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Bulagouda R, Hegde S, Hegde R, Hiremath A, Wali GM, Kadakol GS. Variation in Exon 29 of the NOS1 Gene Does Not Contribute to Parkinson's Disease in the North Karnataka Population. Cureus 2023; 15:e45347. [PMID: 37849584 PMCID: PMC10577605 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.45347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Nitric oxide (NO) overproduction has been found to have neurotoxic effects on the brain. Moreover, in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) induced, the suppression of the NO-synthesizing enzymes, such as neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS), has neuroprotective benefits in Parkinson's disease (PD). These findings imply that NOS may have a role in regulating the nigral dopaminergic neurons' tolerance to environmental stressors in PD. OBJECTIVE In the present study, we investigated variations in the NOS1 gene that may raise the likelihood of PD. METHODS PD patients who visited the neurology departments of several medical colleges and hospitals in North Karnataka, India, between 2009 and 2011 were included in the study. The detailed clinic pathological details were obtained from 100 PD patients. Genomic DNA was isolated using the kit method followed by the evaluation of the quality and quantity of isolated gDNA. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of exon 29 was performed, and sequencing was performed using the Applied Biosystems ABI 3500 Sanger sequencing platform. RESULTS The present study is comprised of 100 PD patients, which includes 65 males and 35 females. There were 64 sporadic, 34 idiopathic, and two familial PD cases. The majority (67.1%) of PD cases were from metropolitan areas. Community-based segregation showed that the maximum cases were from Hindu Lingayat. A proportion (90.8%) of the patients had tremors, 32.7% of them displayed slowness in their daily tasks, and 8.1% of them had dyskinesia. Molecular analysis showed two untranslated region (UTR) variations g.151787 del T (rs1434015950) and g.151745 C>T (rs2682826) in our study group. CONCLUSION The absence of mutations in the targeted NOS1 gene in the PD patients from North Karnataka shows the involvement of other genes in the molecular pathophysiology. Thus, it is crucial to screen other possible genes using cutting-edge technology to obtain a clear picture of the genetics of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudragouda Bulagouda
- Anatomy, BLDE (Deemed to be University) Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayapura, IND
| | - Smita Hegde
- Genetics, Karnataka Institute for DNA Research, Dharwad, IND
| | - Rajat Hegde
- Genetics, Karnataka Institute for DNA Research, Dharwad, IND
| | - Ashwini Hiremath
- Neurology, BLDE (Deemed to be University) Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayapura, IND
| | - G M Wali
- Neurology, Neurospecialist Centre, Belagavi, IND
| | - Gurushantappa S Kadakol
- Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Anatomy, BLDE (Deemed to be University) Shri B M Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Vijayapura, IND
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Kim W, Tripathi M, Kim C, Vardhineni S, Cha Y, Kandi SK, Feitosa M, Kholiya R, Sah E, Thakur A, Kim Y, Ko S, Bhatia K, Manohar S, Kong YB, Sindhu G, Kim YS, Cohen B, Rawat DS, Kim KS. An optimized Nurr1 agonist provides disease-modifying effects in Parkinson's disease models. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4283. [PMID: 37463889 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39970-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The nuclear receptor, Nurr1, is critical for both the development and maintenance of midbrain dopamine neurons, representing a promising molecular target for Parkinson's disease (PD). We previously identified three Nurr1 agonists (amodiaquine, chloroquine and glafenine) that share an identical chemical scaffold, 4-amino-7-chloroquinoline (4A7C), suggesting a structure-activity relationship. Herein we report a systematic medicinal chemistry search in which over 570 4A7C-derivatives were generated and characterized. Multiple compounds enhance Nurr1's transcriptional activity, leading to identification of an optimized, brain-penetrant agonist, 4A7C-301, that exhibits robust neuroprotective effects in vitro. In addition, 4A7C-301 protects midbrain dopamine neurons in the MPTP-induced male mouse model of PD and improves both motor and non-motor olfactory deficits without dyskinesia-like behaviors. Furthermore, 4A7C-301 significantly ameliorates neuropathological abnormalities and improves motor and olfactory dysfunctions in AAV2-mediated α-synuclein-overexpressing male mouse models. These disease-modifying properties of 4A7C-301 may warrant clinical evaluation of this or analogous compounds for the treatment of patients with PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woori Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Mohit Tripathi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Chunhyung Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | | | - Young Cha
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | | | - Melissa Feitosa
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Rohit Kholiya
- Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Eric Sah
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Anuj Thakur
- Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Yehan Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Sanghyeok Ko
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Kaiya Bhatia
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Sunny Manohar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Young-Bin Kong
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Gagandeep Sindhu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India
| | - Yoon-Seong Kim
- Institute for Neurological Therapeutics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Bruce Cohen
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Diwan S Rawat
- Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110007, India.
| | - Kwang-Soo Kim
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA.
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Program in Neuroscience, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA.
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Gamit N, Dharmarajan A, Sethi G, Warrier S. Want of Wnt in Parkinson's disease: Could sFRP disrupt interplay between Nurr1 and Wnt signaling? Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 212:115566. [PMID: 37088155 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear receptor related 1 (Nurr1) is a transcription factor known to regulate the development and maintenance of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons. Reports have confirmed that defect or obliteration of Nurr1 results in neurodegeneration and motor function impairment leading to Parkinson's disease (PD). Studies have also indicated that Nurr1 regulates the expression of alpha-synuclein (α-SYN) and mutations in Nurr1 cause α-SYN overexpression, thereby increasing the risk of PD. Nurr1 is modulated via various pathways including Wnt signaling pathway which is known to play an important role in neurogenesis and deregulation of it contributes to PD pathogenesis. Both Wnt/β-catenin dependent and independent pathways are implicated in the activation of Nurr1 and subsequent downregulation of α-SYN. This review highlights the interaction between Nurr1 and Wnt signaling pathways in mDA neuronal development. We further hypothesize how modulation of Wnt signaling pathway by its antagonist, secreted frizzled related proteins (sFRPs) could be a potential route to treat PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naisarg Gamit
- Division of Cancer Stem Cells and Cardiovascular Regeneration, Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bangalore 560 065, India
| | - Arun Dharmarajan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Technology and Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600 116, India; School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Curtin Health and Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia; School of Human Sciences, Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore 117 600, Singapore
| | - Sudha Warrier
- Division of Cancer Stem Cells and Cardiovascular Regeneration, Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bangalore 560 065, India; Cuor Stem Cellutions Pvt Ltd, Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Bangalore 560 065, India.
