1
|
Hernan-Godoy M, Rouaux C. From Environment to Gene Expression: Epigenetic Methylations and One-Carbon Metabolism in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2024; 13:967. [PMID: 38891099 PMCID: PMC11171807 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The etiology of the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is complex and considered multifactorial. The majority of ALS cases are sporadic, but familial cases also exist. Estimates of heritability range from 8% to 61%, indicating that additional factors beyond genetics likely contribute to ALS. Numerous environmental factors are considered, which may add up and synergize throughout an individual's lifetime building its unique exposome. One level of integration between genetic and environmental factors is epigenetics, which results in alterations in gene expression without modification of the genome sequence. Methylation reactions, targeting DNA or histones, represent a large proportion of epigenetic regulations and strongly depend on the availability of methyl donors provided by the ubiquitous one-carbon (1C) metabolism. Thus, understanding the interplay between exposome, 1C metabolism, and epigenetic modifications will likely contribute to elucidating the mechanisms underlying altered gene expression related to ALS and to developing targeted therapeutic interventions. Here, we review evidence for 1C metabolism alterations and epigenetic methylation dysregulations in ALS, with a focus on the impairments reported in neural tissues, and discuss these environmentally driven mechanisms as the consequences of cumulative exposome or late environmental hits, but also as the possible result of early developmental defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Caroline Rouaux
- Inserm UMR_S 1329, Strasbourg Translational Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Université de Strasbourg, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, 1 Rue Eugène Boeckel, 67 000 Strasbourg, France;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Martinelli I, Zucchi E, Simonini C, Gianferrari G, Bedin R, Biral C, Ghezzi A, Fini N, Carra S, Mandrioli J. SerpinA1 levels in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients: An exploratory study. Eur J Neurol 2024; 31:e16054. [PMID: 37679868 PMCID: PMC11235621 DOI: 10.1111/ene.16054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SerpinA1, a serine protease inhibitor, is involved in the modulation of microglial-mediated inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. We explored SerpinA1 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients to understand its potential role in the pathogenesis of the disease. METHODS SerpinA1, neurofilament light (NfL) and heavy (NfH) chain, and chitinase-3-like protein-1 (CHI3L1) were determined in CSF and serum of ALS patients (n = 110) and healthy controls (n = 10) (automated next-generation ELISA), and correlated with clinical parameters, after identifying three classes of progressors (fast, intermediate, slow). Biomarker levels were analyzed for diagnostic power and association with progression and survival. RESULTS SerpinA1serum was significantly decreased in ALS (median: 1032 μg/mL) compared with controls (1343 μg/mL) (p = 0.02). SerpinA1CSF was elevated only in fast progressors (8.6 μg/mL) compared with slow (4.43 μg/mL, p = 0.01) and intermediate (4.42 μg/mL, p = 0.03) progressors. Moreover, SerpinA1CSF correlated with neurofilament and CHI3L1 levels in CSF. Contrarily to SerpinA1CSF , neurofilament and CHI3L1 concentrations in CSF correlated with measures of disease progression in ALS, while SerpinA1serum mildly related with time to generalization (rho = 0.20, p = 0.04). In multivariate analysis, the ratio between serum and CSF SerpinA1 (SerpinA1 ratio) and NfHCSF were independently associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS Higher SerpinA1CSF levels are found in fast progressors, suggesting SerpinA1 is a component of the neuroinflammatory mechanisms acting upon fast-progressing forms of ALS. Both neurofilaments or CHI3L1CSF levels outperformed SerpinA1 at predicting disease progression rate in our cohort, and so the prognostic value of SerpinA1 alone as a measure remains inconclusive.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Martinelli
- Department of NeurosciencesAzienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di ModenaModenaItaly
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD ProgramUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Elisabetta Zucchi
- Department of NeurosciencesAzienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di ModenaModenaItaly
- Neuroscience PhD ProgramUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Cecilia Simonini
- Department of NeurosciencesAzienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di ModenaModenaItaly
| | - Giulia Gianferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Roberta Bedin
- Department of NeurosciencesAzienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di ModenaModenaItaly
- Centre for Neuroscience and Nanotechnology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Chiara Biral
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Andrea Ghezzi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Nicola Fini
- Department of NeurosciencesAzienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di ModenaModenaItaly
| | - Serena Carra
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
- Centre for Neuroscience and Nanotechnology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of NeurosciencesAzienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di ModenaModenaItaly
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
- Centre for Neuroscience and Nanotechnology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural SciencesUniversity of Modena and Reggio EmiliaModenaItaly
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yadav SK, Jauhari A, Singh N, Pandey A, Sarkar S, Pandey S, Garg RK, Parmar D, Yadav S. Transcriptomics and Proteomics Approach for the Identification of Altered Blood microRNAs and Plasma Proteins in Parkinson's Disease. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:3527-3553. [PMID: 37219663 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01362-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by the selective destruction of dopaminergic neurons (DA-nergic). Clinically, PD is diagnosed based on developing signs and symptoms. A neurological and physical examination and sometimes medical and family history also help in the diagnosis of PD. However, most of these features are visible when more than 80% of the dopaminergic neurons have degenerated. An understanding of the selective degeneration process at the cellular and molecular level and the development of new biomarkers are required for effective PD management. Several studies have been carried out using a selected set of miRNAs/ mRNAs and proteins to develop biomarkers of PD; however, an unbiased and combined miRNA-protein profiling study was required to identify the markers of progressive and selected degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in PD patients. In the present study, we have carried out global protein profiling through LC-MS/MS and miRNA profiling by using a "brain-specific" miRNA array panel of 112 miRNAs in PD patients and healthy controls to find the unprejudiced group of proteins and miRNAs that are deregulating in PD. In the whole blood samples of PD patients compared to healthy controls, the expression of 23 miRNAs and 289 proteins was significantly increased, whereas the expression of 4 miRNAs and 132 proteins was considerably downregulated. Network analysis, functional enrichment, annotation, and analysis of miRNA-protein interactions were also performed as part of the bioinformatics investigation of the discovered miRNAs and proteins revealing several pathways that lead to PD development and pathogenesis. Based on the analysis of miRNA and protein profiling, we have identified four miRNAs (hsa-miR-186-5p, miR-29b, miR-139 & has-miR-150-5p) and four proteins (YWHAZ, PSMA4, HYOU1, & SERPINA1), which can be targeted for the development of new biomarkers of PD. In vitro studies have identified the role of miR-186-5p in regulating the levels of the YWHAZ/YWHAB & CALM2 gene, which has shown maximum downregulation in PD patients and is known for its role in neuroprotection from apoptotic cell death & calcium regulation. In conclusion, our research has identified a group of miRNA-proteins that can be developed as PD biomarkers; however, future studies on the release of these miRNAs and proteins in extracellular vesicles circulating in the blood of PD patients can further validate these as specific biomarkers of PD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeev Kumar Yadav
