1
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Keeley O, Coyne AN. Nuclear and degradative functions of the ESCRT-III pathway: implications for neurodegenerative disease. Nucleus 2024; 15:2349085. [PMID: 38700207 PMCID: PMC11073439 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2024.2349085] [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: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The ESCRT machinery plays a pivotal role in membrane-remodeling events across multiple cellular processes including nuclear envelope repair and reformation, nuclear pore complex surveillance, endolysosomal trafficking, and neuronal pruning. Alterations in ESCRT-III functionality have been associated with neurodegenerative diseases including Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In addition, mutations in specific ESCRT-III proteins have been identified in FTD/ALS. Thus, understanding how disruptions in the fundamental functions of this pathway and its individual protein components in the human central nervous system (CNS) may offer valuable insights into mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis and identification of potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we discuss ESCRT components, dynamics, and functions, with a focus on the ESCRT-III pathway. In addition, we explore the implications of altered ESCRT-III function for neurodegeneration with a primary emphasis on nuclear surveillance and endolysosomal trafficking within the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Keeley
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alyssa N. Coyne
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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2
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Fare CM, Rothstein JD. Nuclear pore dysfunction and disease: a complex opportunity. Nucleus 2024; 15:2314297. [PMID: 38383349 PMCID: PMC10883112 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2024.2314297] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The separation of genetic material from bulk cytoplasm has enabled the evolution of increasingly complex organisms, allowing for the development of sophisticated forms of life. However, this complexity has created new categories of dysfunction, including those related to the movement of material between cellular compartments. In eukaryotic cells, nucleocytoplasmic trafficking is a fundamental biological process, and cumulative disruptions to nuclear integrity and nucleocytoplasmic transport are detrimental to cell survival. This is particularly true in post-mitotic neurons, where nuclear pore injury and errors to nucleocytoplasmic trafficking are strongly associated with neurodegenerative disease. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of nuclear pore biology in physiological and pathological contexts and discuss potential therapeutic approaches for addressing nuclear pore injury and dysfunctional nucleocytoplasmic transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte M Fare
- Department of Neurology and Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey D Rothstein
- Department of Neurology and Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
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3
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Lin J, Sumara I. Cytoplasmic nucleoporin assemblage: the cellular artwork in physiology and disease. Nucleus 2024; 15:2387534. [PMID: 39135336 PMCID: PMC11323873 DOI: 10.1080/19491034.2024.2387534] [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: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Nucleoporins, essential proteins building the nuclear pore, are pivotal for ensuring nucleocytoplasmic transport. While traditionally confined to the nuclear envelope, emerging evidence indicates their presence in various cytoplasmic structures, suggesting potential non-transport-related roles. This review consolidates findings on cytoplasmic nucleoporin assemblies across different states, including normal physiological conditions, stress, and pathology, exploring their structural organization, formation dynamics, and functional implications. We summarize the current knowledge and the latest concepts on the regulation of nucleoporin homeostasis, aiming to enhance our understanding of their unexpected roles in physiological and pathological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Lin
- Department of Development and Stem Cells, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), Illkirch, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7104, Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U964, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Izabela Sumara
- Department of Development and Stem Cells, Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), Illkirch, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7104, Strasbourg, France
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale U964, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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4
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Yang D, Lai A, Davies A, Janssen AF, Ellis MO, Larrieu D. A novel role for CSA in the regulation of nuclear envelope integrity: uncovering a non-canonical function. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202402745. [PMID: 39209536 PMCID: PMC11361374 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202402745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Cockayne syndrome (CS) is a premature ageing condition characterized by microcephaly, growth failure, and neurodegeneration. It is caused by mutations in ERCC6 or ERCC8 encoding for Cockayne syndrome B (CSB) and A (CSA) proteins, respectively. CSA and CSB have well-characterized roles in transcription-coupled nucleotide excision repair, responsible for removing bulky DNA lesions, including those caused by UV irradiation. Here, we report that CSA dysfunction causes defects in the nuclear envelope (NE) integrity. NE dysfunction is characteristic of progeroid disorders caused by a mutation in NE proteins, such as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome. However, it has never been reported in Cockayne syndrome. We observed CSA dysfunction affected LEMD2 incorporation at the NE and increased actin stress fibers that contributed to enhanced mechanical stress to the NE. Altogether, these led to NE abnormalities associated with the activation of the cGAS/STING pathway. Targeting the linker of the nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complex was sufficient to rescue these phenotypes. This work reveals NE dysfunction in a progeroid syndrome caused by mutations in a DNA damage repair protein, reinforcing the connection between NE deregulation and ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denny Yang
- https://ror.org/013meh722 Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Island Research Building, Cambridge, UK
| | - Austin Lai
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, The Keith Peters Building, Cambridge, UK
| | - Amelie Davies
- https://ror.org/013meh722 Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anne Fj Janssen
- https://ror.org/013meh722 Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, The Keith Peters Building, Cambridge, UK
| | - Matthew O Ellis
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Island Research Building, Cambridge, UK
| | - Delphine Larrieu
- https://ror.org/013meh722 Department of Pharmacology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, The Keith Peters Building, Cambridge, UK
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5
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Costa MFD, Rösler TW, Höglinger GU. Exploring the neuroprotective potential of Nrf2-pathway activators against annonacin toxicity. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20123. [PMID: 39209951 PMCID: PMC11362529 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70837-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Modulation of the Nrf2 pathway, a master regulator of the antioxidant response and cellular metabolism, has been suggested as a promising therapeutic strategy in tauopathies, a heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by intracellular proteinaceous inclusions of abnormally phosphorylated tau. Here, we explored the neuroprotective potential of different Nrf2-pathway activators in human immortalized dopaminergic neurons against annonacin-induced toxicity, a mitochondrial inhibitor associated with a PSP-like syndrome and capable of mimicking tauopathy-like features. Interestingly, we observed heterogenous and compound-dependent neuroprotective effects among the different Nrf2-pathway activators. With the exception of Fyn inhibitors, all the selected Nrf2-pathway activators improved cell viability and the oxidative status, and reduced the annonacin-induced tau hyperphosphorylation and neurite degeneration, particularly the p62-activators. However, improvement of the impaired mitochondrial function was only observed by the Bach-1 inhibitor. Surprisingly, we found evidence that ezetimibe, an approved drug for hypercholesterolemia, prevents the transcriptional upregulation of 4R-tau triggered by annonacin insult. Overall, our results suggest that the neuroprotective effects of the Nrf2-pathway activators against annonacin toxicity may rely on the specific mechanism of action, intrinsic to each compound, and possibly on the concomitant modulation of additional signaling pathways. Further research will be needed to fully understand how synergistic modulation of metabolic adaptation and cell survival can be exploit to develop new therapeutical strategies for tauopathies and eventually other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Márcia F D Costa
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Thomas W Rösler
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Günter U Höglinger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, LMU Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, Germany.
