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Teves L, Vieira Melo AR, Ferreira AF, Raposo M, Lemos C, Bettencourt C, Lima M. Global DNA methylation is not elevated in blood samples from Machado-Joseph disease mutation carriers. Epigenetics 2024; 19:2368995. [PMID: 38900099 PMCID: PMC11195492 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2024.2368995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is an autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) caused by a polyglutamine expansion in the ataxin-3 protein, which initiates a cascade of pathogenic events, including transcriptional dysregulation. Genotype-phenotype correlations in MJD are incomplete, suggesting an influence of additional factors, such as epigenetic modifications, underlying the MJD pathogenesis. DNA methylation is known to impact the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders through gene expression regulation and increased methylation has been reported for other SCAs. In this work we aimed to analyse global methylation in MJD carriers. Global 5-mC levels were quantified in blood samples of 33 MJD mutation carriers (patients and preclinical subjects) and 33 healthy controls, matched by age, sex, and smoking status. For a subset of 16 MJD subjects, a pilot follow-up analysis with two time points was also conducted. No differences were found in median global 5-mC levels between MJD mutation carriers and controls and no correlations between methylation levels and clinical or genetic variables were detected. Also, no alterations in global 5-mC levels were observed over time. Our findings do not support an increase in global blood methylation levels associated with MJD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Teves
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UnIGENe, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Rosa Vieira Melo
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Ana F. Ferreira
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Mafalda Raposo
- UnIGENe, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Porto, Portugal
| | - Carolina Lemos
- Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- UnIGENe, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Porto, Portugal
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Manuela Lima
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
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Chen FM, Li H, Chung DLS, Mak ATL, Leung FP, Chan HYE, Wong WT. IL-4/STAT6 axis observed to reverse proliferative defect in SCA3 patient-derived neural progenitor cells. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2024; 51:30-39. [PMID: 37933553 DOI: 10.1111/1440-1681.13831] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3) is an incurable, neurodegenerative genetic disorder that leads to progressive cerebellar ataxia and other parkinsonian-like pathologies because of loss of cerebellar neurons. The role of an expanded polyglutamine aggregate on neural progenitor cells is unknown. Here, we show that SCA3 patient-specific induced neural progenitor cells (iNPCs) exhibit proliferative defects. Moreover, SCA3 iNPCs have reduced autophagic expression compared to control. Furthermore, although SCA3 iNPCs continue to proliferate, they do not survive subsequent passages compared to control iNPCs, indicating the likelihood that SCA3 iNPCs undergo rapid senescence. Exposure to interleukin-4 (IL-4), a type 2 cytokine produced by immune cells, resulted in an observed increase in expression of autophagic programs and a reduction in the proliferation defect observed in SCA3 iNPCs. Our results indicate a previously unobserved role of SCA3 disease ontology on the neural stem cell pool and a potential therapeutic strategy using IL-4 to ameliorate or delay disease pathology in the SCA3 neural progenitor cell population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis M Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Huixian Li
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Dittman Lai-Shun Chung
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Angel T L Mak
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Fung Ping Leung
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ho Yin Edwin Chan
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Nexus of Rare Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Gerald Choa Neuroscience Centre, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Wing Tak Wong
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Sousa e Silva R, Sousa AD, Vieira J, Vieira CP. The Josephin domain (JD) containing proteins are predicted to bind to the same interactors: Implications for spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) studies using Drosophila melanogaster mutants. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1140719. [PMID: 37008788 PMCID: PMC10050893 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1140719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3, also known as Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/ MJD), is the most frequent polyglutamine (polyQ) neurodegenerative disorder. It is caused by a pathogenic expansion of the polyQ tract, located at the C-terminal region of the protein encoded by the ATXN3 gene. This gene codes for a deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) that belongs to a gene family, that in humans is composed by three more genes (ATXN3L, JOSD1, and JOSD2), that define two gene lineages (the ATXN3 and the Josephins). These proteins have in common the N-terminal catalytic domain (Josephin domain, JD), that in Josephins is the only domain present. In ATXN3 knock-out mouse and nematode models, the SCA3 neurodegeneration phenotype is not, however, reproduced, suggesting that in the genome of these species there are other genes that are able to compensate for the lack of ATXN3. Moreover, in mutant Drosophila melanogaster, where the only JD protein is coded by a Josephin-like gene, expression of the expanded human ATXN3 gene reproduces multiple aspects of the SCA3 phenotype, in contrast with the results of the expression of the wild type human form. In order to explain these findings, phylogenetic, as well as, protein–protein docking inferences are here performed. Here we show multiple losses of JD containing genes across the animal kingdom, suggesting partial functional redundancy of these genes. Accordingly, we predict that the JD is essential for binding with ataxin-3 and proteins of the Josephin lineages, and that D. melanogaster mutants are a good model of SCA3 despite the absence of a gene from the ATXN3 lineage. The molecular recognition regions of the ataxin-3 binding and those predicted for the Josephins are, however, different. We also report different binding regions between the two ataxin-3 forms (wild-type (wt) and expanded (exp)). The interactors that show an increase in the interaction strength with exp ataxin-3, are enriched in extrinsic components of mitochondrial outer membrane and endoplasmatic reticulum membrane. On the other hand, the group of interactors that show a decrease in the interaction strength with exp ataxin-3 is significantly enriched in extrinsic component of cytoplasm.
