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Yu-Taeger L, El-Ayoubi A, Qi P, Danielyan L, Nguyen HHP. Intravenous MSC-Treatment Improves Impaired Brain Functions in the R6/2 Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease via Recovered Hepatic Pathological Changes. Cells 2024; 13:469. [PMID: 38534313 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD), a congenital neurodegenerative disorder, extends its pathological damages beyond the nervous system. The systematic manifestation of HD has been extensively described in numerous studies, including dysfunction in peripheral organs and peripheral inflammation. Gut dysbiosis and the gut-liver-brain axis have garnered greater emphasis in neurodegenerative research, and increased plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been identified in HD patients and various in vivo models, correlating with disease progression. In the present study, we investigated hepatic pathological markers in the liver of R6/2 mice which convey exon 1 of the human mutant huntingtin gene. Furthermore, we evaluated the impact of intravenously administered Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) on the liver enzymes, changes in hepatic inflammatory markers, as well as brain pathology and behavioral deficits in R6/2 mice. Our results revealed altered enzyme expression and increased levels of inflammatory mediators in the liver of R6/2 mice, which were significantly attenuated in the MSC-treated R6/2 mice. Remarkably, neuronal pathology and altered motor activities in the MSC-treated R6/2 mice were significantly ameliorated, despite the absence of MSCs in the postmortem brain. Our data highlight the importance of hepatic pathological changes in HD, providing a potential therapeutic approach. Moreover, the data open new perspectives for the search in blood biomarkers correlating with liver pathology in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libo Yu-Taeger
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University of Bochum, D-44801 Bochum, Germany
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ali El-Ayoubi
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University of Bochum, D-44801 Bochum, Germany
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Pengfei Qi
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University of Bochum, D-44801 Bochum, Germany
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tuebingen, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Lusine Danielyan
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital of Tuebingen, D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany
- Departments of Biochemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, and Neuroscience Laboratory, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan 0025, Armenia
| | - Hoa Huu Phuc Nguyen
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University of Bochum, D-44801 Bochum, Germany
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan 0025, Armenia
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2
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Bartl S, Xie Y, Potluri N, Kesineni R, Hencak K, Cengio LD, Balazs K, Oueslati A, Parth M, Salhat N, Siddu A, Smrzka O, Cicchetti F, Straffler G, Hayden MR, Southwell AL. Reducing huntingtin by immunotherapy delays disease progression in a mouse model of Huntington disease. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 190:106376. [PMID: 38092268 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In Huntington disease (HD), the mutant huntingtin (mtHTT) protein is the principal cause of pathological changes that initiate primarily along the cortico-striatal axis. mtHTT is ubiquitously expressed and there is, accordingly, growing recognition that HD is a systemic disorder with functional interplay between the brain and the periphery. We have developed a monoclonal antibody, C6-17, targeting an exposed region of HTT near the aa586 Caspase 6 cleavage site. As recently published, mAB C6-17 can block cell-to-cell propagation of mtHTT in vitro. In order to reduce the burden of the mutant protein in vivo, we queried whether extracellular mtHTT could be therapeutically targeted in YAC128 HD mice. In a series of proof of concept experiments, we found that systemic mAB C6-17 treatment resulted in the distribution of the mAB C6-17 to peripheral and CNS tissues and led to the reduction of HTT protein levels. Compared to CTRL mAB or vehicle treated mice, the mAB C6-17 treated YAC128 animals showed improved body weight and motor behaviors, a delayed progression in motor deficits and reduced striatal EM48 immunoreactivity. These results provide the first proof of concept for the feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of an antibody-based anti-HTT passive immunization approach and suggest this modality as a potential new HD treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuanyun Xie
- University of Central Florida, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, Orlando, FL, United States of America; University of British Columbia, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nalini Potluri
- University of Central Florida, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, Orlando, FL, United States of America
| | - Ratnesh Kesineni
- University of Central Florida, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, Orlando, FL, United States of America
| | - Katlin Hencak
- University of Central Florida, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, Orlando, FL, United States of America
| | - Louisa Dal Cengio
- University of British Columbia, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Abid Oueslati
- Centre de recherche du CHU - Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | - Alberto Siddu
- Centre de recherche du CHU - Université Laval, Québec, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Michael R Hayden
- University of British Columbia, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Amber L Southwell
- University of Central Florida, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, Orlando, FL, United States of America.
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3
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Barwell T, Seroude L. Polyglutamine disease in peripheral tissues. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:3303-3311. [PMID: 37642359 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddad138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
This year is a milestone anniversary of the discovery that Huntington's disease is caused by the presence of expanded polyglutamine repeats in the huntingtin gene leading to the formation of huntingtin aggregates. 30 years have elapsed and there is still no cure and the only FDA-approved treatment to alleviate the debilitating locomotor impairments presents several adverse effects. It has long been neglected that the huntingtin gene is almost ubiquitously expressed in many tissues outside of the nervous system. Growing evidence indicates that these peripheral tissues can contribute to the symptoms of the disease. New findings in Drosophila have shown that the selective expression of mutant huntingtin in muscle or fat is sufficient to cause detrimental effects in the absence of any neurodegeneration. In addition, it was discovered that a completely different tissue distribution of Htt aggregates in Drosophila muscles is responsible for a drastic aggravation of the detrimental effects. This review examines the peripheral tissues that express huntingtin with an added focus on the nature and distribution of the aggregates, if any.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Barwell
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Laurent Seroude
- Department of Biology, Queen's University, 116 Barrie St, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
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4
