1
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Shan Q, Yu X, Lin X, Tian Y. Reduced inhibitory synaptic transmission onto striatopallidal neurons may underlie aging-related motor skill deficits. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 199:106582. [PMID: 38942325 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106582] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Human beings are living longer than ever before and aging is accompanied by an increased incidence of motor deficits, including those associated with the neurodegenerative conditions, Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). However, the biological correlates underlying this epidemiological finding, especially the functional basis at the synapse level, have been elusive. This study reveals that motor skill performance examined via rotarod, beam walking and pole tests is impaired in aged mice. This study, via electrophysiology recordings, further identifies an aging-related reduction in the efficacy of inhibitory synaptic transmission onto dorsolateral striatum (DLS) indirect-pathway medium spiny neurons (iMSNs), i.e., a disinhibition effect on DLS iMSNs. In addition, pharmacologically enhancing the activity of DLS iMSNs by infusing an adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) agonist, which presumably mimics the disinhibition effect, impairs motor skill performance in young mice, simulating the behavior in aged naïve mice. Conversely, pharmacologically suppressing the activity of DLS iMSNs by infusing an A2AR antagonist, in order to offset the disinhibition effect, restores motor skill performance in aged mice, mimicking the behavior in young naïve mice. In conclusion, this study identifies a functional inhibitory synaptic plasticity in DLS iMSNs that likely contributes to the aging-related motor skill deficits, which would potentially serve as a striatal synaptic basis underlying age being a prominent risk factor for neurodegenerative motor deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Shan
- Laboratory for Synaptic Plasticity, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China.
| | - Xiaoxuan Yu
- Laboratory for Synaptic Plasticity, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China
| | - Xiaoli Lin
- Laboratory for Synaptic Plasticity, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong 515041, China
| | - Yao Tian
- Chern Institute of Mathematics, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
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2
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Cheng Y, Zhang S, Shang H. Latest advances on new promising molecular-based therapeutic approaches for Huntington's disease. J Transl Int Med 2024; 12:134-147. [PMID: 38779119 PMCID: PMC11107186 DOI: 10.2478/jtim-2023-0142] [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] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating, autosomal-dominant inherited, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive motor deficits, cognitive impairments, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is caused by excessive cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats within the huntingtin gene (HTT). Presently, therapeutic interventions capable of altering the trajectory of HD are lacking, while medications for abnormal movement and psychiatric symptoms are limited. Numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies have been conducted and are currently underway to test the efficacy of therapeutic approaches targeting some of these mechanisms with varying degrees of success. In this review, we update the latest advances on new promising molecular-based therapeutic strategies for this disorder, including DNA-targeting techniques such as zinc-finger proteins, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and CRISPR/Cas9; post-transcriptional huntingtin-lowering approaches such as RNAi, antisense oligonucleotides, and small-molecule splicing modulators; and novel methods to clear the mHTT protein, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras. We mainly focus on the ongoing clinical trials and the latest pre-clinical studies to explore the progress of emerging potential HD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangfan Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Rare disease center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Sirui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Rare disease center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Huifang Shang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Rare disease center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan Province, China
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3
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Zheng H, Liu Q, Zhou S, Luo H, Zhang W. Role and therapeutic targets of P2X7 receptors in neurodegenerative diseases. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1345625. [PMID: 38370420 PMCID: PMC10869479 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1345625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), a non-selective cation channel modulated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP), localizes to microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and neurons in the central nervous system, with the most incredible abundance in microglia. P2X7R partake in various signaling pathways, engaging in the immune response, the release of neurotransmitters, oxidative stress, cell division, and programmed cell death. When neurodegenerative diseases result in neuronal apoptosis and necrosis, ATP activates the P2X7R. This activation induces the release of biologically active molecules such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, proteases, reactive oxygen species, and excitotoxic glutamate/ATP. Subsequently, this leads to neuroinflammation, which exacerbates neuronal involvement. The P2X7R is essential in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. This implies that it has potential as a drug target and could be treated using P2X7R antagonists that are able to cross the blood-brain barrier. This review will comprehensively and objectively discuss recent research breakthroughs on P2X7R genes, their structural features, functional properties, signaling pathways, and their roles in neurodegenerative diseases and possible therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiyong Zheng
- Second Clinical Medical School, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Second Clinical Medical School, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Siwei Zhou
- Second Clinical Medical School, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hongliang Luo
- Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Wenjun Zhang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
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4
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Khan A, Özçelik CE, Begli O, Oguz O, Kesici MS, Kasırga TS, Özçubukcu S, Yuca E, Seker UOS. Highly Potent Peptide Therapeutics To Prevent Protein Aggregation in Huntington's Disease. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:1821-1826. [PMID: 38116434 PMCID: PMC10726468 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder resulting from a significant amplification of CAG repeats in exon 1 of the Huntingtin (Htt) gene. More than 36 CAG repeats result in the formation of a mutant Htt (mHtt) protein. These amino-terminal mHtt fragments lead to the formation of misfolded proteins, which then form aggregates in the relevant brain regions. Therapies that can delay the progression of the disease are imperative to halting the course of the disease. Peptide-based drug therapies provide such a platform. Inhibitory peptides were screened against monomeric units of both wild type (Htt(Q25)) and mHtt fragments, Htt(Q46) and Htt(Q103). Fibril kinetics was studied by utilizing the Thioflavin T (ThT) assay. Atomic force microscopy was also used to study the influence of the peptides on fibril formation. These experiments demonstrate that the chosen peptides suppress the formation of fibrils in mHtt proteins and can provide a therapeutic lead for further optimization and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anooshay Khan