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Kolacheva A, Pavlova E, Bannikova A, Bogdanov V, Troshev D, Ugrumov M. The Gene Expression of Proteins Involved in Intercellular Signaling and Neurodegeneration in the Substantia Nigra in a Mouse Subchronic Model of Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24033027. [PMID: 36769355 PMCID: PMC9917821 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24033027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Given the limited access to clinical material for studying the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD), these studies should be carried out on experimental models. We have recently developed a subchronic model of the progressive development of PD with a gradual transition from the preclinical (asymptomatic) stage to the clinical (symptomatic) one. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the expression of a wide range of genes in the substantia nigra (SN), the central link in the regulation of motor function, in mice in our subchronic model of PD. We have found changes in the expression of a number of genes encoding enzymes involved in the synthesis and degradation of dopamine as well as proteins involved in the vesicular cycle, axonal transport, protein degradation in the proteasome system, neuroinflammation, and cell death in the SN of our mouse model of the clinical stage of PD. Similar changes in gene expression were previously demonstrated in patients (postmortem), indicating good reproducibility of PD in our model. Further analysis of the gene expression in the SN of mice has shown that the expression of some genes also changes in the model of the preclinical stage, when dopaminergic neurons have not yet died. Thus, this study opens up broad prospects for further evaluation of the molecular mechanisms of PD pathogenesis and the development of a test system for drug screening.
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Prakash N. Developmental pathways linked to the vulnerability of adult midbrain dopaminergic neurons to neurodegeneration. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1071731. [PMID: 36618829 PMCID: PMC9815185 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1071731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The degeneration of dopaminergic and other neurons in the aging brain is considered a process starting well beyond the infantile and juvenile period. In contrast to other dopamine-associated neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and drug addiction, typically diagnosed during adolescence or young adulthood and, thus, thought to be rooted in the developing brain, Parkinson's Disease (PD) is rarely viewed as such. However, evidences have accumulated suggesting that several factors might contribute to an increased vulnerability to death of the dopaminergic neurons at an already very early (developmental) phase in life. Despite the remarkable ability of the brain to compensate such dopamine deficits, the early loss or dysfunction of these neurons might predispose an individual to suffer from PD because the critical threshold of dopamine function will be reached much earlier in life, even if the time-course and strength of naturally occurring and age-dependent dopaminergic cell death is not markedly altered in this individual. Several signaling and transcriptional pathways required for the proper embryonic development of the midbrain dopaminergic neurons, which are the most affected in PD, either continue to be active in the adult mammalian midbrain or are reactivated at the transition to adulthood and under neurotoxic conditions. The persistent activity of these pathways often has neuroprotective functions in adult midbrain dopaminergic neurons, whereas the reactivation of silenced pathways under pathological conditions can promote the survival and even regeneration of these neurons in the lesioned or aging brain. This article summarizes our current knowledge about signaling and transcription factors involved in midbrain dopaminergic neuron development, whose reduced gene dosage or signaling activity are implicated in a lower survival rate of these neurons in the postnatal or aging brain. It also discusses the evidences supporting the neuroprotection of the midbrain dopaminergic system after the external supply or ectopic expression of some of these secreted and nuclear factors in the adult and aging brain. Altogether, the timely monitoring and/or correction of these signaling and transcriptional pathways might be a promising approach to a much earlier diagnosis and/or prevention of PD.
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Qin N, Geng A, Xue R. Activated or Impaired: An Overview of DNA Repair in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Aging Dis 2022; 13:987-1004. [PMID: 35855336 PMCID: PMC9286913 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2021.1212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
As the population ages, age-related neurodegenerative diseases have become a major challenge in health science. Currently, the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's disease, is still not fully understood. Remarkably, emerging evidence indicates a role of genomic DNA damage and repair in various neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we summarized the current understanding of the function of DNA damage repair, especially base excision repair and double strand break repair pathways, in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. We concluded that exacerbation of DNA lesions is found in almost all types of neurodegenerative diseases, whereas the activities of different DNA repair pathways demonstrate distinct trends, depending on disease type and even brain region. Specifically, key enzymes involved in base excision repair are likely impaired in Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis but activated in Parkinson's disease, while nonhomologous end joining is likely downregulated in most types of neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, impairment of nonhomologous end joining is likely a common etiology for most neurodegenerative diseases, while defects in base excision repair are likely involved in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis but are Parkinson's disease, based on current findings. Although there are still discrepancies and further studies are required to completely elucidate the exact roles of DNA repair in neurodegeneration, the current studies summarized here provide crucial insights into the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases and may reveal novel drug targets for corresponding neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Qin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Anke Geng
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Renhao Xue
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity & Infant Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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7
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Li L, Ho PWL, Liu H, Pang SYY, Chang EES, Choi ZYK, Malki Y, Kung MHW, Ramsden DB, Ho SL. Transcriptional Regulation of the Synaptic Vesicle Protein Synaptogyrin-3 (SYNGR3) Gene: The Effects of NURR1 on Its Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073646. [PMID: 35409005 PMCID: PMC8998927 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Synaptogyrin-3 (SYNGR3) is a synaptic vesicular membrane protein. Amongst four homologues (SYNGR1 to 4), SYNGR1 and 3 are especially abundant in the brain. SYNGR3 interacts with the dopamine transporter (DAT) to facilitate dopamine (DA) uptake and synaptic DA turnover in dopaminergic transmission. Perturbed SYNGR3 expression is observed in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The regulatory elements which affect SYNGR3 expression are unknown. Nuclear-receptor-related-1 protein (NURR1) can regulate dopaminergic neuronal differentiation and maintenance via binding to NGFI-B response elements (NBRE). We explored whether NURR1 can regulate SYNGR3 expression using an in silico analysis of the 5′-flanking region of the human SYNGR3 gene, reporter gene activity and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) of potential cis-acting sites. In silico analysis of two genomic DNA segments (1870 bp 5′-flanking region and 1870 + 159 bp of first exon) revealed one X Core Promoter Element 1 (XCPE1), two SP1, and three potential non-canonical NBRE response elements (ncNBRE) but no CAAT or TATA box. The longer segment exhibited gene promoter activity in luciferase reporter assays. Site-directed mutagenesis of XCPE1 decreased promoter activity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y (↓43.2%) and human embryonic kidney HEK293 cells (↓39.7%). EMSA demonstrated NURR1 binding to these three ncNBRE. Site-directed mutagenesis of these ncNBRE reduced promoter activity by 11–17% in SH-SY5Y (neuronal) but not in HEK293 (non-neuronal) cells. C-DIM12 (Nurr1 activator) increased SYNGR3 protein expression in SH-SY5Y cells and its promoter activity using a real-time luciferase assay. As perturbed vesicular function is a feature of major neurodegenerative diseases, inducing SYNGR3 expression by NURR1 activators may be a potential therapeutic target to attenuate synaptic dysfunction in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingfei Li
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (L.L.); (P.W.-L.H.); (H.L.); (S.Y.-Y.P.); (E.E.-S.C.); (Z.Y.-K.C.); (Y.M.); (M.H.-W.K.)
| | - Philip Wing-Lok Ho
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (L.L.); (P.W.-L.H.); (H.L.); (S.Y.-Y.P.); (E.E.-S.C.); (Z.Y.-K.C.); (Y.M.); (M.H.-W.K.)
| | - Huifang Liu
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (L.L.); (P.W.-L.H.); (H.L.); (S.Y.-Y.P.); (E.E.-S.C.); (Z.Y.-K.C.); (Y.M.); (M.H.-W.K.)
| | - Shirley Yin-Yu Pang
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (L.L.); (P.W.-L.H.); (H.L.); (S.Y.-Y.P.); (E.E.-S.C.); (Z.Y.-K.C.); (Y.M.); (M.H.-W.K.)