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Bragg RM, Coffey SR, Cantle JP, Hu S, Singh S, Legg SR, McHugh CA, Toor A, Zeitlin SO, Kwak S, Howland D, Vogt TF, Monga SP, Carroll JB. Huntingtin loss in hepatocytes is associated with altered metabolism, adhesion, and liver zonation. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202302098. [PMID: 37684045 PMCID: PMC10488683 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease arises from a toxic gain of function in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. As a result, many HTT-lowering therapies are being pursued in clinical studies, including those that reduce HTT RNA and protein expression in the liver. To investigate potential impacts, we characterized molecular, cellular, and metabolic impacts of chronic HTT lowering in mouse hepatocytes. Lifelong hepatocyte HTT loss is associated with multiple physiological changes, including increased circulating bile acids, cholesterol and urea, hypoglycemia, and impaired adhesion. HTT loss causes a clear shift in the normal zonal patterns of liver gene expression, such that pericentral gene expression is reduced. These alterations in liver zonation in livers lacking HTT are observed at the transcriptional, histological, and plasma metabolite levels. We have extended these phenotypes physiologically with a metabolic challenge of acetaminophen, for which the HTT loss results in toxicity resistance. Our data reveal an unexpected role for HTT in regulating hepatic zonation, and we find that loss of HTT in hepatocytes mimics the phenotypes caused by impaired hepatic β-catenin function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M Bragg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Sydney R Coffey
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Jeffrey P Cantle
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Samuel Rw Legg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Cassandra A McHugh
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Amreen Toor
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
| | - Scott O Zeitlin
- https://ror.org/0153tk833 Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Carroll
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, USA
- https://ror.org/00cvxb145 Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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5
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Bragg RM, Coffey SR, Cantle JP, Hu S, Singh S, Legg SR, McHugh CA, Toor A, Zeitlin SO, Kwak S, Howland D, Vogt TF, Monga SP, Carroll JB. Huntingtin loss in hepatocytes is associated with altered metabolism, adhesion, and liver zonation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.24.546334. [PMID: 37425835 PMCID: PMC10327156 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.24.546334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease arises from a toxic gain of function in the huntingtin ( HTT ) gene. As a result, many HTT-lowering therapies are being pursued in clinical studies, including those that reduce HTT RNA and protein expression in the liver. To investigate potential impacts, we characterized molecular, cellular, and metabolic impacts of chronic HTT lowering in mouse hepatocytes. Lifelong hepatocyte HTT loss is associated with multiple physiological changes, including increased circulating bile acids, cholesterol and urea, hypoglycemia, and impaired adhesion. HTT loss causes a clear shift in the normal zonal patterns of liver gene expression, such that pericentral gene expression is reduced. These alterations in liver zonation in livers lacking HTT are observed at the transcriptional, histological and plasma metabolite level. We have extended these phenotypes physiologically with a metabolic challenge of acetaminophen, for which the HTT loss results in toxicity resistance. Our data reveal an unexpected role for HTT in regulating hepatic zonation, and we find that loss of HTT in hepatocytes mimics the phenotypes caused by impaired hepatic β-catenin function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert M. Bragg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Sydney R. Coffey
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Jeffrey P. Cantle
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Samuel R.W. Legg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Cassandra A. McHugh
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Amreen Toor
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
| | - Scott O. Zeitlin
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | | | | | | | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Jeffrey B. Carroll
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA 98225
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98104-2499
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6
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Singh A, Agrawal N. Metabolism in Huntington's disease: a major contributor to pathology. Metab Brain Dis 2022; 37:1757-1771. [PMID: 34704220 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-021-00844-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a progressively debilitating neurodegenerative disease exhibiting autosomal-dominant inheritance. It is caused by an unstable expansion in the CAG repeat tract of HD gene, which transforms the disease-specific Huntingtin protein (HTT) to a mutant form (mHTT). The profound neuronal death in cortico-striatal circuits led to its identification and characterisation as a neurodegenerative disease. However, equally disturbing are the concomitant whole-body manifestations affecting nearly every organ of the diseased individuals, at varying extents. Altered central and peripheral metabolism of energy, proteins, nucleic acids, lipids and carbohydrates encompass the gross pathology of the disease. Intense fluctuation of body weight, glucose homeostasis and organ-specific subcellular abnormalities are being increasingly recognised in HD. Many of these metabolic abnormalities exist years before the neuropathological manifestations such as chorea, cognitive decline and behavioural abnormalities develop, and prove to be reliable predictors of the disease progression. In this review, we provide a consolidated overview of the central and peripheral metabolic abnormalities associated with HD, as evidenced from clinical and experimental studies. Additionally, we have discussed the potential of metabolic biomolecules to translate into efficient biomarkers for the disease onset as well as progression. Finally, we provide a brief outlook on the efficacy of existing therapies targeting metabolic remediation. While it is clear that components of altered metabolic pathways can mark many aspects of the disease, it is only conceivable that combinatorial therapies aiming for neuronal protection in consort with metabolic upliftment will prove to be more efficient than the existing symptomatic treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akanksha Singh
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Namita Agrawal
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110007, India.
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7
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A New Perspective on Huntington’s Disease: How a Neurological Disorder Influences the Peripheral Tissues. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116089. [PMID: 35682773 PMCID: PMC9181740 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a toxic, aggregation-prone expansion of CAG repeats in the HTT gene with an age-dependent progression that leads to behavioral, cognitive and motor symptoms. Principally affecting the frontal cortex and the striatum, mHTT disrupts many cellular functions. In fact, increasing evidence shows that peripheral tissues are affected by neurodegenerative diseases. It establishes an active crosstalk between peripheral tissues and the brain in different neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on the current knowledge of peripheral tissue effects in HD animal and cell experimental models and identifies biomarkers and mechanisms involved or affected in the progression of the disease as new therapeutic or early diagnostic options. The particular changes in serum/plasma, blood cells such as lymphocytes, immune blood cells, the pancreas, the heart, the retina, the liver, the kidney and pericytes as a part of the blood–brain barrier are described. It is important to note that several changes in different mouse models of HD present differences between them and between the different ages analyzed. The understanding of the impact of peripheral organ inflammation in HD may open new avenues for the development of novel therapeutic targets.