- UNAM-Institute
of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
- Department
of Neurosciences, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Cemile Elif Özçelik
- UNAM-Institute
of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ozge Begli
- UNAM-Institute
of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Oguzhan Oguz
- UNAM-Institute
of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Mehmet Seçkin Kesici
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Middle
East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Talip Serkan Kasırga
- UNAM-Institute
of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
| | - Salih Özçubukcu
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Middle
East Technical University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Esra Yuca
- Department
of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Yildiz
Technical University, Istanbul 34349, Turkey
- Health
Biotechnology Joint Research and Application Center of Excellence, Esenler, Istanbul 34220, Turkey
| | - Urartu Ozgur Safak Seker
- UNAM-Institute
of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
- Department
of Neurosciences, Bilkent University, 06800 Ankara, Turkey
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5
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Alkanli SS, Alkanli N, Ay A, Albeniz I. CRISPR/Cas9 Mediated Therapeutic Approach in Huntington's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:1486-1498. [PMID: 36482283 PMCID: PMC9734918 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-03150-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenic mechanisms of these diseases must be well understood for the treatment of neurological disorders such as Huntington's disease. Huntington's Disease (HD), a dominant and neurodegenerative disease, is characterized by the CAG re-expansion that occurs in the gene encoding the polyglutamine-expanded mutant Huntingtin (mHTT) protein. Genome editing approaches include zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/Caspase 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) systems. CRISPR/Cas9 technology allows effective gene editing in different cell types and organisms. Through these systems are created isogenic control of human origin induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). In human and mouse models, HD-iPSC lines can be continuously corrected using these systems. HD-iPSCs can be corrected through the CRISPR/Cas9 system and the cut-and-paste mechanism using isogenic control iPSCs. This mechanism is a piggyBac transposon-based selection system that can effectively switch between vectors and chromosomes. In studies conducted, it has been determined that in neural cells derived from HD-iPSC, there are isogenic controls as corrected lines recovered from phenotypic abnormalities and gene expression changes. It has been determined that trinucleotide repeat disorders occurring in HD can be cured by single-guide RNA (sgRNA) and normal exogenous DNA restoration, known as the single guideline RNA specific to Cas9. The purpose of this review in addition to give general information about HD, a neurodegenerative disorder is to explained the role of CRISPR/Cas9 system with iPSCs in HD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suleyman Serdar Alkanli
- Department of Biophysics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey ,Department of Biophysics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health Sciences, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nevra Alkanli
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Haliç University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Arzu Ay
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Isil Albeniz
- Department of Biophysics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
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6
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Johnson SL, Tsou WL, Prifti MV, Harris AL, Todi SV. A survey of protein interactions and posttranslational modifications that influence the polyglutamine diseases. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:974167. [PMID: 36187346 PMCID: PMC9515312 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.974167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence and aggregation of misfolded proteins has deleterious effects in the nervous system. Among the various diseases caused by misfolded proteins is the family of the polyglutamine (polyQ) disorders. This family comprises nine members, all stemming from the same mutation—the abnormal elongation of a polyQ repeat in nine different proteins—which causes protein misfolding and aggregation, cellular dysfunction and disease. While it is the same type of mutation that causes them, each disease is distinct: it is influenced by regions and domains that surround the polyQ repeat; by proteins with which they interact; and by posttranslational modifications they receive. Here, we overview the role of non-polyQ regions that control the pathogenicity of the expanded polyQ repeat. We begin by introducing each polyQ disease, the genes affected, and the symptoms experienced by patients. Subsequently, we provide a survey of protein-protein interactions and posttranslational modifications that regulate polyQ toxicity. We conclude by discussing shared processes and pathways that bring some of the polyQ diseases together and may serve as common therapeutic entry points for this family of incurable disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean L. Johnson
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Wei-Ling Tsou
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Matthew V. Prifti
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Autumn L. Harris
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
- Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Sokol V. Todi
- Department of Pharmacology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
- Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
- Department of Neurology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
- *Correspondence: Sokol V. Todi,
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7
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Warner JH, Long JD, Mills JA, Langbehn DR, Ware J, Mohan A, Sampaio C. Standardizing the CAP Score in Huntington's Disease by Predicting Age-at-Onset. J Huntingtons Dis 2022; 11:153-171. [PMID: 35466943 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-210475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant, neurological disease caused by an expanded CAG repeat near the N-terminus of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. A leading theory concerning the etiology of HD is that both onset and progression are driven by cumulative exposure to the effects of mutant (or CAG expanded) huntingtin (mHTT). The CAG-Age-Product (CAP) score (i.e., the product of excess CAG length and age) is a commonly used measure of this cumulative exposure. CAP score has been widely used as a predictor of a variety of disease state variables in HD. The utility of the CAP score has been somewhat diminished, however, by a lack of agreement on its precise definition. The most commonly used forms of the CAP score are highly correlated so that, for purposes of prediction, it makes little difference which is used. However, reported values of CAP scores, based on commonly used definitions, differ substantially in magnitude when applied to the same data. This complicates the process of inter-study comparison. OBJECTIVE In this paper, we propose a standardized definition for the CAP score which will resolve this difficulty. Our standardization is chosen so that CAP = 100 at the expected age of diagnosis. METHODS Statistical methods include novel survival analysis methodology applied to the 13 disease landmarks taken from the Enroll-HD database (PDS 5) and comparisons with the existing, gold standard, onset model. RESULTS Useful by-products of our work include up-to-date, age-at-onset (AO) results and a refined AO model suitable for use in other contexts, a discussion of several useful properties of the CAP score that have not previously been noted in the literature and the introduction of the concept of a toxicity onset model. CONCLUSION We suggest that taking L = 30 and K = 6.49 provides a useful standardization of the CAP score, suitable for use in the routine modeling of clinical data in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey D Long