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6
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Scaduto P, Marcatti M, Bhatt N, Kayed R, Taglialatela G. Calcineurin inhibition prevents synaptic plasticity deficit induced by brain-derived tau oligomers. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae277. [PMID: 39239152 PMCID: PMC11375858 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae277] [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: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Compelling evidence suggests that cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease is associated with the accumulation and aggregation of tau protein, with the most toxic aggregates being in the form of oligomers. This underscores the necessity for direct isolation and analysis of brain-derived tau oligomers from patients with Alzheimer's disease, potentially offering novel perspectives into tau toxicity. Alzheimer's brain-derived tau oligomers are potent inhibitors of synaptic plasticity; however, the involved mechanism is still not fully understood. We previously reported a significantly reduced incidence of Alzheimer's disease in ageing humans chronically treated with a Food and Drug Administration-approved calcineurin inhibitor, FK506 (tacrolimus), used as an immunosuppressant after solid organ transplant. Using a combination of electrophysiological and RNA-sequencing techniques, we provide here evidence that FK506 has the potential to block the acute toxic effect of brain-derived tau oligomers on synaptic plasticity, as well as to restore the levels of some key synaptic mRNAs. These results further support FK506 as a promising novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Scaduto
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Michela Marcatti
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Nemil Bhatt
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Rakez Kayed
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Giulio Taglialatela
- Department of Neurology, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
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7
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Frost B, Dubnau J. The Role of Retrotransposons and Endogenous Retroviruses in Age-Dependent Neurodegenerative Disorders. Annu Rev Neurosci 2024; 47:123-143. [PMID: 38663088 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-082823-020615] [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] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
Over 40% of the human genome is composed of retrotransposons, DNA species that hold the potential to replicate via an RNA intermediate and are evolutionarily related to retroviruses. Retrotransposons are most studied for their ability to jump within a genome, which can cause DNA damage and novel insertional mutations. Retrotransposon-encoded products, including viral-like proteins, double-stranded RNAs, and extrachromosomal circular DNAs, can also be potent activators of the innate immune system. A growing body of evidence suggests that retrotransposons are activated in age-related neurodegenerative disorders and that such activation causally contributes to neurotoxicity. Here we provide an overview of retrotransposon biology and outline evidence of retrotransposon activation in age-related neurodegenerative disorders, with an emphasis on those involving TAR-DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43) and tau. Studies to date provide the basis for ongoing clinical trials and hold promise for innovative strategies to ameliorate the adverse effects of retrotransposon dysregulation in neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bess Frost
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA;
| | - Josh Dubnau
- Department of Anesthesiology and Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Stony Brook School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, USA;
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8
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Hundal A, Urman D, Stanic M, Hakem R, Mekhail K. Protocol for machine-learning-based 3D image analysis of nuclear envelope tubules in cultured cells. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:103214. [PMID: 39088324 PMCID: PMC11342193 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103214] [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: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The nuclear envelope can form complex structures in physiological and pathological contexts. Current approaches to quantify nuclear envelope structures can be time-consuming or inaccurate. Here, we present a protocol to measure nuclear envelope tubules induced by DNA double-strand breaks using a mid-throughput approach. We describe steps for the induction of these nuclear envelope structures and 3D image analysis using machine-learning-based image segmentation. This protocol can be applied to analyze various nuclear envelope structures in contexts beyond DNA repair. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Shokrollahi et al.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anisha Hundal
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Research Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Defne Urman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mia Stanic
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Razqallah Hakem
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Research Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Karim Mekhail
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Temerty Centre for AI Research and Education in Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists, The Royal Society of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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9
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Lindamood HL, Liu TM, Read TA, Vitriol EA. Using ALS to understand profilin 1's diverse roles in cellular physiology. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2024. [PMID: 39056295 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Profilin is an actin monomer-binding protein whose role in actin polymerization has been studied for nearly 50 years. While its principal biochemical features are now well understood, many questions remain about how profilin controls diverse processes within the cell. Dysregulation of profilin has been implicated in a broad range of human diseases, including neurodegeneration, inflammatory disorders, cardiac disease, and cancer. For example, mutations in the profilin 1 gene (PFN1) can cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), although the precise mechanisms that drive neurodegeneration remain unclear. While initial work suggested proteostasis and actin cytoskeleton defects as the main pathological pathways, multiple novel functions for PFN1 have since been discovered that may also contribute to ALS, including the regulation of nucleocytoplasmic transport, stress granules, mitochondria, and microtubules. Here, we will review these newly discovered roles for PFN1, speculate on their contribution to ALS, and discuss how defects in actin can contribute to these processes. By understanding profilin 1's involvement in ALS pathogenesis, we hope to gain insight into this functionally complex protein with significant influence over cellular physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Halli L Lindamood
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Tatiana M Liu
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Tracy-Ann Read
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
| | - Eric A Vitriol
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, USA
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10
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Asada-Utsugi M, Urushitani M. Tau beyond Tangles: DNA Damage Response and Cytoskeletal Protein Crosstalk on Neurodegeneration. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7906. [PMID: 39063148 PMCID: PMC11277103 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147906] [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: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurons in the brain are continuously exposed to various sources of DNA damage. Although the mechanisms of DNA damage repair in mitotic cells have been extensively characterized, the repair pathways in post-mitotic neurons are still largely elusive. Moreover, inaccurate repair can result in deleterious mutations, including deletions, insertions, and chromosomal translocations, ultimately compromising genomic stability. Since neurons are terminally differentiated cells, they cannot employ homologous recombination (HR) for double-strand break (DSB) repair, suggesting the existence of neuron-specific repair mechanisms. Our research has centered on the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT), a crucial pathological protein implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, and its interplay with neurons' DNA damage response (DDR). This review aims to provide an updated synthesis of the current understanding of the complex interplay between DDR and cytoskeletal proteins in neurons, with a particular focus on the role of tau in neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Makoto Urushitani
- Department of Neurology, Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu 520-2192, Shiga, Japan;
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11
