs as Biomarkers of Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133148. [PMID: 31252669 PMCID: PMC6651127 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in the research for underlying mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer disease (AD), Parkinson disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has led to the development of potentially effective treatment, and hence increased the need for useful biomarkers that may enable early diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. The deposition of abnormal proteins is a pathological hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, including β-amyloid in AD, α-synuclein in PD, and the transactive response DNA/RNA binding protein of 43kDa (TDP-43) in ALS. Furthermore, progression of the disease process accompanies the spreading of abnormal proteins. Extracellular proteins and RNAs, including mRNA, micro RNA, and circular RNA, which are present as a composite of exosomes or other forms, play a role in cell–cell communication, and the role of extracellular molecules in the cell-to-cell spreading of pathological processes in neurodegenerative diseases is now in the spotlight. Therefore, extracellular proteins and RNAs are considered potential biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular ALS, in which RNA dysregulation has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis. Here, we review extracellular proteins and RNAs that have been scrutinized as potential biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, and discuss the possibility of extracellular RNAs as diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring biomarkers of sporadic ALS.
Collapse
|
113
|
Ragagnin AMG, Shadfar S, Vidal M, Jamali MS, Atkin JD. Motor Neuron Susceptibility in ALS/FTD. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:532. [PMID: 31316328 PMCID: PMC6610326 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the death of both upper and lower motor neurons (MNs) in the brain, brainstem and spinal cord. The neurodegenerative mechanisms leading to MN loss in ALS are not fully understood. Importantly, the reasons why MNs are specifically targeted in this disorder are unclear, when the proteins associated genetically or pathologically with ALS are expressed ubiquitously. Furthermore, MNs themselves are not affected equally; specific MNs subpopulations are more susceptible than others in both animal models and human patients. Corticospinal MNs and lower somatic MNs, which innervate voluntary muscles, degenerate more readily than specific subgroups of lower MNs, which remain resistant to degeneration, reflecting the clinical manifestations of ALS. In this review, we discuss the possible factors intrinsic to MNs that render them uniquely susceptible to neurodegeneration in ALS. We also speculate why some MN subpopulations are more vulnerable than others, focusing on both their molecular and physiological properties. Finally, we review the anatomical network and neuronal microenvironment as determinants of MN subtype vulnerability and hence the progression of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Audrey M G Ragagnin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Sina Shadfar
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Marta Vidal
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Md Shafi Jamali
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
114
|
Tischbein M, Baron DM, Lin YC, Gall KV, Landers JE, Fallini C, Bosco DA. The RNA-binding protein FUS/TLS undergoes calcium-mediated nuclear egress during excitotoxic stress and is required for GRIA2 mRNA processing. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:10194-10210. [PMID: 31092554 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.005933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Excitotoxic levels of glutamate represent a physiological stress that is strongly linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological disorders. Emerging evidence indicates a role for neurodegenerative disease-linked RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in the cellular stress response. However, the relationships between excitotoxicity, RBP function, and disease have not been explored. Here, using primary cortical and motor neurons, we found that excitotoxicity induced the translocation of select ALS-linked RBPs from the nucleus to the cytoplasm within neurons. RBPs affected by excitotoxicity included TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and, most robustly, fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS or FUS). We noted that FUS is translocated through a calcium-dependent mechanism and that its translocation coincides with striking alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport. Furthermore, glutamate-induced up-regulation of glutamate ionotropic receptor α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)-type subunit 2 (GRIA2) in neurons depended on FUS expression, consistent with a functional role for FUS in excitotoxic stress. These findings reveal molecular links among prominent factors in neurodegenerative diseases, namely excitotoxicity, disease-associated RBPs, and nucleocytoplasmic transport.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maeve Tischbein
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - Desiree M Baron
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - Yen-Chen Lin
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - Katherine V Gall
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - John E Landers
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - Claudia Fallini
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| | - Daryl A Bosco
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605
| |
Collapse
|
115
|
Peikert K, Naumann M, Günther R, Wegner F, Hermann A. Off-Label Treatment of 4 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients With 4-Aminopyridine. J Clin Pharmacol 2019; 59:1400-1404. [PMID: 31038230 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.1437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disorder characterized by degeneration of the upper and lower motor neuron. Among the at least 25 known genes associated with familial (hereditary) and sporadic ALS, mutations in fused-in-sarcoma (FUS) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) have been extensively investigated in the past years, with emphasis on altered excitability of affected neurons. Recently, we reported on hypoexcitability and increased cell death in a FUS/SOD1-ALS-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neuron model, which was partly reversible by a treatment with the potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Based on this study, we aimed to examine this US Food and Drug Administration-approved drug as a potential individualized treatment for patients with ALS. We therefore retrospectively investigated 4 FUS/SOD1-ALS patients who were prescribed 4-AP. Two patients expressed an improved quality of life due to regain of facial muscle motor function and decreased disease progression rate, respectively. Together with recent pathophysiologic findings, this case series supports the need for clinical trials to examine the efficacy of this potential treatment in distinct ALS subgroups and disease stages.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Peikert
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marcel Naumann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,DZNE, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Research Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Translational Neurodegeneration Section Albrecht Kossel, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - René Günther
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,DZNE, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Research Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Florian Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,DZNE, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Research Site Rostock/Greifswald, Rostock, Germany.,Translational Neurodegeneration Section Albrecht Kossel, Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany.,Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR), University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
116
|
Motor cortex metabolite alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis assessed in vivo using edited and non-edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Brain Res 2019; 1718:22-31. [PMID: 31002818 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2019.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Revised: 03/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Previous MRI and proton spectroscopy (1H-MRS) studies have revealed impaired neuronal integrity and altered neurometabolite concentrations in the motor cortex of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we aim to use MRI with conventional and novel MRS sequences to further investigate neurometabolic changes in the motor cortex of ALS patients and their relation to clinical parameters. We utilized the novel HERMES (Hadamard Encoding and Reconstruction of MEGA-Edited Spectroscopy) MRS sequence to simultaneously quantify the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA and antioxidant glutathione in ALS patients (n = 7) and healthy controls (n = 7). In addition, we have also quantified other MRS observable neurometabolites using a conventional point-resolved MR spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence in ALS patients (n = 20) and healthy controls (n = 20). We observed a trend towards decreasing glutathione concentrations in the motor cortex of ALS patients (p = 0.0842). In addition, we detected a 11% decrease in N-acetylaspartate (NAA) (p = 0.025), a 15% increase in glutamate + glutamine (Glx) (p = 0.0084) and a 21% increase in myo-inositol (mIns) (p = 0.0051) concentrations for ALS patients compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, significant positive correlations were found between GABA-NAA (p = 0.0480; Rρ = 0.7875) and NAA-mIns (p = 0.0448; Rρ = -0.4651) levels among the patients. NAA levels in the bulbar-onset patient group were found to be significantly (p = 0.0097) lower compared to the limb-onset group. A strong correlation (p < 0.0001; Rρ = -0,8801) for mIns and a weak correlation (p = 0.0066; Rρ = -0,6673) for Glx was found for the disease progression, measured by declining of the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised criteria (ALSFRS-R). Concentrations of mIns and Glx also correlated with disease severity measured by forced vital capacity (FVC). Results suggest that mean neurometabolite concentrations detected in the motor cortex may indicate clinical and pathological changes in ALS.