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Mouro Pinto R, Arning L, Giordano JV, Razghandi P, Andrew MA, Gillis T, Correia K, Mysore JS, Grote Urtubey DM, Parwez CR, von Hein SM, Clark HB, Nguyen HP, Förster E, Beller A, Jayadaev S, Keene CD, Bird TD, Lucente D, Vonsattel JP, Orr H, Saft C, Petrasch-Parwez E, Wheeler VC. Patterns of CAG repeat instability in the central nervous system and periphery in Huntington's disease and in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:2551-2567. [PMID: 32761094 PMCID: PMC7471505 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The expanded HTT CAG repeat causing Huntington’s disease (HD) exhibits somatic expansion proposed to drive the rate of disease onset by eliciting a pathological process that ultimately claims vulnerable cells. To gain insight into somatic expansion in humans, we performed comprehensive quantitative analyses of CAG expansion in ~50 central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral postmortem tissues from seven adult-onset and one juvenile-onset HD individual. We also assessed ATXN1 CAG repeat expansion in brain regions of an individual with a neurologically and pathologically distinct repeat expansion disorder, spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1). Our findings reveal similar profiles of tissue instability in all HD individuals, which, notably, were also apparent in the SCA1 individual. CAG expansion was observed in all tissues, but to different degrees, with multiple cortical regions and neostriatum tending to have the greatest instability in the CNS, and liver in the periphery. These patterns indicate different propensities for CAG expansion contributed by disease locus-independent trans-factors and demonstrate that expansion per se is not sufficient to cause cell type or disease-specific pathology. Rather, pathology may reflect distinct toxic processes triggered by different repeat lengths across cell types and diseases. We also find that the HTT CAG length-dependent expansion propensity of an individual is reflected in all tissues and in cerebrospinal fluid. Our data indicate that peripheral cells may be a useful source to measure CAG expansion in biomarker assays for therapeutic efforts, prompting efforts to dissect underlying mechanisms of expansion that may differ between the brain and periphery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Mouro Pinto
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Larissa Arning
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
| | - James V Giordano
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Pedram Razghandi
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Marissa A Andrew
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Tammy Gillis
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Kevin Correia
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jayalakshmi S Mysore
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | | | - Constanze R Parwez
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
| | - Sarah M von Hein
- Department of Neurology, Huntington Centre NRW, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44791, Germany
| | - H Brent Clark
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Huu Phuc Nguyen
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
| | - Eckart Förster
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
| | - Allison Beller
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Suman Jayadaev
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - C Dirk Keene
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA
| | - Thomas D Bird
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.,Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Puget Sound Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA
| | - Diane Lucente
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jean-Paul Vonsattel
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center and the New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Harry Orr
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute of Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Carsten Saft
- Department of Neurology, Huntington Centre NRW, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44791, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Petrasch-Parwez
- Department of Neuroanatomy and Molecular Brain Research, Institute of Anatomy, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
| | - Vanessa C Wheeler
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Chuang CL, Demontis F. Systemic manifestation and contribution of peripheral tissues to Huntington's disease pathogenesis. Ageing Res Rev 2021; 69:101358. [PMID: 33979693 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2021.101358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease that is caused by expansion of cytosine/adenosine/guanine repeats in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which leads to a toxic, aggregation-prone, mutant HTT-polyQ protein. Beyond the well-established mechanisms of HD progression in the central nervous system, growing evidence indicates that also peripheral tissues are affected in HD and that systemic signaling originating from peripheral tissues can influence the progression of HD in the brain. Herein, we review the systemic manifestation of HD in peripheral tissues, and the impact of systemic signaling on HD pathogenesis. Mutant HTT induces a body wasting syndrome (cachexia) primarily via its activity in skeletal muscle, bone, adipose tissue, and heart. Additional whole-organism effects induced by mutant HTT include decline in systemic metabolic homeostasis, which stems from derangement of pancreas, liver, gut, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and circadian functions. In addition to spreading via the bloodstream and a leaky blood brain barrier, HTT-polyQ may travel long distance via its uptake by neurons and its axonal transport from the peripheral to the central nervous system. Lastly, signaling factors that are produced and/or secreted in response to therapeutic interventions such as exercise or in response to mutant HTT activity in peripheral tissues may impact HD. In summary, these studies indicate that HD is a systemic disease that is influenced by intertissue signaling and by the action of pathogenic HTT in peripheral tissues. We propose that treatment strategies for HD should include the amelioration of HD symptoms in peripheral tissues. Moreover, harnessing signaling between peripheral tissues and the brain may provide a means for reducing HD progression in the central nervous system.
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10
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Cheong RY, Baldo B, Sajjad MU, Kirik D, Petersén Å. Effects of mutant huntingtin inactivation on Huntington disease-related behaviours in the BACHD mouse model. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2021; 47:564-578. [PMID: 33330988 PMCID: PMC8247873 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Huntington disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with no disease-modifying treatments approved so far. Ongoing clinical trials are attempting to reduce huntingtin (HTT) expression in the central nervous system (CNS) using different strategies. Yet, the distribution and timing of HTT-lowering therapies required for a beneficial clinical effect is less clear. Here, we investigated whether HD-related behaviours could be prevented by inactivating mutant HTT at different disease stages and to varying degrees in an experimental model. METHODS We generated mutant BACHD mice with either a widespread or circuit-specific inactivation of mutant HTT by using Cre recombinase (Cre) under the nestin promoter or the adenosine A2A receptor promoter respectively. We also simulated a clinical gene therapy scenario with allele-specific HTT targeting by injections of recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors expressing Cre into the striatum of adult BACHD mice. All mice were assessed using behavioural tests to investigate motor, metabolic and psychiatric outcome measures at 4-6 months of age. RESULTS While motor deficits, body weight changes, anxiety and depressive-like behaviours are present in BACHD mice, early widespread CNS inactivation during development significantly improves rotarod performance, body weight changes and depressive-like behaviour. However, conditional circuit-wide mutant HTT deletion from the indirect striatal pathway during development and focal striatal-specific deletion in adulthood failed to rescue any of the HD-related behaviours. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that widespread targeting and the timing of interventions aimed at reducing mutant HTT are important factors to consider when developing disease-modifying therapies for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Y. Cheong
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research UnitDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Barbara Baldo
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research UnitDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
- Present address:
Evotec SEHD Research and Translational SciencesHamburgGermany
| | - Muhammad U. Sajjad
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research UnitDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Deniz Kirik
- Brain Repair and Imaging in Neural Systems UnitDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
| | - Åsa Petersén
- Translational Neuroendocrine Research UnitDepartment of Experimental Medical ScienceLund UniversityLundSweden
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11
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Brownstein MJ, Simon NG, Long JD, Yankey J, Maibach HT, Cudkowicz M, Coffey C, Conwit RA, Lungu C, Anderson KE, Hersch SM, Ecklund DJ, Damiano EM, Itzkowitz DE, Lu S, Chase MK, Shefner JM, McGarry A, Thornell B, Gladden C, Costigan M, O’Suilleabhain P, Marshall FJ, Chesire AM, Deritis P, Adams JL, Hedera P, Lowen K, Rosas HD, Hiller AL, Quinn J, Keith K, Duker AP, Gruenwald C, Molloy A, Jacob C, Factor S, Sperin E, Bega D, Brown ZR, Seeberger LC, Sung VW, Benge M, Kostyk SK, Daley AM, Perlman S, Suski V, Conlon P, Barrett MJ, Lowenhaupt S, Quigg M, Perlmutter JS, Wright BA, Most E, Schwartz GJ, Lamb J, Chuang RS, Singer C, Marder K, Moran JA, Singleton JR, Zorn M, Wall PV, Dubinsky RM, Gray C, Drazinic C. Safety and Tolerability of SRX246, a Vasopressin 1a Antagonist, in Irritable Huntington's Disease Patients-A Randomized Phase 2 Clinical Trial. J Clin Med 2020; 9:E3682. [PMID: 33207828 PMCID: PMC7696926 DOI: 10.3390/jcm9113682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
SRX246 is a vasopressin (AVP) 1a receptor antagonist that crosses the blood-brain barrier. It reduced impulsive aggression, fear, depression and anxiety in animal models, blocked the actions of intranasal AVP on aggression/fear circuits in an experimental medicine fMRI study and demonstrated excellent safety in Phase 1 multiple-ascending dose clinical trials. The present study was a 3-arm, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 12-week, dose escalation study of SRX246 in early symptomatic Huntington's disease (HD) patients with irritability. Our goal was to determine whether SRX246 was safe and well tolerated in these HD patients given its potential use for the treatment of problematic neuropsychiatric symptoms. Participants were randomized to receive placebo or to escalate to 120 mg twice daily or 160 mg twice daily doses of SRX246. Assessments included standard safety tests, the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS), and exploratory measures of problem behaviors. The groups had comparable demographics, features of HD and baseline irritability. Eighty-two out of 106 subjects randomized completed the trial on their assigned dose of drug. One-sided exact-method confidence interval tests were used to reject the null hypothesis of inferior tolerability or safety for each dose group vs. placebo. Apathy and suicidality were not affected by SRX246. Most adverse events in the active arms were considered unlikely to be related to SRX246. The compound was safe and well tolerated in HD patients and can be moved forward as a candidate to treat irritability and aggression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Brownstein
- Azevan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA; (N.G.S.); (H.T.M.); (E.M.D.); (D.E.I.); (S.L.)