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Zuniga G, Katsumura S, De Mange J, Ramirez P, Atrian F, Morita M, Frost B. Pathogenic tau induces an adaptive elevation in mRNA translation rate at early stages of disease. Aging Cell 2024:e14245. [PMID: 38932463 DOI: 10.1111/acel.14245] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the rate and accuracy of messenger RNA (mRNA) translation are associated with aging and several neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. We previously reported that error-containing RNA that are normally cleared via nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), a key RNA surveillance mechanism, are translated in the adult brain of a Drosophila model of tauopathy. In the current study, we find that newly-synthesized peptides and translation machinery accumulate within nuclear envelope invaginations that occur as a consequence of tau pathology, and that the rate of mRNA translation is globally elevated in early stages of disease in adult brains of Drosophila models of tauopathy. Polysome profiling from adult heads of tau transgenic Drosophila reveals the preferential translation of specific mRNA that have been previously linked to neurodegeneration. Unexpectedly, we find that panneuronal elevation of NMD further elevates the global translation rate in tau transgenic Drosophila, as does treatment with rapamycin. As NMD activation and rapamycin both suppress tau-induced neurodegeneration, their shared effect on translation suggests that elevated rates of mRNA translation are an early adaptive mechanism to limit neurodegeneration. Our work provides compelling evidence that tau-induced deficits in NMD reshape the tau translatome by increasing translation of RNA that are normally repressed in healthy cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Zuniga
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Sakie Katsumura
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine (WPI-PRIMe), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jasmine De Mange
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Paulino Ramirez
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Farzaneh Atrian
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Masahiro Morita
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine (WPI-PRIMe), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Bess Frost
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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12
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Mohl GA, Dixon G, Marzette E, McKetney J, Samelson AJ, Serras CP, Jin J, Li A, Boggess SC, Swaney DL, Kampmann M. The disease-causing tau V337M mutation induces tau hypophosphorylation and perturbs axon morphology pathways. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.04.597496. [PMID: 38895329 PMCID: PMC11185762 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.04.597496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Tau aggregation is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. There are disease-causing variants of the tau-encoding gene, MAPT, and the presence of tau aggregates is highly correlated with disease progression. However, the molecular mechanisms linking pathological tau to neuronal dysfunction are not well understood due to our incomplete understanding of the normal functions of tau in development and aging and how these processes change in the context of causal disease variants of tau. To address these questions in an unbiased manner, we conducted multi-omic characterization of iPSC-derived neurons harboring the MAPT V337M mutation. RNA-seq and phosphoproteomics revealed that both V337M tau and tau knockdown consistently perturbed levels of transcripts and phosphorylation of proteins related to axonogenesis or axon morphology. Surprisingly, we found that neurons with V337M tau had much lower tau phosphorylation than neurons with WT tau. We conducted functional genomics screens to uncover regulators of tau phosphorylation in neurons and found that factors involved in axonogenesis modified tau phosphorylation in both MAPT WT and MAPT V337M neurons. Intriguingly, the p38 MAPK pathway specifically modified tau phosphorylation in MAPT V337M neurons. We propose that V337M tau might perturb axon morphology pathways and tau hypophosphorylation via a "loss of function" mechanism, which could contribute to previously reported cognitive changes in preclinical MAPT gene carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Mohl
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gary Dixon
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emily Marzette
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Justin McKetney
- Gladstone Data Science and Biotechnology Institute, The J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Quantitative Bioscience Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Avi J Samelson
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Carlota Pereda Serras
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Julianne Jin
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Li
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven C Boggess
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Danielle L Swaney
- Gladstone Data Science and Biotechnology Institute, The J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Quantitative Bioscience Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Martin Kampmann
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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13
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Parra Bravo C, Giani AM, Madero-Perez J, Zhao Z, Wan Y, Samelson AJ, Wong MY, Evangelisti A, Cordes E, Fan L, Ye P, Zhu D, Pozner T, Mercedes M, Patel T, Yarahmady A, Carling GK, Sterky FH, Lee VMY, Lee EB, DeTure M, Dickson DW, Sharma M, Mok SA, Luo W, Zhao M, Kampmann M, Gong S, Gan L. Human iPSC 4R tauopathy model uncovers modifiers of tau propagation. Cell 2024; 187:2446-2464.e22. [PMID: 38582079 PMCID: PMC11365117 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.015] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies are age-associated neurodegenerative diseases whose mechanistic underpinnings remain elusive, partially due to a lack of appropriate human models. Here, we engineered human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neuronal lines to express 4R Tau and 4R Tau carrying the P301S MAPT mutation when differentiated into neurons. 4R-P301S neurons display progressive Tau inclusions upon seeding with Tau fibrils and recapitulate features of tauopathy phenotypes including shared transcriptomic signatures, autophagic body accumulation, and reduced neuronal activity. A CRISPRi screen of genes associated with Tau pathobiology identified over 500 genetic modifiers of seeding-induced Tau propagation, including retromer VPS29 and genes in the UFMylation cascade. In progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) brains, the UFMylation cascade is altered in neurofibrillary-tangle-bearing neurons. Inhibiting the UFMylation cascade in vitro and in vivo suppressed seeding-induced Tau propagation. This model provides a robust platform to identify novel therapeutic strategies for 4R tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Parra Bravo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Alice Maria Giani
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Jesus Madero-Perez
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Zeping Zhao
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Yuansong Wan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Avi J Samelson
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Man Ying Wong
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Alessandro Evangelisti
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Ethan Cordes
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Li Fan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Pearly Ye
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Daphne Zhu
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Tatyana Pozner
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Maria Mercedes
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Tark Patel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Allan Yarahmady
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Gillian K Carling
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Fredrik H Sterky
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Virginia M Y Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Institute of Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael DeTure
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Manu Sharma
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Sue-Ann Mok
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Wenjie Luo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Mingrui Zhao
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Martin Kampmann
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Shiaoching Gong
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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14
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Comptdaer T, Tardivel M, Schirmer C, Buée L, Galas MC. Cell redistribution of G quadruplex-structured DNA is associated with morphological changes of nuclei and nucleoli in neurons during tau pathology progression. Brain Pathol 2024:e13262. [PMID: 38649330 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13262] [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: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