- Departments of Psychiatry, Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - James A Mills
- Departments of Psychiatry, Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Douglas R Langbehn
- Departments of Psychiatry, Biostatistics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Amrita Mohan
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, Princeton, NJ, USA
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8
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Molecular Pathogenesis and Peripheral Monitoring of Adult Fragile X-Associated Syndromes. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168368. [PMID: 34445074 PMCID: PMC8395059 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal trinucleotide expansions cause rare disorders that compromise quality of life and, in some cases, lifespan. In particular, the expansions of the CGG-repeats stretch at the 5’-UTR of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene have pleiotropic effects that lead to a variety of Fragile X-associated syndromes: the neurodevelopmental Fragile X syndrome (FXS) in children, the late-onset neurodegenerative disorder Fragile X-associated tremor-ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) that mainly affects adult men, the Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI) in adult women, and a variety of psychiatric and affective disorders that are under the term of Fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (FXAND). In this review, we will describe the pathological mechanisms of the adult “gain-of-function” syndromes that are mainly caused by the toxic actions of CGG RNA and FMRpolyG peptide. There have been intensive attempts to identify reliable peripheral biomarkers to assess disease progression and onset of specific pathological traits. Mitochondrial dysfunction, altered miRNA expression, endocrine system failure, and impairment of the GABAergic transmission are some of the affectations that are susceptible to be tracked using peripheral blood for monitoring of the motor, cognitive, psychiatric and reproductive impairment of the CGG-expansion carriers. We provided some illustrative examples from our own cohort. Understanding the association between molecular pathogenesis and biomarkers dynamics will improve effective prognosis and clinical management of CGG-expansion carriers.
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9
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Fuady AM, van Roon-Mom WMC, Kiełbasa SM, Uh HW, Houwing-Duistermaat JJ. Statistical method for modeling sequencing data from different technologies in longitudinal studies with application to Huntington disease. Biom J 2020; 63:745-760. [PMID: 33350510 PMCID: PMC8049011 DOI: 10.1002/bimj.201900235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Advancement of gene expression measurements in longitudinal studies enables the identification of genes associated with disease severity over time. However, problems arise when the technology used to measure gene expression differs between time points. Observed differences between the results obtained at different time points can be caused by technical differences. Modeling the two measurements jointly over time might provide insight into the causes of these different results. Our work is motivated by a study of gene expression data of blood samples from Huntington disease patients, which were obtained using two different sequencing technologies. At time point 1, DeepSAGE technology was used to measure the gene expression, with a subsample also measured using RNA‐Seq technology. At time point 2, all samples were measured using RNA‐Seq technology. Significant associations between gene expression measured by DeepSAGE and disease severity using data from the first time point could not be replicated by the RNA‐Seq data from the second time point. We modeled the relationship between the two sequencing technologies using the data from the overlapping samples. We used linear mixed models with either DeepSAGE or RNA‐Seq measurements as the dependent variable and disease severity as the independent variable. In conclusion, (1) for one out of 14 genes, the initial significant result could be replicated with both technologies using data from both time points; (2) statistical efficiency is lost due to disagreement between the two technologies, measurement error when predicting gene expressions, and the need to include additional parameters to account for possible differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angga M Fuady
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.,Department of Biostatistics and Research Support, Div. Julius Centrum, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | | | - Szymon M Kiełbasa
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Hae-Won Uh
- Department of Biostatistics and Research Support, Div. Julius Centrum, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Jeanine J Houwing-Duistermaat
- Department of Biostatistics and Research Support, Div. Julius Centrum, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Department of Statistics and Alan Turing Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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10
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Kedaigle AJ, Fraenkel E, Atwal RS, Wu M, Gusella JF, MacDonald ME, Kaye JA, Finkbeiner S, Mattis VB, Tom CM, Svendsen C, King AR, Chen Y, Stocksdale JT, Lim RG, Casale M, Wang PH, Thompson LM, Akimov SS, Ratovitski T, Arbez N, Ross CA. Bioenergetic deficits in Huntington's disease iPSC-derived neural cells and rescue with glycolytic metabolites. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:1757-1771. [PMID: 30768179 PMCID: PMC7372552 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 12/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered cellular metabolism is believed to be an important contributor to pathogenesis of the neurodegenerative disorder Huntington's disease (HD). Research has primarily focused on mitochondrial toxicity, which can cause death of the vulnerable striatal neurons, but other aspects of metabolism have also been implicated. Most previous studies have been carried out using postmortem human brain or non-human cells. Here, we studied bioenergetics in an induced pluripotent stem cell-based model of the disease. We found decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels in HD cells compared to controls across differentiation stages and protocols. Proteomics data and multiomics network analysis revealed normal or increased levels of mitochondrial messages and proteins, but lowered expression of glycolytic enzymes. Metabolic experiments showed decreased spare glycolytic capacity in HD neurons, while maximal and spare respiratory capacities driven by oxidative phosphorylation were largely unchanged. ATP levels in HD neurons could be rescued with addition of pyruvate or late glycolytic metabolites, but not earlier glycolytic metabolites, suggesting a role for glycolytic deficits as part of the metabolic disturbance in HD neurons. Pyruvate or other related metabolic supplements could have therapeutic benefit in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Amanda J Kedaigle
- Computational and Systems Biology Graduate Program and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ernest Fraenkel
- Computational and Systems Biology Graduate Program and Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ranjit S Atwal
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Simches Research Building, Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Min Wu
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Simches Research Building, Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James F Gusella
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Simches Research Building, Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marcy E MacDonald
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Simches Research Building, Cambridge Street, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julia A Kaye