| | - Neal G. Simon
- Azevan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA; (N.G.S.); (H.T.M.); (E.M.D.); (D.E.I.); (S.L.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Long
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (J.D.L.); (J.Y.); (C.C.); (D.J.E.); (M.C.)
| | - Jon Yankey
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (J.D.L.); (J.Y.); (C.C.); (D.J.E.); (M.C.)
| | - Hilda T. Maibach
- Azevan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA; (N.G.S.); (H.T.M.); (E.M.D.); (D.E.I.); (S.L.)
| | - Merit Cudkowicz
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (M.C.); (S.M.H.); (M.K.C.); (B.T.); (C.G.); (H.D.R.)
| | - Christopher Coffey
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (J.D.L.); (J.Y.); (C.C.); (D.J.E.); (M.C.)
| | - Robin A. Conwit
- National Institutes of Health, NINDS, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA; (R.A.C.); (C.L.)
| | - Codrin Lungu
- National Institutes of Health, NINDS, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA; (R.A.C.); (C.L.)
| | - Karen E. Anderson
- Department of Neurology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20007, USA;
| | - Steven M. Hersch
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (M.C.); (S.M.H.); (M.K.C.); (B.T.); (C.G.); (H.D.R.)
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Dixie J. Ecklund
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (J.D.L.); (J.Y.); (C.C.); (D.J.E.); (M.C.)
| | - Eve M. Damiano
- Azevan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA; (N.G.S.); (H.T.M.); (E.M.D.); (D.E.I.); (S.L.)
| | - Debra E. Itzkowitz
- Azevan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA; (N.G.S.); (H.T.M.); (E.M.D.); (D.E.I.); (S.L.)
| | - Shifang Lu
- Azevan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA; (N.G.S.); (H.T.M.); (E.M.D.); (D.E.I.); (S.L.)
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | - Marianne K. Chase
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (M.C.); (S.M.H.); (M.K.C.); (B.T.); (C.G.); (H.D.R.)
| | - Jeremy M. Shefner
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA;
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ 85004, USA
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Creighton University, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA
| | - Andrew McGarry
- Department of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ 08103, USA;
| | - Brenda Thornell
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (M.C.); (S.M.H.); (M.K.C.); (B.T.); (C.G.); (H.D.R.)
| | - Catherine Gladden
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (M.C.); (S.M.H.); (M.K.C.); (B.T.); (C.G.); (H.D.R.)
| | - Michele Costigan
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; (J.D.L.); (J.Y.); (C.C.); (D.J.E.); (M.C.)
| | | | - Frederick J. Marshall
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14618, USA; (F.J.M.); (A.M.C.); (P.D.); (J.L.A.)
| | - Amy M. Chesire
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14618, USA; (F.J.M.); (A.M.C.); (P.D.); (J.L.A.)
| | - Paul Deritis
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14618, USA; (F.J.M.); (A.M.C.); (P.D.); (J.L.A.)
| | - Jamie L. Adams
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14618, USA; (F.J.M.); (A.M.C.); (P.D.); (J.L.A.)
| | - Peter Hedera
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA; (P.H.); (K.L.)
| | - Kelly Lowen
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA; (P.H.); (K.L.)
| | - H. Diana Rosas
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA; (M.C.); (S.M.H.); (M.K.C.); (B.T.); (C.G.); (H.D.R.)
| | - Amie L. Hiller
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (A.L.H.); (J.Q.); (K.K.)
| | - Joseph Quinn
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (A.L.H.); (J.Q.); (K.K.)
| | - Kellie Keith
- Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; (A.L.H.); (J.Q.); (K.K.)
| | - Andrew P. Duker
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA; (A.P.D.); (C.G.); (A.M.); (C.J.)
| | - Christina Gruenwald
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA; (A.P.D.); (C.G.); (A.M.); (C.J.)
| | - Angela Molloy
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA; (A.P.D.); (C.G.); (A.M.); (C.J.)
| | - Cara Jacob
- Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45219, USA; (A.P.D.); (C.G.); (A.M.); (C.J.)
| | - Stewart Factor
- Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (S.F.); (E.S.)
| | - Elaine Sperin
- Department of Neurology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; (S.F.); (E.S.)
| | - Danny Bega
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (D.B.); (Z.B.)
| | - Zsazsa R. Brown
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; (D.B.); (Z.B.)
| | - Lauren C. Seeberger
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
| | - Victor W. Sung
- Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (V.W.S.); (M.B)
| | - Melanie Benge
- Department of Neurology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (V.W.S.); (M.B)
| | - Sandra K. Kostyk
- Department of Neurology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.K.K.); (A.M.D.)
| | - Allison M. Daley
- Department of Neurology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (S.K.K.); (A.M.D.)
| | - Susan Perlman
- Department of Neurology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
| | - Valerie Suski
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (V.S.); (P.C.)
| | - Patricia Conlon
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; (V.S.); (P.C.)
| | - Matthew J. Barrett
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (M.J.B.); (S.L.); (M.Q.)
| | - Stephanie Lowenhaupt
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (M.J.B.); (S.L.); (M.Q.)
| | - Mark Quigg
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (M.J.B.); (S.L.); (M.Q.)
| | - Joel S. Perlmutter
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; (J.S.P.); (E.M.)
| | - Brenton A. Wright
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92121, USA;
| | - Elaine Most
- Department of Neurology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA; (J.S.P.); (E.M.)