While the double helical structure has long been its iconic representation, DNA is structurally dynamic and can adopt alternative secondary configurations. Specifically, guanine-rich DNA sequences can fold in guanine quadruplexes (G4) structures. These G4 play pivotal roles as regulators of gene expression and genomic stability, and influence protein homeostasis. Despite their significance, the association of G4 with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been underappreciated. Recent findings have identified DNA sequences predicted to form G4 in sarkosyl-insoluble aggregates from AD brains, questioning the involvement of G4-structured DNA (G4 DNA) in the pathology. Using immunofluorescence coupled to confocal microscopy analysis we investigated the impact of tau pathology, a hallmark of tauopathies including AD, on the distribution of G4 DNA in murine neurons and its relevance to AD brains. In healthy neurons, G4 DNA is detected in nuclei with a notable presence in nucleoli. However, in a transgenic mouse model of tau pathology (THY-Tau22), early stages of the disease exhibit an impairment in the nuclear distribution of G4 DNA. In addition, G4 DNA accumulates in the cytoplasm of neurons exhibiting oligomerized tau and oxidative DNA damage. This altered distribution persists in the later stage of the pathology when larger tau aggregates are present. Still cytoplasmic deposition of G4 DNA does not appear to be a critical factor in the tau aggregation process. Similar patterns are observed in neurons from the AD cortex. Furthermore, the disturbance in G4 DNA distribution is associated with various changes in the size of neuronal nuclei and nucleoli, indicative of responses to stress and the activation of pro-survival mechanisms. Our results shed light on a significant impact of tau pathology on the dynamics of G4 DNA and on nuclear and nucleolar mechanobiology in neurons. These findings reveal new dimensions in the etiopathogenesis of tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Comptdaer
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog-Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Meryem Tardivel
- University of Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US41-UAR 2014-PLBS, Lille, France
| | - Claire Schirmer
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog-Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Luc Buée
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog-Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Marie-Christine Galas
- University of Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, CNRS, LilNCog-Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
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15
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Maeda C, Tsuruta F. Molecular Basis of Neuronal and Microglial States in the Aging Brain and Impact on Cerebral Blood Vessels. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4443. [PMID: 38674028 PMCID: PMC11049950 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084443] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain aging causes a wide variety of changes at the molecular and cellular levels, leading to the decline of cognitive functions and increased vulnerability to neurodegenerative disorders. The research aimed at understanding the aging of the brain has made much progress in recent decades. Technological innovations such as single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), proteomic analyses, and spatial transcriptomic analyses have facilitated the research on the dynamic changes occurring within neurons, glia, and other cells along with their impacts on intercellular communication during aging. In this review, we introduce recent trends of how neurons and glia change during aging and discuss the impact on the brain microenvironment such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihiro Maeda
- Master’s and Doctoral Program in Biology, Degree Programs in Life and Earth Sciences, Graduate School of Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan;
| | - Fuminori Tsuruta
- Master’s and Doctoral Programs in Biology, Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- Ph.D. Program in Human Biology, School of Integrative and Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- Ph.D. Program in Humanics, School of Integrative and Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
- Master’s and Doctoral Program in Neuroscience, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8577, Ibaraki, Japan
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16
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Benarroch E. What Is the Role of Nuclear Envelope Proteins in Neurologic Disorders? Neurology 2024; 102:e209202. [PMID: 38330281 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000209202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
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17
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Sun X, Eastman G, Shi Y, Saibaba S, Oliveira AK, Lukens JR, Norambuena A, Thompson JA, Purdy MD, Dryden K, Pardo E, Mandell JW, Bloom GS. Structural and functional damage to neuronal nuclei caused by extracellular tau oligomers. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:1656-1670. [PMID: 38069673 PMCID: PMC10947977 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neuronal nuclei are normally smoothly surfaced. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies, though, they often develop invaginations. We investigated mechanisms and functional consequences of neuronal nuclear invagination in tauopathies. METHODS Nuclear invagination was assayed by immunofluorescence in the brain, and in cultured neurons before and after extracellular tau oligomer (xcTauO) exposure. Nucleocytoplasmic transport was assayed in cultured neurons. Gene expression was investigated using nanoString nCounter technology and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Invaginated nuclei were twice as abundant in human AD as in cognitively normal adults, and were increased in mouse neurodegeneration models. In cultured neurons, nuclear invagination was induced by xcTauOs by an intracellular tau-dependent mechanism. xcTauOs impaired nucleocytoplasmic transport, increased histone H3 trimethylation at lysine 9, and altered gene expression, especially by increasing tau mRNA. DISCUSSION xcTauOs may be a primary cause of nuclear invagination in vivo, and by extension, impair nucleocytoplasmic transport and induce pathogenic gene expression changes. HIGHLIGHTS Extracellular tau oligomers (xcTauOs) cause neuronal nuclei to invaginate. xcTauOs alter nucleocytoplasmic transport, chromatin structure, and gene expression. The most upregulated gene is MAPT, which encodes tau. xcTauOs may thus drive a positive feedback loop for production of toxic tau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehan Sun
- Department of BiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Guillermo Eastman
- Department of BiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
- Departamento de GenómicaInstituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente EstableMinisterio de Educación y CulturaMontevideoUruguay
| | - Yu Shi
- Department of BiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Subhi Saibaba
- Department of BiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Ana K. Oliveira
- Department of PathologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - John R. Lukens
- Department of NeuroscienceUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Andrés Norambuena
- Department of BiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Joseph A. Thompson
- Department of Materials Science & EngineeringUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Michael D. Purdy
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological PhysicsUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Kelly Dryden
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological PhysicsUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - Evelyn Pardo
- Department of BiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - James W. Mandell
- Department of PathologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
| | - George S. Bloom
- Department of BiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
- Department of NeuroscienceUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
- Department of Cell BiologyUniversity of VirginiaCharlottesvilleVirginiaUSA
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18
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Sirtori R, Gregoire M, Collins A, Santangelo S, Chatragadda B, Cullen R, Ratti A, Fallini C. Altered nuclear envelope homeostasis is a key pathogenic event in C9ORF72-linked ALS/FTD. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.01.578318. [PMID: 38352403 PMCID: PMC10862841 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.01.578318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
ALS and FTD are complex neurodegenerative disorders that primarily affects motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord, and cortical neurons in the frontal lobe. Although the pathogenesis of ALS/FTD is unclear, recent research spotlights nucleocytoplasmic transport impairment, DNA damage, and nuclear abnormalities as drivers of neuronal death. In this study, we show that loss of nuclear envelope (NE) integrity is a key pathology associated with nuclear pore complex (NPC) injury in C9ORF72 mutant neurons. Importantly, we show that mechanical stresses generated by cytoskeletal forces on the NE can lead to NPC injury, loss of nuclear integrity, and accumulation of DNA damage. Importantly, we demonstrate that restoring NE tensional homeostasis, by disconnecting the nucleus from the cytoskeleton, can rescue NPC injury and reduce DNA damage in C9ORF72 mutant cells. Together, our data suggest that modulation of NE homeostasis and repair may represent a novel and promising therapeutic target for ALS/FTD.