| | - Eunice Eun-Seo Chang
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (L.L.); (P.W.-L.H.); (H.L.); (S.Y.-Y.P.); (E.E.-S.C.); (Z.Y.-K.C.); (Y.M.); (M.H.-W.K.)
| | - Zoe Yuen-Kiu Choi
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (L.L.); (P.W.-L.H.); (H.L.); (S.Y.-Y.P.); (E.E.-S.C.); (Z.Y.-K.C.); (Y.M.); (M.H.-W.K.)
| | - Yasine Malki
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (L.L.); (P.W.-L.H.); (H.L.); (S.Y.-Y.P.); (E.E.-S.C.); (Z.Y.-K.C.); (Y.M.); (M.H.-W.K.)
| | - Michelle Hiu-Wai Kung
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (L.L.); (P.W.-L.H.); (H.L.); (S.Y.-Y.P.); (E.E.-S.C.); (Z.Y.-K.C.); (Y.M.); (M.H.-W.K.)
| | - David Boyer Ramsden
- Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- Correspondence: (D.B.R.); (S.-L.H.)
| | - Shu-Leong Ho
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; (L.L.); (P.W.-L.H.); (H.L.); (S.Y.-Y.P.); (E.E.-S.C.); (Z.Y.-K.C.); (Y.M.); (M.H.-W.K.)
- Correspondence: (D.B.R.); (S.-L.H.)
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Xu X, He X, Ma S, Li M, Huang Q. Nurr1 downregulation is caused by CREB inactivation in a Parkinson's disease mouse model. Neurosci Lett 2021; 759:136045. [PMID: 34119603 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Nurr1 (NR4A2), a nuclear receptor essential for the maintenance of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, is transcriptionally downregulated in both patients with PD and animal models and has been considered as a promising therapeutic target for neuroprotection in PD. However, the mechanism underlying Nurr1 downregulation during dopaminergic degeneration has not been fully elucidated. Here, we report that the pro-survival transcription factor CREB is constitutively bound to the Nurr1 promoter in the mouse SN. CREB inactivation by dephosphorylation at Ser133 occurred in parallel with Nurr1 downregulation in the MPTP mouse model of PD. Forced expression of VP16-CREB, a constitutively active mutant, rescued Nurr1 expression and showed prominent neuroprotection in MPTP-intoxicated mice. Collectively, our results demonstrate that Nurr1 downregulation in the MPTP-induced PD mouse model is caused by CREB inactivation, which may provide a new target for neuroprotective therapy in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyi Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease and Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xin He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease and Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shanshan Ma
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease and Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Mingtao Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease and Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Qiaoying Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease and Department of Pharmacology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 74 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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Rajan S, Jang Y, Kim CH, Kim W, Toh HT, Jeon J, Song B, Serra A, Lescar J, Yoo JY, Beldar S, Ye H, Kang C, Liu XW, Feitosa M, Kim Y, Hwang D, Goh G, Lim KL, Park HM, Lee CH, Oh SF, Petsko GA, Yoon HS, Kim KS. PGE1 and PGA1 bind to Nurr1 and activate its transcriptional function. Nat Chem Biol 2020; 16:876-886. [PMID: 32451509 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-020-0553-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 is critical for the development, maintenance and protection of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons. Here we show that prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and its dehydrated metabolite, PGA1, directly interact with the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of Nurr1 and stimulate its transcriptional function. We also report the crystallographic structure of Nurr1-LBD bound to PGA1 at 2.05 Å resolution. PGA1 couples covalently to Nurr1-LBD by forming a Michael adduct with Cys566, and induces notable conformational changes, including a 21° shift of the activation function-2 helix (H12) away from the protein core. Furthermore, PGE1/PGA1 exhibit neuroprotective effects in a Nurr1-dependent manner, prominently enhance expression of Nurr1 target genes in mDA neurons and improve motor deficits in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-lesioned mouse models of Parkinson's disease. Based on these results, we propose that PGE1/PGA1 represent native ligands of Nurr1 and can exert neuroprotective effects on mDA neurons, via activation of Nurr1's transcriptional function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sreekanth Rajan
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yongwoo Jang
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chun-Hyung Kim
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.,Paean Biotechnology, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Woori Kim
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Hui Ting Toh
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,Nanyang Institute of Technology in Health and Medicine, Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jeha Jeon
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Bin Song
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Aida Serra
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Julien Lescar
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.,NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jun Yeob Yoo
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Serap Beldar
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hong Ye
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Congbao Kang
- Experimental Drug Development Centre, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Nanos, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xue-Wei Liu
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Melissa Feitosa
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Yeahan Kim
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Dabin Hwang
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA
| | - Geraldine Goh
- National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kah-Leong Lim
- National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Hye Min Park
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong Hwan Lee
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungwhan F Oh
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gregory A Petsko
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ho Sup Yoon
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore. .,NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Kwang-Soo Kim
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA. .,Program in Neuroscience and Harvard Stem Cell Institute, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA, USA.
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10
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Bruning JM, Wang Y, Oltrabella F, Tian B, Kholodar SA, Liu H, Bhattacharya P, Guo S, Holton JM, Fletterick RJ, Jacobson MP, England PM. Covalent Modification and Regulation of the Nuclear Receptor Nurr1 by a Dopamine Metabolite. Cell Chem Biol 2019; 26:674-685.e6. [PMID: 30853418 PMCID: PMC7185887 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Nurr1, a nuclear receptor essential for the development, maintenance, and survival of midbrain dopaminergic neurons, is a potential therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease, a neurological disorder characterized by the degeneration of these same neurons. Efforts to identify Nurr1 agonists have been hampered by the recognition that it lacks several classic regulatory elements of nuclear receptor function, including the canonical ligand-binding pocket. Here we report that the dopamine metabolite 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) binds directly to and modulates the activity of Nurr1. Using biophysical assays and X-ray crystallography, we show that DHI binds to the ligand-binding domain within a non-canonical pocket, forming a covalent adduct with Cys566. In cultured cells and zebrafish, DHI stimulates Nurr1 activity, including the transcription of target genes underlying dopamine homeostasis. These findings suggest avenues for developing synthetic Nurr1 ligands to ameliorate the symptoms and progression of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Bruning
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Francesca Oltrabella