- Gladstone Institutes and Taube/Koret Center of Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Roddenberry Stem Cell Research Program, Departments of Neurology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven Finkbeiner
- Gladstone Institutes and Taube/Koret Center of Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Roddenberry Stem Cell Research Program, Departments of Neurology and Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Virginia B Mattis
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Colton M Tom
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Clive Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute and Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Alvin R King
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Medicine, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center and UCI MIND, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Yumay Chen
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Medicine, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center and UCI MIND, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer T Stocksdale
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Medicine, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center and UCI MIND, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ryan G Lim
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Medicine, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center and UCI MIND, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Malcolm Casale
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Medicine, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center and UCI MIND, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Ping H Wang
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Medicine, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center and UCI MIND, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Department of Medicine, Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Center and UCI MIND, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Sergey S Akimov
- Division of Neurobiology, Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MA, USA
| | - Tamara Ratovitski
- Division of Neurobiology, Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MA, USA
| | - Nicolas Arbez
- Division of Neurobiology, Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MA, USA
| | - Christopher A Ross
- Division of Neurobiology, Departments of Psychiatry, Neurology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MA, USA
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11
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Doxakis E. Therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides for movement disorders. Med Res Rev 2020; 41:2656-2688. [PMID: 32656818 DOI: 10.1002/med.21706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Movement disorders are a group of neurological conditions characterized by abnormalities of movement and posture. They are broadly divided into akinetic and hyperkinetic syndromes. Until now, no effective symptomatic or disease-modifying therapies have been available. However, since many of these disorders are monogenic or have some well-defined genetic component, they represent strong candidates for antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies. ASO therapies are based on the use of short synthetic single-stranded ASOs that bind to disease-related target RNAs via Watson-Crick base-pairing and pleiotropically modulate their function. With information arising from the RNA sequence alone, it is possible to design ASOs that not only alter the expression levels but also the splicing defects of any protein, far exceeding the intervention repertoire of traditional small molecule approaches. Following the regulatory approval of ASO therapies for spinal muscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy in 2016, there has been tremendous momentum in testing such therapies for other neurological disorders. This review article initially focuses on the chemical modifications aimed at improving ASO effectiveness, the mechanisms by which ASOs can interfere with RNA function, delivery systems and pharmacokinetics, and the common set of toxicities associated with their application. It, then, describes the pathophysiology and the latest information on preclinical and clinical trials utilizing ASOs for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and ataxias 1, 2, 3, and 7. It concludes with issues that require special attention to realize the full potential of ASO-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Epaminondas Doxakis
- Center of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
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12
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Fernandes MF, de Oliveira S, Portovedo M, Rodrigues PB, Vinolo MAR. Effect of Short Chain Fatty Acids on Age-Related Disorders. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1260:85-105. [PMID: 32304031 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-42667-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recent studies have indicated a prominent role of intestinal microbiota in regulation of several physiological aspects of the host including development and activation of the immune system and control of metabolism. In this review, we focused our discussion on bacterial metabolites produced from dietary fiber fermentation called short-chain fatty acids, which act as a link between the microbiota and host cells. Specifically, we described how modifications in their intestinal levels are associated with development of age-related pathologies including metabolic diseases and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. We also highlight their impact on the development of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariane Font Fernandes
- Laboratory of Immunoinflammation, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology, and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Sarah de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Immunoinflammation, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology, and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Mariana Portovedo
- Laboratory of Immunoinflammation, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology, and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Brito Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Immunoinflammation, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology, and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurélio Ramirez Vinolo
- Laboratory of Immunoinflammation, Department of Genetics, Evolution, Microbiology, and Immunology, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
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13
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Joviano-Santos JV, Santos-Miranda A, Botelho AFM, de Jesus ICG, Andrade JN, de Oliveira Barreto T, Magalhães-Gomes MPS, Valadão PAC, Cruz JDS, Melo MM, Guatimosim S, Guatimosim C. Increased oxidative stress and CaMKII activity contribute to electro-mechanical defects in cardiomyocytes from a murine model of Huntington's disease. FEBS J 2018; 286:110-123. [PMID: 30451379 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder. Although described as a brain pathology, there is evidence suggesting that defects in other systems can contribute to disease progression. In line with this, cardiovascular defects are a major cause of death in HD. To date, relatively little is known about the peripheral abnormalities associated with the disease. Here, we applied a range of assays to evaluate cardiac electro-mechanical properties in vivo, using a previously characterized mouse model of HD (BACHD), and in vitro, using cardiomyocytes isolated from the same mice. We observed conduction disturbances including QT interval prolongation in BACHD mice, indicative of cardiac dysfunction. Cardiomyocytes from these mice demonstrated cellular electro-mechanical abnormalities, including a prolonged action potential, arrhythmic contractions, and relaxation disturbances. Cellular arrhythmia was accompanied by an increase in calcium waves and increased Ca2+ /calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II activity, suggesting that disruption of calcium homeostasis plays a key part. We also described structural abnormalities in the mitochondria of BACHD-derived cardiomyocytes, indicative of oxidative stress. Consistent with this, imbalances in superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were detected. Our data provide an in vivo demonstration of cardiac abnormalities in HD together with new insights into the cellular mechanistic basis, providing a possible explanation for the higher cardiovascular risk in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Artur Santos-Miranda