Collapse
|
117
|
Berning BA, Walker AK. The Pathobiology of TDP-43 C-Terminal Fragments in ALS and FTLD. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:335. [PMID: 31031584 PMCID: PMC6470282 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During neurodegenerative disease, the multifunctional RNA-binding protein TDP-43 undergoes a vast array of post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, acetylation, and cleavage. Many of these alterations may directly contribute to the pathogenesis of TDP-43 proteinopathies, which include most forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and approximately half of all frontotemporal dementia, pathologically identified as frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) with TDP-43 pathology. However, the relative contributions of the various TDP-43 post-translational modifications to disease remain unclear, and indeed some may be secondary epiphenomena rather than disease-causative. It is therefore critical to determine the involvement of each modification in disease processes to allow the design of targeted treatments. In particular, TDP-43 C-terminal fragments (CTFs) accumulate in the brains of people with ALS and FTLD and are therefore described as a neuropathological signature of these diseases. Remarkably, these TDP-43 CTFs are rarely observed in the spinal cord, even in ALS which involves dramatic degeneration of spinal motor neurons. Therefore, TDP-43 CTFs are not produced non-specifically in the course of all forms of TDP-43-related neurodegeneration, but rather variably arise due to additional factors influenced by regional heterogeneity in the central nervous system. In this review, we summarize how TDP-43 CTFs are generated and degraded by cells, and critique evidence from studies of TDP-43 CTF pathology in human disease tissues, as well as cell and animal models, to analyze the pathophysiological relevance of TDP-43 CTFs to ALS and FTLD. Numerous studies now indicate that, although TDP-43 CTFs are prevalent in ALS and FTLD brains, disease-related pathology is only variably reproduced in TDP-43 CTF cell culture models. Furthermore, TDP-43 CTF expression in both transgenic and viral-mediated in vivo models largely fails to induce motor or behavioral dysfunction reminiscent of human disease. We therefore conclude that although TDP-43 CTFs are a hallmark of TDP-43-related neurodegeneration in the brain, they are not a primary cause of ALS or FTLD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Britt A. Berning
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Adam K. Walker
- Neurodegeneration Pathobiology Laboratory, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
118
|
Cheong I, Deelchand DK, Eberly LE, Marjańska M, Manousakis G, Guliani G, Walk D, Öz G. Neurochemical correlates of functional decline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2019; 90:294-301. [PMID: 30467209 PMCID: PMC6467050 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2018-318795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) can detect neurochemical changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with heterogeneous functional decline. METHODS Nineteen participants with early-stage ALS and 18 age-matched and sex ratio-matched controls underwent ultra-high field 1H-MRS scans of the upper limb motor cortex and pons, ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R total, upper limb and bulbar) and upper motor neuron burden assessments in a longitudinal observational study design with follow-up assessments at 6 and 12 months. Slopes of neurochemical levels over time were compared between patient subgroups classified by the rate of upper limb or bulbar functional decline. 1H-MRS and clinical ratings at baseline were assessed for ability to predict study withdrawal due to disease progression. RESULTS Motor cortex total N-acetylaspartate to myo-inositol ratio (tNAA:mIns) significantly declined in patients who worsened in upper limb function over the follow-up period (n=9, p=0.002). Pons glutamate + glutamine significantly increased in patients who worsened in bulbar function (n=6, p<0.0001). Neurochemical levels did not change in patients with stable function (n=5-6) or in healthy controls (n=14-16) over time. Motor cortex tNAA:mIns and ALSFRS-R at baseline were significantly lower in patients who withdrew from follow-up due to disease progression (n=6) compared with patients who completed the 12-month scan (n=10) (p<0.001 for tNAA:mIns; p<0.01 for ALSFRS-R), with a substantially larger overlap in ALSFRS-R between groups. CONCLUSION Neurochemical changes in motor areas of the brain are associated with functional decline in corresponding body regions. 1H-MRS was a better predictor of study withdrawal due to ALS progression than ALSFRS-R.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Cheong
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Dinesh K Deelchand
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Lynn E Eberly
- Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Małgorzata Marjańska
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | | | - Gaurav Guliani
- Hennepin County Medical Center and HealthPartners Neuroscience Center, Minneapolis, USA
| | - David Walk
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| | - Gülin Öz
- Department of Radiology, Center for Magnetic Resonance Research, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA
| |
Collapse
|
119
|
He S, Zhang X, Qu S. Glutamate, Glutamate Transporters, and Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders in Neurodegenerative Diseases. ACS Chem Neurosci 2019; 10:175-181. [PMID: 30485059 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.8b00419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamate, a primary excitatory neurotransmitter and an important intermediate in the cellular metabolism of the brain, has a widespread influence in the sleep-wake regulatory system. Glutamate transporters, including vesicular glutamate transporters and excitatory amino acid transporters, serve as the main force controlling the extracellular concentration of glutamate in the brain. These are likely to be critical tools needed for the brain to modulate the sleep-wake cycle and are likely innervated by the circadian rhythm system in a day-night variant pattern. Because in the initial stages, nearly all patients with neurodegenerative diseases have rhythmic sleep disorders that become aggravated with disease development and often exhibit glutamate uptake dysfunction, we examined whether the above glutamate transporters could be used as potential targets to help address circadian rhythm sleep disorders in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Therefore, in this review, we sought to analyze the principles governing glutamate transmission and discuss whether the circadian rhythm regulatory properties of these processes endow glutamate transporters with unique functions in the sleep-wake shift of the brain. We attempt to provide a theoretical framework in this field for future studies, to help in the exploration of potential therapeutic targets to delay or prevent the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suifen He
- Central Laboratory, Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Shunde Foshan), Foshan, Guangdong 528300, China
- Department of Neurology, Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Shunde Foshan), Foshan, Guangdong 528300, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Xiuping Zhang
- Teaching Center of Experimental Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| | - Shaogang Qu
- Central Laboratory, Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Shunde Foshan), Foshan, Guangdong 528300, China
- Department of Neurology, Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University (The First People’s Hospital of Shunde Foshan), Foshan, Guangdong 528300, China
- Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510515, China
| |
Collapse
|
120
|
Sengupta S, Le TT, Adam A, Tadić V, Stubendorff B, Keiner S, Kloss L, Prell T, Witte OW, Grosskreutz J. Interferon-γ Receptor 1 and GluR1 upregulated in motor neurons of symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 49:62-78. [PMID: 30457201 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Motor neurons are markedly vulnerable to excitotoxicity mostly by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic receptor (AMPAR) stimulation and are principal targets in the neurodegenerative disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, can independently cause neuronal dysfunction by triggering calcium influx through a calcium-permeable complex of IFN-γ receptor 1(IFNGR1) subunit and AMPAR subunit GluR1. This receptor complex is formed via a non-canonical neuron-specific IFN-γ pathway that involves Jak1/Stat1 and Protein Kinase A. In this study, we explore the expression of the pathway's participants for the first time in the hSOD1G93A Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis mouse model. Elevated IFNGR1 and GluR1 are detected in motor neurons of hSOD1G93A symptomatic mice ex vivo, unlike the downstream targets - Jak1, Stat1, and Protein Kinase A. We, also, determine effects of IFN-γ alone or in the presence of an excitotoxic agent, kainate, on motor neuron survival in vitro. IFN-γ induces neuronal damage, but does not influence kainate-mediated excitotoxicity. Increased IFNGR1 can most likely sensitize motor neurons to excitotoxic insults involving GluR1 and/or pathways mediated by IFN-γ, thus, serving as a potential direct link between neurodegeneration and inflammation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saikata Sengupta
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Thanh Tu Le
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Adam Adam
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Vedrana Tadić
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Silke Keiner
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Linda Kloss
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Tino Prell
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Otto W Witte
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
121
|
Jordan K, Murphy J, Singh A, Mitchell CS. Astrocyte-Mediated Neuromodulatory Regulation in Preclinical ALS: A Metadata Analysis. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:491. [PMID: 30618638 PMCID: PMC6305074 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degradation of motoneurons in the central nervous system (CNS). Astrocytes are key regulators for inflammation and neuromodulatory signaling, both of which contribute to ALS. The study goal was to ascertain potential temporal changes in astrocyte-mediated neuromodulatory regulation with transgenic ALS model progression: glutamate, GTL-1, GluR1, GluR2, GABA, ChAT activity, VGF, TNFα, aspartate, and IGF-1. We examine neuromodulatory changes in data aggregates from 42 peer-reviewed studies derived from transgenic ALS mixed cell cultures (neurons + astrocytes). For each corresponding experimental time point, the ratio of transgenic to wild type (WT) was found for each compound. ANOVA and a student's t-test were performed to compare disease stages (early, post-onset, and end stage). Glutamate in transgenic SOD1-G93A mixed cell cultures does not change over time (p > 0.05). GLT-1 levels were found to be decreased 23% over WT but only at end-stage (p < 0.05). Glutamate receptors (GluR1, GluR2) in SOD1-G93A were not substantially different from WT, although SOD1-G93A GluR1 decreased by 21% from post-onset to end-stage (p < 0.05). ChAT activity was insignificantly decreased. VGF is decreased throughout ALS (p < 0.05). Aspartate is elevated by 25% in SOD1-G93A but only during end-stage (p < 0.05). TNFα is increased by a dramatic 362% (p < 0.05). Furthermore, principal component analysis identified TNFα as contributing to 55% of the data variance in the first component. Thus, TNFα, which modulates astrocyte regulation via multiple pathways, could be a strategic treatment target. Overall results suggest changes in neuromodulator levels are subtle in SOD1-G93A ALS mixed cell cultures. If excitotoxicity is present as is often presumed, it could be due to ALS cells being more sensitive to small changes in neuromodulation. Hence, seemingly unsubstantial or oscillatory changes in neuromodulators could wreak havoc in ALS cells, resulting in failed microenvironment homeostasis whereby both hyperexcitability and hypoexcitability can coexist. Future work is needed to examine local, spatiotemporal neuromodulatory homeostasis and assess its functional impact in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen Jordan