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Boxue Tian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Svetlana A Kholodar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Harrison Liu
- Bioengineering Graduate Program, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Paulomi Bhattacharya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Su Guo
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - James M Holton
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Robert J Fletterick
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Matthew P Jacobson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Pamela M England
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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11
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Sorrentino ZA, Xia Y, Funk C, Riffe CJ, Rutherford NJ, Ceballos Diaz C, Sacino AN, Price ND, Golde TE, Giasson BI, Chakrabarty P. Motor neuron loss and neuroinflammation in a model of α-synuclein-induced neurodegeneration. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 120:98-106. [PMID: 30195075 PMCID: PMC6190709 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms underlying α-synuclein (αSyn) mediated neurodegeneration are poorly understood. Intramuscular (IM) injection of αSyn fibrils in human A53T transgenic M83+/- mice produce a rapid model of α-synucleinopathy with highly predictable onset of motor impairment. Using varying doses of αSyn seeds, we show that αSyn-induced phenotype is largely dose-independent. We utilized the synchrony of this IM model to explore the temporal sequence of αSyn pathology, neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Longitudinal tracking showed that while motor neuron death and αSyn pathology occur within 2 months post IM, astrogliosis appears at a later timepoint, implying neuroinflammation is a consequence, rather than a trigger, in this prionoid model of synucleinopathy. Initiating at 3 months post IM, immune activation dominates the pathologic landscape in terminal IM-seeded M83+/- mice, as revealed by unbiased transcriptomic analyses. Our findings provide insights into the role of neuroinflammation in αSyn mediated proteostasis and neurodegeneration, which will be key in designing potential therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary A Sorrentino
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Yuxing Xia
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Cory Funk
- Institute of Systems Biology, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Cara J Riffe
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Nicola J Rutherford
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Carolina Ceballos Diaz
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Amanda N Sacino
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Todd E Golde
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Benoit I Giasson
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Paramita Chakrabarty
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
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12
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Dysregulation of the causative genes for hereditary parkinsonism in the midbrain in Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord 2017; 32:1211-1220. [DOI: 10.1002/mds.27019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
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13
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Dong J, Li S, Mo JL, Cai HB, Le WD. Nurr1-Based Therapies for Parkinson's Disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2016; 22:351-9. [PMID: 27012974 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have documented that orphan nuclear receptor Nurr1 (also known as NR4A2) plays important roles in the midbrain dopamine (DA) neuron development, differentiation, and survival. Furthermore, it has been reported that the defects in Nurr1 are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD). Thus, Nurr1 might be a potential therapeutic target for PD. Emerging evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies has recently demonstrated that Nurr1-activating compounds and Nurr1 gene therapy are able not only to enhance DA neurotransmission but also to protect DA neurons from cell injury induced by environmental toxin or microglia-mediated neuroinflammation. Moreover, modulators that interact with Nurr1 or regulate its function, such as retinoid X receptor, cyclic AMP-responsive element-binding protein, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, and Wnt/β-catenin pathway, have the potential to enhance the effects of Nurr1-based therapies in PD. This review highlights the recent progress in preclinical studies of Nurr1-based therapies and discusses the outlook of this emerging therapy as a promising new generation of PD medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Dong
- The Center for Translational Research on Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Song Li
- The Center for Translational Research on Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Jing-Lin Mo
- The Center for Translational Research on Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Huai-Bin Cai
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Wei-Dong Le
- The Center for Translational Research on Neurological Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.,Institute of Health Science, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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14
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Nurr1 and Retinoid X Receptor Ligands Stimulate Ret Signaling in Dopamine Neurons and Can Alleviate α-Synuclein Disrupted Gene Expression. J Neurosci 2016; 35:14370-85. [PMID: 26490873 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1155-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED α-synuclein, a protein enriched in Lewy bodies and highly implicated in neurotoxicity in Parkinson's disease, is distributed both at nerve terminals and in the cell nucleus. Here we show that a nuclear derivative of α-synuclein induces more pronounced changes at the gene expression level in mouse primary dopamine (DA) neurons compared to a derivative that is excluded from the nucleus. Moreover, by RNA sequencing we analyzed the extent of genome-wide effects on gene expression resulting from expression of human α-synuclein in primary mouse DA neurons. The results implicated the transcription factor Nurr1 as a key dysregulated target of α-synuclein toxicity. Forced Nurr1 expression restored the expression of hundreds of dysregulated genes in primary DA neurons expressing α-synuclein, and therefore prompted us to test the possibility that Nurr1 can be pharmacologically targeted by bexarotene, a ligand for the retinoid X receptor that forms heterodimers with Nurr1. Although our data demonstrated that bexarotene was ineffective in neuroprotection in rats in vivo, the results revealed that bexarotene has the capacity to coregulate subsets of Nurr1 target genes including the receptor tyrosine kinase subunit Ret. Moreover, bexarotene was able to restore dysfunctional Ret-dependent neurotrophic signaling in α-synuclein-overexpressing mouse DA neurons. These data highlight the role of the Nurr1-Ret signaling pathway as a target of α-synuclein toxicity and suggest that retinoid X receptor ligands with appropriate pharmacological properties could have therapeutic potential in Parkinson's disease. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT How α-synuclein, a protein enriched in Lewy bodies in Parkinson's disease, is causing neuropathology in dopamine neurons remains unclear. This study elucidated how α-synuclein is influencing gene expression and how Nurr1, a transcription factor known to protect dopamine neurons against α-synuclein toxicity, can counteract these effects. Moreover, given the protective role of Nurr1, this study also investigated how Nurr1 could be pharmacologically targeted via bexarotene, a ligand of Nurr1's heterodimerization partner retinoid X receptor (RXR). The results showed that RXR ligands could increase neurotrophic signaling, but provided a mixed picture of its potential in a Parkinson's disease rat model in vivo. However, this study clearly emphasized Nurr1's neuroprotective role and indicated that other RXR ligands could have therapeutic potential in Parkinson's disease.
