Autoantibody of NRIP, a novel AChR-interacting protein, plays a detrimental role in myasthenia gravis

Visualization and Analysis of Neuromuscular Junctions Using Immunofluorescence

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is an interface between motor neurons and skeletal muscle fibers, facilitating the transmission of signals that initiate muscle contraction. Its pivotal role lies in ensuring efficient communication between the nervous system and muscles, allowing for precise and coordinated movements essential for everyday activities and overall motor function. To provide insights into neuromuscular disease and development, understanding the physiology of NMJ is essential. We target acetylcholine receptors (AChR) by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) with α-bungarotoxin (BTX; snake venom neurotoxins binding to AChR) to visualize and quantify the NMJ. Changes in AChR distribution or structure can indicate alterations in receptor density, which may be associated with neuromuscular disorders or conditions that affect synaptic transmission. This protocol provides the methodology for isolating and longitudinally sectioning gastrocnemius muscle for AChR-targeted IFA for confocal microscopy and performing quantitative analysis of NMJs. Key features • Visualizes and quantifies NMJs using α-bungarotoxin. • Utilizes high-resolution confocal microscopy for detailed imaging.

AAV-NRIP gene therapy ameliorates motor neuron degeneration and muscle atrophy in ALS model mice

BACKGROUND

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by progressive motor neuron (MN) degeneration, leading to neuromuscular junction (NMJ) dismantling and severe muscle atrophy. The nuclear receptor interaction protein (NRIP) functions as a multifunctional protein. It directly interacts with calmodulin or α-actinin 2, serving as a calcium sensor for muscle contraction and maintaining sarcomere integrity. Additionally, NRIP binds with the acetylcholine receptor (AChR) for NMJ stabilization. Loss of NRIP in muscles results in progressive motor neuron degeneration with abnormal NMJ architecture, resembling ALS phenotypes. Therefore, we hypothesize that NRIP could be a therapeutic factor for ALS.

METHODS

We used SOD1 G93A mice, expressing human SOD1 with the ALS-linked G93A mutation, as an ALS model. An adeno-associated virus vector encoding the human NRIP gene (AAV-NRIP) was generated and injected into the muscles of SOD1 G93A mice at 60 days of age, before disease onset. Pathological and behavioral changes were measured to evaluate the therapeutic effects of AAV-NRIP on the disease progression of SOD1 G93A mice.

RESULTS

SOD1 G93A mice exhibited lower NRIP expression than wild-type mice in both the spinal cord and skeletal muscle tissues. Forced NRIP expression through AAV-NRIP intramuscular injection was observed in skeletal muscles and retrogradely transduced into the spinal cord. AAV-NRIP gene therapy enhanced movement distance and rearing frequencies in SOD1 G93A mice. Moreover, AAV-NRIP increased myofiber size and slow myosin expression, ameliorated NMJ degeneration and axon terminal denervation at NMJ, and increased the number of α-motor neurons (α-MNs) and compound muscle action potential (CMAP) in SOD1 G93A mice.

CONCLUSIONS

AAV-NRIP gene therapy ameliorates muscle atrophy, motor neuron degeneration, and axon terminal denervation at NMJ, leading to increased NMJ transmission and improved motor functions in SOD1 G93A mice. Collectively, AAV-NRIP could be a potential therapeutic drug for ALS.

Autoantibody of NRIP, a novel AChR-interacting protein, plays a detrimental role in myasthenia gravis

BACKGROUND

Nuclear receptor interaction protein (NRIP) co-localizes with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), and NRIP deficiency causes aberrant NMJ architecture. However, the normal physiological and pathophysiological roles of NRIP in NMJ are still unclear.

METHODS

We investigated the co-localization and interaction of NRIP with AChR-associated proteins using immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation assay, respectively. The binding affinity of AChR-associated proteins was analysed in muscle-restricted NRIP knockout mice and NRIP knockout muscle cells (C2C12). We further collected the sera from 43 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), an NMJ disorder. The existence and features of anti-NRIP autoantibody in sera were studied using Western blot and epitope mapping.

RESULTS

NRIP co-localized with AChR, rapsyn and α-actinin 2 (ACTN2) in gastrocnemius muscles of mice; and α-bungarotoxin (BTX) pull-down assay revealed NRIP with rapsyn and ACTN2 in complexes from muscle tissues and cells. NRIP directly binds with α subunit of AChR (AChRα) in vitro and in vivo to affect the binding affinity of AChR with rapsyn and rapsyn with ACTN2. In 43 patients with MG (age, 58.4 ± 14.5 years; female, 55.8%), we detected six of them (14.0%) having anti-NRIP autoantibody. The presence of anti-NRIP autoantibody correlated with a more severe type of MG when AChR autoantibody existed (P = 0.011). The higher the titre of anti-NRIP autoantibody, the more severe MG severity (P = 0.032). The main immunogenic region is likely on the IQ motif of NRIP. We also showed the IgG subclass of anti-NRIP autoantibody mainly to be IgG1.

CONCLUSIONS

NRIP is a novel AChRα binding protein and involves structural NMJ formation, which acts as a scaffold to stabilize AChR-rapsyn-ACTN2 complexes. Anti-NRIP autoantibody is a novel autoantibody in MG and plays a detrimental role in MG with the coexistence of anti-AChR autoantibody.