- Laboratory for Pathology Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Joseph Murphy
- Laboratory for Pathology Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Anjanya Singh
- Laboratory for Pathology Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Cassie S. Mitchell
- Laboratory for Pathology Dynamics, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
122
|
Walczak J, Dębska-Vielhaber G, Vielhaber S, Szymański J, Charzyńska A, Duszyński J, Szczepanowska J. Distinction of sporadic and familial forms of ALS based on mitochondrial characteristics. FASEB J 2018; 33:4388-4403. [PMID: 30550341 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801843r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Bioenergetic failure, oxidative stress, and changes in mitochondrial morphology are common pathologic hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in several cellular and animal models. Disturbed mitochondrial physiology has serious consequences for proper functioning of the cell, leading to the chronic mitochondrial stress. Mitochondria, being in the center of cellular metabolism, play a pivotal role in adaptation to stress conditions. We found that mitochondrial dysfunction and adaptation processes differ in primary fibroblasts derived from patients diagnosed with either sporadic or familial forms of ALS. The evaluation of mitochondrial parameters such as the mitochondrial membrane potential, the oxygen consumption rate, the activity and levels of respiratory chain complexes, and the levels of ATP, reactive oxygen species, and Ca2+ show that the bioenergetic properties of mitochondria are different in sporadic ALS, familial ALS, and control groups. Comparative statistical analysis of the data set (with use of principal component analysis and support vector machine) identifies and distinguishes 3 separate groups despite the small number of investigated cell lines and high variability in measured parameters. These findings could be a first step in development of a new tool for predicting sporadic and familial forms of ALS and could contribute to knowledge of its pathophysiology.-Walczak, J., Dębska-Vielhaber, G., Vielhaber, S., Szymański, J., Charzyńska, A., Duszyński, J., Szczepanowska, J. Distinction of sporadic and familial forms of ALS based on mitochondrial characteristics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jarosław Walczak
- Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Stefan Vielhaber
- Department of Neurology, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; and
| | - Jędrzej Szymański
- Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agata Charzyńska
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jerzy Duszyński
- Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Joanna Szczepanowska
- Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
123
|
Kobayakawa Y, Masaki K, Yamasaki R, Shiraishi W, Hayashida S, Hayashi S, Okamoto K, Matsushita T, Kira JI. Downregulation of Neuronal and Dendritic Connexin36-Made Electrical Synapses Without Glutamatergic Axon Terminals in Spinal Anterior Horn Cells From the Early Stage of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:894. [PMID: 30546295 PMCID: PMC6279874 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Connexin36 (Cx36) forms gap junctions between neurons, which are called electrical synapses, enabling adjacent neurons to communicate directly. The participation of chemical synapses in neurodegeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has long been indicated, but it remains unclear whether electrical synapses are involved in the pathogenesis of ALS. We performed extensive immunopathological analyses using mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G93A) transgenic mice and their littermates to investigate whether Cx36-made electrical synapses are affected in motor neuron diseases. We found that in the lamina IX of the lumbar spinal cord from wild type mice, about half of the Cx36 puncta existed independently of chemical synapse markers, while the rest coexisted with chemical synapse markers, such as vesicular glutamate transporter 1 (VGLUT1), which is a glutamatergic axon terminal marker, and/or glutamate decarboxylase 65 (GAD65), which is a GABAergic axon terminal marker. Cx36 single or Cx36/GAD65 double positive puncta, but not VGLUT1-containing puncta, were preferentially decreased on neuronal and dendritic surfaces of the anterior horn cells in the early stage of SOD1G93A ALS mice. Moreover, in five human autopsied sporadic ALS cases with bulbar or upper limb onset, Cx36 immunoreactivity was diminished in the proximal dendrites and neuropils of well-preserved large motor neurons in the lumbar anterior horns. These findings suggest that downregulation of neuronal and dendritic Cx36 in the spinal anterior horns commonly occurs from the early stage of hereditary and sporadic ALS. Cx36-made electrical synapses without glutamatergic signaling appear to be more vulnerable than other chemical synapses and electrical synapses with glutamatergic signaling in the early stage of motor neuron degeneration, suggesting involvement of Cx36-made electrical synapses in the pathogenesis of human ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Kobayakawa
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Katsuhisa Masaki
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Ryo Yamasaki
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Wataru Shiraishi
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shotaro Hayashida
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Shintaro Hayashi
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Koichi Okamoto
- Department of Neurology, Geriatrics Research Institute and Hospital, Gunma, Japan
| | - Takuya Matsushita
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Jun-Ichi Kira
- Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
124
|
Tadić V, Adam A, Goldhammer N, Lautenschlaeger J, Oberstadt M, Malci A, Le TT, Sengupta S, Stubendorff B, Keiner S, Witte OW, Grosskreutz J. Investigation of mitochondrial calcium uniporter role in embryonic and adult motor neurons from G93A hSOD1 mice. Neurobiol Aging 2018; 75:209-222. [PMID: 30597405 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is characterized by progressive death of motor neurons (MNs) with glutamate excitotoxicity and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload as critical mechanisms in disease pathophysiology. We used MNs from G93AhSOD1 and nontransgenic embryonic cultures and adult mice to analyze the expression of the main mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU). MCU was overexpressed in cultured embryonic G93AhSOD1 MNs compared to nontransgenic MNs but downregulated in MNs from adult G93AhSOD1 mice. Furthermore, cultured embryonic G93AhSOD1 were rescued from kainate-induced excitotoxicity by the Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II inhibitor; KN-62, which reduced MCU expression in G93AhSOD1 MNs. MCU activation via kaempferol neither altered MCU expression nor influenced MN survival. However, its acute application served as a fine tool to study spontaneous Ca2+ activity in cultured neurons which was significantly altered by the mutated hSOD1. Pharmacological manipulation of MCU expression might open new possibilities to fight excitotoxic damage in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vedrana Tadić
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
| | - Adam Adam
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Nadine Goldhammer
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Janin Lautenschlaeger
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany; Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Moritz Oberstadt
- Department of Neurology, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ayse Malci
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Thanh Tu Le
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Saikata Sengupta
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | | | - Silke Keiner
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Otto W Witte
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
125
|
Bissaro M, Federico S, Salmaso V, Sturlese M, Spalluto G, Moro S. Targeting Protein Kinase CK1δ with Riluzole: Could It Be One of the Possible Missing Bricks to Interpret Its Effect in the Treatment of ALS from a Molecular Point of View? ChemMedChem 2018; 13:2601-2605. [PMID: 30359484 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201800632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Riluzole, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995, is the most widespread oral treatment for the fatal neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The drug, whose mechanism of action is still obscure, mitigates progression of the illness, but unfortunately with only limited improvements. Herein we report the first demonstration, using a combination of computational and in vitro studies, that riluzole is an ATP-competitive inhibitor of the protein kinase CK1 isoform δ, with an IC50 value of 16.1 μm. This allows us to rewrite its possible molecular mechanism of action in the treatment of ALS. The inhibition of CK1δ catalytic activity indeed links the two main pathological hallmarks of ALS: transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) proteinopathy and glutamate excitotoxicity, exacerbated by the loss of expression of glial excitatory amino acid transporter-2 (EAAT2).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maicol Bissaro
- Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Stephanie Federico
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgeri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Veronica Salmaso
- Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Mattia Sturlese
- Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Giampiero Spalluto
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgeri 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefano Moro
- Molecular Modeling Section (MMS), Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 5, 35131, Padova, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
126
|
The C9ORF72 Gene, Implicated in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia, Encodes a Protein That Functions in Control of Endothelin and Glutamate Signaling. Mol Cell Biol 2018; 38:MCB.00155-18. [PMID: 30150298 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00155-18] [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: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A GGGGCC repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 (C9) gene is the most common known cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia. Several mechanisms have been proposed to account for its toxicity, including the possibility that reduced C9 protein levels contribute to disease. To investigate this possibility, we examined the effects of reduced C9 levels in several cell systems. We first showed that C9 knockdown (KD) in U87 glioblastoma cells results in striking morphological changes, including vacuolization and alterations in cell size. Unexpectedly, RNA analysis revealed changes in expression of many genes, including genes involved in endothelin (EDN) signaling and immune system pathways and multiple glutamate cycling genes (e.g., EAAT2), which were verified in several cell models, including astrocytes and brain samples from C9-positive patients. Consistent with deregulation of the glutamate cycling genes, elevated intracellular glutamate was detected in both KD cells and patient astrocytes. Importantly, levels of mRNAs encoding EDN1 and its receptors, known to be elevated in ALS, were sharply increased by C9 KD, likely resulting from an observed activation of NF-κB signaling and/or a possible role of a C9 isoform in gene control.