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Vázquez-Mojena Y, Rodríguez-Córdova Y, Dominguez-Barrios Y, León-Arcia K, Miranda-Becerra D, Gonzalez-Zaldivar Y, Guerra-Bustillos G, Ziemann U, Auburger G, Rodríguez-Labrada R, Robinson-Agramonte MDLÁ, Velázquez-Pérez L. Peripheral Inflammation Links with the Severity of Clinical Phenotype in Spinocerebellar Ataxia 2. Mov Disord 2023. [PMID: 36811296 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29359] [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: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of peripheral inflammation in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is unknown. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to identify peripheral inflammation biomarkers and their relationship with the clinical and molecular features. METHODS Blood cell count-derived inflammatory indices were measured in 39 SCA2 subjects and their matched controls. Clinical scores of ataxia, nonataxia, and cognitive dysfunction were assessed. RESULTS The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), the Systemic Inflammation Index (SII), and the Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI) were significantly increased in SCA2 subjects compared with controls. The increases in PLR, SII, and AISI were even observed in preclinical carriers. NLR, PLR, and SII were correlated with the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia speech item score rather than with the total score. The NLR and SII were correlated with the nonataxia and the cognitive scores. CONCLUSIONS Peripheral inflammatory indices are biomarkers in SCA2, which may help to design future immunomodulatory trials and advance our understanding of the disease. © 2023 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Karen León-Arcia
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cuban Centre for Neuroscience, Havana, Cuba
| | - David Miranda-Becerra
- Department of Educational Neurosciences, Cuban Centre for Neuroscience, Havana, Cuba
| | - Yanetza Gonzalez-Zaldivar
- Molecular Genetics Department, Centre for the Research and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias, Holguin, Cuba
| | | | - Ulf Ziemann
- Department of Neurology and Stroke, Eberhard-Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,Department Neurology and Stroke, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Eberhard-Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Georg Auburger
- Experimental Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
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Lima M, Raposo M, Ferreira A, Melo ARV, Pavão S, Medeiros F, Teves L, Gonzalez C, Lemos J, Pires P, Lopes P, Valverde D, Gonzalez J, Kay T, Vasconcelos J. The Homogeneous Azorean Machado-Joseph Disease Cohort: Characterization and Contributions to Advances in Research. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11020247. [PMID: 36830784 PMCID: PMC9953730 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common autosomal dominant ataxia worldwide. MJD is characterized by late-onset progressive cerebellar ataxia associated with variable clinical findings, including pyramidal signs and a dystonic-rigid extrapyramidal syndrome. In the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, the worldwide population cluster for this disorder (prevalence of 39 in 100,000 inhabitants), a cohort of MJD mutation carriers belonging to extensively studied pedigrees has been followed since the late 1990s. Studies of the homogeneous Azorean MJD cohort have been contributing crucial information to the natural history of this disease as well as allowing the identification of novel molecular biomarkers. Moreover, as interventional studies for this globally rare and yet untreatable disease are emerging, this cohort should be even more important for the recruitment of trial participants. In this paper, we profile the Azorean cohort of MJD carriers, constituted at baseline by 20 pre-ataxic carriers and 52 patients, which currently integrates the European spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease Initiative (ESMI), a large European longitudinal MJD cohort. Moreover, we summarize the main studies based on this cohort and highlight the contributions made to advances in MJD research. Knowledge of the profile of the Azorean MJD cohort is not only important in the context of emergent interventional trials but is also pertinent for the implementation of adequate interventional measures, constituting relevant information for Lay Associations and providing data to guide healthcare decision makers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Lima
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Mafalda Raposo
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Ferreira