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Ana Flávia Machado Botelho
- Department of Veterinary Clinic and Surgery, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Itamar Couto Guedes de Jesus
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Jéssica Neves Andrade
- Department of Morphology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Tatiane de Oliveira Barreto
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | | | - Jader Dos Santos Cruz
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Marília Martins Melo
- Department of Veterinary Clinic and Surgery, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Silvia Guatimosim
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Cristina Guatimosim
- Department of Morphology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
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Podvin S, Reardon HT, Yin K, Mosier C, Hook V. Multiple clinical features of Huntington's disease correlate with mutant HTT gene CAG repeat lengths and neurodegeneration. J Neurol 2018; 266:551-564. [PMID: 29956026 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-018-8940-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by mutant HTT gene expansions of CAG triplet repeat numbers that are inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. HD patients display multiple clinical features that are correlated with HTT CAG repeat numbers that include age of disease onset, motor dysfunction, cognitive deficits, compromised daily living capacity, and brain neurodegeneration. It is important to understand the significant relationships of the multiple HD clinical deficits correlated with the number of mutant HTT CAG expansions that are the genetic basis for HD disabilities. Therefore, this review highlights the significant correlations of the HD clinical features of age of onset, motor and cognitive disabilities, decline in living capabilities, weight loss, risk of death, and brain neurodegeneration with respect to their associations with CAG repeat lengths of the HTT gene. Quantitative HTT gene expression patterns analyzed in normal adult human brain regions demonstrated its distribution in areas known to undergo neurodegeneration in HD, as well as in other brain regions. Future investigation of the relationships of the spectrum of clinical HD features with mutant HTT molecular mechanisms will be important to gain understanding of how mutant CAG expansions of the HTT gene result in the devastating disabilities of HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Podvin
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0719, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0719, USA
| | - Holly T Reardon
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0719, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0719, USA
| | - Katrina Yin
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0719, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0719, USA
| | - Charles Mosier
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0719, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0719, USA
| | - Vivian Hook
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0719, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0719, USA.
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0719, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0719, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC0719, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92093-0719, USA.
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15
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Huang CL, Wang KC, Yang YC, Chiou CT, Tan CH, Lin YL, Huang NK. Gastrodia elata alleviates mutant huntingtin aggregation through mitochondrial function and biogenesis mediation. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2018; 39:75-84. [PMID: 29433686 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND According to the Compendium of Materia Medica, Gastrodia elata (GE) Blume is a top-grade herbal medicine frequently used to treat dizziness, headaches, tetanus, and epilepsy, suggesting that it affects neurological functions. Although studies have supported its effects in preventing diverse neurodegenerations such as Huntington's disease (HD), its mechanisms require further investigation. PURPOSE To investigate the ability of the molecular mechanism of GE to prevent mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein aggregation by focusing on mitochondrial function and biogenesis, which have been proposed as the therapeutic targets of HD. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS mHtt overexpression in pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells was used as an in vitro cell model of HD. A retardation assay was applied to measure protein aggregation during Htt expression. Cotransfection with transcriptional genes was used to test their relationships with HTT aggregates by monitoring with a confocal laser scanning microscope. Western blot analysis was used to estimate protein expression under different drug treatments or when cotransfected with other related genes. RESULTS Mutant, abnormal Htt overexpression resulted in significant protein aggregation in PC12 cells. GE dose-dependently attenuated mHTT aggregates and increased cyclic-AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. Adenosine A2A-R receptor (A2A-R) antagonist counteracted these phenomena. CREB overexpression significantly attenuated mHTT aggregation. GE increased the promoter activity and expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α). Furthermore, wild-type PGC-1α but not mutant PGC-1α overexpression attenuated mHTT aggregates. CONCLUSION GE attenuated mHtt aggregation by mediating mitochondrial function and biogenesis through the A2A-R/PKA/CREB/PGC-1α-dependent pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuen-Lin Huang
- Medical Research Center, Cardinal Tien Hospital, Hsintien, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Physiology & Department of Physiology and Biophysics, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kaw-Chen Wang
- Department of Neurology, Cardinal-Tien Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ying-Chen Yang
- Department of Biotechnology and Animal Science, National Ilan University, Ilan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chun-Tang Chiou
- National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chia-Hui Tan
- National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yun-Lian Lin
- School of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, College of Biopharmaceutical and Food Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Nai-Kuei Huang
- National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Ph.D. Program for Neural Regenerative Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
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16
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Azadiradione Restores Protein Quality Control and Ameliorates the Disease Pathogenesis in a Mouse Model of Huntington’s Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 55:6337-6346. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-017-0853-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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17