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19
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Atrian F, Ramirez P, De Mange J, Marquez M, Gonzalez EM, Minaya M, Karch CM, Frost B. m6A-dependent circular RNA formation mediates tau-induced neurotoxicity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.25.577211. [PMID: 38328044 PMCID: PMC10849734 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.25.577211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs), covalently closed RNA molecules that form due to back-splicing of RNA transcripts, have recently been implicated in Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies. circRNAs are regulated by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA methylation, can serve as "sponges" for proteins and RNAs, and can be translated into protein via a cap-independent mechanism. Mechanisms underlying circRNA dysregulation in tauopathies and causal relationships between circRNA and neurodegeneration are currently unknown. In the current study, we aimed to determine whether pathogenic forms of tau drive circRNA dysregulation and whether such dysregulation causally mediates neurodegeneration. We identify circRNAs that are differentially expressed in the brain of a Drosophila model of tauopathy and in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons carrying a tau mutation associated with autosomal dominant tauopathy. We leverage Drosophila to discover that depletion of circular forms of muscleblind (circMbl), a circRNA that is particularly abundant in brains of tau transgenic Drosophila, significantly suppresses tau neurotoxicity, suggesting that tau-induced circMbl elevation is neurotoxic. We detect a general elevation of m6A RNA methylation and circRNA methylation in tau transgenic Drosophila and find that tau-induced m6A methylation is a mechanistic driver of circMbl formation. Interestingly, we find that circRNA and m6A RNA accumulate within nuclear envelope invaginations of tau transgenic Drosophila and in iPSC-derived cerebral organoid models of tauopathy. Taken together, our studies add critical new insight into the mechanisms underlying circRNA dysregulation in tauopathy and identify m6A-modified circRNA as a causal factor contributing to neurodegeneration. These findings add to a growing literature implicating pathogenic forms of tau as drivers of altered RNA metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzaneh Atrian
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Paulino Ramirez
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Jasmine De Mange
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Marissa Marquez
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Elias M. Gonzalez
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
| | - Miguel Minaya
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University, St Louis, MO
| | | | - Bess Frost
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
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20
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Younas N, Saleem T, Younas A, Zerr I. Nuclear face of Tau: an inside player in neurodegeneration. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:196. [PMID: 38087392 PMCID: PMC10714511 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01702-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau (Tubulin associated unit) protein is a major hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and tauopathies. Tau is predominantly an axonal protein with a crucial role in the stabilization and dynamics of the microtubules. Since the discovery of Tau protein in 1975, research efforts were concentrated on the pathophysiological role of Tau protein in the context of the microtubules. Although, for more than three decades, different localizations of Tau protein have been discovered e.g., in the nuclear compartments. Discovery of the role of Tau protein in various cellular compartments especially in the nucleus opens up a new fold of complexity in tauopathies. Data from cellular models, animal models, and the human brain indicate that nuclear Tau is crucial for genome stability and to cope with cellular distress. Moreover, it's nature of nuclear translocation, its interactions with the nuclear DNA/RNA and proteins suggest it could play multiple roles in the nucleus. To comprehend Tau pathophysiology and efficient Tau-based therapies, there is an urgent need to understand whole repertoire of Tau species (nuclear and cytoplasmic) and their functional relevance. To complete the map of Tau repertoire, understanding of various species of Tau in the nucleus and cytoplasm, identification if specific transcripts of Tau, isoforms and post-translational modifications could foretell Tau's localizations and functions, and how they are modified in neurodegenerative diseases like AD, is urgently required. In this review, we explore the nuclear face of Tau protein, its nuclear localizations and functions and its linkage with Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelam Younas
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany.
| | - Tayyaba Saleem
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Abrar Younas
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- University Medical Center Göttingen, National Reference Center for Surveillance of TSE, Department of Neurology, Robert-Koch strasse 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, 37075, Germany
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21
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Mate de Gerando A, Quittot N, Frosch MP, Hyman BT. Reply: Soluble oligomers or insoluble fibrils? Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:863-866. [PMID: 37733036 PMCID: PMC10628010 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02634-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasie Mate de Gerando
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Noe Quittot
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Matthew P Frosch
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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22
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Jahreis K, Brüge A, Borsdorf S, Müller FE, Sun W, Jia S, Kang DM, Boesen N, Shin S, Lim S, Koroleva A, Satała G, Bojarski AJ, Rakuša E, Fink A, Doblhammer-Reiter G, Kim YK, Dityatev A, Ponimaskin E, Labus J. Amisulpride as a potential disease-modifying drug in the treatment of tauopathies. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:5482-5497. [PMID: 37218673 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hyperphosphorylation and aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau cause the development of tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). We recently uncovered a causal link between constitutive serotonin receptor 7 (5-HT7R) activity and pathological tau aggregation. Here, we evaluated 5-HT7R inverse agonists as novel drugs in the treatment of tauopathies. METHODS Based on structural homology, we screened multiple approved drugs for their inverse agonism toward 5-HT7R. Therapeutic potential was validated using biochemical, pharmacological, microscopic, and behavioral approaches in different cellular models including tau aggregation cell line HEK293 tau bimolecular fluorescence complementation, primary mouse neurons, and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons carrying an FTD-associated tau mutation as well as in two mouse models of tauopathy. RESULTS Antipsychotic drug amisulpride is a potent 5-HT7R inverse agonist. Amisulpride ameliorated tau hyperphosphorylation and aggregation in vitro. It further reduced tau pathology and abrogated memory impairment in mice. DISCUSSION Amisulpride may be a disease-modifying drug for tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Jahreis
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alina Brüge
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Saskia Borsdorf
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Franziska E Müller
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Weilun Sun
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Shaobo Jia
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dong Min Kang
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Nicolette Boesen
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Division of Bio-Medical Science & Technology, KIST School, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seulgi Shin
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungsu Lim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Anastasia Koroleva
- Department of Nanoengineering, Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Grzegorz Satała
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrzej J Bojarski
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Elena Rakuša
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock, Germany
| | - Anne Fink
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock, Germany
| | | | - Yun Kyung Kim
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
| | - Alexander Dityatev
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
- Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Evgeni Ponimaskin
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Josephine Labus
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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23
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Kim Y. The impact of altered lamin B1 levels on nuclear lamina structure and function in aging and human diseases. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 85:102257. [PMID: 37806292 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
The role of lamin B1 in human health and aging has attracted increasing attention as mounting evidence reveals its significance in diverse cellular processes. Both upregulation and downregulation of lamin B1 have been implicated in age-associated organ dysfunctions and various human diseases, including central nervous system disorders. Additionally, lamin B1 levels undergo alterations in cancer cells, and a tumor-specific association exists between lamin B1 abundance and cancer aggressiveness. Investigating the connectivity between lamin B1 abundance and human health is of utmost importance for further research. This review presents recent advancements in understanding lamin B1's role in nuclear lamina function and its implications for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngjo Kim
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Science and Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-Bioscience, Soonchunhyang University, Cheon-an 31151, Republic of Korea.