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Rosa Vieira Melo
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Sara Pavão
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Filipa Medeiros
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Luís Teves
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Carlos Gonzalez
- Serviço de Psicologia Clínica, Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, 9500-370 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - João Lemos
- Unidade de Psicologia Clínica, Hospital do Santo Espírito da Ilha Terceira, 9700-049 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Paula Pires
- Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital do Santo Espírito da Ilha Terceira, 9700-049 Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Pedro Lopes
- Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, 9500-370 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - David Valverde
- Serviço de Patologia Clínica, Unidade de Saúde da Ilha das Flores, 9500-370 Santa Cruz das Flores, Portugal
| | - José Gonzalez
- Augenarztpraxis Petrescu Wuppertal, Department of Ophthalmology, 42389 Wuppertal, Germany
| | - Teresa Kay
- Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital D. Estefânia, 1169-045 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Vasconcelos
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, 9500-321 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Hospital Internacional dos Açores (HIA), 9560-421 Ponta Delgada, Portugal
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Scarabino D, Veneziano L, Fiore A, Nethisinghe S, Mantuano E, Garcia-Moreno H, Bellucci G, Solanky N, Morello M, Zanni G, Corbo RM, Giunti P. Leukocyte Telomere Length Variability as a Potential Biomarker in Patients with PolyQ Diseases. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11081436. [PMID: 35892638 PMCID: PMC9332235 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
SCA1, SCA2, and SCA3 are the most common forms of SCAs among the polyglutamine disorders, which include Huntington’s Disease (HD). We investigated the relationship between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and the phenotype of SCA1, SCA2, and SCA3, comparing them with HD. The results showed that LTL was significantly reduced in SCA1 and SCA3 patients, while LTL was significantly longer in SCA2 patients. A significant negative relationship between LTL and age was observed in SCA1 but not in SCA2 subjects. LTL of SCA3 patients depend on both patient’s age and disease duration. The number of CAG repeats did not affect LTL in the three SCAs. Since LTL is considered an indirect marker of an inflammatory response and oxidative damage, our data suggest that in SCA1 inflammation is present already at an early stage of disease similar to in HD, while in SCA3 inflammation and impaired antioxidative processes are associated with disease progression. Interestingly, in SCA2, contrary to SCA1 and SCA3, the length of leukocyte telomeres does not reduce with age. We have observed that SCAs and HD show a differing behavior in LTL for each subtype, which could constitute relevant biomarkers if confirmed in larger cohorts and longitudinal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Scarabino
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (D.S.); (L.V.)
| | - Liana Veneziano
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence: (D.S.); (L.V.)
| | - Alessia Fiore
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.F.); (R.M.C.)
| | - Suran Nethisinghe
- Ataxia Center, Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (S.N.); (H.G.-M.); (N.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Elide Mantuano
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Hector Garcia-Moreno
- Ataxia Center, Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (S.N.); (H.G.-M.); (N.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Gianmarco Bellucci
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Centre for Experimental Neurological Therapies (CENTERS), Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Nita Solanky
- Ataxia Center, Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (S.N.); (H.G.-M.); (N.S.); (P.G.)
| | - Maria Morello
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University, 00133 Rome, Italy;
| | - Ginevra Zanni
- Unit of Neuromuscolar and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children’s Research Hospital, IRCCS, 00100 Rome, Italy;
| | - Rosa Maria Corbo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; (A.F.); (R.M.C.)
| | - Paola Giunti
- Ataxia Center, Department of Clinical and Movement Neuroscience, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College, London WC1N 3BG, UK; (S.N.); (H.G.-M.); (N.S.); (P.G.)