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15
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Smith GA, Rocha EM, Rooney T, Barneoud P, McLean JR, Beagan J, Osborn T, Coimbra M, Luo Y, Hallett PJ, Isacson O. A Nurr1 agonist causes neuroprotection in a Parkinson's disease lesion model primed with the toll-like receptor 3 dsRNA inflammatory stimulant poly(I:C). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121072. [PMID: 25815475 PMCID: PMC4376720 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2014] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) are characterized by the expression of genes required for dopamine synthesis, handling and reuptake and the expression of these genes is largely controlled by nuclear receptor related 1 (Nurr1). Nurr1 is also expressed in astrocytes and microglia where it functions to mitigate the release of proinflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic factors. Given that Parkinson's disease (PD) pathogenesis has been linked to both loss of Nurr1 expression in the SNpc and inflammation, increasing levels of Nurr1 maybe a promising therapeutic strategy. In this study a novel Nurr1 agonist, SA00025, was tested for both its efficiency to induce the transcription of dopaminergic target genes in vivo and prevent dopaminergic neuron degeneration in an inflammation exacerbated 6-OHDA-lesion model of PD. SA00025 (30mg/kg p.o.) entered the brain and modulated the expression of the dopaminergic phenotype genes TH, VMAT, DAT, AADC and the GDNF receptor gene c-Ret in the SN of naive rats. Daily gavage treatment with SA00025 (30mg/kg) for 32 days also induced partial neuroprotection of dopaminergic neurons and fibers in rats administered a priming injection of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C) and subsequent injection of 6-OHDA. The neuroprotective effects of SA00025 in this dopamine neuron degeneration model were associated with changes in microglial morphology indicative of a resting state and a decrease in microglial specific IBA-1 staining intensity in the SNpc. Astrocyte specific GFAP staining intensity and IL-6 levels were also reduced. We conclude that Nurr1 agonist treatment causes neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in an inflammation exacerbated 6-OHDA lesion model of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaynor A. Smith
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Emily M. Rocha
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Thomas Rooney
- Sanofi, Neurodegeneration and Pain Unit, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Pascal Barneoud
- Sanofi, Neurodegeneration and Pain Unit, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Jesse R. McLean
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jonathan Beagan
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Teresia Osborn
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Madeleine Coimbra
- Sanofi, Disposition, Safety & Animal Research, Department 1, Chilly-Mazarin, France
| | - Yongyi Luo
- Sanofi-Genzyme, Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Department, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Penelope J. Hallett
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (OI); (PJH)
| | - Ole Isacson
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (OI); (PJH)
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16
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Le Grand JN, Gonzalez-Cano L, Pavlou MA, Schwamborn JC. Neural stem cells in Parkinson's disease: a role for neurogenesis defects in onset and progression. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:773-97. [PMID: 25403878 PMCID: PMC11113294 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-014-1774-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Revised: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, leading to a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. Interestingly, non-motor symptoms often appear a decade or more before the first signs of motor symptoms. Some of these non-motor symptoms are remarkably similar to those observed in cases of impaired neurogenesis and several PD-related genes have been shown to play a role in embryonic or adult neurogenesis. Indeed, animal models deficient in Nurr1, Pitx3, SNCA and PINK1 display deregulated embryonic neurogenesis and LRRK2 and VPS35 have been implicated in neuronal development-related processes such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling and neurite outgrowth. Moreover, adult neurogenesis is affected in both PD patients and PD animal models and is regulated by dopamine and dopaminergic (DA) receptors, by chronic neuroinflammation, such as that observed in PD, and by differential expression of wild-type or mutant forms of PD-related genes. Indeed, an increasing number of in vivo studies demonstrate a role for SNCA and LRRK2 in adult neurogenesis and in the generation and maintenance of DA neurons. Finally, the roles of PD-related genes, SNCA, LRRK2, VPS35, Parkin, PINK1 and DJ-1 have been studied in NSCs, progenitor cells and induced pluripotent stem cells, demonstrating a role for some of these genes in stem/progenitor cell proliferation and maintenance. Together, these studies strongly suggest a link between deregulated neurogenesis and the onset and progression of PD and present strong evidence that, in addition to a neurodegenerative disorder, PD can also be regarded as a developmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaclyn Nicole Le Grand
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Laura Gonzalez-Cano
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Maria Angeliki Pavlou
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Jens C. Schwamborn
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, 4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
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17
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Sajjan S, Holsinger RMD, Fok S, Ebrahimkhani S, Rollo JL, Banati RB, Graeber MB. Up-regulation of matrix metallopeptidase 12 in motor neurons undergoing synaptic stripping. Neuroscience 2014; 274:331-40. [PMID: 24907602 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.05.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2014] [Revised: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 05/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Axotomy of the rodent facial nerve represents a well-established model of synaptic plasticity. Post-traumatic "synaptic stripping" was originally discovered in this system. We report upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase MMP12 in regenerating motor neurons of the mouse and rat facial nucleus. Matrix metalloproteinases (matrix metallopeptidases, MMPs) are zinc-binding proteases capable of degrading components of the extracellular matrix and of regulating extracellular signaling networks including within synapses. MMP12 protein expression in facial motor neurons was enhanced following axotomy and peaked at day 3 after the operation. The peak of neuronal MMP12 expression preceded the peak of experimentally induced synaptic plasticity. At the same time, MMP12 redistributed intracellularly and became predominantly localized beneath the neuronal somatic cytoplasmic membrane. Both findings point to a role of MMP12 in the neuronal initiation of the synaptic stripping process. MMP12 is the first candidate molecule for such a trigger function and has potential as a therapeutic target. Moreover, since statins have been shown to increase the expression of MMP12, interference with synaptic stability may represent one mechanism by which these widely used drugs exert their side effects on higher CNS functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sajjan
- Brain Tumor Research and Molecular Neuroscience & Neuropathology Laboratories, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - R M D Holsinger
- Brain Tumor Research and Molecular Neuroscience & Neuropathology Laboratories, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Discipline of Biomedical Science, School of Medical Sciences, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia
| | - S Fok
- Brain Tumor Research and Molecular Neuroscience & Neuropathology Laboratories, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - S Ebrahimkhani
- Brain Tumor Research and Molecular Neuroscience & Neuropathology Laboratories, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - J L Rollo
- Brain Tumor Research and Molecular Neuroscience & Neuropathology Laboratories, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - R B Banati
- Discipline of Medical Radiation Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Cumberland, NSW, Australia; Ramaciotti Imaging Center, Brain and Mind Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, Lucas Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - M B Graeber
- Brain Tumor Research and Molecular Neuroscience & Neuropathology Laboratories, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
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18
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Decressac M, Volakakis N, Björklund A, Perlmann T. NURR1 in Parkinson disease--from pathogenesis to therapeutic potential. Nat Rev Neurol 2013; 9:629-36. [PMID: 24126627 DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2013.209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
In Parkinson disease (PD), affected midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons lose specific dopaminergic properties before the neurons die. How the phenotype of DA neurons is normally established and the ways in which pathology affects the maintenance of cell identity are, therefore, important considerations. Orphan nuclear receptor NURR1 (NURR1, also known as NR4A2) is involved in the differentiation of midbrain DA neurons, but also has an important role in the adult brain. Emerging evidence indicates that impaired NURR1 function might contribute to the pathogenesis of PD: NURR1 and its transcriptional targets are downregulated in midbrain DA neurons that express high levels of the disease-causing protein α-synuclein. Clinical and experimental data indicate that disrupted NURR1 function contributes to induction of DA neuron dysfunction, which is seen in early stages of PD. The likely involvement of NURR1 in the development and progression of PD makes this protein a potentially interesting target for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mickael Decressac
- Wallenberg Neuroscience Centre, Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Lund University, BMC A11, Lund 22184, Sweden
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19
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Cooper-Knock J, Kirby J, Ferraiuolo L, Heath PR, Rattray M, Shaw PJ. Gene expression profiling in human neurodegenerative disease. Nat Rev Neurol 2012; 8:518-30. [PMID: 22890216 DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2012.156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 152] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptome study in neurodegenerative disease has advanced considerably in the past 5 years. Increasing scientific rigour and improved analytical tools have led to more-reproducible data. Many transcriptome analysis platforms assay the expression of the entire genome, enabling a complete biological context to be captured. Gene expression profiling (GEP) is, therefore, uniquely placed to discover pathways of disease pathogenesis, potential therapeutic targets, and biomarkers. This Review summarizes microarray human GEP studies in the common neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson disease (PD) and Alzheimer disease (AD). Several interesting reports have compared pathological gene expression in different patient groups, disease stages and anatomical areas. In all three diseases, GEP has revealed dysregulation of genes related to neuroinflammation. In ALS and PD, gene expression related to RNA splicing and protein turnover is disrupted, and several studies in ALS support involvement of the cytoskeleton. GEP studies have implicated the ubiquitin-proteasome system in PD pathogenesis, and have provided evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction in PD and AD. Lastly, in AD, a possible role for dysregulation of intracellular signalling pathways, including calcium signalling, has been highlighted. This Review also provides a discussion of methodological considerations in microarray sample preparation and data analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnathan Cooper-Knock
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385A Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
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20
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Tufekci KU, Meuwissen R, Genc S, Genc K. Inflammation in Parkinson's disease. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2012; 88:69-132. [PMID: 22814707 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-398314-5.00004-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Inflammatory responses manifested by glial reactions, T cell infiltration, and increased expression of inflammatory cytokines, as well as other toxic mediators derived from activated glial cells, are currently recognized as prominent features of PD. The consistent findings obtained by various animal models of PD suggest that neuroinflammation is an important contributor to the pathogenesis of the disease and may further propel the progressive loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons. Furthermore, although it may not be the primary cause of PD, additional epidemiological, genetic, pharmacological, and imaging evidence support the proposal that inflammatory processes in this specific brain region are crucial for disease progression. Recent in vitro studies, however, have suggested that activation of microglia and subsequently astrocytes via mediators released by injured dopaminergic neurons is involved. However, additional in vivo experiments are needed for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms involved in PD pathogenesis. Further insight on the mechanisms of inflammation in PD will help to further develop alternative therapeutic strategies that will specifically and temporally target inflammatory processes without abrogating the potential benefits derived by neuroinflammation, such as tissue restoration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kemal Ugur Tufekci
- Department of Neuroscience, Health Science Institute, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
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21
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Lewis PA, Cookson MR. Gene expression in the Parkinson's disease brain. Brain Res Bull 2011; 88:302-12. [PMID: 22173063 PMCID: PMC3387376 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2011.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2011] [Revised: 10/18/2011] [Accepted: 11/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The study of gene expression has undergone a transformation in the past decade as the benefits of the sequencing of the human genome have made themselves felt. Increasingly, genome wide approaches are being applied to the analysis of gene expression in human disease as a route to understanding the underlying pathogenic mechanisms. In this review, we will summarise current state of gene expression studies of the brain in Parkinson's disease, and examine how these techniques can be used to gain an insight into aetiology of this devastating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A Lewis
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, United Kingdom.