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR- Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Department of Neuroscience, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Abhishek Jauhari
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR- Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Nishant Singh
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR- Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, 226014, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Anuj Pandey
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR- Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sana Sarkar
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR- Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shweta Pandey
- Department of Neurology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, 226003, UP, India
| | - Ravindra K Garg
- Department of Neurology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, 226003, UP, India
| | - Devendra Parmar
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR- Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Sanjay Yadav
- Developmental Toxicology Laboratory, Systems Toxicology and Health Risk Assessment Group, CSIR- Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Vishvigyan Bhawan, 31 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Lucknow, 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Munshiganj, Raebareli, 229405, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ghaffari LT, Trotti D, Haeusler AR. Differential response of C9orf72 transcripts following neuronal depolarization. iScience 2023; 26:106959. [PMID: 37332610 PMCID: PMC10272498 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The (G4C2)n nucleotide repeat expansion (NRE) mutation in C9orf72 is the most common genetic cause of ALS and FTD. The biological functions of C9orf72 are becoming understood, but it is unclear if this gene is regulated in a neural-specific manner. Neuronal activity is a crucial modifier of biological processes in health and neurodegenerative disease contexts. Here, we show that prolonged membrane depolarization in healthy human iPSC-cortical neurons leads to a significant downregulation of a transcript variant 3 (V3) of C9orf72, with a concomitant increase in variant 2 (V2), which leads to total C9orf72 RNA transcript levels remaining unchanged. However, the same response is not observed in cortical neurons derived from patients with the C9-NRE mutation. These findings reveal the impact of depolarization on C9orf72 transcripts, and how this response diverges in C9-NRE-carriers, which may have important implications in the underlying unique clinical associations of C9-NRE transcripts and disease pathogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Layla T. Ghaffari
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Davide Trotti
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Aaron R. Haeusler
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Liu Z, Liang Q, Ren Y, Guo C, Ge X, Wang L, Cheng Q, Luo P, Zhang Y, Han X. Immunosenescence: molecular mechanisms and diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:200. [PMID: 37179335 PMCID: PMC10182360 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01451-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 76.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection susceptibility, poor vaccination efficacy, age-related disease onset, and neoplasms are linked to innate and adaptive immune dysfunction that accompanies aging (known as immunosenescence). During aging, organisms tend to develop a characteristic inflammatory state that expresses high levels of pro-inflammatory markers, termed inflammaging. This chronic inflammation is a typical phenomenon linked to immunosenescence and it is considered the major risk factor for age-related diseases. Thymic involution, naïve/memory cell ratio imbalance, dysregulated metabolism, and epigenetic alterations are striking features of immunosenescence. Disturbed T-cell pools and chronic antigen stimulation mediate premature senescence of immune cells, and senescent immune cells develop a proinflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype that exacerbates inflammaging. Although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be addressed, it is well documented that senescent T cells and inflammaging might be major driving forces in immunosenescence. Potential counteractive measures will be discussed, including intervention of cellular senescence and metabolic-epigenetic axes to mitigate immunosenescence. In recent years, immunosenescence has attracted increasing attention for its role in tumor development. As a result of the limited participation of elderly patients, the impact of immunosenescence on cancer immunotherapy is unclear. Despite some surprising results from clinical trials and drugs, it is necessary to investigate the role of immunosenescence in cancer and other age-related diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qimeng Liang
- Nephrology Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, 4500052, Henan, China
| | - Yuqing Ren
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Chunguang Guo
- Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoyong Ge
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Libo Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Quan Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Xinwei Han
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Oh S, Jang Y, Na CH. Discovery of Biomarkers for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis from Human Cerebrospinal Fluid Using Mass-Spectrometry-Based Proteomics. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11051250. [PMID: 37238921 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11051250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons, which eventually may lead to death. Critical to the mission of developing effective therapies for ALS is the discovery of biomarkers that can illuminate mechanisms of neurodegeneration and have diagnostic, prognostic, or pharmacodynamic value. Here, we merged unbiased discovery-based approaches and targeted quantitative comparative analyses to identify proteins that are altered in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with ALS. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic approaches employing tandem mass tag (TMT) quantification methods from 40 CSF samples comprising 20 patients with ALS and 20 healthy control (HC) individuals identified 53 proteins that are differential between the two groups after CSF fractionation. Notably, these proteins included both previously identified ones, validating our approach, and novel ones that have the potential for expanding biomarker repertoire. The identified proteins were subsequently examined using parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) MS methods on 61 unfractionated CSF samples comprising 30 patients with ALS and 31 HC individuals. Fifteen proteins (APOB, APP, CAMK2A, CHI3L1, CHIT1, CLSTN3, ERAP2, FSTL4, GPNMB, JCHAIN, L1CAM, NPTX2, SERPINA1, SERPINA3, and UCHL1) showed significant differences between ALS and the control. Taken together, this study identified multiple novel proteins that are altered in ALS, providing the foundation for developing new biomarkers for ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sungtaek Oh
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Adrienne Helis Malvin Medical Research Foundation, New Orleans, LA 70170, USA
| | - Yura Jang
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Chan Hyun Na
- Department of Neurology, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 733 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
la Torre A, Lo Vecchio F, Greco A. Epigenetic Mechanisms of Aging and Aging-Associated Diseases. Cells 2023; 12:cells12081163. [PMID: 37190071 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is an inevitable outcome of life, characterized by a progressive decline in tissue and organ function. At a molecular level, it is marked by the gradual alterations of biomolecules. Indeed, important changes are observed on the DNA, as well as at a protein level, that are influenced by both genetic and environmental parameters. These molecular changes directly contribute to the development or progression of several human pathologies, including cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative disorders and others aging-related diseases. Additionally, they increase the risk of mortality. Therefore, deciphering the hallmarks of aging represents a possibility for identifying potential druggable targets to attenuate the aging process, and then the age-related comorbidities. Given the link between aging, genetic, and epigenetic alterations, and given the reversible nature of epigenetic mechanisms, the precisely understanding of these factors may provide a potential therapeutic approach for age-related decline and disease. In this review, we center on epigenetic regulatory mechanisms and their aging-associated changes, highlighting their inferences in age-associated diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria la Torre
- Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
| | - Filomena Lo Vecchio
- Laboratory of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
| | - Antonio Greco
- Complex Unit of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Muacevic A, Adler JR, Xu L, Collins L, Luo E, Ripple KM, de Castro GC, Boua JVK, Marius C, Giamberardino C, Lad SP, Islam Williams T, Bereman MS, Bedlack RS. Filtered Cerebrospinal Fluid From Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Displays an Altered Proteome and Affects Motor Phenotype in a Mouse Model. Cureus 2022; 14:e32980. [PMID: 36712738 PMCID: PMC9877488 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.32980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) due to its ability to spread inflammatory proteins throughout the nervous system. We hypothesized that filtration of the CSF could remove pathogenic proteins and prevent them from altering motor phenotypes in a mouse model. METHODS We filtered the CSF from 11 ALS patients via 100 kilodaltons (kD) molecular weight cut-off filters. We used mass spectrometry-based discovery proteomics workflows to compare protein abundances before and after filtration. To test the effects of CSF filtration on motor function, we injected groups of mice with saline, filtered ALS-CSF, or unfiltered ALS-CSF (n=12 per group) and assessed motor function via pole descent and open field tests. RESULTS We identified proteins implicated in ALS pathogenesis and showed that these were removed in significant amounts in our workflow. Key filtered proteins included complement proteins, chitinases, serine protease inhibitors, and neuro-inflammatory proteins such as amyloid precursor protein, chromogranin A, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Compared to the filtered ALS-CSF mice, unfiltered ALS-CSF mice took longer to descend a pole (10 days post-injection, 11.14 seconds vs 14.25 seconds, p = 0.02) and explored less on an open field (one day post-injection, 21.81 m vs 16.83 m, p = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated the ability to filter proteins from the CSF of ALS patients and identified potentially pathologic proteins that were reduced in quantity. Additionally, we demonstrated the ability of unfiltered ALS-CSF to induce motor deficits in mice on the pole descent and open field tests and showed that filtration could prevent this deficit. Given the lack of effective treatments for ALS, this could be a novel solution for patients suffering from this deadly and irreversible condition.
Collapse
|
9
|
Chiou KL, DeCasien AR, Rees KP, Testard C, Spurrell CH, Gogate AA, Pliner HA, Tremblay S, Mercer A, Whalen CJ, Negrón-Del Valle JE, Janiak MC, Bauman Surratt SE, González O, Compo NR, Stock MK, Ruiz-Lambides AV, Martínez MI, Wilson MA, Melin AD, Antón SC, Walker CS, Sallet J, Newbern JM, Starita LM, Shendure J, Higham JP, Brent LJN, Montague MJ, Platt ML, Snyder-Mackler N. Multiregion transcriptomic profiling of the primate brain reveals signatures of aging and the social environment. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:1714-1723. [PMID: 36424430 PMCID: PMC10055353 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01197-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Aging is accompanied by a host of social and biological changes that correlate with behavior, cognitive health and susceptibility to neurodegenerative disease. To understand trajectories of brain aging in a primate, we generated a multiregion bulk (N = 527 samples) and single-nucleus (N = 24 samples) brain transcriptional dataset encompassing 15 brain regions and both sexes in a unique population of free-ranging, behaviorally phenotyped rhesus macaques. We demonstrate that age-related changes in the level and variance of gene expression occur in genes associated with neural functions and neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. Further, we show that higher social status in females is associated with younger relative transcriptional ages, providing a link between the social environment and aging in the brain. Our findings lend insight into biological mechanisms underlying brain aging in a nonhuman primate model of human behavior, cognition and health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth L Chiou
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Alex R DeCasien
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Katherina P Rees
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Camille Testard
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Aishwarya A Gogate
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Hannah A Pliner
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sébastien Tremblay
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Arianne Mercer
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Connor J Whalen
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Mareike C Janiak
- School of Science, Engineering, & Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | | | - Olga González
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Nicole R Compo
- Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Michala K Stock
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA
| | | | - Melween I Martínez
- Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR, USA
| | - Melissa A Wilson
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Amanda D Melin
- Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Susan C Antón
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christopher S Walker
- Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jérôme Sallet
- Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, Université Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Jason M Newbern
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Lea M Starita
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jay Shendure
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Genome Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Allen Discovery Center for Cell Lineage Tracing, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - James P Higham
- Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren J N Brent
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Michael J Montague
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael L Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Marketing Department, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Noah Snyder-Mackler
- Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Nathan Shock Center of Excellence in the Basic Biology of Aging, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Center for Studies in Demography & Ecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
- School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Epigenetic Changes in Prion and Prion-like Neurodegenerative Diseases: Recent Advances, Potential as Biomarkers, and Future Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012609. [PMID: 36293477 PMCID: PMC9604074 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Prion diseases are transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) caused by a conformational conversion of the native cellular prion protein (PrPC) to an abnormal, infectious isoform called PrPSc. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases are also known as prion-like diseases because they share common features with prion diseases, including protein misfolding and aggregation, as well as the spread of these misfolded proteins into different brain regions. Increasing evidence proposes the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms, namely DNA methylation, post-translational modifications of histones, and microRNA-mediated post-transcriptional gene regulation in the pathogenesis of prion-like diseases. Little is known about the role of epigenetic modifications in prion diseases, but recent findings also point to a potential regulatory role of epigenetic mechanisms in the pathology of these diseases. This review highlights recent findings on epigenetic modifications in TSEs and prion-like diseases and discusses the potential role of such mechanisms in disease pathology and their use as potential biomarkers.