Collapse
|
127
|
Dual action of L-Lactate on the activity of NR2B-containing NMDA receptors: from potentiation to neuroprotection. Sci Rep 2018; 8:13472. [PMID: 30194439 PMCID: PMC6128851 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31534-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
L-Lactate is a positive modulator of NMDAR-mediated signaling resulting in plasticity gene induction and memory consolidation. However, L-Lactate is also able to protect neurons against excito-toxic NMDAR activity, an indication of a mitigating action of L-Lactate on NMDA signaling. In this study, we provide experimental evidence that resolves this apparent paradox. Transient co-application of glutamate/glycine (1 μM/100 μM; 2 min) in primary cultures of mouse cortical neurons triggers a NMDA-dependent Ca2+ signal positively modulated by L-Lactate (10 mM) or DTT (1 mM) but decreased by Pyruvate (10 mM). This L-Lactate and DTT-induced potentiation is blocked by Ifenprodil (2 μM), a specific blocker of NMDARs containing NR2B sub-units. In contrast, co-application of glutamate/glycine (1 mM/100 μM; 2 min) elicits a NMDAR-dependent excitotoxic death in 49% of neurons. L-Lactate and Pyruvate significantly reduce this rate of cell death processes (respectively to 23% and 9%) while DTT has no effect (54% of neuronal death). This L-Lactate-induced neuroprotection is blocked by carbenoxolone and glibenclamide, respectively blockers of pannexins and KATP. In conclusion, our results show that L-Lactate is involved in two distinct and independent pathways defined as NMDAR-mediated potentiation pathway (or NADH pathway) and a neuroprotective pathway (or Pyruvate/ATP pathway), the prevalence of each one depending on the strength of the glutamatergic stimulus.
Collapse
|
128
|
McGurk L, Mojsilovic-Petrovic J, Van Deerlin VM, Shorter J, Kalb RG, Lee VM, Trojanowski JQ, Lee EB, Bonini NM. Nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) activity is a therapeutic target in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2018; 6:84. [PMID: 30157956 PMCID: PMC6114235 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-018-0586-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating and fatal motor neuron disease. Diagnosis typically occurs in the fifth decade of life and the disease progresses rapidly leading to death within ~ 2–5 years of symptomatic onset. There is no cure, and the few available treatments offer only a modest extension in patient survival. A protein central to ALS is the nuclear RNA/DNA-binding protein, TDP-43. In > 95% of ALS patients, TDP-43 is cleared from the nucleus and forms phosphorylated protein aggregates in the cytoplasm of affected neurons and glia. We recently defined that poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) activity regulates TDP-43-associated toxicity. PAR is a posttranslational modification that is attached to target proteins by PAR polymerases (PARPs). PARP-1 and PARP-2 are the major enzymes that are active in the nucleus. Here, we uncovered that the motor neurons of the ALS spinal cord were associated with elevated nuclear PAR, suggesting elevated PARP activity. Veliparib, a small-molecule inhibitor of nuclear PARP-1/2, mitigated the formation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregates in mammalian cells. In primary spinal-cord cultures from rat, Veliparib also inhibited TDP-43-associated neuronal death. These studies uncover that PAR activity is misregulated in the ALS spinal cord, and a small-molecular inhibitor of PARP-1/2 activity may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of ALS and related disorders associated with abnormal TDP-43 homeostasis.
Collapse
|
129
|
Pál B. Involvement of extrasynaptic glutamate in physiological and pathophysiological changes of neuronal excitability. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:2917-2949. [PMID: 29766217 PMCID: PMC11105518 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2837-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate is the most abundant neurotransmitter of the central nervous system, as the majority of neurons use glutamate as neurotransmitter. It is also well known that this neurotransmitter is not restricted to synaptic clefts, but found in the extrasynaptic regions as ambient glutamate. Extrasynaptic glutamate originates from spillover of synaptic release, as well as from astrocytes and microglia. Its concentration is magnitudes lower than in the synaptic cleft, but receptors responding to it have higher affinity for it. Extrasynaptic glutamate receptors can be found in neuronal somatodendritic location, on astroglia, oligodendrocytes or microglia. Activation of them leads to changes of neuronal excitability with different amplitude and kinetics. Extrasynaptic glutamate is taken up by neurons and astrocytes mostly via EAAT transporters, and astrocytes, in turn metabolize it to glutamine. Extrasynaptic glutamate is involved in several physiological phenomena of the central nervous system. It regulates neuronal excitability and synaptic strength by involving astroglia; contributing to learning and memory formation, neurosecretory and neuromodulatory mechanisms, as well as sleep homeostasis.The extrasynaptic glutamatergic system is affected in several brain pathologies related to excitotoxicity, neurodegeneration or neuroinflammation. Being present in dementias, neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases or tumor invasion in a seemingly uniform way, the system possibly provides a common component of their pathogenesis. Although parts of the system are extensively discussed by several recent reviews, in this review I attempt to summarize physiological actions of the extrasynaptic glutamate on neuronal excitability and provide a brief insight to its pathology for basic understanding of the topic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Balázs Pál
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt 98, Debrecen, 4012, Hungary.