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Ding D, Chen Z, Wang C, Tang X, Zhang L, Fang Q, Qiu R, Jiang H. A Variant in Genes of the NPY System as Modifier Factor of Machado-Joseph Disease in the Chinese Population. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:822657. [PMID: 35185528 PMCID: PMC8851415 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.822657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, NPY overexpression has been proposed to alleviate motor deficits and neuropathy in Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) mouse models, indicating its neuroprotective role in the pathogenesis of MJD. We aimed to evaluate the association between SNPs in NPY and its receptors and the susceptibility of MJD in the Chinese population. Moreover, we investigated whether these SNPs modulate the age at onset (AO) of MJD. In total, 527 MJD patients and 487 healthy controls were enrolled in the study, and four specific selected SNPs (rs16139, rs3037354, rs2234759, and rs11100494) in NPY and its receptor genes were genotyped. In this study, the genotypic frequency using the dominant model and the allelic distribution of rs11100494 in NPY5R revealed a significant difference between the MJD and control group during the first-stage analysis (P = 0.048 and P = 0.024, respectively). After we expanded the sample size, significant differences were observed between the two groups using the dominant model in genotypic and allelic distribution (P = 0.034, P = 0.046, and P = 0.016, respectively). No significant differences in genotypic and allelic distribution were found between the MJD and control groups for the other three SNPs. All selected SNPs had no significant effect on the AO of MJD. The association of rs11100494 in the NPY5R gene and susceptibility of MJD suggested that the NPY system might be implicated in the pathogenesis of MJD. Our study demonstrated the existence of other genetic modifiers in MJD, along with CAG expansion and known genetic modifier factors, which might lead to a better understanding of MJD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxue Ding
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chunrong Wang
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiang Tang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Lulu Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qi Fang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Rong Qiu
- School of Information Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
- School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Hong Jiang,
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Raj K, Akundi RS. Mutant Ataxin-3-Containing Aggregates (MATAGGs) in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3: Dynamics of the Disorder. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:3095-3118. [PMID: 33629274 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02314-z] [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: 10/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common type of SCA worldwide caused by abnormal polyglutamine expansion in the coding region of the ataxin-3 gene. Ataxin-3 is a multi-faceted protein involved in various cellular processes such as deubiquitination, cytoskeletal organisation, and transcriptional regulation. The presence of an expanded poly(Q) stretch leads to altered processing and misfolding of the protein culminating in the production of insoluble protein aggregates in the cell. Various post-translational modifications affect ataxin-3 fibrillation and aggregation. This review provides an exhaustive assessment of the various pathogenic mechanisms undertaken by the mutant ataxin-3-containing aggregates (MATAGGs) for disease induction and neurodegeneration. This includes in-depth discussion on MATAGG dynamics including their formation, role in neuronal pathogenesis, and the debate over the toxic v/s protective nature of the MATAGGs in disease progression. Additionally, the currently available therapeutic strategies against SCA3 have been reviewed. The shift in the focus of such strategies, from targeting the steps that lead to or reduce aggregate formation to targeting the expression of mutant ataxin-3 itself via RNA-based therapeutics, has also been presented. We also discuss the intriguing promise that various growth and neurotrophic factors, especially the insulin pathway, hold in the modulation of SCA3 progression. These emerging areas show the newer directions through which SCA3 can be targeted including various preclinical and clinical trials. All these advances made in the last three decades since the discovery of the ataxin-3 gene have been critically reviewed here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritika Raj
- Neuroinflammation Research Lab, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, South Asian University, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Ravi Shankar Akundi
- Neuroinflammation Research Lab, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, South Asian University, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi, 110021, India.