| | - Guy J. Schwartz
- Department of Neurology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (G.J.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Jessica Lamb
- Department of Neurology, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (G.J.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Rosalind S. Chuang
- Department of Neurology, Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98122, USA;
| | - Carlos Singer
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA;
| | - Karen Marder
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; (K.M.); (J.A.M.)
| | - Joyce A. Moran
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA; (K.M.); (J.A.M.)
| | - John R. Singleton
- Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; (J.R.S.); (M.Z.); (P.V.W.)
| | - Meghan Zorn
- Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; (J.R.S.); (M.Z.); (P.V.W.)
| | - Paola V. Wall
- Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA; (J.R.S.); (M.Z.); (P.V.W.)
| | - Richard M. Dubinsky
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (R.M.D.); (C.G.)
| | - Carolyn Gray
- Department of Neurology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA; (R.M.D.); (C.G.)
| | - Carolyn Drazinic
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA;
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12
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Neueder A, Orth M. Mitochondrial biology and the identification of biomarkers of Huntington's disease. Neurodegener Dis Manag 2020; 10:243-255. [PMID: 32746707 DOI: 10.2217/nmt-2019-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Apart from finding novel compounds for treating Huntington's disease (HD) an important challenge at present consists in finding reliable read-outs or biomarkers that reflect key biological processes involved in HD pathogenesis. The core elements of HD biology, for example, HTT RNA levels or protein species can serve as biomarker, as could measures from biological systems or pathways in which Huntingtin plays an important role. Here we review the evidence for the involvement of mitochondrial biology in HD. The most consistent findings pertain to mitochondrial quality control, for example, fission/fusion. However, a convincing mitochondrial signature with biomarker potential is yet to emerge. This requires more research including in peripheral sources of human material, such as blood, or skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael Orth
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,SwissHuntington's Disease Centre, Neurozentrum Siloah, Worbstr. 312, 3073 Gümligenbei Bern, Switzerland
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13
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Lakra P, Aditi K, Agrawal N. Peripheral Expression of Mutant Huntingtin is a Critical Determinant of Weight Loss and Metabolic Disturbances in Huntington's Disease. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10127. [PMID: 31300691 PMCID: PMC6626032 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46470-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Deteriorating weight loss in patients with Huntington's disease (HD) is a complicated peripheral manifestation and the cause remains poorly understood. Studies suggest that body weight strongly influences the clinical progression rate of HD and thereby offers a valuable target for therapeutic interventions. Mutant huntingtin (mHTT) is ubiquitously expressed and could induce toxicity by directly acting in the peripheral tissues. We investigated the effects of selective expression of mHTT exon1 in fat body (FB; functionally equivalent to human adipose tissue and liver) using transgenic Drosophila. We find that FB-autonomous expression of mHTT exon1 is intrinsically toxic and causes chronic weight loss in the flies despite progressive hyperphagia, and early adult death. Moreover, flies exhibit loss of intracellular lipid stores, and decline in the systemic levels of lipids and carbohydrates which aggravates over time, representing metabolic defects. At the cellular level, besides impairment, cell death also occurs with the formation of mHTT aggregates in the FB. These findings indicate that FB-autonomous expression of mHTT alone is sufficient to cause metabolic abnormalities and emaciation in vivo without any neurodegenerative cues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Lakra
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Kumari Aditi
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Namita Agrawal
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India.
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14
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Coffey SR, Bragg RM, Minnig S, Ament SA, Cantle JP, Glickenhaus A, Shelnut D, Carrillo JM, Shuttleworth DD, Rodier JA, Noguchi K, Bennett CF, Price ND, Kordasiewicz HB, Carroll JB. Peripheral huntingtin silencing does not ameliorate central signs of disease in the B6.HttQ111/+ mouse model of Huntington's disease. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175968. [PMID: 28453524 PMCID: PMC5409169 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disease whose predominant neuropathological signature is the selective loss of medium spiny neurons in the striatum. Despite this selective neuropathology, the mutant protein (huntingtin) is found in virtually every cell so far studied, and, consequently, phenotypes are observed in a wide range of organ systems both inside and outside the central nervous system. We, and others, have suggested that peripheral dysfunction could contribute to the rate of progression of striatal phenotypes of HD. To test this hypothesis, we lowered levels of huntingtin by treating mice with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting the murine Huntingtin gene. To study the relationship between peripheral huntingtin levels and striatal HD phenotypes, we utilized a knock-in model of the human HD mutation (the B6.HttQ111/+ mouse). We treated mice with ASOs from 2-10 months of age, a time period over which significant HD-relevant signs progressively develop in the brains of HttQ111/+ mice. Peripheral treatment with ASOs led to persistent reduction of huntingtin protein in peripheral organs, including liver (64% knockdown), brown adipose (66% knockdown), and white adipose tissues (71% knockdown). This reduction was not associated with alterations in the severity of HD-relevant signs in the striatum of HttQ111/+ mice at the end of the study, including transcriptional dysregulation, the accumulation of neuronal intranuclear inclusions, and behavioral changes such as subtle hypoactivity and reduced exploratory drive. These results suggest that the amount of peripheral reduction achieved in the current study does not significantly impact the progression of HD-relevant signs in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney R. Coffey
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Psychology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States of America
| | - Robert M. Bragg
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Psychology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States of America
| | - Shawn Minnig
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Psychology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States of America
| | - Seth A. Ament
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey P. Cantle
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Psychology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States of America
| | - Anne Glickenhaus
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Psychology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States of America
| | - Daniel Shelnut
- Department of Mathematics, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States of America
| | - José M. Carrillo
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Psychology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States of America
| | - Dominic D. Shuttleworth
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Psychology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States of America
| | - Julie-Anne Rodier
- INSERM U1216, Grenoble Institute of Neuroscience, Grenoble, France. Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Kimihiro Noguchi
- Department of Mathematics, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States of America
| | | | - Nathan D. Price
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Department of Psychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States of America
| | | | - Jeffrey B. Carroll
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Psychology Department, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA, United States of America
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15