| |
Collapse
|
130
|
Zhao J, Cooper LT, Boyd AW, Bartlett PF. Decreased signalling of EphA4 improves functional performance and motor neuron survival in the SOD1 G93A ALS mouse model. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11393. [PMID: 30061574 PMCID: PMC6065374 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29845-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an untreatable, progressive, neurodegenerative disease specifically affecting motor neurons. Recently, the tyrosine kinase receptor EphA4 was directly implicated in ALS disease progression. We report that a long-lived mutated form of the EphA4 antagonist EphA4-Fc (mutEphA4-Fc), which blocks EphA4 binding to its ligands and inhibits its function, significantly improved functional performance in SOD1G93A ALS model mice, as assessed by rotarod and hind-limb grip strength tests. Further, heterozygous motor neuron-specific EphA4 gene deletion in SOD1G93A mice promoted significant improvement in functional performance during the disease course and a delay in disease onset relative to control mice. Importantly, mice in the heterozygous deletion group showed significantly improved survival of motor neurons and architecture of endplates of neuromuscular junctions compared with control and homozygous EphA4-deletion groups. Our novel results show that EphA4 signalling directly regulates motor neuron survival and that mutEphA4-Fc is a promising therapeutic candidate to slow disease progression in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Zhao
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - L T Cooper
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - A W Boyd
- Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - P F Bartlett
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
131
|
Bhardwaj A, Bhardwaj R, Dhawan DK, Kaur T. Exploring the Effect of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Inhibition by 4-Phenylbutyric Acid on AMPA-Induced Hippocampal Excitotoxicity in Rat Brain. Neurotox Res 2018; 35:83-91. [DOI: 10.1007/s12640-018-9932-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Revised: 07/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
|
132
|
Ceccanti M, Onesti E, Rubino A, Cambieri C, Tartaglia G, Miscioscia A, Frasca V, Inghilleri M. Modulation of human corticospinal excitability by paired associative stimulation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and effects of Riluzole. Brain Stimul 2018; 11:775-781. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Revised: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
|
133
|
Cai M, Yang EJ. Gamisoyo-San Ameliorates Neuroinflammation in the Spinal Cord of hSOD1 G93A Transgenic Mice. Mediators Inflamm 2018; 2018:5897817. [PMID: 30046279 PMCID: PMC6036813 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5897817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 05/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive disorder, causes motor neuron degeneration and neuromuscular synapse denervation. Because this is a complex disease, there are no effective drugs for the treatment of patients with ALS. For example, riluzole is used in many countries but has many side effects and only increases the lifespan of patients by approximately 2-3 months. Therefore, patients with ALS often turn to complementary and alternative medicine, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, and herbal medicine, with the hope and belief of recovery, despite the lack of definite evidence on the efficacy of these methods. Gamisoyo-San (GSS), a herbal medicine known to improve health, has been used for stress-related neuropsychological disorders, including anorexia, in Asian countries, such as China, Korea, and Japan. To evaluate the effects of GSS on the spinal cord, we investigated the expression of neuroinflammatory and metabolic proteins in symptomatic hSOD1G93A mice. We observed that GSS reduces the expression of glial markers, including those for microglia and astrocytes, and prevents neuronal loss. Moreover, we found that GSS inhibits the expression of proteins related to Toll-like receptor 4 signaling and oxidative stress, known to cause neuroinflammation. Notably, GSS also regulates metabolism in the spinal cord of transgenic mice. These results suggest that GSS could be used for improving the immune system and increasing the life quality of patients with ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- MuDan Cai
- Department of Clinical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Jin Yang
- Department of Clinical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 1672 Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
134
|
Ghezzi F, Monni L, Nistri A. Functional up-regulation of the M-current by retigabine contrasts hyperexcitability and excitotoxicity on rat hypoglossal motoneurons. J Physiol 2018; 596:2611-2629. [PMID: 29736957 DOI: 10.1113/jp275906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Excessive neuronal excitability characterizes several neuropathological conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Hypoglossal motoneurons (HMs), which control tongue muscles, are extremely vulnerable to this disease and undergo damage and death when exposed to an excessive glutamate extracellular concentration that causes excitotoxicity. Our laboratory devised an in vitro model of excitotoxicity obtained by pharmacological blockade of glutamate transporters. In this paradigm, HMs display hyperexcitability, collective bursting and eventually cell death. The results of the present study show that pharmacological up-regulation of a K+ current (M-current), via application of the anti-convulsant retigabine, prevented all hallmarks of HM excitotoxicity, comprising bursting, generation of reactive oxygen species, expression of toxic markers and cell death. ○Our data may have translational value to develop new treatments against neurological diseases by using positive pharmacological modulators of the M-current. ABSTRACT Neuronal hyperexcitability is a symptom characterizing several neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In the ALS bulbar form, hypoglossal motoneurons (HMs) are an early target for neurodegeneration because of their high vulnerability to metabolic insults. In recent years, our laboratory has developed an in vitro model of a brainstem slice comprising the hypoglossal nucleus in which HM neurodegeneration is achieved by blocking glutamate clearance with dl-threo-β-benzyloxyaspartate (TBOA), thus leading to delayed excitotoxicity. During this process, HMs display a set of hallmarks such as hyperexcitability (and network bursting), reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and, finally, cell death. The present study aimed to investigate whether blocking early hyperexcitability and bursting with the anti-convulsant drug retigabine was sufficient to achieve neuroprotection against excitotoxicity. Retigabine is a selective positive allosteric modulator of the M-current (IM ), an endogenous mechanism that neurons (comprising HMs) express to dampen excitability. Retigabine (10 μm; co-applied with TBOA) contrasted ROS generation, release of endogenous toxic factors into the HM cytoplasm and excitotoxicity-induced HM death. Electrophysiological experiments showed that retigabine readily contrasted and arrested bursting evoked by TBOA administration. Because neuronal IM subunits (Kv7.2, Kv7.3 and Kv7.5) were expressed in the hypoglossal nucleus and in functionally connected medullary nuclei, we suggest that they were responsible for the strong reduction in network excitability, a potent phenomenon for achieving neuroprotection against TBOA-induced excitotoxicity. The results of the present study may have translational value for testing novel positive pharmacological modulators of the IM under pathological conditions (including neurodegenerative disorders) characterized by excessive neuronal excitability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Filippo Ghezzi
- Department of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Laura Monni
- Department of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Andrea Nistri
- Department of Neuroscience, International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
135
|
Toth RP, Atkin JD. Dysfunction of Optineurin in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Glaucoma. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1017. [PMID: 29875767 PMCID: PMC5974248 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia, and glaucoma, affect millions of people worldwide. ALS is caused by the loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brainstem, and brain, and genetic mutations are responsible for 10% of all ALS cases. Glaucoma is characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells and is the most common cause of irreversible blindness. Interestingly, mutations in OPTN, encoding optineurin, are associated with both ALS and glaucoma. Optineurin is a highly abundant protein involved in a wide range of cellular processes, including the inflammatory response, autophagy, Golgi maintenance, and vesicular transport. In this review, we summarize the role of optineurin in cellular mechanisms implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, including neuroinflammation, autophagy, and vesicular trafficking, focusing in particular on the consequences of expression of mutations associated with ALS and glaucoma. This review, therefore showcases the impact of optineurin dysfunction in ALS and glaucoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reka P Toth
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Julie D Atkin
- Motor Neuron Disease Research Centre, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
136
|
A C9orf72 ALS/FTD Ortholog Acts in Endolysosomal Degradation and Lysosomal Homeostasis. Curr Biol 2018; 28:1522-1535.e5. [PMID: 29731301 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 02/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the expansion of a hexanucleotide repeat in a non-coding region of the gene C9orf72. We report that loss-of-function mutations in alfa-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of C9orf72, cause a novel phenotypic defect: endocytosed yolk is abnormally released into the extra-embryonic space, resulting in refractile "blobs." The alfa-1 blob phenotype is partially rescued by the expression of the human C9orf72 protein, demonstrating that C9orf72 and alfa-1 function similarly. We show that alfa-1 and R144.5, which we identified from a genetic screen for mutants with the blob phenotype and renamed smcr-8, act in the degradation of endolysosomal content and subsequent lysosome reformation. The alfa-1 abnormality in lysosomal reformation results in a general dysregulation in lysosomal homeostasis, leading to defective degradation of phagosomal and autophagosomal contents. We suggest that, like alfa-1, C9orf72 functions in the degradation of endocytosed material and in the maintenance of lysosomal homeostasis. This previously undescribed function of C9orf72 explains a variety of disparate observations concerning the effects of mutations in C9orf72 and its homologs, including the abnormal accumulation of lysosomes and defective fusion of lysosomes to phagosomes. We suggest that aspects of the pathogenic and clinical features of ALS/FTD caused by C9orf72 mutations, such as altered immune responses, aggregation of autophagy targets, and excessive neuronal excitation, result from a reduction in C9orf72 gene function and consequent abnormalities in lysosomal degradation.