Collapse
|
11
|
Cai Z, Yin K, Liu Q, Liu M, Yang X, Cui L. Association between abnormal expression and methylation of LGALS1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Res 2022; 1792:148022. [PMID: 35872012 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.148022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE DNA methylation has been identified to play an important role in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Galectin-1, encoded by LGALS1 gene, has been proved to be associated with ALS. We aimed to investigate the association between the expression and methylation of LGALS1 in blood samples from ALS patients. METHODS Forty-five patients diagnosed with ALS were enrolled. Thirty-two healthy relatives consisted the control group. Among them, samples from 12 patients and 12 controls consisted the exploration samples. In the exploration samples, mRNA expression levels were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. In all the samples, DNA methylation levels of one CpG island containing 12 CpG sites in the gene promoter were detected by bisulfite sequencing PCR, and galectin-1 levels were examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Associations between the gene expression and methylation level, as well as between the region-specific methylation level and clinical variables were calculated. RESULTS The mRNA expression level of LGALS1 was significantly increased and the promoter of LGALS1 was hypomethylated in ALS patients. Serum galectin-1 levels were significantly elevated in the ALS patients. The ALS group had significantly lower methylation level at certain CpG sites than the control group. There were significant negative associations between abnormal expression and methylation of LGALS1, as well as between region-specific methylation levels and the age of onset. CONCLUSIONS The aberrant expression and DNA methylation of LGALS1 and their association reveals epigenetic changes in ALS patients, which are helpful for early intervention and treatment for the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyi Cai
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kaili Yin
- McKusick-Zhang Center for Genetic Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingsheng Liu
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xunzhe Yang
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Cui
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Liu Y, Xing H, Ernst AF, Liu C, Maugee C, Yokoi F, Lakshmana M, Li Y. Hyperactivity of Purkinje cell and motor deficits in C9orf72 knockout mice. Mol Cell Neurosci 2022; 121:103756. [PMID: 35843530 PMCID: PMC10369482 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2022.103756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A hexanucleotide (GGGGCC) repeat expansion in the first intron of the C9ORF72 gene is the most frequently reported genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). The cerebellum has not traditionally been thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD, but recent evidence suggested a potential role. C9ORF72 is highly expressed in the cerebellum. Decreased C9ORF72 transcript and protein levels were detected in the postmortem cerebellum, suggesting a loss-of-function effect of C9ORF72 mutation. This study investigated the role of loss of C9ORF72 function using a C9orf72 knockout mouse line. C9orf72 deficiency led to motor impairment in rotarod, beam-walking, paw-print, open-field, and grip-strength tests. Purkinje cells are the sole output neurons in the cerebellum, and we next determined their involvement in the motor phenotypes. We found hyperactivity of Purkinje cells in the C9orf72 knockout mouse accompanied by a significant increase of the large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BK) protein in the cerebellum. The link between BK and Purkinje cell firing was demonstrated by the acute application of the BK activator that increased the firing frequency of the Purkinje cells ex vivo. In vivo chemogenetic activation of Purkinje cells in wild-type mice led to similar motor deficits in rotarod and beam-walking tests. Our results highlight that C9ORF72 loss alters the activity of the Purkinje cell and potentially the pathogenesis of the disease. Manipulating the Purkinje cell firing or cerebellar output may contribute to C9ORF72-associated ALS/FTD treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuning Liu
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Hong Xing
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Alexis F Ernst
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Canna Liu
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Christian Maugee
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Fumiaki Yokoi
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Madepalli Lakshmana
- Department of Immunology and Nano-Medicine, The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Yuqing Li
- Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Specific Cerebrospinal Fluid SerpinA1 Isoform Pattern in Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23136922. [PMID: 35805926 PMCID: PMC9266332 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23136922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
SerpinA1 (α1-antitrypsin) is a soluble glycoprotein, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) isoforms of which showed disease-specific changes in neurodegenerative disorders that are still unexplored in Alz-heimer’s disease (AD). By means of capillary isoelectric focusing immunoassay, we investigated six serpinA1 isoforms in CSF samples of controls (n = 29), AD-MCI (n = 29), AD-dem (n = 26) and Lewy body disease (LBD, n = 59) patients and correlated the findings with CSF AD core biomarkers (Aβ42/40 ratio, p-tau, t-tau). Four CSF serpinA1 isoforms were differently expressed in AD patients compared to controls and LBD patients, especially isoforms 2 and 4. AD-specific changes were found since the MCI stage and significantly correlated with decreased Aβ42/40 (p < 0.05) and in-creased p-tau and t-tau levels in CSF (p < 0.001). Analysis of serpinA1 isoform provided good di-agnostic accuracy in discriminating AD patients versus controls (AUC = 0.80) and versus LBD patients (AUC = 0.92), with best results in patients in the dementia stage (AUC = 0.97). SerpinA1 isoform expression is altered in AD patients, suggesting a common, albeit disease-specific, in-volvement of serpinA1 in most neurodegenerative disorders.