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Fardghassemi Y, Maios C, Parker JA. Small Molecule Rescue of ATXN3 Toxicity in C. elegans via TFEB/HLH-30. Neurotherapeutics 2021; 18:1151-1165. [PMID: 33782863 PMCID: PMC8423969 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00993-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3), also known as Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), is a polyglutamine expansion disease arising from a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion in exon 10 of the gene ATXN3. There are no effective pharmacological treatments for MJD, thus the identification of new pathogenic mechanisms, and the development of novel therapeutics is urgently needed. In this study, we performed a comprehensive, blind drug screen of 3942 compounds (many FDA approved) and identified small molecules that rescued the motor-deficient phenotype in transgenic ATXN3 Caenorhabditis elegans strain. Out of this screen, five lead compounds restoring motility, protecting against neurodegeneration, and increasing the lifespan in ATXN3-CAG89 mutant worms were identified. These compounds were alfacalcidol, chenodiol, cyclophosphamide, fenbufen, and sulfaphenazole. We then investigated how these molecules might exert their neuroprotective properties. We found that three of these compounds, chenodiol, fenbufen, and sulfaphenazole, act as modulators for TFEB/HLH-30, a key transcriptional regulator of the autophagy process, and require this gene for their neuroprotective activities. These genetic-chemical approaches, using genetic C. elegans models for MJD and the screening, are promising tools to understand the mechanisms and pathways causing neurodegeneration, leading to MJD. Positively acting compounds may be promising candidates for investigation in mammalian models of MJD and preclinical applications in the treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmin Fardghassemi
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec H2X 0A9 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - Claudia Maios
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec H2X 0A9 Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4 Canada
| | - J. Alex Parker
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Quebec H2X 0A9 Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4 Canada
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1J4 Canada
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10
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Mendonça LS, Nóbrega C, Tavino S, Brinkhaus M, Matos C, Tomé S, Moreira R, Henriques D, Kaspar BK, Pereira de Almeida L. Ibuprofen enhances synaptic function and neural progenitors proliferation markers and improves neuropathology and motor coordination in Machado-Joseph disease models. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3691-3703. [PMID: 31127937 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 is an inherited neurodegenerative disease associated with an abnormal glutamine over-repetition within the ataxin-3 protein. This mutant ataxin-3 protein affects several cellular pathways, leading to neuroinflammation and neuronal death in specific brain regions resulting in severe clinical manifestations. Presently, there is no therapy able to modify the disease progression. Nevertheless, anti-inflammatory pharmacological intervention has been associated with positive outcomes in other neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the present work aimed at investigating whether ibuprofen treatment would alleviate Machado-Joseph disease. We found that ibuprofen-treated mouse models presented a significant reduction in the neuroinflammation markers, namely Il1b and TNFa mRNA and IKB-α protein phosphorylation levels. Moreover, these mice exhibited neuronal preservation, cerebellar atrophy reduction, smaller mutant ataxin-3 inclusions and motor performance improvement. Additionally, neural cultures of Machado-Joseph disease patients' induced pluripotent stem cells-derived neural stem cells incubated with ibuprofen showed increased levels of neural progenitors proliferation and synaptic markers such as MSI1, NOTCH1 and SYP. These findings were further confirmed in ibuprofen-treated mice that display increased neural progenitor numbers (Ki67 positive) in the subventricular zone. Furthermore, interestingly, ibuprofen treatment enhanced neurite total length and synaptic function of human neurons. Therefore, our results indicate that ibuprofen reduces neuroinflammation and induces neuroprotection, alleviating Machado-Joseph disease-associated neuropathology and motor impairments. Thus, our findings demonstrate that ibuprofen treatment has the potential to be used as a neuroprotective therapeutic approach in Machado-Joseph disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana S Mendonça
- Vectors and Gene Therapy Group, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Clévio Nóbrega
- Vectors and Gene Therapy Group, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Silvia Tavino
- Vectors and Gene Therapy Group, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maximilian Brinkhaus
- Vectors and Gene Therapy Group, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carlos Matos
- Vectors and Gene Therapy Group, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sandra Tomé
- Vectors and Gene Therapy Group, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Moreira
- Vectors and Gene Therapy Group, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniel Henriques
- Vectors and Gene Therapy Group, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Brian K Kaspar
- The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio 43205, USA
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- Vectors and Gene Therapy Group, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
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11
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12
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Abstract
The spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) comprise more than 40 autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorders that present principally with progressive ataxia. Within the past few years, studies of pathogenic mechanisms in the SCAs have led to the development of promising therapeutic strategies, especially for SCAs caused by polyglutamine-coding CAG repeats. Nucleotide-based gene-silencing approaches that target the first steps in the pathogenic cascade are one promising approach not only for polyglutamine SCAs but also for the many other SCAs caused by toxic mutant proteins or RNA. For these and other emerging therapeutic strategies, well-coordinated preparation is needed for fruitful clinical trials. To accomplish this goal, investigators from the United States and Europe are now collaborating to share data from their respective SCA cohorts. Increased knowledge of the natural history of SCAs, including of the premanifest and early symptomatic stages of disease, will improve the prospects for success in clinical trials of disease-modifying drugs. In addition, investigators are seeking validated clinical outcome measures that demonstrate responsiveness to changes in SCA populations. Findings suggest that MRI and magnetic resonance spectroscopy biomarkers will provide objective biological readouts of disease activity and progression, but more work is needed to establish disease-specific biomarkers that track target engagement in therapeutic trials. Together, these efforts suggest that the development of successful therapies for one or more SCAs is not far away.
