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Gautam M, Genç B, Helmold B, Ahrens A, Kuka J, Makrecka-Kuka M, Günay A, Koçak N, Aguilar-Wickings IR, Keefe D, Zheng G, Swaminathan S, Redmon M, Zariwala HA, Özdinler PH. SBT-272 improves TDP-43 pathology in ALS upper motor neurons by modulating mitochondrial integrity, motility, and function. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 178:106022. [PMID: 36716828 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial defects are one of the common underlying causes of neuronal vulnerability in neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and TDP-43 pathology is the most commonly observed proteinopathy. Disrupted inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM) reported in the upper motor neurons (UMNs) of ALS patients with TDP-43 pathology is recapitulated in the UMNs of well-characterized hTDP-43 mouse model of ALS. The construct validity, such as shared and common cellular pathology in mice and human, offers a unique opportunity to test treatment strategies that may translate to patients. SBT-272 is a well-tolerated brain-penetrant small molecule that stabilizes cardiolipin, a phospholipid found in IMM, thereby restoring mitochondrial structure and respiratory function. We investigated whether SBT-272 can improve IMM structure and health in UMNs diseased with TDP-43 pathology in our well-characterized UMN reporter line for ALS. We found that SBT-272 significantly improved mitochondrial structural integrity and restored mitochondrial motility and function. This led to improved health of diseased UMNs in vitro. In comparison to edaravone and AMX0035, SBT-272 appeared more effective in restoring health of diseased UMNs. Chronic treatment of SBT-272 for sixty days starting at an early symptomatic stage of the disease in vivo led to a significant reduction in astrogliosis, microgliosis, and TDP-43 pathology in the ALS motor cortex. Our results underscore the therapeutic potential of SBT-272, especially within the context of TDP-43 pathology and mitochondrial dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Gautam
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Barış Genç
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Benjamin Helmold
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Angela Ahrens
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Janis Kuka
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), Aizkraukles Street 21, LV-2006 Riga, Latvia
| | - Marina Makrecka-Kuka
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), Aizkraukles Street 21, LV-2006 Riga, Latvia
| | - Aksu Günay
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Nuran Koçak
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Izaak R Aguilar-Wickings
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Dennis Keefe
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Guozhu Zheng
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Suchitra Swaminathan
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 420 E Superior St, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 675 N St Clair Fl 21 Ste 100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Martin Redmon
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - Hatim A Zariwala
- Stealth BioTherapeutics, 140 Kendrick St Building C, Needham, MA 02494, USA
| | - P Hande Özdinler
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 675 N St Clair Fl 21 Ste 100, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, 2205 Tech Dr, Evanston, IL 60208, USA..
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NU-9 improves health of hSOD1 G93A mouse upper motor neurons in vitro, especially in combination with riluzole or edaravone. Sci Rep 2022; 12:5383. [PMID: 35354901 PMCID: PMC8967818 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-09332-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Even though amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease of the upper and lower motor neurons, to date none of the compounds in clinical trials have been tested for improving the health of diseased upper motor neurons (UMNs). There is an urgent need to develop preclinical assays that include UMN health as a readout. Since ALS is a complex disease, combinatorial treatment strategies will be required to address the mechanisms perturbed in patients. Here, we describe a novel in vitro platform that takes advantage of an UMN reporter line in which UMNs are genetically labeled with fluorescence and have misfolded SOD1 toxicity. We report that NU-9, an analog of the cyclohexane-1,3-dione family of compounds, improves the health of UMNs with misfolded SOD1 toxicity more effectively than riluzole or edaravone, -the only two FDA-approved ALS drugs to date-. Interestingly, when NU-9 is applied in combination with riluzole or edaravone, there is an additive effect on UMN health, as they extend longer axons and display enhanced branching and arborization, two important characteristics of healthy UMNs in vitro.
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Abstract
Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries cause permanent disability. Although progress has been made in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiological changes that affect both structure and function after injury to the brain or spinal cord, there are currently no cures for either condition. This may change with the development and application of multi-layer omics, new sophisticated bioinformatics tools, and cutting-edge imaging techniques. Already, these technical advances, when combined, are revealing an unprecedented number of novel cellular and molecular targets that could be manipulated alone or in combination to repair the injured central nervous system with precision. In this review, we highlight recent advances in applying these new technologies to the study of axon regeneration and rebuilding of injured neural circuitry. We then discuss the challenges ahead to translate results produced by these technologies into clinical application to help improve the lives of individuals who have a brain or spinal cord injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Tedeschi
- Department of Neuroscience and Discovery Themes Initiative, College of Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
| | - Phillip G Popovich
- Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Repair, Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, 43210, USA
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Sartor GC, Malvezzi AM, Kumar A, Andrade NS, Wiedner HJ, Vilca SJ, Janczura KJ, Bagheri A, Al-Ali H, Powell SK, Brown PT, Volmar CH, Foster TC, Zeier Z, Wahlestedt C. Enhancement of BDNF Expression and Memory by HDAC Inhibition Requires BET Bromodomain Reader Proteins. J Neurosci 2019; 39:612-626. [PMID: 30504275 PMCID: PMC6343644 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1604-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/11/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors may have therapeutic utility in multiple neurological and psychiatric disorders, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we identify BRD4, a BET bromodomain reader of acetyl-lysine histones, as an essential component involved in potentiated expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and memory following HDAC inhibition. In in vitro studies, we reveal that pharmacological inhibition of BRD4 reversed the increase in BDNF mRNA induced by the class I/IIb HDAC inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). Knock-down of HDAC2 and HDAC3, but not other HDACs, increased BDNF mRNA expression, whereas knock-down of BRD4 blocked these effects. Using dCas9-BRD4, locus-specific targeting of BRD4 to the BDNF promoter increased BDNF mRNA. In additional studies, RGFP966, a pharmacological inhibitor of HDAC3, elevated BDNF expression and BRD4 binding to the BDNF promoter, effects that were abrogated by JQ1 (an inhibitor of BRD4). Examining known epigenetic targets of BRD4 and HDAC3, we show that H4K5ac and H4K8ac modifications and H4K5ac enrichment at the BDNF promoter were elevated following RGFP966 treatment. In electrophysiological studies, JQ1 reversed RGFP966-induced enhancement of LTP in hippocampal slice preparations. Last, in behavioral studies, RGFP966 increased subthreshold novel object recognition memory and cocaine place preference in male C57BL/6 mice, effects that were reversed by cotreatment with JQ1. Together, these data reveal that BRD4 plays a key role in HDAC3 inhibitor-induced potentiation of BDNF expression, neuroplasticity, and memory.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Some histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors are known to have neuroprotective and cognition-enhancing properties, but the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. In the current study, we reveal that BRD4, an epigenetic reader of histone acetylation marks, is necessary for enhancing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and improved memory following HDAC inhibition. Therefore, by identifying novel epigenetic regulators of BDNF expression, these data may lead to new therapeutic targets for the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory C Sartor
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136,
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06269
| | - Andrea M Malvezzi
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Ashok Kumar
- Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics and Genomics Program, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, and
| | - Nadja S Andrade
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Hannah J Wiedner
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Samantha J Vilca
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Karolina J Janczura
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Amir Bagheri
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Hassan Al-Ali
- Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Samuel K Powell
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Peyton T Brown
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Claude H Volmar
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Thomas C Foster
- Departments of Neuroscience and Genetics and Genomics Program, Evelyn F. and William L. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611, and
| | - Zane Zeier
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Claes Wahlestedt
- Center for Therapeutic Innovation and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136,
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