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Buck E, Zügel M, Schumann U, Merz T, Gumpp AM, Witting A, Steinacker JM, Landwehrmeyer GB, Weydt P, Calzia E, Lindenberg KS. High-resolution respirometry of fine-needle muscle biopsies in pre-manifest Huntington's disease expansion mutation carriers shows normal mitochondrial respiratory function. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175248. [PMID: 28406926 PMCID: PMC5390997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in mitochondrial respiration are an important hallmark of Huntington's disease (HD), one of the most common monogenetic causes of neurodegeneration. The ubiquitous expression of the disease causing mutant huntingtin gene raises the prospect that mitochondrial respiratory deficits can be detected in skeletal muscle. While this tissue is readily accessible in humans, transgenic animal models offer the opportunity to cross-validate findings and allow for comparisons across organs, including the brain. The integrated respiratory chain function of the human vastus lateralis muscle was measured by high-resolution respirometry (HRR) in freshly taken fine-needle biopsies from seven pre-manifest HD expansion mutation carriers and nine controls. The respiratory parameters were unaffected. For comparison skeletal muscle isolated from HD knock-in mice (HdhQ111) as well as a broader spectrum of tissues including cortex, liver and heart muscle were examined by HRR. Significant changes of mitochondrial respiration in the HdhQ knock-in mouse model were restricted to the liver and the cortex. Mitochondrial mass as quantified by mitochondrial DNA copy number and citrate synthase activity was stable in murine HD-model tissue compared to control. mRNA levels of key enzymes were determined to characterize mitochondrial metabolic pathways in HdhQ mice. We demonstrated the feasibility to perform high-resolution respirometry measurements from small human HD muscle biopsies. Furthermore, we conclude that alterations in respiratory parameters of pre-manifest human muscle biopsies are rather limited and mirrored by a similar absence of marked alterations in HdhQ skeletal muscle. In contrast, the HdhQ111 murine cortex and liver did show respiratory alterations highlighting the tissue specific nature of mutant huntingtin effects on respiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Buck
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Martina Zügel
- Division of Sports- and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Uwe Schumann
- Division of Sports- and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tamara Merz
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anja M. Gumpp
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anke Witting
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jürgen M. Steinacker
- Division of Sports- and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Patrick Weydt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Bonn University, Bonn, Germany
| | - Enrico Calzia
- Institute of Anesthesiological Pathophysiology and Process Development, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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16
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Zhang J, Shi R, Li H, Xiang Y, Xiao L, Hu M, Ma F, Ma CW, Huang Z. Antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of Dictyophora indusiata polysaccharide in Caenorhabditis elegans. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 192:413-422. [PMID: 27647012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.09.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Dictyophora indusiata is a medicinal mushroom traditionally used in China for a variety of conditions, including inflammatory and neural diseases. D. indusiata polysaccharides (DiPS) are shown to have in vitro antioxidant activity but in vivo evidence is lacking. This study aimes to explore the antioxidant capacity and related neuroptotective activities of DiPS using wild-type and neurodegenerative Caenorhabditis elegans models. MATERIALS AND METHODS The antioxidant capacities of DiPS were first determined using paraquat survival and Pgst-4::GFP expression assays in wild-type and transgenic C. elegans models, respectively, and then further investigated by determining reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity as well as functional parameters of mitochondria. The activation of stress response transcription factors and neuroptotective activities were examined using nuclear localization and chemosensory behavioral assays in transgenic nematodes, respectively. RESULTS DiPS was shown not only to increase survival rate and reduce stress level under paraquat-induced oxidative conditions but also to decrease ROS and MDA levels and increase SOD activity in C. elegans models. Moreover, DiPS was also able to restore the functional parameters of mitochondria, including membrane potential and ATP content, in paraquat-stressed nematodes. In addition, nuclear translocation assays demonstrate that the stress response transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO was involved in the antioxidant activity of the polysaccharide. Further experiments reveal that DiPS was capable of reducing ROS levels and alleviating chemosensory behavior dysfunction in transgenic nematode models of neurodegenerative diseases mediated by polyglutamine and amyloid-β protein. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the antioxidant and neuroprotective activities of the D. indusiata polysaccharide DiPS in wild-type and neurodegenerative C. elegans models, and thus provide an important pharmacological basis for the therapeutic potential of D. indusiata in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Center for Bioresources & Drug Discovery and School of Biosciences & Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Ruona Shi
- Center for Bioresources & Drug Discovery and School of Biosciences & Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Haifeng Li
- Center for Bioresources & Drug Discovery and School of Biosciences & Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Yanxia Xiang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Lingyun Xiao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Research & Development Center, Infinitus (China) Company Ltd., Guangzhou 510665, China.
| | - Minghua Hu
- Research & Development Center, Infinitus (China) Company Ltd., Guangzhou 510665, China.
| | - Fangli Ma
- Research & Development Center, Infinitus (China) Company Ltd., Guangzhou 510665, China.
| | - Chung Wah Ma
- Research & Development Center, Infinitus (China) Company Ltd., Guangzhou 510665, China.
| | - Zebo Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Center for Bioresources & Drug Discovery and School of Biosciences & Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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17
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Patassini S, Begley P, Xu J, Church SJ, Reid SJ, Kim EH, Curtis MA, Dragunow M, Waldvogel HJ, Snell RG, Unwin RD, Faull RLM, Cooper GJS. Metabolite mapping reveals severe widespread perturbation of multiple metabolic processes in Huntington's disease human brain. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2016; 1862:1650-62. [PMID: 27267344 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2016.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2016] [Revised: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetically-mediated neurodegenerative disorder wherein the aetiological defect is a mutation in the Huntington's gene (HTT), which alters the structure of the huntingtin protein (Htt) through lengthening of its polyglutamine tract, thus initiating a cascade that ultimately leads to premature death. However, neurodegeneration typically manifests in HD only in middle age, and mechanisms linking the causative mutation to brain disease are poorly understood. Brain metabolism is severely perturbed in HD, and some studies have indicated a potential role for mutant Htt as a driver of these metabolic aberrations. Here, our objective was to determine the effects of HD on brain metabolism by measuring levels of polar metabolites in regions known to undergo varying degrees of damage. We performed gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolomic analyses in a case-control study of eleven brain regions in short post-mortem-delay human tissue from nine well-characterized HD patients and nine matched controls. In each patient, we measured metabolite content in representative tissue-samples from eleven brain regions that display varying degrees of damage in HD, thus identifying the presence and abundance of 63 different metabolites from several molecular classes, including carbohydrates, amino acids, nucleosides, and neurotransmitters. Robust alterations in regional brain-metabolite abundances were observed in HD patients: these included changes in levels of small molecules that play important roles as intermediates in the tricarboxylic-acid and urea cycles, and amino-acid metabolism. Our findings point to widespread disruption of brain metabolism and indicate a complex phenotype beyond the gradient of neuropathologic damage observed in HD brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Patassini
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Advanced Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics (CADET), Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK; Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
| | - Paul Begley
- Centre for Advanced Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics (CADET), Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK; Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Jingshu Xu