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24
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Yu J, Zhao Y, Gong XK, Liang Z, Zhao YN, Li X, Chen YJ, Yang YH, Wu MJ, Wang XC, Shu XJ, Bao J. P25/CDK5-mediated Tau Hyperphosphorylation in Both Ipsilateral and Contralateral Cerebra Contributes to Cognitive Deficits in Post-stroke Mice. Curr Med Sci 2023; 43:1084-1095. [PMID: 37924385 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-023-2792-8] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) develops in approximately one-third of stroke survivors and is associated with ingravescence. Nonetheless, the biochemical mechanisms underlying PSCI remain unclear. The study aimed to establish an ischemic mouse model by means of transient unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusions (MCAOs) and to explore the biochemical mechanisms of p25/cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5)-mediated tau hyperphosphorylation on the PSCI behavior. METHODS Cognitive behavior was investigated, followed by the detection of tau hyperphosphorylation, mobilization, activation of kinases and/or inhibition of phosphatases in the lateral and contralateral cerebrum of mice following ischemia in MACO mice. Finally, we treated HEK293/tau cells with oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and a CDK5 inhibitor (Roscovitine) or a GSK3β inhibitor (LiCl) to the roles of CDK5 and GSK3β in mediating ischemia-reperfusion-induced tau phosphorylation. RESULTS Ischemia induced cognitive impairments within 2 months, as well as causing tau hyperphosphorylation and its localization to neuronal somata in both ipsilateral and contralateral cerebra. Furthermore, p25 that promotes CDK5 hyperactivation had significantly higher expression in the mice with MCAO than in the shamoperation (control) group, while the expression levels of protein phosphatase 2 (PP2A) and the phosphorylation level at Tyr307 were comparable between the two groups. In addition, the CDK5 inhibitor rescued tau from hyperphosphorylation induced by OGD. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that upregulation of CDK5 mediates tau hyperphosphorylation and localization in both ipsilateral and contralateral cerebra, contributing to the pathogenesis of PSCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Yu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Xiao-Kang Gong
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Zheng Liang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Yan-Na Zhao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Xin Li
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Yu-Ju Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - You-Hua Yang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Meng-Juan Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
| | - Xiao-Chuan Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Key Laboratory of Education Ministry of China for Neurological Disorders, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xi-Ji Shu
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China.
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China.
| | - Jian Bao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China.
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan, 430056, China.
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25
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Turkmen AM, Saik NO, Ullman KS. The dynamic nuclear envelope: resilience in health and dysfunction in disease. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 85:102230. [PMID: 37660480 PMCID: PMC10843620 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The canonical appearance of the nucleus depends on constant adaptation and remodeling of the nuclear envelope in response to changing biomechanical forces and metabolic demands. Dynamic events at the nuclear envelope play a vital role in supporting key nuclear functions as well as conferring plasticity to this organelle. Moreover, imbalance of these dynamic processes is emerging as a central feature of disease etiology. This review focuses on recent advances that shed light on the myriad events at the nuclear envelope that contribute to resilience and flexibility in nuclear architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse M Turkmen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Natasha O Saik
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Katharine S Ullman
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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26
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Bastianello G, Foiani M. Mechanisms controlling the mechanical properties of the nuclei. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 84:102222. [PMID: 37619290 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical properties of the nucleus influence different cellular and nuclear functions and have relevant implications for several human diseases. The nucleus protects genetic information while acting as a mechano-sensory hub in response to internal and external forces. Cells have evolved mechano-transduction signaling to respond to physical cellular and nuclear perturbations and adopted a multitude of molecular pathways to maintain nuclear shape stability and prevent morphological abnormalities of the nucleus. Here we describe those key biological processes that control nuclear mechanics and discuss emerging perspectives on the mechanobiology of the nucleus as a diagnostic tool and clinical target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bastianello
- IFOM, The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan 20139, Italy; Oncology and Haemato-Oncology Department, University of Milan, Milan 20122, Italy.
| | - Marco Foiani
- IFOM, The FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan 20139, Italy; Oncology and Haemato-Oncology Department, University of Milan, Milan 20122, Italy.