Collapse
|
14
|
Zattoni M, Mearelli M, Vanni S, Colini Baldeschi A, Tran TH, Ferracin C, Catania M, Moda F, Di Fede G, Giaccone G, Tagliavini F, Zanusso G, Ironside JW, Ferrer I, Legname G. Serpin Signatures in Prion and Alzheimer's Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:3778-3799. [PMID: 35416570 PMCID: PMC9148297 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02817-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Serpins represent the most broadly distributed superfamily of proteases inhibitors. They contribute to a variety of physiological functions and any alteration of the serpin-protease equilibrium can lead to severe consequences. SERPINA3 dysregulation has been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and prion diseases. In this study, we investigated the differential expression of serpin superfamily members in neurodegenerative diseases. SERPIN expression was analyzed in human frontal cortex samples from cases of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), patients at early stages of AD-related pathology, and age-matched controls not affected by neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, we studied whether Serpin expression was dysregulated in two animal models of prion disease and AD.Our analysis revealed that, besides the already observed upregulation of SERPINA3 in patients with prion disease and AD, SERPINB1, SERPINB6, SERPING1, SERPINH1, and SERPINI1 were dysregulated in sCJD individuals compared to controls, while only SERPINB1 was upregulated in AD patients. Furthermore, we analyzed whether other serpin members were differentially expressed in prion-infected mice compared to controls and, together with SerpinA3n, SerpinF2 increased levels were observed. Interestingly, SerpinA3n transcript and protein were upregulated in a mouse model of AD. The SERPINA3/SerpinA3nincreased anti-protease activity found in post-mortem brain tissue of AD and prion disease samples suggest its involvement in the neurodegenerative processes. A SERPINA3/SerpinA3n role in neurodegenerative disease-related protein aggregation was further corroborated by in vitro SerpinA3n-dependent prion accumulation changes. Our results indicate SERPINA3/SerpinA3n is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of prion and prion-like neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Zattoni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Marika Mearelli
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Silvia Vanni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,Osteoncology Unit, Bioscience Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo Per Lo Studio Dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", 47014, Meldola, Italy
| | - Arianna Colini Baldeschi
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thanh Hoa Tran
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,VN-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education, The University of Danang, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Chiara Ferracin
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Marcella Catania
- Division of Neurology 5 and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Moda
- Division of Neurology 5 and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Fede
- Division of Neurology 5 and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Giaccone
- Division of Neurology 5 and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Zanusso
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - James W Ironside
- National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Institute of Biomedical Research of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Biomedical Research Network Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Higgins NR, Greenslade JE, Wu JJ, Miranda E, Galliciotti G, Monteiro MJ. Serpin neuropathology in the P497S UBQLN2 mouse model of ALS/FTD. Brain Pathol 2021; 31:e12948. [PMID: 33780087 PMCID: PMC8387369 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.12948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests X-linked dominant mutations in UBQLN2 cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) through both loss- and gain-of-function mechanisms. However, the mechanisms by which the mutations cause disease are still unclear. The goal of the study was to uncover the possible pathomechanism(s) by which UBQLN2 mutations cause ALS/FTD. An analysis of proteomic changes in neuronal tissue was used to identify proteins with altered accumulation in the P497S UBQLN2 transgenic mouse model of ALS/FTD. We then used immunocytochemistry and biochemical techniques to confirm protein changes in the mutant P497S mice. Additionally, we used cell lines inactivated of UBQLN2 expression to determine whether its loss underlies the alteration in the proteins seen in P497S mice. The proteome screen identified a dramatic alteration of serine protease inhibitor (serpin) proteins in the mutant P497S animals. Double immunofluorescent staining of brain and spinal cord tissues of the mutant and control mice revealed an age-dependent change in accumulation of Serpin A1, C1, and I1 in puncta whose staining colocalized with UBQLN2 puncta in the mutant P497S mice. Serpin A1 aggregation in P497S animals was confirmed by biochemical extraction and filter retardation assays. A similar phenomenon of serpin protein aggregation was found in HeLa and NSC34 motor neuron cells with inactivated UBQLN2 expression. We found aberrant aggregation of serpin proteins, particularly Serpin A1, in the brain and spinal cord of the P497S UBQLN2 mouse model of ALS/FTD. Similar aggregation of serpin proteins was found in UBQLN2 knockout cells suggesting that serpin aggregation in the mutant P497S animals may stem from loss of UBQLN2 function. Because serpin aggregation is known to cause disease through both loss- and gain-of-function mechanisms, we speculate that their accumulation in the P497S mouse model of ALS/FTD may contribute to disease pathogenesis through similar mechanism(s).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R. Higgins
- Program in Molecular MedicineUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and TechnologyDepartment of Anatomy and NeurobiologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Jessie E. Greenslade
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and TechnologyDepartment of Anatomy and NeurobiologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Josephine J. Wu
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and TechnologyDepartment of Anatomy and NeurobiologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Elena Miranda
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’Pasteur Institute – Cenci Bolognetti FoundationSapienza University of RomeRomeItaly
| | - Giovanna Galliciotti
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity Medical Center Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Mervyn J. Monteiro
- Program in Molecular MedicineUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
- Center for Biomedical Engineering and TechnologyDepartment of Anatomy and NeurobiologyUniversity of Maryland School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Differential Epigenetic Signature of Corticospinal Motor Neurons in ALS. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11060754. [PMID: 34200232 PMCID: PMC8230084 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11060754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticospinal motor neurons (CSMN) are an indispensable neuron population for the motor neuron circuitry. They are excitatory projection neurons, which collect information from different regions of the brain and transmit it to spinal cord targets, initiating and controlling motor function. CSMN degeneration is pronounced cellular event in motor neurons diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Genetic mutations contribute to only about ten percent of ALS. Thus understanding the involvement of other factors, such as epigenetic controls, is immensely valuable. Here, we investigated epigenomic signature of CSMN that become diseased due to misfolded SOD1 toxicity and TDP-43 pathology, by performing quantitative analysis of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) and 5-hydroxymethycytosine (5hmC) expression profiles during end-stage of the disease in hSOD1G93A, and prpTDP-43A315T mice. Our analysis revealed that expression of 5mC was specifically reduced in CSMN of both hSOD1G93A and prpTDP-43A315T mice. However, 5hmC expression was increased in the CSMN that becomes diseased due to misfolded SOD1 and decreased in CSMN that degenerates due to TDP-43 pathology. These results suggest the presence of a distinct difference between different underlying causes. These differential epigenetic events might modulate the expression profiles of select genes, and ultimately contribute to the different paths that lead to CSMN vulnerability in ALS.