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13
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Ferreira AF, Raposo M, Vasconcelos J, Costa MDC, Lima M. Selection of Reference Genes for Normalization of Gene Expression Data in Blood of Machado-Joseph Disease/Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (MJD/SCA3) Subjects. J Mol Neurosci 2019; 69:450-455. [PMID: 31286408 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-019-01374-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Alongside with the emergent clinical trials for Machado-Joseph disease/Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (MJD/SCA3) comes the need to identify molecular biomarkers of disease that can be tracked throughout the trial. MJD is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of a CAG repeat in the coding region of the ATXN3 gene. Previous findings indicate the potential of transcriptional alterations in blood of MJD patients as biomarkers of disease. Accurate quantification of gene expression levels by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) depends on data normalization, usually performed using reference genes. Because the expression level of routinely used housekeeping genes may vary in multiple biological and experimental conditions, reference gene controls should be validated in each specific experimental design. Here, we aimed to evaluate the expression behavior of five housekeeping genes previously reported as stably expressed in peripheral blood of patients from several disorders-peptidylprolyl isomerase B (PPIB), TNF receptor associated protein 1 (TRAP1), beta-2-microglobulin (B2M), 2,4-dienoyl-CoA reductase 1 (DECR1), and folylpolyglutamate synthase (FPGS). Expression levels of these five genes were assessed by qPCR in blood from MJD subjects (preataxic and patients) and matched controls. While all housekeeping genes, here studied, were stably expressed in our sets of samples, TRAP1 showed to be the most stable gene by NormFinder and BestKeeper. We, therefore, conclude that any of these genes could be used as reference gene in future qPCR studies using blood samples from MJD subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana F Ferreira
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Porto, Portugal.
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Porto, Portugal.
| | - Mafalda Raposo
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Porto, Portugal
| | - João Vasconcelos
- Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital Divino Espírito Santo, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
| | - Maria do Carmo Costa
- Department of Neurology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Manuela Lima
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Porto, Portugal
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Porto, Portugal
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14
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Yang ZH, Shi CH, Zhou LN, Li YS, Yang J, Liu YT, Mao CY, Luo HY, Xu GW, Xu YM. Metabolic Profiling Reveals Biochemical Pathways and Potential Biomarkers of Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:159. [PMID: 31316347 PMCID: PMC6611058 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia 3, also known as Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD), is a rare autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disease caused by an abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the ATXN3 gene. In the present study, we performed a global metabolomic analysis to identify pathogenic biochemical pathways and novel biomarkers implicated in SCA3 patients. Metabolic profiling of serum samples from 13 preclinical SCA3 patients, 13 symptomatic SCA3 patients, and 15 healthy controls were mapped using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. The symptomatic SCA3 patients showed a metabolic profile significantly distinct from those of the preclinical SCA3 patients and healthy controls. The principal differential metabolites were involved in the amino acid (AA) metabolism and fatty acid metabolism pathways. In addition, four candidate serum biomarkers, FFA 16:1 (palmitoleic acid), FFA 18:3 (linolenic acid), L-Proline and L-Tryptophan, were selected to discriminate between symptomatic SCA3 patients and healthy controls by receiver operator curve analysis with an area under the curve of 0.979. Our study demonstrates that symptomatic SCA3 patients present distinct metabolic profiles with perturbed AA metabolism and fatty acid metabolism, and FFA 16:1, FFA 18:3, L-Proline and L-Tryptophan are identified as potential disease biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Hua Yang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chang-He Shi
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li-Na Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Yu-Sheng Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu-Tao Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Cheng-Yuan Mao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hai-Yang Luo
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Guo-Wang Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Separation Science for Analytical Chemistry, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
| | - Yu-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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15