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Simmons DA, Belichenko NP, Ford EC, Semaan S, Monbureau M, Aiyaswamy S, Holman CM, Condon C, Shamloo M, Massa SM, Longo FM. A small molecule p75NTR ligand normalizes signalling and reduces Huntington's disease phenotypes in R6/2 and BACHD mice. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:4920-4938. [PMID: 28171570 PMCID: PMC5418739 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2016] [Revised: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Decreases in the ratio of neurotrophic versus neurodegenerative signalling play a critical role in Huntington’s disease (HD) pathogenesis and recent evidence suggests that the p75 neurotrophin receptor (NTR) contributes significantly to disease progression. p75NTR signalling intermediates substantially overlap with those promoting neuronal survival and synapse integrity and with those affected by the mutant huntingtin (muHtt) protein. MuHtt increases p75NTR-associated deleterious signalling and decreases survival signalling suggesting that p75NTR could be a valuable therapeutic target. This hypothesis was investigated by examining the effects of an orally bioavailable, small molecule p75NTR ligand, LM11A-31, on HD-related neuropathology in HD mouse models (R6/2, BACHD). LM11A-31 restored striatal AKT and other pro-survival signalling while inhibiting c-Jun kinase (JNK) and other degenerative signalling. Normalizing p75NTR signalling with LM11A-31 was accompanied by reduced Htt aggregates and striatal cholinergic interneuron degeneration as well as extended survival in R6/2 mice. The p75NTR ligand also decreased inflammation, increased striatal and hippocampal dendritic spine density, and improved motor performance and cognition in R6/2 and BACHD mice. These results support small molecule modulation of p75NTR as an effective HD therapeutic strategy. LM11A-31 has successfully completed Phase I safety and pharmacokinetic clinical trials and is therefore a viable candidate for clinical studies in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle A. Simmons
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Nadia P. Belichenko
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Ellen C. Ford
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Sarah Semaan
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Marie Monbureau
- Behavioral and Functional Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute for Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neurosciences
| | - Sruti Aiyaswamy
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Cameron M. Holman
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Christina Condon
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
| | - Mehrdad Shamloo
- Behavioral and Functional Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute for Neuro-Innovation and Translational Neurosciences
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Stephen M. Massa
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory for Computational Neurochemistry and Drug Discovery, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Department of Neurology, University of California–San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Frank M. Longo
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine
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18
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Plotkin JL, Surmeier DJ. Corticostriatal synaptic adaptations in Huntington's disease. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2015; 33:53-62. [PMID: 25700146 PMCID: PMC4831704 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2015.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that profoundly impairs corticostriatal information processing. While late stage pathology includes cell death, the appearance of motor symptoms parallels more subtle changes in neuronal function and synaptic integration. Because of the difficulty in modeling the disease and the complexity of the corticostriatal network, understanding the mechanisms driving pathology has been slow to develop. In recent years, advances in animal models and network analysis tools have begun to shed light on the circuit-specific deficits. These studies have revealed a progressive impairment of corticostriatal synaptic signaling in sub-populations of striatal neurons, turning classical excitotoxicity models of HD upside down. Disrupted brain derived neurotrophic factor signaling appears to be a key factor in this decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L Plotkin
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - D James Surmeier
- Department of Physiology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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19
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Kalkhoven C, Sennef C, Peeters A, van den Bos R. Risk-taking and pathological gambling behavior in Huntington's disease. Front Behav Neurosci 2014; 8:103. [PMID: 24765067 PMCID: PMC3980094 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2013] [Accepted: 03/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetic, neurodegenerative disorder, which specifically affects striatal neurons of the indirect pathway, resulting in a progressive decline in muscle coordination and loss of emotional and cognitive control. Interestingly, predisposition to pathological gambling and other addictions involves disturbances in the same cortico-striatal circuits that are affected in HD, and display similar disinhibition-related symptoms, including changed sensitivity to punishments and rewards, impulsivity, and inability to consider long-term advantages over short-term rewards. Both HD patients and pathological gamblers also show similar performance deficits on risky decision-making tasks, such as the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). These similarities suggest that HD patients are a likely risk group for gambling problems. However, such problems have only incidentally been observed in HD patients. In this review, we aim to characterize the risk of pathological gambling in HD, as well as the underlying neurobiological mechanisms. Especially with the current rise of easily accessible Internet gambling opportunities, it is important to understand these risks and provide appropriate patient support accordingly. Based on neuropathological and behavioral findings, we propose that HD patients may not have an increased tendency to seek risks and start gambling, but that they do have an increased chance of developing an addiction once they engage in gambling activities. Therefore, current and future developments of Internet gambling possibilities and related addictions should be regarded with care, especially for vulnerable groups like HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ruud van den Bos
- Department of Organismal Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, Radboud University NijmegenNijmegen, Netherlands
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20
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Identification of Novel Alternative Splicing Events in the Huntingtin Gene and Assessment of the Functional Consequences Using Structural Protein Homology Modelling. J Mol Biol 2014; 426:1428-38. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2013.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Revised: 12/23/2013] [Accepted: 12/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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21
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Yu M, Li X, Wu S, Shen J, Tu J. Examination of Huntington's disease in a Chinese family. Neural Regen Res 2014; 9:440-6. [PMID: 25206833 PMCID: PMC4146191 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.128258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We report brain imaging and genetic diagnosis in a family from Wuhan, China, with a history of Huntington's disease. Among 17 family members across three generations, four patients (II2, II6, III5, and III9) show typical Huntington's disease, involuntary dance-like movements. Magnetic resonance imaging found lateral ventricular atrophy in three members (II2, II6, and III5). Moreover, genetic analysis identified abnormally amplified CAG sequence repeats (> 40) in two members (III5 and III9). Among borderline cases, with clinical symptoms and brain imaging features of Huntington's disease, two cases were identified (II2 and II6), but shown by mutation analysis for CAG expansions in the important transcript 15 gene, to be non-Huntington's disease. Our findings suggest that clinical diagnosis of Huntington's disease requires a combination of clinical symptoms, radiological changes, and genetic diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxia Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine & Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiaogai Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine & Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Sanyun Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine & Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ji Shen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine & Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jiancheng Tu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine & Center for Gene Diagnosis, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