Collapse
|
17
|
Zhao G, Liu Z, Wang M, Yuan Y, Ni J, Li W, Huang L, Hu Y, Liu P, Hou X, Guo J, Jiang H, Shen L, Tang B, Li J, Wang J. Gene4MND: An Integrative Genetic Database and Analytic Platform for Motor Neuron Disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:644202. [PMID: 33867934 PMCID: PMC8047132 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.644202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Guihu Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengli Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yanchun Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Ni
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wanzhen Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ling Huang
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yiting Hu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Pan Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaorong Hou
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jifeng Guo
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jinchen Li
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Junling Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Saul D, Kosinsky RL. Epigenetics of Aging and Aging-Associated Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22010401. [PMID: 33401659 PMCID: PMC7794926 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging represents the multifactorial decline in physiological function of every living organism. Over the past decades, several hallmarks of aging have been defined, including epigenetic deregulation. Indeed, multiple epigenetic events were found altered across different species during aging. Epigenetic changes directly contributing to aging and aging-related diseases include the accumulation of histone variants, changes in chromatin accessibility, loss of histones and heterochromatin, aberrant histone modifications, and deregulated expression/activity of miRNAs. As a consequence, cellular processes are affected, which results in the development or progression of several human pathologies, including cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we focus on epigenetic mechanisms underlying aging-related processes in various species and describe how these deregulations contribute to human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Saul
- Kogod Center on Aging and Division of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
- Department of Trauma, Orthopedics and Reconstructive Surgery, Georg-August-University of Goettingen, 37075 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Robyn Laura Kosinsky
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-507-293-2386
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Pattamatta A, Nguyen L, Olafson HR, Scotti MM, Laboissonniere LA, Richardson J, Berglund JA, Zu T, Wang ET, Ranum LPW. Repeat length increases disease penetrance and severity in C9orf72 ALS/FTD BAC transgenic mice. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:3900-3918. [PMID: 33378537 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
C9orf72 ALS/FTD patients show remarkable clinical heterogeneity, but the complex biology of the repeat expansion mutation has limited our understanding of the disease. BAC transgenic mice were used to better understand the molecular mechanisms and repeat length effects of C9orf72 ALS/FTD. Genetic analyses of these mice demonstrate that the BAC transgene and not integration site effects cause ALS/FTD phenotypes. Transcriptomic changes in cell proliferation, inflammation and neuronal pathways are found late in disease and alternative splicing changes provide early molecular markers that worsen with disease progression. Isogenic sublines of mice with 800, 500 or 50 G4C2 repeats generated from the single-copy C9-500 line show longer repeats result in earlier onset, increased disease penetrance and increased levels of RNA foci and dipeptide RAN protein aggregates. These data demonstrate G4C2 repeat length is an important driver of disease and identify alternative splicing changes as early biomarkers of C9orf72 ALS/FTD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amrutha Pattamatta
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Lien Nguyen
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Hailey R Olafson
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Marina M Scotti
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Lauren A Laboissonniere
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Jared Richardson
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - J Andrew Berglund
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,RNA Institute and Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - Tao Zu
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Eric T Wang
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Laura P W Ranum
- Center for NeuroGenetics, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Colllege of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,University of Florida Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.,Fixel Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Stoccoro A, Smith AR, Mosca L, Marocchi A, Gerardi F, Lunetta C, Cereda C, Gagliardi S, Lunnon K, Migliore L, Coppedè F. Reduced mitochondrial D-loop methylation levels in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Epigenetics 2020; 12:137. [PMID: 32917270 PMCID: PMC7488473 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-020-00933-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mitochondrial dysregulation and aberrant epigenetic mechanisms have been frequently reported in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and several researchers suggested that epigenetic dysregulation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) could contribute to the neurodegenerative process. We recently screened families with mutations in the major ALS causative genes, namely C9orf72, SOD1, FUS, and TARDBP, observing reduced methylation levels of the mtDNA regulatory region (D-loop) only in peripheral lymphocytes of SOD1 carriers. However, until now no studies investigated the potential role of mtDNA methylation impairment in the sporadic form of ALS, which accounts for the majority of disease cases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the D-loop methylation levels and the mtDNA copy number in sporadic ALS patients and compare them to those observed in healthy controls and in familial ALS patients. Pyrosequencing analysis of D-loop methylation levels and quantitative analysis of mtDNA copy number were performed in peripheral white blood cells from 36 sporadic ALS patients, 51 age- and sex-matched controls, and 27 familial ALS patients with germinal mutations in SOD1 or C9orf72 that represent the major familial ALS forms. Results In the total sample, D-loop methylation levels were significantly lower in ALS patients compared to controls, and a significant inverse correlation between D-loop methylation levels and the mtDNA copy number was observed. Stratification of ALS patients into different subtypes revealed that both SOD1-mutant and sporadic ALS patients showed lower D-loop methylation levels compared to controls, while C9orf72-ALS patients showed similar D-loop methylation levels than controls. In healthy controls, but not in ALS patients, D-loop methylation levels decreased with increasing age at sampling and were higher in males compared to females. Conclusions Present data reveal altered D-loop methylation levels in sporadic ALS and confirm previous evidence of an inverse correlation between D-loop methylation levels and the mtDNA copy number, as well as differences among the major familial ALS subtypes. Overall, present results suggest that D-loop methylation and mitochondrial replication are strictly related to each other and could represent compensatory mechanisms to counteract mitochondrial impairment in sporadic and SOD1-related ALS forms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Stoccoro
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Lab. of Medical Genetics, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Adam R Smith
- University of Exeter Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, Exeter University, Exeter, UK
| | - Lorena Mosca
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marocchi
- Medical Genetics Unit, Department of Laboratory Medicine, ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Cristina Cereda
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Stella Gagliardi
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Via Mondino 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - Katie Lunnon
- University of Exeter Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, Exeter University, Exeter, UK
| | - Lucia Migliore
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Lab. of Medical Genetics, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Coppedè