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Wiatr K, Piasecki P, Marczak Ł, Wojciechowski P, Kurkowiak M, Płoski R, Rydzanicz M, Handschuh L, Jungverdorben J, Brüstle O, Figlerowicz M, Figiel M. Altered Levels of Proteins and Phosphoproteins, in the Absence of Early Causative Transcriptional Changes, Shape the Molecular Pathogenesis in the Brain of Young Presymptomatic Ki91 SCA3/MJD Mouse. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:8168-8202. [PMID: 31201651 PMCID: PMC6834541 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-01643-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3/MJD) is a polyQ neurodegenerative disease where the presymptomatic phase of pathogenesis is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the molecular network of transcriptomic and proteomic triggers in young presymptomatic SCA3/MJD brain from Ki91 knock-in mouse. We found that transcriptional dysregulations resulting from mutant ataxin-3 are not occurring in young Ki91 mice, while old Ki91 mice and also postmitotic patient SCA3 neurons demonstrate the late transcriptomic changes. Unlike the lack of early mRNA changes, we have identified numerous early changes of total proteins and phosphoproteins in 2-month-old Ki91 mouse cortex and cerebellum. We discovered the network of processes in presymptomatic SCA3 with three main groups of disturbed processes comprising altered proteins: (I) modulation of protein levels and DNA damage (Pabpc1, Ddb1, Nedd8), (II) formation of neuronal cellular structures (Tubb3, Nefh, p-Tau), and (III) neuronal function affected by processes following perturbed cytoskeletal formation (Mt-Co3, Stx1b, p-Syn1). Phosphoproteins downregulate in the young Ki91 mouse brain and their phosphosites are associated with kinases that interact with ATXN3 such as casein kinase, Camk2, and kinases controlled by another Atxn3 interactor p21 such as Gsk3, Pka, and Cdk kinases. We conclude that the onset of SCA3 pathology occurs without altered transcript level and is characterized by changed levels of proteins responsible for termination of translation, DNA damage, spliceosome, and protein phosphorylation. This disturbs global cellular processes such as cytoskeleton and transport of vesicles and mitochondria along axons causing energy deficit and neurodegeneration also manifesting in an altered level of transcripts at later ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalina Wiatr
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznań, Poland
| | - Piotr Piasecki
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznań, Poland
| | - Łukasz Marczak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznań, Poland
| | - Paweł Wojciechowski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznań, Poland.,Institute of Computing Science, Poznan University of Technology, Poznań, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Kurkowiak
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznań, Poland
| | - Rafał Płoski
- Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Luiza Handschuh
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznań, Poland
| | - Johannes Jungverdorben
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, LIFE & BRAIN Center, University of Bonn School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Oliver Brüstle
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, LIFE & BRAIN Center, University of Bonn School of Medicine & University Hospital Bonn, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marek Figlerowicz
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznań, Poland
| | - Maciej Figiel
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Z. Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704, Poznań, Poland.
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16
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Ramos A, Planchat M, Vieira Melo AR, Raposo M, Shamim U, Suroliya V, Srivastava AK, Faruq M, Morino H, Ohsawa R, Kawakami H, Bannach Jardim L, Saraiva-Pereira ML, Vasconcelos J, Santos C, Lima M. Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups and age at onset of Machado-Joseph disease/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: a study in patients from multiple populations. Eur J Neurol 2018; 26:506-512. [PMID: 30414314 DOI: 10.1111/ene.13860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), an autosomal dominant late-onset polyglutamine ataxia that results from an unstable expansion of a CAG tract in the ATXN3 gene. The size of the CAG tract only partially explains age at onset (AO), highlighting the existence of disease modifiers. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups have been associated with clinical presentation in other polyglutamine disorders, constituting potential modifiers of MJD phenotype. METHODS A cross-sectional study, using 235 unrelated patients from Portugal, Brazil, India and Japan, was performed to investigate if mtDNA haplogroups contribute to AO of MJD. mtDNA haplogroups were obtained after sequencing the mtDNA hypervariable region I. Patients were classified in 15 phylogenetically related haplogroup clusters. RESULTS The AO was significantly different among populations, implying the existence of other non-CAG factors, which seem to be population specific. In the Portuguese population, patients classified as belonging to haplogroup JT presented the earliest onset (estimated onset 34.6 years of age). Haplogroups W and X seem to have a protective effect, causing a delay in onset (estimated onset 47 years of age). No significant association between haplogroup clusters and AO was detected in the other populations or when all patients were pooled. Although haplogroup JT has already been implicated in other neurodegenerative disorders, no previous reports of an association between haplogroups W and X and disease were found. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that haplogroups JT, W and X modify AO in MJD. Replication studies should be performed in European populations, where the frequency of the candidate modifiers is similar.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ramos
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Departamento Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Unitat d'Antropologia Biològica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
| | - M Planchat
- Departamento Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Unitat d'Antropologia Biològica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
| | - A R Vieira Melo
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - M Raposo
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - U Shamim
- CSIR - Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi, India
| | - V Suroliya
- CSIR - Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi, India.,Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - A K Srivastava