Collapse
|
137
|
Ravera S, Bonifacino T, Bartolucci M, Milanese M, Gallia E, Provenzano F, Cortese K, Panfoli I, Bonanno G. Characterization of the Mitochondrial Aerobic Metabolism in the Pre- and Perisynaptic Districts of the SOD1 G93A Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:9220-9233. [PMID: 29656361 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1059-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by muscle wasting, weakness, and spasticity due to a progressive degeneration of cortical, brainstem, and spinal motor neurons. The etiopathological causes are still largely obscure, although astrocytes definitely play a role in neuronal damage. Several mechanisms have been proposed to concur to neurodegeneration in ALS, including mitochondrial dysfunction. We have previously shown profound modifications of glutamate release and presynaptic plasticity in the spinal cord of the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS. In this work, we characterized, for the first time, the aerobic metabolism in two specific compartments actively involved in neurotransmission (i.e. the presynaptic district, using purified synaptosomes, and the perisynaptic astrocyte processes, using purified gliosomes) in SOD1G93A mice at different stages of the disease. ATP/AMP ratio was lower in synaptosomes isolated from the spinal cord, but not from other brain areas, of SOD1G93A vs. control mice. The energy impairment was linked to altered oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) and increment of lipid peroxidation. These metabolic dysfunctions were present during disease progression, starting at the very pre-symptomatic stages, and did not depend on a different number of mitochondria or a different expression of OxPhos proteins. Conversely, gliosomes showed a reduction of the ATP/AMP ratio only at the late stages of the disease and an increment of oxidative stress also in the absence of a significant decrement in OxPhos activity. Data suggest that the presynaptic neuronal moiety plays a pivotal role for synaptic energy metabolism dysfunctions in ALS. Changes in the perisynaptic compartment seem subordinated to neuronal damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Ravera
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Martina Bartolucci
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148, Genoa, Italy.,Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elena Gallia
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesca Provenzano
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Katia Cortese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Human Anatomy, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Isabella Panfoli
- Department of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Biochemistry, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16148, Genoa, Italy. .,Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, 16132, Genoa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
138
|
Martínez-Silva MDL, Imhoff-Manuel RD, Sharma A, Heckman CJ, Shneider NA, Roselli F, Zytnicki D, Manuel M. Hypoexcitability precedes denervation in the large fast-contracting motor units in two unrelated mouse models of ALS. eLife 2018; 7:30955. [PMID: 29580378 PMCID: PMC5922970 DOI: 10.7554/elife.30955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hyperexcitability has been suggested to contribute to motoneuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). If this is so, and given that the physiological type of a motor unit determines the relative susceptibility of its motoneuron in ALS, then one would expect the most vulnerable motoneurons to display the strongest hyperexcitability prior to their degeneration, whereas the less vulnerable should display a moderate hyperexcitability, if any. We tested this hypothesis in vivo in two unrelated ALS mouse models by correlating the electrical properties of motoneurons with their physiological types, identified based on their motor unit contractile properties. We found that, far from being hyperexcitable, the most vulnerable motoneurons become unable to fire repetitively despite the fact that their neuromuscular junctions were still functional. Disease markers confirm that this loss of function is an early sign of degeneration. Our results indicate that intrinsic hyperexcitability is unlikely to be the cause of motoneuron degeneration. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal disorder of the nervous system. Early symptoms include muscle weakness, unsteadiness and slurred speech. These symptoms arise because the neurons that control muscles – the motoneurons – lose their ability to make the muscles contract. Eventually, the muscles become paralyzed, with more and more muscles affected over time. Most patients die within a few years of diagnosis when the disease destroys the muscles that control breathing. Muscles are made up of muscle fibers. Each motoneuron controls a bundle of muscle fibers, and the motoneuron and its muscle fibers together make up a motor unit. A single muscle contains hundreds of motor units. These consist of several different types, which differ in how many muscle fibers they contain, how fast those muscle fibers can contract, and how fatigable the muscle fibers are. In ALS, motoneurons become detached from their muscle fibers, causing motor units to break down. But what triggers this process? One long-standing idea is that motoneurons begin to respond excessively to commands from the brain and spinal cord. In other words, they become hyperexcitable, which ultimately leads to their death. But some more recent studies of ALS suggest the opposite, namely that motoneurons become less active, or hypoexcitable. To distinguish between these possibilities, Martinez-Silva et al. took advantage of the fact that different types of motor unit break down at different rates in ALS. Large motor units containing fast-contracting muscle fibers break down before smaller motor units. By measuring the activity of motor units in two mouse models of ALS, Martinez-Silva et al. showed that large motoneurons are hypoexcitable. In other words, the motoneurons that are most vulnerable to ALS respond too little to commands from the nervous system, rather than too much. Studies of specific proteins inside the cells confirmed that hypoexcitable motoneurons are further along in the disease process than other motoneurons. Hypoexcitability is thus a key player in the ALS disease process. Developing drugs to target this hypoexcitability may be a promising strategy for the future of this condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Rebecca D Imhoff-Manuel
- Centre de Neurophysique, Physiologie et Pathologie, CNRS, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Aarti Sharma
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | - C J Heckman
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States.,Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States.,Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Science, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| | - Neil A Shneider
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, United States
| | | | - Daniel Zytnicki
- Centre de Neurophysique, Physiologie et Pathologie, CNRS, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Marin Manuel
- Centre de Neurophysique, Physiologie et Pathologie, CNRS, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France.,Department of Physiology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, United States
| |
Collapse
|
139
|
Studniarczyk D, Needham EL, Mitchison HM, Farrant M, Cull-Candy SG. Altered Cerebellar Short-Term Plasticity but No Change in Postsynaptic AMPA-Type Glutamate Receptors in a Mouse Model of Juvenile Batten Disease. eNeuro 2018; 5:ENEURO.0387-17.2018. [PMID: 29780879 PMCID: PMC5956745 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0387-17.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Juvenile Batten disease is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder of childhood. It is associated with mutations in the CLN3 gene, causing loss of function of CLN3 protein and degeneration of cerebellar and retinal neurons. It has been proposed that changes in granule cell AMPA-type glutamate receptors (AMPARs) contribute to the cerebellar dysfunction. In this study, we compared AMPAR properties and synaptic transmission in cerebellar granule cells from wild-type and Cln3 knock-out mice. In Cln3Δex1-6 cells, the amplitude of AMPA-evoked whole-cell currents was unchanged. Similarly, we found no change in the amplitude, kinetics, or rectification of synaptic currents evoked by individual quanta, or in their underlying single-channel conductance. We found no change in cerebellar expression of GluA2 or GluA4 protein. By contrast, we observed a reduced number of quantal events following mossy-fiber stimulation in Sr2+, altered short-term plasticity in conditions of reduced extracellular Ca2+, and reduced mossy fiber vesicle number. Thus, while our results suggest early presynaptic changes in the Cln3Δex1-6 mouse model of juvenile Batten disease, they reveal no evidence for altered postsynaptic AMPARs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Studniarczyk
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth L. Needham
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah M. Mitchison
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Farrant
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Stuart G. Cull-Candy
- Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
140
|
Downregulation of glutamic acid decarboxylase in Drosophila TDP-43-null brains provokes paralysis by affecting the organization of the neuromuscular synapses. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1809. [PMID: 29379112 PMCID: PMC5789004 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-19802-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the motor system, comprised of motoneurons and associated glia. Accordingly, neuronal or glial defects in TDP-43 function provoke paralysis due to the degeneration of the neuromuscular synapses in Drosophila. To identify the responsible molecules and mechanisms, we performed a genome wide proteomic analysis to determine differences in protein expression between wild-type and TDP-43-minus fly heads. The data established that mutant insects presented reduced levels of the enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (Gad1) and increased concentrations of extracellular glutamate. Genetic rescue of Gad1 activity in neurons or glia was sufficient to recuperate flies locomotion, synaptic organization and glutamate levels. Analogous recovery was obtained by treating TDP-43-null flies with glutamate receptor antagonists demonstrating that Gad1 promotes synapses formation and prevents excitotoxicity. Similar suppression of TDP-43 provoked the downregulation of GAD67, the Gad1 homolog protein in human neuroblastoma cell lines and analogous modifications were observed in iPSC-derived motoneurons from patients carrying mutations in TDP-43, uncovering conserved pathological mechanisms behind the disease.