- Department of Translational Research and of New Surgical and Medical Technologies, Lab. of Medical Genetics, University of Pisa, Medical School, Via Roma 55, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Gregory JM, McDade K, Livesey MR, Croy I, Marion de Proce S, Aitman T, Chandran S, Smith C. Spatial transcriptomics identifies spatially dysregulated expression of GRM3 and USP47 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2020; 46:441-457. [PMID: 31925813 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The mechanisms underlying the selective degeneration of motor neurones in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to implement spatially resolved RNA sequencing in human post mortem cortical tissue from an ALS patient harbouring the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion to identify dysregulated transcripts that may account for differential vulnerabilities of distinct (i) cell types and (ii) brain regions in the pathogenesis of ALS. METHODS Using spatial transcriptomics (ST) we analysed the transcriptome of post mortem brain tissue, with spatial resolution down to 100 μm. Validation of these findings was then performed using BaseScope, an adapted, in situ hybridization technique with single-transcript single-cell-resolution, providing extensive regional and cell-type specific confirmation of these dysregulated transcripts. The validation cohort was then extended to include multiple post mortem brain regions and spinal cord tissue from an extended cohort of C9orf72, sporadic ALS (sALS) and SOD1 ALS cases. RESULTS We identified sixteen dysregulated transcripts of proteins that have roles within six disease-related pathways. Furthermore, these complementary molecular pathology techniques converged to identify two spatially dysregulated transcripts, GRM3 and USP47, that are commonly dysregulated across sALS, SOD1 and C9orf72 cases alike. CONCLUSIONS This study presents the first description of ST in human post mortem cortical tissue from an ALS patient harbouring the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion. These data taken together highlight the importance of preserving spatial resolution, facilitating the identification of genes whose dysregulation may in part underlie regional susceptibilities to ALS, crucially highlighting potential therapeutic and diagnostic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J M Gregory
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Edinburgh Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - K McDade
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Edinburgh Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - M R Livesey
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - I Croy
- Edinburgh Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S Marion de Proce
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - T Aitman
- Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - S Chandran
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - C Smith
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Edinburgh Pathology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Abu-Rumeileh S, Halbgebauer S, Steinacker P, Anderl-Straub S, Polischi B, Ludolph AC, Capellari S, Parchi P, Otto M. CSF SerpinA1 in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2020; 7:191-199. [PMID: 31957347 PMCID: PMC7034504 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.50980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective SerpinA1 (alpha‐1 antitrypsin) is an acute inflammatory protein, which seems to play a role in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. In Alzheimer’s disease and synucleinopathies, SerpinA1 is overexpressed in the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) showing abnormal patterns of its charge isoforms. To date, no comprehensive studies explored SerpinA1 CSF isoforms in Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Methods Using a capillary isoelectric focusing immunoassay, we analyzed CSF SerpinA1 isoforms in control cases (n = 31) and patients with a definite or probable diagnosis of CJD (n=77) or FTLD (n = 30), belonging to several disease subtypes. Results The overall SerpinA1 signal was significantly higher than in controls in CJD subtypes linked to abnormal prion protein (PrPSc) type 1, such as sporadic CJD (sCJD) MM(V)1, and in FTLD‐TDP. Moreover, CJD linked to PrPSc type 1 and FTLD‐TAU groups showed a significant relative increase of acidic and basic isoforms in comparison with controls, thereby forming two distinct SerpinA1 isoform profiles. Interpretation CJD linked to PrPSc type 1 and FTLD show a differential upregulation and post‐translational modifications of CSF SerpinA1. Further studies are needed to clarify whether these findings may reflect a common, albeit disease‐specific, pathogenetic mechanism related to neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samir Abu-Rumeileh
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Petra Steinacker
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Barbara Polischi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sabina Capellari
- Department of Biomedical and NeuroMotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy.,IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy
| | - Piero Parchi
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy.,Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), University of Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University Hospital, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Figueroa-Romero C, Guo K, Murdock BJ, Paez-Colasante X, Bassis CM, Mikhail KA, Pawlowski KD, Evans MC, Taubman GF, McDermott AJ, O'Brien PD, Savelieff MG, Hur J, Feldman EL. Temporal evolution of the microbiome, immune system and epigenome with disease progression in ALS mice. Dis Model Mech 2019; 13:dmm041947. [PMID: 31597644 PMCID: PMC6906635 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.041947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a terminal neurodegenerative disease. Genetic predisposition, epigenetic changes, aging and accumulated life-long environmental exposures are known ALS risk factors. The complex and dynamic interplay between these pathological influences plays a role in disease onset and progression. Recently, the gut microbiome has also been implicated in ALS development. In addition, immune cell populations are differentially expanded and activated in ALS compared to healthy individuals. However, the temporal evolution of both the intestinal flora and the immune system relative to symptom onset in ALS is presently not fully understood. To better elucidate the timeline of the various potential pathological factors, we performed a longitudinal study to simultaneously assess the gut microbiome, immunophenotype and changes in ileum and brain epigenetic marks relative to motor behavior and muscle atrophy in the mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G93A) familial ALS mouse model. We identified alterations in the gut microbial environment early in the life of SOD1G93A animals followed by motor dysfunction and muscle atrophy, and immune cell expansion and activation, particularly in the spinal cord. Global brain cytosine hydroxymethylation was also altered in SOD1G93A animals at disease end-stage compared to control mice. Correlation analysis confirmed interrelationships with the microbiome and immune system. This study serves as a starting point to more deeply comprehend the influence of gut microorganisms and the immune system on ALS onset and progression. Greater insight may help pinpoint novel biomarkers and therapeutic interventions to improve diagnosis and treatment for ALS patients.This article has an associated First Person interview with the joint first authors of the paper.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Kai Guo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Benjamin J Murdock
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Christine M Bassis
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kristen A Mikhail
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Matthew C Evans
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QT, UK
| | | | - Andrew J McDermott
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Phillipe D O'Brien
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Masha G Savelieff
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Junguk Hur
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA
| | - Eva L Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Tarr IS, McCann EP, Benyamin B, Peters TJ, Twine NA, Zhang KY, Zhao Q, Zhang ZH, Rowe DB, Nicholson GA, Bauer D, Clark SJ, Blair IP, Williams KL. Monozygotic twins and triplets discordant for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis display differential methylation and gene expression. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8254. [PMID: 31164693 PMCID: PMC6547746 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44765-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterised by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons. ALS exhibits high phenotypic variability including age and site of onset, and disease duration. To uncover epigenetic and transcriptomic factors that may modify an ALS phenotype, we used a cohort of Australian monozygotic twins (n = 3 pairs) and triplets (n = 1 set) that are discordant for ALS and represent sporadic ALS and the two most common types of familial ALS, linked to C9orf72 and SOD1. Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450K BeadChip, EpiTYPER and RNA-Seq analyses in these ALS-discordant twins/triplets and control twins (n = 2 pairs), implicated genes with consistent longitudinal differential DNA methylation and/or gene expression. Two identified genes, RAD9B and C8orf46, showed significant differential methylation in an extended cohort of >1000 ALS cases and controls. Combined longitudinal methylation-transcription analysis within a single twin set implicated CCNF, DPP6, RAMP3, and CCS, which have been previously associated with ALS. Longitudinal transcriptome data showed an 8-fold enrichment of immune function genes and under-representation of transcription and protein modification genes in ALS. Examination of these changes in a large Australian sporadic ALS cohort suggest a broader role in ALS. Furthermore, we observe that increased methylation age is a signature of ALS in older patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid S Tarr