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22
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Abada YSK, Nguyen HP, Ellenbroek B, Schreiber R. Reversal learning and associative memory impairments in a BACHD rat model for Huntington disease. PLoS One 2013; 8:e71633. [PMID: 24223692 PMCID: PMC3815226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2013] [Accepted: 07/02/2013] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chorea and psychiatric symptoms are hallmarks of Huntington disease (HD), a neurodegenerative disorder, genetically characterized by the presence of expanded CAG repeats (>35) in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene. HD patients present psychiatric symptoms prior to the onset of motor symptoms and we recently found a similar emergence of non motor and motor deficits in BACHD rats carrying the human full length mutated HTT (97 CAG-CAA repeats). We evaluated cognitive performance in reversal learning and associative memory tests in different age cohorts of BACHD rats. Male wild type (WT) and transgenic (TG) rats between 2 and 12 months of age were tested. Learning and strategy shifting were assessed in a cross-maze test. Associative memory was evaluated in different fear conditioning paradigms (context, delay and trace). The possible confound of a fear conditioning phenotype by altered sensitivity to a 'painful' stimulus was assessed in a flinch-jump test. In the cross maze, 6 months old TG rats showed a mild impairment in reversal learning. In the fear conditioning tasks, 4, 6 and 12 months old TG rats showed a marked reduction in contextual fear conditioning. In addition, TG rats showed impaired delay conditioning (9 months) and trace fear conditioning (3 months). This phenotype was unlikely to be affected by a change in 'pain' sensitivity as WT and TG rats showed no difference in their threshold response in the flinch-jump test. Our results suggest that BACHD rats have a profound associative memory deficit and, possibly, a deficit in reversal learning as assessed in a cross maze task. The time course for the emergence of these symptoms (i.e., before the occurrence of motor symptoms) in this rat model for HD appears similar to the time course in patients. These data suggest that BACHD rats may be a useful model for preclinical drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yah-se K. Abada
- Neuropharmacology, EVOTEC AG, Hamburg, Germany
- Brain Research Institute Dept. of Neuropharmacology, University of Bremen – FB 2, Bremen, Germany
| | - Huu Phuc Nguyen
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Applied Genomics, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Bart Ellenbroek
- School of Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Rudy Schreiber
- Behavioral Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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23
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La Rosa S, Benicchi T, Bettinetti L, Ceccarelli I, Diodato E, Federico C, Fiengo P, Franceschini D, Gokce O, Heitz F, Lazzeroni G, Luthi-Carter R, Magnoni L, Miragliotta V, Scali C, Valacchi M. Fused 3-Hydroxy-3-trifluoromethylpyrazoles Inhibit Mutant Huntingtin Toxicity. ACS Med Chem Lett 2013; 4:979-84. [PMID: 24900595 PMCID: PMC4027250 DOI: 10.1021/ml400251g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2013] [Accepted: 08/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we describe the selection and optimization of a chemical series active in both a full-length and a fragment-based Huntington's disease (HD) assay. Twenty-four thousand small molecules were screened in a phenotypic HD assay, identifying a series of compounds bearing a 3-hydroxy-3-trifluoromethylpyrazole moiety as able to revert the toxicity induced by full-length mutant Htt by up to 50%. A chemical exploration around the series led to the identification of compound 4f, which demonstrated to be active in a Htt171-82Q rat primary striatal neuron assay and a PC12-Exon-1 based assay. This compound was selected for testing in R6/2 mice, in which it was well-tolerated and showed a positive effect on body weight and a positive trend in preventing ventricular volume enlargment. These studies provide strong rationale for further testing the potential benefits of 3-hydroxy-3-trifluoromethylpyrazoles in treating HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore La Rosa
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Tiziana Benicchi
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Bettinetti
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Ilaria Ceccarelli
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Enrica Diodato
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cesare Federico
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Pasquale Fiengo
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Davide Franceschini
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Ozgun Gokce
- Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),
Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Freddy Heitz
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giulia Lazzeroni
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Ruth Luthi-Carter
- Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL),
Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Letizia Magnoni
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | - Carla Scali
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Michela Valacchi
- Siena Biotech SpA, Strada del Petriccio e Belriguardo 35, 53100 Siena, Italy
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24
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Abada YSK, Nguyen HP, Schreiber R, Ellenbroek B. Assessment of motor function, sensory motor gating and recognition memory in a novel BACHD transgenic rat model for huntington disease. PLoS One 2013; 8:e68584. [PMID: 23874679 PMCID: PMC3708912 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale Huntington disease (HD) is frequently first diagnosed by the appearance of motor symptoms; the diagnosis is subsequently confirmed by the presence of expanded CAG repeats (> 35) in the HUNTINGTIN (HTT) gene. A BACHD rat model for HD carrying the human full length mutated HTT with 97 CAG-CAA repeats has been established recently. Behavioral phenotyping of BACHD rats will help to determine the validity of this model and its potential use in preclinical drug discovery studies. Objectives The present study seeks to characterize the progressive emergence of motor, sensorimotor and cognitive deficits in BACHD rats. Materials and Methods Wild type and transgenic rats were tested from 1 till 12 months of age. Motor tests were selected to measure spontaneous locomotor activity (open field) and gait coordination. Sensorimotor gating was assessed in acoustic startle response paradigms and recognition memory was evaluated in an object recognition test. Results Transgenic rats showed hyperactivity at 1 month and hypoactivity starting at 4 months of age. Motor coordination imbalance in a Rotarod test was present at 2 months and gait abnormalities were seen in a Catwalk test at 12 months. Subtle sensorimotor changes were observed, whereas object recognition was unimpaired in BACHD rats up to 12 months of age. Conclusion The current BACHD rat model recapitulates certain symptoms from HD patients, especially the marked motor deficits. A subtle neuropsychological phenotype was found and further studies are needed to fully address the sensorimotor phenotype and the potential use of BACHD rats for drug discovery purposes.