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27
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Cristi AC, Rapuri S, Coyne AN. Nuclear pore complex and nucleocytoplasmic transport disruption in neurodegeneration. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2546-2566. [PMID: 37657945 PMCID: PMC10612469 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) play a critical role in maintaining the equilibrium between the nucleus and cytoplasm, enabling bidirectional transport across the nuclear envelope, and are essential for proper nuclear organization and gene regulation. Perturbations in the regulatory mechanisms governing NPCs and nuclear envelope homeostasis have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. The ESCRT-III pathway emerges as a critical player in the surveillance and preservation of well-assembled, functional NPCs, as well as nuclear envelope sealing. Recent studies have provided insights into the involvement of nuclear ESCRT-III in the selective reduction of specific nucleoporins associated with neurodegenerative pathologies. Thus, maintaining quality control of the nuclear envelope and NPCs represents a pivotal element in the pathological cascade leading to neurodegenerative diseases. This review describes the constituents of the nuclear-cytoplasmic transport machinery, encompassing the nuclear envelope, NPC, and ESCRT proteins, and how their structural and functional alterations contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- América Chandía Cristi
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
| | - Sampath Rapuri
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
| | - Alyssa N Coyne
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
- Brain Science Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore MD 21205, USA
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28
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Frost B. Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies: disorders of disrupted neuronal identity. Trends Neurosci 2023; 46:797-813. [PMID: 37591720 PMCID: PMC10528597 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2023.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Postmitotic neurons require persistently active controls to maintain terminal differentiation. Unlike dividing cells, aberrant cell cycle activation in mature neurons causes apoptosis rather than transformation. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related tauopathies, evidence suggests that pathogenic forms of tau drive neurodegeneration via neuronal cell cycle re-entry. Multiple interconnected mechanisms linking tau to cell cycle activation have been identified, including, but not limited to, tau-induced overstabilization of the actin cytoskeleton, consequent changes to nuclear architecture, and disruption of heterochromatin-mediated gene silencing. Cancer- and development-associated pathways are upregulated in human and cellular models of tauopathy, and many tau-induced cellular phenotypes are also present in various cancers and progenitor/stem cells. In this review, I delve into mechanistic parallels between tauopathies, cancer, and development, and highlight the role of tau in cancer and in the developing brain. Based on these studies, I put forth a model by which pathogenic forms of tau disrupt the program that maintains terminal neuronal differentiation, driving cell cycle re-entry and consequent neuronal death. This framework presents tauopathies as conditions involving the profound toxic disruption of neuronal identity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bess Frost
- Sam & Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA; Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
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29
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Menduti G, Boido M. Recent Advances in High-Content Imaging and Analysis in iPSC-Based Modelling of Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14689. [PMID: 37834135 PMCID: PMC10572296 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914689] [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: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
In the field of neurodegenerative pathologies, the platforms for disease modelling based on patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) represent a valuable molecular diagnostic/prognostic tool. Indeed, they paved the way for the in vitro recapitulation of the pathological mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and for characterizing the molecular heterogeneity of disease manifestations, also enabling drug screening approaches for new therapeutic candidates. A major challenge is related to the choice and optimization of the morpho-functional study designs in human iPSC-derived neurons to deeply detail the cell phenotypes as markers of neurodegeneration. In recent years, the specific combination of high-throughput screening with subcellular resolution microscopy for cell-based high-content imaging (HCI) screening allowed in-depth analyses of cell morphology and neurite trafficking in iPSC-derived neuronal cells by using specific cutting-edge microscopes and automated computational assays. The present work aims to describe the main recent protocols and advances achieved with the HCI analysis in iPSC-based modelling of neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting technical and bioinformatics tips and tricks for further uses and research. To this end, microscopy requirements and the latest computational pipelines to analyze imaging data will be explored, while also providing an overview of the available open-source high-throughput automated platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Menduti
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”, Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, Orbassano, 10043 Turin, TO, Italy;
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30
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McGoldrick P, Robertson J. Unraveling the impact of disrupted nucleocytoplasmic transport systems in C9orf72-associated ALS. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1247297. [PMID: 37720544 PMCID: PMC10501458 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1247297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are two adult-onset neurodegenerative diseases that are part of a common disease spectrum due to clinical, genetic, and pathological overlap. A prominent genetic factor contributing to both diseases is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in a non-coding region of the C9orf72 gene. This mutation in C9orf72 leads to nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic aggregation of Tar DNA-RNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43). TDP-43 pathology is characteristic of the majority of ALS cases, irrespective of disease causation, and is present in ~50% of FTD cases. Defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport involving the nuclear pore complex, the Ran-GTPase cycle, and nuclear transport factors have been linked with the mislocalization of TDP-43. Here, we will explore and discuss the implications of these system abnormalities of nucleocytoplasmic transport in C9orf72-ALS/FTD, as well as in other forms of familial and sporadic ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip McGoldrick
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Janice Robertson
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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31
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Mann JR, McKenna ED, Mawrie D, Papakis V, Alessandrini F, Anderson EN, Mayers R, Ball HE, Kaspi E, Lubinski K, Baron DM, Tellez L, Landers JE, Pandey UB, Kiskinis E. Loss of function of the ALS-associated NEK1 kinase disrupts microtubule homeostasis and nuclear import. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi5548. [PMID: 37585529 PMCID: PMC10431718 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi5548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Loss-of-function variants in NIMA-related kinase 1 (NEK1) constitute a major genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), accounting for 2 to 3% of all cases. However, how NEK1 mutations cause motor neuron (MN) dysfunction is unknown. Using mass spectrometry analyses for NEK1 interactors and NEK1-dependent expression changes, we find functional enrichment for proteins involved in the microtubule cytoskeleton and nucleocytoplasmic transport. We show that α-tubulin and importin-β1, two key proteins involved in these processes, are phosphorylated by NEK1 in vitro. NEK1 is essential for motor control and survival in Drosophila models in vivo, while using several induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-MN models, including NEK1 knockdown, kinase inhibition, and a patient mutation, we find evidence for disruptions in microtubule homeostasis and nuclear import. Notably, stabilizing microtubules with two distinct classes of drugs restored NEK1-dependent deficits in both pathways. The capacity of NEK1 to modulate these processes that are critically involved in ALS pathophysiology renders this kinase a formidable therapeutic candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob R. Mann
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Elizabeth D. McKenna
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Darilang Mawrie
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Vasileios Papakis
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Francesco Alessandrini
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Eric N. Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Ryan Mayers
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Hannah E. Ball
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Evan Kaspi
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Katherine Lubinski