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Advanced Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics (CADET), Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK; Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Stephanie J Church
- Centre for Advanced Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics (CADET), Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK; Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Suzanne J Reid
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Eric H Kim
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, United States
| | - Maurice A Curtis
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Mike Dragunow
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Henry J Waldvogel
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Russell G Snell
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Richard D Unwin
- Centre for Advanced Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics (CADET), Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK; Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Richard L M Faull
- Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Garth J S Cooper
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research and Department of Anatomy with Radiology, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Advanced Discovery and Experimental Therapeutics (CADET), Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK; Institute of Human Development, Faculty of Medical and Human Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
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18
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Steventon JJ, Trueman RC, Ma D, Yhnell E, Bayram-Weston Z, Modat M, Cardoso J, Ourselin S, Lythgoe M, Stewart A, Rosser AE, Jones DK. Longitudinal in vivo MRI in a Huntington's disease mouse model: Global atrophy in the absence of white matter microstructural damage. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32423. [PMID: 27581950 PMCID: PMC5007531 DOI: 10.1038/srep32423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a genetically-determined neurodegenerative disease. Characterising neuropathology in mouse models of HD is commonly restricted to cross-sectional ex vivo analyses, beset by tissue fixation issues. In vivo longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows for disease progression to be probed non-invasively. In the HdhQ150 mouse model of HD, in vivo MRI was employed at two time points, before and after the onset of motor signs, to assess brain macrostructure and white matter microstructure. Ex vivo MRI, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy and behavioural testing were also conducted. Global brain atrophy was found in HdhQ150 mice at both time points, with no neuropathological progression across time and a selective sparing of the cerebellum. In contrast, no white matter abnormalities were detected from the MRI images or electron microscopy images alike. The relationship between motor function and MR-based structural measurements was different for the HdhQ150 and wild-type mice, although there was no relationship between motor deficits and histopathology. Widespread neuropathology prior to symptom onset is consistent with patient studies, whereas the absence of white matter abnormalities conflicts with patient data. The myriad reasons for this inconsistency require further attention to improve the translatability from mouse models of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica J Steventon
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK.,Brain Repair Group, Life Science Building, 3rd Floor, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.,Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.,Experimental MRI Centre, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Rebecca C Trueman
- Brain Repair Group, Life Science Building, 3rd Floor, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.,School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham University, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Da Ma
- Centre for Medical Imaging Computing, University College London, London, UK.,Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Emma Yhnell
- Brain Repair Group, Life Science Building, 3rd Floor, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.,Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Zubeyde Bayram-Weston
- Brain Repair Group, Life Science Building, 3rd Floor, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.,Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Marc Modat
- Centre for Medical Imaging Computing, University College London, London, UK
| | - Jorge Cardoso
- Centre for Medical Imaging Computing, University College London, London, UK
| | - Sebastian Ourselin
- Centre for Medical Imaging Computing, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Lythgoe
- Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andrew Stewart
- Experimental MRI Centre, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Anne E Rosser
- Brain Repair Group, Life Science Building, 3rd Floor, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3AX, UK.,Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.,Institute of Psychological Medicine and Neurology, School of Medicine, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Derek K Jones
- Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK.,Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
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19
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Lin HP, Zheng DJ, Li YP, Wang N, Chen SJ, Fu YC, Xu WC, Wei CJ. Incorporation of VSV-G produces fusogenic plasma membrane vesicles capable of efficient transfer of bioactive macromolecules and mitochondria. Biomed Microdevices 2016; 18:41. [PMID: 27165101 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-016-0066-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine if plasma membrane vesicles (PMVs) could be exploited for efficient transfer of macro-biomolecules and mitochondria. PMVs were derived from mechanical extrusion, and made fusogenic (fPMVs) by incorporating the glycoprotein G of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G). Confocal microscopy examination revealed that cytoplasmic proteins and mitochondria were enclosed in PMVs as evidenced by tracing with cytoplasmically localized and mitochondria-targeted EGFP, respectively. However, no fluorescence signal was detected in PMVs from cells whose nucleus was labeled with an EGFP-tagged histone H2B. Consistently, qRT-PCR measurement showed that mRNA, miRNA and mitochondrial DNA decreased slightly; while nuclear DNA was not measureable. Further, Western blot analysis revealed that cytoplasmic and membrane-bound proteins fell inconspicuously while nuclear proteins were barely detecsle. In addition, fPMVs carrying cytoplamic DsRed proteins transduced about ~40 % of recipient cells. The transfer of protein was further confirmed by using the inducible Cre/loxP system. Mitochondria transfer was found in about 20 % recipient cells after incubation with fPMVs for 5 h. To verify the functionalities of transferred mitochondria, mitochodria-deficient HeLa cells (Rho0) were generated and cultivated with fPMVs. Cell enumeration demonstrated that adding fPMVs into culture media stimulated Rho0 cell growth by 100 % as compared to the control. Lastly, MitoTracker and JC-1 staining showed that transferred mitochondria maintained normal shape and membrane potential in Rho0 cells. This study established a time-saving and efficient approach to delivering proteins and mitochondria by using fPMVs, which would be helpful for finding a cure to mitochondria-associated diseases. Graphical abstract Schematic of the delivery of macro-biomolecules and organelles by fPMVs. VSV-G-expressing cells were extruded through a 3 μm polycarbonate membrane filter to generate fusogenic plasma membrane vesicles (fPMVs), which contain bioactive molecules and organelles but not the nucleus. fPMVs can be endocytosed by target cells, while the cargo is released due to low-pH induced membrane fusion. These nucleus-free fPMVs are efficient at delivery of cytoplasmic proteins and mitochondria, leading to recovery of mitochondrial biogenesis and proliferative ability in mitochondria-deficient cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Peng Lin
- Multidisciplinary Research Center, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, China
| | - De-Jin Zheng
- Multidisciplinary Research Center, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, China
| | - Yun-Pan Li
- Multidisciplinary Research Center, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, China
| | - Na Wang
- Multidisciplinary Research Center, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, China
| | - Shao-Jun Chen
- Multidisciplinary Research Center, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, China
| | - Yu-Cai Fu
- Laboratory of Cell Senescence, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China
| | - Wen-Can Xu
- Department of Endocrinology, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, China
| | - Chi-Ju Wei
- Multidisciplinary Research Center, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, 515063, China.