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22
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Parkin is transcriptionally regulated by ATF4: evidence for an interconnection between mitochondrial stress and ER stress. Cell Death Differ 2010; 18:769-82. [PMID: 21113145 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2010.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 258] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of parkin function is responsible for the majority of autosomal recessive parkinsonism. Here, we show that parkin is not only a stress-protective, but also a stress-inducible protein. Both mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induce an increase in parkin-specific mRNA and protein levels. The stress-induced upregulation of parkin is mediated by ATF4, a transcription factor of the unfolded protein response (UPR) that binds to a specific CREB/ATF site within the parkin promoter. Interestingly, c-Jun can bind to the same site, but acts as a transcriptional repressor of parkin gene expression. We also present evidence that mitochondrial damage can induce ER stress, leading to the activation of the UPR, and thereby to an upregulation of parkin expression. Vice versa, ER stress results in mitochondrial damage, which can be prevented by parkin. Notably, the activity of parkin to protect cells from stress-induced cell death is independent of the proteasome, indicating that proteasomal degradation of parkin substrates cannot explain the cytoprotective activity of parkin. Our study supports the notion that parkin has a role in the interorganellar crosstalk between the ER and mitochondria to promote cell survival under stress, suggesting that both ER and mitochondrial stress can contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease.
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23
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Ohnuki T, Nakamura A, Okuyama S, Nakamura S. Gene expression profiling in progressively MPTP-lesioned macaques reveals molecular pathways associated with sporadic Parkinson's disease. Brain Res 2010; 1346:26-42. [PMID: 20513370 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2010.05.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2009] [Revised: 05/01/2010] [Accepted: 05/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. To gain an insight into the mechanisms underlying the progression of PD, gene expression analysis was performed using two different brain regions, the substantia nigra pars compacta (SN) and the striatum (STR), of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-lesioned monkey model of PD. 230 genes were differentially expressed in the MPTP-treated SN compared to control, whereas 452 genes showed altered expression in the MPTP-treated STR, implying that MPTP elicits more damages in the striatal gene expression than in the SN. Comparative data analysis of the transcription profiles on the PD patients and MPTP monkey models, and pathway analysis indicated several signaling pathways as possible routes to MPTP-induced neurodegeneration. Interestingly, the networks which associated with cytoskeletal stability, ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and Wnt signaling gained prominence in our study. Further transcriptional regulatory network analysis suggested the association of the neuronal repressor REST (RE1-silencing transcription factor; NRSF) and androgen receptor with the dysregulation of the striatal genes. Our study suggests the possibility that the dysfunction of multi-network signaling may induce abnormalities in a diverse range of biological processes, such as synaptic function, cytoskeletal stability, survival and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Ohnuki
- Molecular Function and Pharmacology Laboratories, Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, 331-9530, Japan.
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24
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Sonntag KC, Simunovic F, Sanchez-Pernaute R. Stem cells and cell replacement therapy for Parkinson's disease. JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION. SUPPLEMENTUM 2010:287-99. [PMID: 20411787 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-211-92660-4_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a progressive degeneration of the midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) that predominantly affects the ventral population projecting to the dorsal striatum and leads to a gradual dysfunction of the motor system. There is currently no cure for PD. Pharmacological and surgical (e.g. deep brain stimulation) interventions can alleviate some of the symptoms, but lose their efficacy over time. The distinct loss of DA neurons in the SN offers the opportunity to assay neuronal cell replacement, and the clinical transplantation of fetal midbrain neuroblasts in PD patients has shown that this approach is feasible. However, there are multiple problems associated with the use of fetus-derived material, including limited availability. DA neurons derived from stem cells (SC) represent an alternative and unlimited cell source for cell replacement therapies. Currently, human pluripotent SC, such as embryonic (ES), and most recently, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS), and multipotent (tissue-specific) adult SC are available, although the methodology for a reliable and efficient production of DA neurons necessary for biomedical applications is still underdeveloped. Here, we discuss some essentials for SC and SC-derived DA neurons to become therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- K-C Sonntag
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MRC 223 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA 02478, USA.