Collapse
|
141
|
Selvaraj BT, Livesey MR, Zhao C, Gregory JM, James OT, Cleary EM, Chouhan AK, Gane AB, Perkins EM, Dando O, Lillico SG, Lee YB, Nishimura AL, Poreci U, Thankamony S, Pray M, Vasistha NA, Magnani D, Borooah S, Burr K, Story D, McCampbell A, Shaw CE, Kind PC, Aitman TJ, Whitelaw CBA, Wilmut I, Smith C, Miles GB, Hardingham GE, Wyllie DJA, Chandran S. C9ORF72 repeat expansion causes vulnerability of motor neurons to Ca 2+-permeable AMPA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity. Nat Commun 2018; 9:347. [PMID: 29367641 PMCID: PMC5783946 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02729-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in C9ORF72 are the most common cause of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, through a combination of RNA-Seq and electrophysiological studies on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived motor neurons (MNs), we show that increased expression of GluA1 AMPA receptor (AMPAR) subunit occurs in MNs with C9ORF72 mutations that leads to increased Ca2+-permeable AMPAR expression and results in enhanced selective MN vulnerability to excitotoxicity. These deficits are not found in iPSC-derived cortical neurons and are abolished by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated correction of the C9ORF72 repeat expansion in MNs. We also demonstrate that MN-specific dysregulation of AMPAR expression is also present in C9ORF72 patient post-mortem material. We therefore present multiple lines of evidence for the specific upregulation of GluA1 subunits in human mutant C9ORF72 MNs that could lead to a potential pathogenic excitotoxic mechanism in ALS. Repeat expansion mutation in C9ORF72 is the most common cause of familial ALS. Here, the authors generate motor neurons from cells of patients with C9ORF72 mutations, and characterize changes in gene expression in these motor neurons compared to genetically corrected lines, which suggest that glutamate receptor subunit GluA1 is dysregulated in this form of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bhuvaneish T Selvaraj
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Matthew R Livesey
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Chen Zhao
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Jenna M Gregory
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Owain T James
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Elaine M Cleary
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Amit K Chouhan
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, UK
| | - Angus B Gane
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Emma M Perkins
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Owen Dando
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.,Centre for Brain Development and Repair, inStem, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Simon G Lillico
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Youn-Bok Lee
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Agnes L Nishimura
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Urjana Poreci
- Global Biomarker and Drug Discovery, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Sai Thankamony
- Global Biomarker and Drug Discovery, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Meryll Pray
- Global Biomarker and Drug Discovery, Biogen, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Navneet A Vasistha
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Brain Development and Repair, inStem, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Dario Magnani
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Shyamanga Borooah
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Karen Burr
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - David Story
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | | | - Christopher E Shaw
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Peter C Kind
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.,Centre for Brain Development and Repair, inStem, Bangalore, 560065, India
| | - Timothy J Aitman
- MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - C Bruce A Whitelaw
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Ian Wilmut
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Colin Smith
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK
| | - Gareth B Miles
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9JP, UK
| | - Giles E Hardingham
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK.,UK DRI Institute at Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - David J A Wyllie
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK. .,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK. .,Centre for Brain Development and Repair, inStem, Bangalore, 560065, India.
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK. .,Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK. .,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK. .,Centre for Brain Development and Repair, inStem, Bangalore, 560065, India. .,UK DRI Institute at Edinburgh, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
142
|
Cellular and Molecular Aspects of the β-N-Methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) Mode of Action within the Neurodegenerative Pathway: Facts and Controversy. Toxins (Basel) 2017; 10:toxins10010006. [PMID: 29271898 PMCID: PMC5793093 DOI: 10.3390/toxins10010006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The implication of the cyanotoxin β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) in long-lasting neurodegenerative disorders is still a matter of controversy. It has been alleged that chronic ingestion of BMAA through the food chain could be a causative agent of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and several related pathologies including Parkinson syndrome. Both in vitro and in vivo studies of the BMAA mode of action have focused on different molecular targets, demonstrating its toxicity to neuronal cells, especially motoneurons, and linking it to human neurodegenerative diseases. Historically, the hypothesis of BMAA-induced excitotoxicity following the stimulation of glutamate receptors has been established. However, in this paradigm, most studies have shown acute, rather than chronic effects of BMAA. More recently, the interaction of this toxin with neuromelanin, a pigment present in the nervous system, has opened a new research perspective. The issues raised by this toxin are related to its kinetics of action, and its possible incorporation into cellular proteins. It appears that BMAA neurotoxic activity involves different targets through several mechanisms known to favour the development of neurodegenerative processes.
Collapse
|
143
|
Guo W, Fumagalli L, Prior R, Van Den Bosch L. Current Advances and Limitations in Modeling ALS/FTD in a Dish Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Front Neurosci 2017; 11:671. [PMID: 29326542 PMCID: PMC5733489 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2017.00671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two age-dependent multifactorial neurodegenerative disorders, which are typically characterized by the selective death of motor neurons and cerebral cortex neurons, respectively. These two diseases share many clinical, genetic and pathological aspects. During the past decade, cell reprogramming technologies enabled researchers to generate human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from somatic cells. This resulted in the unique opportunity to obtain specific neuronal and non-neuronal cell types from patients which could be used for basic research. Moreover, these in vitro models can mimic not only the familial forms of ALS/FTD, but also sporadic cases without known genetic cause. At present, there have been extensive technical advances in the generation of iPSCs, as well as in the differentiation procedures to obtain iPSC-derived motor neurons, cortical neurons and non-neuronal cells. The major challenge at this moment is to determine whether these iPSC-derived cells show relevant phenotypes that recapitulate complex diseases. In this review, we will summarize the work related to iPSC models of ALS and FTD. In addition, we will discuss potential drawbacks and solutions for establishing more trustworthy iPSC models for both ALS and FTD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenting Guo
- KU Leuven-Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB & KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Fumagalli
- KU Leuven-Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB & KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robert Prior
- KU Leuven-Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB & KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- KU Leuven-Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB & KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
144
|
Bowerman M, Murray LM, Scamps F, Schneider BL, Kothary R, Raoul C. Pathogenic commonalities between spinal muscular atrophy and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Converging roads to therapeutic development. Eur J Med Genet 2017; 61:685-698. [PMID: 29313812 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are the two most common motoneuron disorders, which share typical pathological hallmarks while remaining genetically distinct. Indeed, SMA is caused by deletions or mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene whilst ALS, albeit being mostly sporadic, can also be caused by mutations within genes, including superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), Fused in Sarcoma (FUS), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and chromosome 9 open reading frame 72 (C9ORF72). However, it has come to light that these two diseases may be more interlinked than previously thought. Indeed, it has recently been found that FUS directly interacts with an Smn-containing complex, mutant SOD1 perturbs Smn localization, Smn depletion aggravates disease progression of ALS mice, overexpression of SMN in ALS mice significantly improves their phenotype and lifespan, and duplications of SMN1 have been linked to sporadic ALS. Beyond genetic interactions, accumulating evidence further suggests that both diseases share common pathological identities such as intrinsic muscle defects, neuroinflammation, immune organ dysfunction, metabolic perturbations, defects in neuron excitability and selective motoneuron vulnerability. Identifying common molecular effectors that mediate shared pathologies in SMA and ALS would allow for the development of therapeutic strategies and targeted gene therapies that could potentially alleviate symptoms and be equally beneficial in both disorders. In the present review, we will examine our current knowledge of pathogenic commonalities between SMA and ALS, and discuss how furthering this understanding can lead to the establishment of novel therapeutic approaches with wide-reaching impact on multiple motoneuron diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Bowerman
- School of Medicine, Keele University, Staffordshire, United Kingdom; Institute for Science and Technology in Medicine, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom; Wolfson Centre for Inherited Neuromuscular Disease, RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, United Kingdom
| | - Lyndsay M Murray
- Euan McDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research and Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Frédérique Scamps
- The Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, Inserm UMR1051, Univ Montpellier, Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier, France
| | - Bernard L Schneider
- Brain Mind Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Rashmi Kothary
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Departments of Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Cédric Raoul
- The Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier, Inserm UMR1051, Univ Montpellier, Saint Eloi Hospital, Montpellier, France.