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - M Faruq
- CSIR - Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), New Delhi, India
| | - H Morino
- Department of Epidemiology, Research Institute for Radiology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - R Ohsawa
- Department of Epidemiology, Research Institute for Radiology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - H Kawakami
- Department of Epidemiology, Research Institute for Radiology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - L Bannach Jardim
- Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Medicina Interna, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - M L Saraiva-Pereira
- Medical Genetics Service, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA), Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - J Vasconcelos
- Serviço de Neurologia, Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo, Ponta Delgada, Açores, Portugal
| | - C Santos
- Departamento Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Unitat d'Antropologia Biològica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
| | - M Lima
- Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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17
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Coarelli G, Brice A, Durr A. Recent advances in understanding dominant spinocerebellar ataxias from clinical and genetic points of view. F1000Res 2018; 7. [PMID: 30473770 PMCID: PMC6234732 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.15788.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are rare types of cerebellar ataxia with a dominant mode of inheritance. To date, 47 SCA subtypes have been identified, and the number of genes implicated in SCAs is continually increasing. Polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion diseases (
ATXN1/SCA1,
ATXN2/SCA2,
ATXN3/SCA3,
CACNA1A/SCA6,
ATXN7/SCA7,
TBP/SCA17, and
ATN1/DRPLA) are the most common group of SCAs. No preventive or curative treatments are currently available, but various therapeutic approaches, including RNA-targeting treatments, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), are being developed. Clinical trials of ASOs in SCA patients are already planned. There is, therefore, a need to identify valid outcome measures for such studies. In this review, we describe recent advances towards identifying appropriate biomarkers, which are essential for monitoring disease progression and treatment efficacy. Neuroimaging biomarkers are the most powerful markers identified to date, making it possible to reduce sample sizes for clinical trials. Changes on brain MRI are already evident at the premanifest stage in SCA1 and SCA2 carriers and are correlated with CAG repeat size. Other potential biomarkers have also been developed, based on neurological examination, oculomotor study, cognitive assessment, and blood and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Longitudinal studies based on multimodal approaches are required to establish the relationships between parameters and to validate the biomarkers identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Coarelli
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Department of Neurology, Avicenne Hospital, Paris 13 University, Bobigny, 93000, France.,Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne University, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Alexis Brice
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne University, Paris, 75013, France.,Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Genetic department, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, 75013, France
| | - Alexandra Durr
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne University, Paris, 75013, France.,Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Genetic department, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Paris, 75013, France
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18
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Lima M, Raposo M. Towards the Identification of Molecular Biomarkers of Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3 (SCA3)/Machado-Joseph Disease (MJD). ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1049:309-319. [PMID: 29427111 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71779-1_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Whereas spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3)/Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) remains an untreatable disorder, disease-modifying compounds have begun being tested in the context of clinical trials; their success is dependent on the sensitivity of the methods used to measure subtle therapeutic benefits. Thus, efforts are being made to propose a battery of potential outcome measures, including molecular biomarkers (MBs), which remain to be identified; MBs are particularly pertinent if SCA3 trials are expected to enroll preataxic subjects. Recently, promising candidate MBs of SCA3 have emerged from gene expression studies. In this chapter we provide a synthesis of the cross-sectional and pilot longitudinal studies of blood-based transcriptional biomarkers conducted so far. Other alterations with potential to track the progression of SCA3, such as those involving mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are also referred. It is expected that a set of molecular biomarkers can be identified; these will be used in complementarity with clinical and imaging markers to fully track SCA3, from its preataxic phase to the disease stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Lima
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal. .,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. .,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Mafalda Raposo
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade dos Açores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.,Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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