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emily P McCann
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Beben Benyamin
- Australian Centre for Precision Health, University of South Australia Cancer Research Institute, School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.,South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Timothy J Peters
- Epigenetics Research Laboratory, Genomics and Epigenetics Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Natalie A Twine
- Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Katharine Y Zhang
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Qiongyi Zhao
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zong-Hong Zhang
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Queensland, Australia
| | - Dominic B Rowe
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Garth A Nicholson
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Denis Bauer
- Health and Biosecurity Business Unit, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Susan J Clark
- Epigenetics Research Laboratory, Genomics and Epigenetics Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ian P Blair
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kelly L Williams
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Sanfeliu A, Hokamp K, Gill M, Tropea D. Transcriptomic Analysis of Mecp2 Mutant Mice Reveals Differentially Expressed Genes and Altered Mechanisms in Both Blood and Brain. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:278. [PMID: 31110484 PMCID: PMC6501143 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett syndrome is a rare neuropsychiatric disorder with a wide symptomatology including impaired communication and movement, cardio-respiratory abnormalities, and seizures. The clinical presentation is typically associated to mutations in the gene coding for the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), which is a transcription factor. The gene is ubiquitously present in all the cells of the organism with a peak of expression in neurons. For this reason, most of the studies in Rett models have been performed in brain. However, some of the symptoms of Rett are linked to the peripheral expression of MECP2, suggesting that the effects of the mutations affect gene expression levels in tissues other than the brain. We used RNA sequencing in Mecp2 mutant mice and matched controls, to identify common genes and pathways differentially regulated across different tissues. We performed our study in brain and peripheral blood, and we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways in each tissue. Then, we compared the genes and mechanisms identified in each preparation. We found that some genes and molecular pathways that are differentially expressed in brain are also differentially expressed in blood of Mecp2 mutant mice at a symptomatic-but not presymptomatic-stage. This is the case for the gene Ube2v1, linked to ubiquitination system, and Serpin1, involved in complement and coagulation cascades. Analysis of biological functions in the brain shows the enrichment of mechanisms correlated to circadian rhythms, while in the blood are enriched the mechanisms of response to stimulus-including immune response. Some mechanisms are enriched in both preparations, such as lipid metabolism and response to stress. These results suggest that analysis of peripheral blood can reveal ubiquitous altered molecular mechanisms of Rett and have applications in diagnosis and treatments' assessments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Sanfeliu
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Karsten Hokamp
- Department of Genetics, School of Genetics and Microbiology, Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael Gill
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Daniela Tropea
- Neuropsychiatric Genetics, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, St James Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Trinity College Institute for Neuroscience, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Song T, Zhu Y, Zhang P, Zhao M, Zhao D, Ding S, Zhu S, Li J. Integrated Proteomics and Metabolomic Analyses of Plasma Injury Biomarkers in a Serious Brain Trauma Model in Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20040922. [PMID: 30791599 PMCID: PMC6412711 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20040922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a prevalent and serious brain injury with significant morbidity and disability. However, the underlying pathogenesis of DAI remains largely unclear, and there are still no objective laboratory-based tests available for clinicians to make an early diagnosis of DAI. An integrated analysis of metabolomic data and proteomic data may be useful to identify all of the molecular mechanisms of DAI and novel potential biomarkers. Therefore, we established a rat model of DAI, and applied an integrated UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based metabolomics and isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomic analysis to obtain unbiased profiling data. Differential analysis identified 34 metabolites and 43 proteins in rat plasma of the injury group. Two metabolites (acetone and 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde) and two proteins (Alpha-1-antiproteinase and Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein) were identified as potential biomarkers for DAI, and all may play important roles in the pathogenesis of DAI. Our study demonstrated the feasibility of integrated metabolomics and proteomics method to uncover the underlying molecular mechanisms of DAI, and may help provide clinicians with some novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Song
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.
| | - Ying Zhu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China.
| | - Minzhu Zhao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
| | - Dezhang Zhao
- College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
| | - Shijia Ding
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics (Ministry of Education), College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
| | - Shisheng Zhu
- Faculty of Medical Technology, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing 401331, China.
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing 401331, China.
| | - Jianbo Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Epigenetic mechanisms in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A short review. Mech Ageing Dev 2018; 174:103-110. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
|
28
|
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two devastating and lethal neurodegenerative diseases seen comorbidly in up to 15% of patients. Despite several decades of research, no effective treatment or disease-modifying strategies have been developed. We now understand more than before about the genetics and biology behind ALS and FTD, but the genetic etiology for the majority of patients is still unknown and the phenotypic variability observed across patients, even those carrying the same mutation, is enigmatic. Additionally, susceptibility factors leading to neuronal vulnerability in specific central nervous system regions involved in disease are yet to be identified. As the inherited but dynamic epigenome acts as a cell-specific interface between the inherited fixed genome and both cell-intrinsic mechanisms and environmental input, adaptive epigenetic changes might contribute to the ALS/FTD aspects we still struggle to comprehend. This chapter summarizes our current understanding of basic epigenetic mechanisms, how they relate to ALS and FTD, and their potential as therapeutic targets. A clear understanding of the biological mechanisms driving these two currently incurable diseases is urgent-well-needed therapeutic strategies need to be developed soon. Disease-specific epigenetic changes have already been observed in patients and these might be central to this endeavor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mark T W Ebbert
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Rebecca J Lank
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Veronique V Belzil
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA. .,Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|