| |
Collapse
|
145
|
Drugs to Alter Extracellular Concentration of Glutamate: Modulators of Glutamate Uptake Systems. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7228-9_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
146
|
Godena VK, Ning K. Phosphatase and tensin homologue: a therapeutic target for SMA. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2017; 2:17038. [PMID: 29263925 PMCID: PMC5661640 DOI: 10.1038/sigtrans.2017.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most common juvenile neurodegenerative diseases, which can be associated with child mortality. SMA is caused by a mutation of ubiquitously expressed gene, Survival Motor Neuron1 (SMN1), leading to reduced SMN protein and the motor neuron death. The disease is incurable and the only therapeutic strategy to follow is to improve the expression of SMN protein levels in motor neurons. Significant numbers of motor neurons in SMA mice and SMA cultures are caspase positive with condensed nuclei, suggesting that these cells are prone to a process of cell death called apoptosis. Searching for other potential molecules or signaling pathways that are neuroprotective for central nervous system (CNS) insults is essential for widening the scope of developmental medicine. PTEN, a Phosphatase and Tensin homologue, is a tumor suppressor, which is widely expressed in CNS. PTEN depletion activates anti-apoptotic factors and it is evident that the pathway plays an important protective role in many neurodegenerative disorders. It functions as a negative regulator of PIP3/AKT pathway and thereby modulates its downstream cellular functions through lipid phosphatase activity. Moreover, previous reports from our group demonstrated that, PTEN depletion using viral vector delivery system in SMN delta7 mice reduces disease pathology, with significant rescue on survival rate and the body weight of the SMA mice. Thus knockdown/depletion/mutation of PTEN and manipulation of PTEN medicated Akt/PKB signaling pathway may represent an important therapeutic strategy to promote motor neuron survival in SMA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vinay K Godena
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Ke Ning
- Department of Neuroscience, Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| |
Collapse
|
147
|
Jiang MC, Adimula A, Birch D, Heckman CJ. Hyperexcitability in synaptic and firing activities of spinal motoneurons in an adult mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuroscience 2017; 362:33-46. [PMID: 28844763 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.08.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Hyperexcitability is hypothesized to contribute to the degeneration of spinal motoneurons (MNs) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Studies, thus far, have not linked hyperexcitability to the intrinsic properties of MNs in the adult ALS mouse model with the G93A-mutated SOD1 protein (mSOD1G93A). In this study, we obtained two types of measurements: ventral root recordings to assess motor output and intracellular recordings to assess synaptic properties of individual MNs. All studies were carried out in an in vitro preparation of the sacral spinal cords of mSOD1G93A mice and their non-transgenic (NT) littermates, both in the age range of 50-90days. Ventral root recordings revealed that maximum compound action potentials (coAPs) evoked by a short-train stimulation of corresponding dorsal roots were similar between the two types of mice. Although the progressive depression of coAPs was present during the train stimulation in all recordings, the coAP depression in mSOD1G93A mice was to a lesser extent, which suggests an increased firing tendency in mSOD1G93A MNs. Intracellular recordings showed no changes in fast excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in mSOD1G93A MNs. However, recording did show that oscillating EPSPs (oEPSPs) were induced by poly-EPSPs at a higher frequency and by less-intense electrical stimulation in mSOD1G93A MNs. These oEPSPs were dependent upon the activities of spinal network and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), and were subjected to riluzole modulation. Taken together, these findings revealed abnormal electrophysiology in mSOD1G93A MNs that could underlie ALS excitotoxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingchen C Jiang
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
| | - Adesoji Adimula
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Derin Birch
- Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Charles J Heckman
- Department of Physiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| |
Collapse
|
148
|
Norante RP, Massimino ML, Lorenzon P, De Mario A, Peggion C, Vicario M, Albiero M, Sorgato MC, Lopreiato R, Bertoli A. Generation and validation of novel adeno-associated viral vectors for the analysis of Ca 2+ homeostasis in motor neurons. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6521. [PMID: 28747684 PMCID: PMC5529510 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06919-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A finely tuned Ca2+ homeostasis in restricted cell domains is of fundamental importance for neurons, where transient Ca2+ oscillations direct the proper coordination of electro-chemical signals and overall neuronal metabolism. Once such a precise regulation is unbalanced, however, neuronal functions and viability are severely compromised. Accordingly, disturbed Ca2+ metabolism has often been claimed as a major contributor to different neurodegenerative disorders, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis that is characterised by selective motor neuron (MN) damage. This notion highlights the need for probes for the specific and precise analysis of local Ca2+ dynamics in MNs. Here, we generated and functionally validated adeno-associated viral vectors for the expression of gene-encoded fluorescent Ca2+ indicators targeted to different cell domains, under the transcriptional control of a MN-specific promoter. We demonstrated that the probes are specifically expressed, and allow reliable local Ca2+ measurements, in MNs from murine primary spinal cord cultures, and can also be expressed in spinal cord MNs in vivo, upon systemic administration to newborn mice. Preliminary analyses using these novel vectors have shown larger cytosolic Ca2+ responses following stimulation of AMPA receptors in the cytosol of primary cultured MNs from a murine genetic model of ALS compared to the healthy counterpart.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Pia Norante
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Lorenzon
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Department of Integrative Medical Biology (IMB), Umeå Universitet, 901 87, Umeå, SE, Sweden
| | - Agnese De Mario
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Caterina Peggion
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mattia Vicario
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Mattia Albiero
- Department of Medicine, and Venetian Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
| | - Maria Catia Sorgato
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,CNR Neuroscience Institute, Padova, Italy
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
149
|
Oxidative stress induced by cumene hydroperoxide produces synaptic depression and transient hyperexcitability in rat primary motor cortex neurons. Mol Cell Neurosci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
|
150
|
Bonifacino T, Cattaneo L, Gallia E, Puliti A, Melone M, Provenzano F, Bossi S, Musante I, Usai C, Conti F, Bonanno G, Milanese M. In-vivo effects of knocking-down metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 in the SOD1 G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropharmacology 2017. [PMID: 28645622 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2017.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder due to loss of upper and lower motor neurons (MNs). The mechanisms of neuronal death are largely unknown, thus prejudicing the successful pharmacological treatment. One major cause for MN degeneration in ALS is represented by glutamate(Glu)-mediated excitotoxicity. We have previously reported that activation of Group I metabotropic Glu receptors (mGluR1 and mGluR5) at glutamatergic spinal cord nerve terminals produces abnormal Glu release in the widely studied SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS. We also demonstrated that halving mGluR1 expression in the SOD1G93A mouse had a positive impact on survival, disease onset, disease progression, and on a number of cellular and biochemical readouts of ALS. We generated here SOD1G93A mice with reduced expression of mGluR5 (SOD1G93AGrm5-/+) by crossing the SOD1G93A mutant mouse with the mGluR5 heterozigous Grm5-/+ mouse. SOD1G93AGrm5-/+ mice showed prolonged survival probability and delayed pathology onset. These effects were associated to enhanced number of preserved MNs, decreased astrocyte and microglia activation, reduced cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration, and regularization of abnormal Glu release in the spinal cord of SOD1G93AGrm5-/+ mice. Unexpectedly, only male SOD1G93AGrm5-/+ mice showed improved motor skills during disease progression vs. SOD1G93A mice, while SOD1G93AGrm5-/+ females did not. These results demonstrate that a lower constitutive level of mGluR5 has a significant positive impact in mice with ALS and support the idea that blocking Group I mGluRs may represent a potentially effective pharmacological approach to the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luca Cattaneo
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Elena Gallia
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Aldamaria Puliti
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy; Medical Genetics Unit, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini, 5 - 16147, Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 9 - 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcello Melone
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/a - 60126, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy; Centre for Neurobiology of Aging, INRCA IRCCS, Via S.Margherita, 5 - 60124, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesca Provenzano
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simone Bossi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, L.go P. Daneo, 3 - 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Musante
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics and Maternal and Child Health, L.go P. Daneo, 3 - 16132, Genoa, Italy
| | - Cesare Usai
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), Via Darini, 6 - Torre di Francia, 16149, Genoa, Italy
| | - Fiorenzo Conti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/a - 60126, Torrette di Ancona, Ancona, Italy; Centre for Neurobiology of Aging, INRCA IRCCS, Via S.Margherita, 5 - 60124, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 9 - 16132, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa Viale Cembrano, 4 - 16148, Genoa, Italy; Centre of Excellence for Biomedical Research, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 9 - 16132, Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|