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25
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Xun Z, Kaufman TC, Clemmer DE. Stable isotope labeling and label-free proteomics of Drosophila parkin null mutants. J Proteome Res 2010; 8:4500-10. [PMID: 19705877 DOI: 10.1021/pr9006238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and formation of intracytoplasmic Lewy bodies (LBs). Loss-of-function mutations in parkin which encodes an E3 ubiquitin protein ligase contribute to a predominant cause of a familial form of PD termed autosomal recessive juvenile Parkinsonism (AR-JP). Drosophila parkin null mutants display muscle degeneration and mitochondrial dysfunction, providing an animal model to study Parkin-associated molecular pathways in PD. To define protein alterations involved in Parkin pathogenesis, we performed quantitative proteomic analyses of Drosophila parkin null mutants and age-matched controls utilizing both global internal standard technology (GIST) and extracted ion chromatogram peak area (XICPA) label-free approaches. A total of 375 proteins were quantified with a minimum of two peptide identifications from the combination of the XICPA and GIST measurements applied to two independent biological replicates. Sixteen proteins exhibited significant alteration. Seven of the dysregulated proteins are involved in energy metabolism, of which six were down-regulated. All five proteins involved in transporter activity exhibited higher levels, of which larval serum protein 1alpha, larval serum protein 1beta, larval serum protein 1gamma, and fat body protein 1 showed >10-fold up-regulation and substantially higher level of fat body protein 1 was confirmed by Western blot analysis. These findings suggest that abnormalities in energy metabolism and protein transporter activity pathways may be associated with the pathogenesis of Parkin-associated AR-JP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyin Xun
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
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26
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Simunovic F, Yi M, Wang Y, Stephens R, Sonntag KC. Evidence for gender-specific transcriptional profiles of nigral dopamine neurons in Parkinson disease. PLoS One 2010; 5:e8856. [PMID: 20111594 PMCID: PMC2810324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0008856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2009] [Accepted: 12/22/2009] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Epidemiological data suggest that the male gender is one of the risks factors for the development of Parkinson Disease (PD). Also, differences in the clinical manifestation and the course of PD have been observed between males and females. However, little is known about the molecular aspects underlying gender-specificity in PD. To address this issue, we determined the gene expression profiles of male and female dopamine (DA) neurons in sporadic PD. Methodology/Principal Findings We analyzed Affymetrix-based microarrays on laser microdissected DA neurons from postmortem brains of sporadic PD patients and age-matched controls across genders. Pathway enrichment demonstrated that major cellular pathways involved in PD pathogenesis showed different patterns of deregulation between males and females with more prominent downregulation of genes related to oxidative phosporylation, apoptosis, synaptic transmission and transmission of nerve impulse in the male population. In addition, we found upregulation of gene products for metabolic processes and mitochondrial energy consumption in the age-matched male control neurons. On the single cell level, selected data validation using quantitative Real-Time (qRT)-PCR was consistent with microarray raw data and supported some of the observations from data analysis. Conclusions/Significance On the molecular level, our results provide evidence that the expression profiles of aged normal and PD midbrain DA neurons are gender-specific. The observed differences in the expression profiles suggest a disease bias of the male gender, which could be in concordance with clinical observations that the male gender represents a risk factor for sporadic PD. Validation of gene expression by qRT-PCR supported the microarray results, but also pointed to several caveats involved in data interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Simunovic
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ming Yi
- Bioinformatics Support Group, Advanced Biomedical Computing Center, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yulei Wang
- Applied Biosystems, Foster City, California, United States of America
| | - Robert Stephens
- Bioinformatics Support Group, Advanced Biomedical Computing Center, NCI-Frederick, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Kai C. Sonntag
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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27
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Dusonchet J, Bensadoun JC, Schneider BL, Aebischer P. Targeted overexpression of the parkin substrate Pael-R in the nigrostriatal system of adult rats to model Parkinson's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2009; 35:32-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2009.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2008] [Revised: 03/03/2009] [Accepted: 03/25/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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28
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Shehadeh L, Mitsi G, Adi N, Bishopric N, Papapetropoulos S. Expression of Lewy body protein septin 4 in postmortem brain of Parkinson's disease and control subjects. Mov Disord 2009; 24:204-10. [PMID: 18951507 DOI: 10.1002/mds.22306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
In Parkinson's disease (PD) neuronal degeneration is associated with abnormal protein aggregation in various forms including Lewy bodies (LBs). A major component of LBs is alpha-synuclein; septin 4 (SEPT4), a polymerizing GTP-binding protein that serves as scaffold for diverse molecules has been found to colocalize with alpha-synuclein in LBs. The central role of SEPT4 in the etiopathogenesis of PD has been suggested since SEPT4 also shows a physiological association with alpha-synuclein and serves as a substrate for parkin. To this end, we studied the expression of septin 4 and alpha-synuclein in postmortem human substantia nigra (SN) and amygdala from patients with PD and healthy controls. Twenty patients (14 men : 6 women, onset 63.0 +/- 11.4 years, age 77.3 +/- 7.6 years, Hoehn and Yahr 4.05/5) and 9 neurologically healthy controls (4 men/5 women, age at death 80.1 +/- 8.6 years) were studied. Sporadic PD cases showed a statistically significant decrease of the fold change (FC) of SNCA (FC = 0.31, P = 0.00001) and SEPT4 (FC = 0.67, P = 0.054) gene expressions in the SN and the amygdala (SNCA: FC = 0.49, P = 0.02; SEPT4: FC = 0.32, P = 0.007) versus healthy controls. However, an increase of both proteins in PD versus control subjects was observed with immunoblotting. The semi-quantitative protein ratio calculations revealed more than 10-fold increases for both SEPT4 and alpha-synuclein in PD versus control subjects. We present for the first time similar signal expression patterns and parallel accumulation of SEPT4 and alpha-synuclein in well-characterized postmortem PD brain. Considering the heterogeneous etiology of sporadic PD and the variability of individual human samples, SEPT4 accumulation may be regarded as one of the common pathological changes in PD and should therefore be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Shehadeh
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136, USA
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29
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Flinn L, Mortiboys H, Volkmann K, Köster RW, Ingham PW, Bandmann O. Complex I deficiency and dopaminergic neuronal cell loss in parkin-deficient zebrafish (Danio rerio). Brain 2009; 132:1613-23. [PMID: 19439422 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awp108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, only symptomatic therapy is available for Parkinson's disease. The zebrafish is a vertebrate animal model ideally suited for high throughput compound screening to identify disease-modifying compounds for Parkinson's disease. We have developed a zebrafish model for Parkin deficiency, the most commonly mutated gene in early onset Parkinson's disease. The zebrafish Parkin protein is 62% identical to its human counterpart with 78% identity in functionally relevant regions. The parkin gene is expressed throughout zebrafish development and ubiquitously in adult zebrafish tissue. Abrogation of Parkin activity leads to a significant decrease in the number of ascending dopaminergic neurons in the posterior tuberculum (homologous to the substantia nigra in humans), an effect enhanced by exposure to MPP+. Both light microscopic analysis and staining with the pan-neuronal marker HuC confirmed that this loss of dopaminergic neurons is not due to general impairment of brain development. Neither serotonergic nor motor neurons were affected, further emphasizing that the effect of parkin knockdown appears to be specific for dopaminergic neurons. Notably, parkin knockdown zebrafish embryos also develop specific reduction in the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I, making this the first vertebrate model to share both important pathogenic mechanisms (i.e. complex I deficiency) and the pathological hallmark (i.e. dopaminergic cell loss) with human parkin-mutant patients. The zebrafish model is thus ideally suited for future drug screens and other studies investigating the functional mechanisms underlying neuronal cell death in early onset Parkinson's Disease. Additional electron microscopy studies revealed electron dense material in the t-tubules within the muscle tissue of parkin knockdown zebrafish. T-tubules are rich in L-type calcium channels, therefore our work might also provide a tentative link between genetically determined early onset Parkinson's disease and recent studies attributing an important role to these L-type calcium channels in late onset sporadic Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Flinn
- Academic Neurology Unit, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, UK.
