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Lehmann J, Aly A, Steffke C, Fabbio L, Mayer V, Dikwella N, Halablab K, Roselli F, Seiffert S, Boeckers TM, Brenner D, Kabashi E, Mulaw M, Ho R, Catanese A. Heterozygous knockout of Synaptotagmin13 phenocopies ALS features and TP53 activation in human motor neurons. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:560. [PMID: 39097602 PMCID: PMC11297993 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06957-3] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
Spinal motor neurons (MNs) represent a highly vulnerable cellular population, which is affected in fatal neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). In this study, we show that the heterozygous loss of SYT13 is sufficient to trigger a neurodegenerative phenotype resembling those observed in ALS and SMA. SYT13+/- hiPSC-derived MNs displayed a progressive manifestation of typical neurodegenerative hallmarks such as loss of synaptic contacts and accumulation of aberrant aggregates. Moreover, analysis of the SYT13+/- transcriptome revealed a significant impairment in biological mechanisms involved in motoneuron specification and spinal cord differentiation. This transcriptional portrait also strikingly correlated with ALS signatures, displaying a significant convergence toward the expression of pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory genes, which are controlled by the transcription factor TP53. Our data show for the first time that the heterozygous loss of a single member of the synaptotagmin family, SYT13, is sufficient to trigger a series of abnormal alterations leading to MN sufferance, thus revealing novel insights into the selective vulnerability of this cell population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Lehmann
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Amr Aly
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Christina Steffke
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Luca Fabbio
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Valentin Mayer
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Natalie Dikwella
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Kareen Halablab
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm Site, Ulm, Germany
| | - Simone Seiffert
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University and Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm Site, Ulm, Germany
| | - David Brenner
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm Site, Ulm, Germany
| | - Edor Kabashi
- Institut Imagine, University Paris Descartes, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France
| | - Medhanie Mulaw
- Unit for Single-Cell Genomics, Medical Faculty, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ritchie Ho
- Center for Neural Science and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alberto Catanese
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University School of Medicine, Ulm, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Ulm Site, Ulm, Germany.
- Institut Imagine, University Paris Descartes, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France.
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Eisen A, Vucic S, Mitsumoto H. History of ALS and the competing theories on pathogenesis: IFCN handbook chapter. Clin Neurophysiol Pract 2023; 9:1-12. [PMID: 38213309 PMCID: PMC10776891 DOI: 10.1016/j.cnp.2023.11.004] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the human motor system, first described in the 19th Century. The etiology of ALS appears to be multifactorial, with a complex interaction of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors underlying the onset of disease. Importantly, there are no known naturally occurring animal models, and transgenic mouse models fail to faithfully reproduce ALS as it manifests in patients. Debate as to the site of onset of ALS remain, with three competing theories proposed, including (i) the dying-forward hypothesis, whereby motor neuron degeneration is mediated by hyperexcitable corticomotoneurons via an anterograde transsynaptic excitotoxic mechanism, (ii) dying-back hypothesis, proposing the ALS begins in the peripheral nervous system with a toxic factor(s) retrogradely transported into the central nervous system and mediating upper motor neuron dysfunction, and (iii) independent hypothesis, suggesting that upper and lower motor neuron degenerated independently. Transcranial magnetic stimulation studies, along with pathological and genetic findings have supported the dying forward hypothesis theory, although the science is yet to be settled. The review provides a historical overview of ALS, discusses phenotypes and likely pathogenic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Eisen
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Steve Vucic
- Director Brain and Nerve Research Center, Clinical School, University of Sydney, Australia
| | - Hiroshi Mitsumoto
- Wesley J. Howe Professor of Neurology, Columbia University, The Neurological Institute of New York, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, United States
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