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Fiszer A, Krzyzosiak WJ. RNA toxicity in polyglutamine disorders: concepts, models, and progress of research. J Mol Med (Berl) 2013; 91:683-91. [PMID: 23512265 PMCID: PMC3659269 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-013-1016-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2013] [Revised: 02/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
In Huntington's disease and other polyglutamine (polyQ) disorders, mutant proteins containing a long polyQ stretch are well documented as the trigger of numerous aberrant cellular processes that primarily lead to degeneration and, ultimately, the death of neuronal cells. However, mutant transcripts containing expanded CAG repeats may also be toxic and contribute to cellular dysfunction. The exact nature and importance of RNA toxicity in polyQ diseases are only beginning to be recognized, and the first insights have mainly resulted from studies using simple model systems. In this review, we briefly present the basic mechanisms of protein toxicity in polyQ disorders and RNA toxicity in myotonic dystrophy type 1 and discuss recent results suggesting that the pathogenesis of polyQ diseases may also be mediated by mutant transcripts. This review is focused on the experimental systems used thus far to demonstrate RNA toxicity in polyQ disorders and the design of new systems that will be more relevant to the human disease situation and capable of separating RNA toxicity from protein toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Fiszer
- Laboratory of Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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Jin J, Albertz J, Guo Z, Peng Q, Rudow G, Troncoso JC, Ross CA, Duan W. Neuroprotective effects of PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone in N171-82Q mouse model of Huntington's disease. J Neurochem 2013; 125:410-9. [PMID: 23373812 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2012] [Revised: 01/30/2013] [Accepted: 01/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating genetic neurodegenerative disease caused by CAG trinucleotide expansion in the exon-1 region of the huntingtin gene. Currently, no cure is available. It is becoming increasingly apparent that mutant Huntingtin (HTT) impairs metabolic homeostasis and causes transcriptional dysregulation. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) is a transcriptional factor that plays a key role in regulating genes involved in energy metabolism; recent studies demonstrated that PPAR-γ activation prevented mitochondrial depolarization in cells expressing mutant HTT and attenuated neurodegeneration in various models of neurodegenerative diseases. PPAR-γ-coactivator 1α (PGC-1 α) transcription activity is also impaired by mutant HTT. We now report that the PPAR-γ agonist, rosiglitazone (RSG), significantly attenuated mutant HTT-induced toxicity in striatal cells and that the protective effect of RSG is mediated by activation of PPAR-γ. Moreover, chronic administration of RSG (10 mg/kg/day, i.p) significantly improved motor function and attenuated hyperglycemia in N171-82Q HD mice. RSG administration rescued brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) deficiency in the cerebral cortex, and prevented loss of orexin-A-immunopositive neurons in the hypothalamus of N171-82Q HD mice. RSG also prevented PGC-1α reduction and increased Sirt6 protein levels in HD mouse brain. Our results suggest that modifying the PPAR-γ pathway plays a beneficial role in rescuing motor function as well as glucose metabolic abnormalities in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jin
- Division of Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Trueman RC, Klein A, Lindgren HS, Lelos MJ, Dunnett SB. Repair of the CNS using endogenous and transplanted neural stem cells. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2013; 15:357-98. [PMID: 22907556 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2012_223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Restoration of the damaged central nervous system is a vast challenge. However, there is a great need for research into this topic, due to the prevalence of central nervous system disorders and the devastating impact they have on people's lives. A number of strategies are being examined to achieve this goal, including cell replacement therapy, enhancement of endogenous plasticity and the recruitment of endogenous neurogenesis. The current chapter reviews this topic within the context of Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and stroke. For each disease exogenous cell therapies are discussed including primary (foetal) cell transplants, neural stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells and marrow stromal cells. This chapter highlights the different mechanistic approaches of cell replacement therapy versus cells that deliver neurotropic factors, or enhance the endogenous production of these factors. Evidence of exogenously transplanted cells functionally integrating into the host brain, replacing cells, and having a behavioural benefit are discussed, along with the ability of some cell sources to stimulate endogenous neuroprotective and restorative events. Alongside exogenous cell therapy, the role of endogenous neurogenesis in each of the three diseases is outlined and methods to enhance this phenomenon are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Trueman
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham Medical School, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK
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Abada YSK, Schreiber R, Ellenbroek B. Motor, emotional and cognitive deficits in adult BACHD mice: a model for Huntington's disease. Behav Brain Res 2012; 238:243-51. [PMID: 23123142 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2012] [Revised: 10/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/20/2012] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by progressive motor dysfunction, emotional disturbances and cognitive deficits. It is a genetic disease caused by an elongation of the polyglutamine repeats in the huntingtin gene. Whereas HD is a complex disorder, previous studies in mice models have largely been confined to assessing motor deficits. OBJECTIVES The aim of the present studies is a comprehensive phenotypical assessment of not only motor and gait deficits, but also of emotional and cognitive deficits in adult BACHD mice. MATERIAL AND METHODS 46 male BACHD mice between 9 and 10 months of age were used. Wild type (+/+) and transgenic (+/T) mice were tested for motor deficits on a Rotarod and Catwalk system. Emotional deficits were assessed with the zero-maze and fear conditioning tests. Cognitive deficits in a strategy shifting task were evaluated in a cross-maze test. RESULTS Comparing +/T and +/+ mice, we replicated the motor deficits in the transgenic mice that were previously described in the Rotarod test. For the first time, motor coordination imbalances in +/T animals are described in the Catwalk gait analysis system. +/T mice showed more anxiety-like behavior in the zero-maze test and a higher freezing response in the fear conditioning test. Reversal and strategy shifting impairments were demonstrated in the cross-maze, indicative of a disturbed prefrontal-striatal pathway. CONCLUSION The results suggest that BACHD mice represent an animal model with a high degree of face validity for HD and may be very useful for testing novel therapeutic strategies.
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