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30
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Simunovic F, Yi M, Wang Y, Macey L, Brown LT, Krichevsky AM, Andersen SL, Stephens RM, Benes FM, Sonntag KC. Gene expression profiling of substantia nigra dopamine neurons: further insights into Parkinson's disease pathology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 132:1795-809. [PMID: 19052140 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awn323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 266] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is caused by a progressive loss of the midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Although the main cause of Parkinson's disease remains unknown, there is increasing evidence that it is a complex disorder caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, which affect key signalling pathways in substantia nigra DA neurons. Insights into pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease stem from in vitro and in vivo models and from postmortem analyses. Recent technological developments have added a new dimension to this research by determining gene expression profiles using high throughput microarray assays. However, many of the studies reported to date were based on whole midbrain dissections, which included cells other than DA neurons. Here, we have used laser microdissection to isolate single DA neurons from the substantia nigra pars compacta of controls and subjects with idiopathic Parkinson's disease matched for age and postmortem interval followed by microarrays to analyse gene expression profiling. Our data confirm a dysregulation of several functional groups of genes involved in the Parkinson's disease pathogenesis. In particular, we found prominent down-regulation of members of the PARK gene family and dysregulation of multiple genes associated with programmed cell death and survival. In addition, genes for neurotransmitter and ion channel receptors were also deregulated, supporting the view that alterations in electrical activity might influence DA neuron function. Our data provide a 'molecular fingerprint identity' of late-stage Parkinson's disease DA neurons that will advance our understanding of the molecular pathology of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Simunovic
- Department of Psychiatry, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Belmont, MA 02478, USA
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31
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Moran LB, Hickey L, Michael GJ, Derkacs M, Christian LM, Kalaitzakis ME, Pearce RKB, Graeber MB. Neuronal pentraxin II is highly upregulated in Parkinson's disease and a novel component of Lewy bodies. Acta Neuropathol 2008; 115:471-8. [PMID: 17987278 PMCID: PMC2270353 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-007-0309-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2007] [Revised: 10/05/2007] [Accepted: 10/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal pentraxin II (NPTX2) is the most highly upregulated gene in the Parkinsonian substantia nigra based on our whole genome expression profiling results. We show here that it is a novel component of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in sporadic Parkinson’s disease (PD). NPTX2 is also known as the neuronal activity-regulated protein (Narp), which is secreted and involved in long-term neuronal plasticity. Narp further regulates AMPA receptors which have been found to mediate highly selective non-apoptotic cell death of dopaminergic neurons. NPTX2/Narp is found in close association with alpha-synuclein aggregates in both substantia nigra and cerebral cortex in PD but unlike alpha-synuclein gene expression, which is down-regulated in the Parkinsonian nigra, NPTX2 could represent a driver of the disease process. In view of its profound (>800%) upregulation and its established role in synaptic plasticity as well as dopaminergic nerve cell death, NPTX2 is a very interesting novel player which is likely to be involved in the pathway dysregulation which underlies PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda B. Moran
- Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, University Department of Neuropathology, Charing Cross campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF UK
| | - Lorraine Hickey
- Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, University Department of Neuropathology, Charing Cross campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF UK
| | - Gregory J. Michael
- Neuroscience Centre, Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, Queen Mary, University of London, London, E1 2AT UK
| | - Maria Derkacs
- Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, University Department of Neuropathology, Charing Cross campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF UK
| | - Lynne M. Christian
- Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, University Department of Neuropathology, Charing Cross campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF UK
| | - Michail E. Kalaitzakis
- Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, University Department of Neuropathology, Charing Cross campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF UK
| | - Ronald K. B. Pearce
- Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, University Department of Neuropathology, Charing Cross campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF UK
| | - Manuel B. Graeber
- Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, University Department of Neuropathology, Charing Cross campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF UK
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32
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Moran LB, Graeber MB. Towards a pathway definition of Parkinson's disease: a complex disorder with links to cancer, diabetes and inflammation. Neurogenetics 2008; 9:1-13. [PMID: 18196299 PMCID: PMC2238789 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-007-0116-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2007] [Accepted: 12/12/2007] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
We have previously established a first whole genome transcriptomic profile of sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD). After extensive brain tissue-based validation combined with cycles of iterative data analysis and by focusing on the most comparable cases of the cohort, we have refined our analysis and established a list of 892 highly dysregulated priority genes that are considered to form the core of the diseased Parkinsonian metabolic network. The substantia nigra pathways, now under scrutiny, contain more than 100 genes whose association with PD is known from the literature. Of those, more than 40 genes belong to the highly significantly dysregulated group identified in our dataset. Apart from the complete list of 892 priority genes, we present pathways revealing PD 'hub' as well as 'peripheral' network genes. The latter include Lewy body components or interact with known PD genes. Biological associations of PD with cancer, diabetes and inflammation are discussed and interactions of the priority genes with several drugs are provided. Our study illustrates the value of rigorous clinico-pathological correlation when analysing high-throughput data to make optimal use of the histopathological phenome, or morphonome which currently serves as the key diagnostic reference for most human diseases. The need for systematic human tissue banking, following the highest possible professional and ethical standard to enable sustainability, becomes evident.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda B. Moran
- University Department of Neuropathology, Imperial College, University of London, and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, Charing Cross Campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF UK
| | - Manuel B. Graeber
- University Department of Neuropathology, Imperial College, University of London, and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, Charing Cross Campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF UK
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33
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Winklhofer KF. The parkin protein as a therapeutic target in Parkinson's disease. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2007; 11:1543-52. [DOI: 10.1517/14728222.11.12.1543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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34
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Duke DC, Moran LB, Pearce RKB, Graeber MB. The medial and lateral substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease: mRNA profiles associated with higher brain tissue vulnerability. Neurogenetics 2007; 8:83-94. [PMID: 17211632 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-006-0077-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2006] [Accepted: 12/08/2006] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive death of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra. However, pathological cell death within this nucleus is not uniform. In PD, the lateral tier of the substantia nigra (SNl) degenerates earlier and more severely than the more medial nigral component (SNm). The cause of this brain regional vulnerability remains unknown. We have used DNA oligonucleotide microarrays to compare gene expression profiles from the SNl to those of the SNm in both PD and control cases. Genes expressed more highly in the PD SNl included the cell death gene, p53 effector related to PMP22, the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor gene, TNF receptor superfamily, member 21, and the mitochondrial complex I gene, NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 1beta subcomplex, 3, 12 kDa (NDUFbeta3). Genes that were more highly expressed in PD SNm included the dopamine cell signalling gene, cyclic adenosine monophosphate-regulated phosphoprotein, 21 kDa, the activated macrophage gene, stabilin 1, and two glutathione peroxidase (GPX) genes, GPX1 and GPX3. Thus, there is increased expression of genes encoding pro-inflammatory cytokines and subunits of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, and there is a decreased expression of several glutathione-related genes in the SNl suggesting a molecular basis for pathoclisis. Importantly, some of the genes that are differentially regulated in the SNl are known to be expressed highly or predominantely in glial cells. These findings support the view that glial cells can be primarily affected in PD emphasizing the importance of using a whole tissue approach when investigating degenerative CNS disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- D C Duke
- University Department of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Imperial College London and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust, Charing Cross campus, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF, UK.
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