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20
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Nielsen SMB, Vinther-Jensen T, Nielsen JE, Nørremølle A, Hasholt L, Hjermind LE, Josefsen K. Liver function in Huntington's disease assessed by blood biochemical analyses in a clinical setting. J Neurol Sci 2016; 362:326-32. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2016.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2015] [Revised: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 02/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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21
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Handley RR, Reid SJ, Patassini S, Rudiger SR, Obolonkin V, McLaughlan CJ, Jacobsen JC, Gusella JF, MacDonald ME, Waldvogel HJ, Bawden CS, Faull RLM, Snell RG. Metabolic disruption identified in the Huntington's disease transgenic sheep model. Sci Rep 2016; 6:20681. [PMID: 26864449 PMCID: PMC4749952 DOI: 10.1038/srep20681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited, progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion within exon 1 of HTT, encoding huntingtin. There are no therapies that can delay the progression of this devastating disease. One feature of HD that may play a critical role in its pathogenesis is metabolic disruption. Consequently, we undertook a comparative study of metabolites in our transgenic sheep model of HD (OVT73). This model does not display overt symptoms of HD but has circadian rhythm alterations and molecular changes characteristic of the early phase disease. Quantitative metabolite profiles were generated from the motor cortex, hippocampus, cerebellum and liver tissue of 5 year old transgenic sheep and matched controls by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Differentially abundant metabolites were evident in the cerebellum and liver. There was striking tissue-specificity, with predominantly amino acids affected in the transgenic cerebellum and fatty acids in the transgenic liver, which together may indicate a hyper-metabolic state. Furthermore, there were more strong pair-wise correlations of metabolite abundance in transgenic than in wild-type cerebellum and liver, suggesting altered metabolic constraints. Together these differences indicate a metabolic disruption in the sheep model of HD and could provide insight into the presymptomatic human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee R Handley
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Suzanne J Reid
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Stefano Patassini
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Skye R Rudiger
- Molecular Biology and Reproductive Technology Laboratories, South Australian Research and Development, Adelaide, SA 5350, Australia
| | - Vladimir Obolonkin
- Research &Development, Livestock Improvement Corporation, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Clive J McLaughlan
- Molecular Biology and Reproductive Technology Laboratories, South Australian Research and Development, Adelaide, SA 5350, Australia
| | - Jessie C Jacobsen
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - James F Gusella
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA 02114, United States of America
| | - Marcy E MacDonald
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston MA 02114, United States of America
| | - Henry J Waldvogel
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - C Simon Bawden
- Molecular Biology and Reproductive Technology Laboratories, South Australian Research and Development, Adelaide, SA 5350, Australia
| | - Richard L M Faull
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
| | - Russell G Snell
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, 1010, New Zealand
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22
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Treating the whole body in Huntington's disease. Lancet Neurol 2016; 14:1135-42. [PMID: 26466780 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(15)00177-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2014] [Revised: 06/15/2015] [Accepted: 07/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a genetic neurodegenerative disorder with symptoms that are linked to the progressive dysfunction and neuronal death in corticostriatal circuits. The causative gene (mutated HTT) is widely expressed outside the CNS and several peripheral signs of disease, including weight loss and increased proinflammatory signalling, are often seen; however, their importance in the pathophysiology of Huntington's disease is not clear. Studies in animals have shown that features of the disease involving the CNS, including synapse loss and behavioural alterations, are susceptible to modulation by treatments that target tissues and organs outside the CNS. Links between peripheral biology and neurodegeneration have also been shown in other chronic neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that modulation of these peripheral targets can offer new approaches to therapeutic development. Treatments targeted to tissues and organs outside the CNS might therefore substantially improve the quality of life of patients with Huntington's disease, even in the absence of disease-modifying effects.
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23
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Carroll JB, Deik A, Fossale E, Weston RM, Guide JR, Arjomand J, Kwak S, Clish CB, MacDonald ME. HdhQ111 Mice Exhibit Tissue Specific Metabolite Profiles that Include Striatal Lipid Accumulation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134465. [PMID: 26295712 PMCID: PMC4546654 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 07/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The HTT CAG expansion mutation causes Huntington's Disease and is associated with a wide range of cellular consequences, including altered metabolism. The mutant allele is expressed widely, in all tissues, but the striatum and cortex are especially vulnerable to its effects. To more fully understand this tissue-specificity, early in the disease process, we asked whether the metabolic impact of the mutant CAG expanded allele in heterozygous B6.HdhQ111/+ mice would be common across tissues, or whether tissues would have tissue-specific responses and whether such changes may be affected by diet. Specifically, we cross-sectionally examined steady state metabolite concentrations from a range of tissues (plasma, brown adipose tissue, cerebellum, striatum, liver, white adipose tissue), using an established liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry pipeline, from cohorts of 8 month old mutant and wild-type littermate mice that were fed one of two different high-fat diets. The differential response to diet highlighted a proportion of metabolites in all tissues, ranging from 3% (7/219) in the striatum to 12% (25/212) in white adipose tissue. By contrast, the mutant CAG-expanded allele primarily affected brain metabolites, with 14% (30/219) of metabolites significantly altered, compared to wild-type, in striatum and 11% (25/224) in the cerebellum. In general, diet and the CAG-expanded allele both elicited metabolite changes that were predominantly tissue-specific and non-overlapping, with evidence for mutation-by-diet interaction in peripheral tissues most affected by diet. Machine-learning approaches highlighted the accumulation of diverse lipid species as the most genotype-predictive metabolite changes in the striatum. Validation experiments in cell culture demonstrated that lipid accumulation was also a defining feature of mutant HdhQ111 striatal progenitor cells. Thus, metabolite-level responses to the CAG expansion mutation in vivo were tissue specific and most evident in brain, where the striatum featured signature accumulation of a set of lipids including sphingomyelin, phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol ester and triglyceride species. Importantly, in the presence of the CAG mutation, metabolite changes were unmasked in peripheral tissues by an interaction with dietary fat, implying that the design of studies to discover metabolic changes in HD mutation carriers should include metabolic perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey B. Carroll
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Amy Deik
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Elisa Fossale
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Rory M. Weston
- Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, United States of America
| | - Jolene R. Guide
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jamshid Arjomand
- CHDI Foundation, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Seung Kwak
- CHDI Foundation, Inc., Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
| | - Clary B. Clish
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Marcy E. MacDonald
- Center for Human Genetic Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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24
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Howland DS, Munoz-Sanjuan I. Mind the gap: models in multiple species needed for therapeutic development in Huntington's disease. Mov Disord 2014; 29:1397-403. [PMID: 25155258 DOI: 10.1002/mds.26008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Revised: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Unraveling the pathophysiology and testing candidate therapeutics in neurodegenerative disorders is, necessarily, highly dependent on model systems. Because Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by a single (expanded CAG tract) mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, a richness of model systems, particularly mice, have been engineered to both dissect disease mechanisms and test potential therapeutics. Even so, as with other neurodegenerative diseases, very little success has been achieved in translating HD mouse model drug testing results to the clinic. Because of the considerable costs-human, opportunity, and financial-there is a pressing need to improve the use of existing HD models and also to develop models in higher species beyond rodent, such as sheep, minipig, and nonhuman primate, to bridge the translational gap from preclinical to clinical testing of candidate therapeutics.
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