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Desiree M. Baron
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Liana Tellez
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - John E. Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Udai B. Pandey
- Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Evangelos Kiskinis
- The Ken & Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
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32
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Vallés-Saiz L, Ávila J, Hernández F. Lamivudine (3TC), a Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor, Prevents the Neuropathological Alterations Present in Mutant Tau Transgenic Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11144. [PMID: 37446327 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311144] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The dysregulation of transposable elements contributes to neurodegenerative disorders. Previous studies have reported an increase in retrotransposon transcription in Drosophila models as well as in human tauopathies. In this context, we tested the possible protective effects of a reverse transcriptase inhibitor, namely lamivudine (also known as 3TC), in P301S mice, an animal model of Alzheimer's disease based on FTDP-17-tau overexpression. Transgenic P301S mice administered lamivudine through drinking water showed a decrease in the following histopathological marks typical of tauopathies: tau phosphorylation; inflammation; neuronal death; and hippocampal atrophy. Lamivudine treatment attenuated motor deficits (Rotarod test) and improved short-term memory (Y-maze test). To evaluate the role of tau in retrotransposition, we cotransfected HeLa cells with a plasmid containing a complete LINE-1 sequence and a neomycin reporter cassette designed for retrotransposition assays, and a plasmid with the tau sequence. LINE-1 insertion increased considerably in the cotransfection compared to the transfection without tau. In addition, lamivudine inhibited the insertion of LINE-1. Our data suggest that the progression of the tauopathy can be attenuated by the administration of lamivudine upon the first symptoms of neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Vallés-Saiz
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Ávila
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
| | - Félix Hernández
- Centro de Biología Molecular "Severo Ochoa", CSIC/UAM, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
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33
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Bravo CP, Giani AM, Perez JM, Zhao Z, Samelson A, Wong MY, Evangelisti A, Fan L, Pozner T, Mercedes M, Ye P, Patel T, Yarahmady A, Carling G, Lee VMY, Sharma M, Mok SA, Luo W, Zhao M, Kampmann M, Gong S, Gan L. Human iPSC 4R tauopathy model uncovers modifiers of tau propagation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.19.544278. [PMID: 37745431 PMCID: PMC10516028 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.19.544278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies are age-associated neurodegenerative diseases whose mechanistic underpinnings remain elusive, partially due to lack of appropriate human models. Current human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons express very low levels of 4-repeat (4R)-tau isoforms that are normally expressed in adult brain. Here, we engineered new iPSC lines to express 4R-tau and 4R-tau carrying the P301S MAPT mutation when differentiated into neurons. 4R-P301S neurons display progressive Tau inclusions upon seeding with Tau fibrils and recapitulate features of tauopathy phenotypes, including shared transcriptomic signatures, autophagic body accumulation, and impaired neuronal activity. A CRISPRi screen of genes associated with Tau pathobiology identified over 500 genetic modifiers of Tau-seeding-induced Tau propagation, including retromer VPS29 and the UFMylation cascade as top modifiers. In AD brains, the UFMylation cascade is altered in neurofibrillary-tangle-bearing neurons. Inhibiting the UFMylation cascade suppressed seeding-induced Tau propagation. This model provides a powerful platform to identify novel therapeutic strategies for 4R tauopathy.
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34
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Sun X, Eastman G, Shi Y, Saibaba S, Oliveira AK, Lukens JR, Norambuena A, Mandell JW, Bloom GS. Structural and functional damage to neuronal nuclei caused by extracellular tau oligomers. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.08.539873. [PMID: 37214909 PMCID: PMC10197541 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.08.539873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Neuronal nuclei are normally smoothly surfaced. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies, though, they often develop invaginations. We investigated mechanisms and functional consequences of neuronal nuclear invagination in tauopathies. METHODS Nuclear invagination was assayed by immunofluorescence in brain, and in cultured neurons before and after extracellular tau oligomers (xcTauO) exposure. Nucleocytoplasmic transport was assayed in cultured neurons. Gene expression was investigated using nanoString nCounter technology and qRT-PCR. RESULTS Invaginated nuclei were twice as abundant in human AD as in cognitively normal adults, and were increased in mouse neurodegeneration models. In cultured neurons, nuclear invagination was induced by xcTauOs by an intracellular tau-dependent mechanism. xcTauOs impaired nucleocytoplasmic transport, increased histone H3 trimethylation at lysine 9 and altered gene expression, especially by increasing tau mRNA. DISCUSSION xcTauOs may be a primary cause of nuclear invagination in vivo, and by extension, impair nucleocytoplasmic transport and induce pathogenic gene expression changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehan Sun
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Guillermo Eastman
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Departamento de Genómica, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Ministerio de Educación y Cultura, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Yu Shi
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Subhi Saibaba
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Ana K. Oliveira
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - John R. Lukens
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Andrés Norambuena
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - James W. Mandell
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - George S. Bloom
- Department of Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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35
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Beckmann A, Ramirez P, Gamez M, Gonzalez E, De Mange J, Bieniek KF, Ray WJ, Frost B. Moesin is an effector of tau-induced actin overstabilization, cell cycle activation, and neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease. iScience 2023; 26:106152. [PMID: 36879821 PMCID: PMC9984563 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
In Alzheimer's disease, neurons acquire phenotypes that are also present in various cancers, including aberrant activation of the cell cycle. Unlike cancer, cell cycle activation in post-mitotic neurons is sufficient to induce cell death. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that abortive cell cycle activation is a consequence of pathogenic forms of tau, a protein that drives neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease and related "tauopathies." Here we combine network analyses of human Alzheimer's disease and mouse models of Alzheimer's disease and primary tauopathy with studies in Drosophila to discover that pathogenic forms of tau drive cell cycle activation by disrupting a cellular program involved in cancer and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moesin, an EMT driver, is elevated in cells harboring disease-associated phosphotau, over-stabilized actin, and ectopic cell cycle activation. We further find that genetic manipulation of Moesin mediates tau-induced neurodegeneration. Taken together, our study identifies novel parallels between tauopathy and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Beckmann
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX, USA
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Paulino Ramirez
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX, USA
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Maria Gamez
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX, USA
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Elias Gonzalez
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX, USA
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jasmine De Mange
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX, USA
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Kevin F. Bieniek
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX, USA
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - William J. Ray
- The Neurodegeneration Consortium, Therapeutics Discovery Division, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bess Frost
- Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, San Antonio, TX, USA
- University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
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Batenburg KL, Sestito C, Cornelissen-Steijger P, van Weering JRT, Price LS, Heine VM, Scheper W. A 3D human co-culture to model neuron-astrocyte interactions in tauopathies. Biol Proced Online 2023; 25:4. [PMID: 36814189 PMCID: PMC9948470 DOI: 10.1186/s12575-023-00194-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intraneuronal tau aggregation is the major pathological hallmark of neurodegenerative tauopathies. It is now generally acknowledged that tau aggregation also affects astrocytes in a cell non-autonomous manner. However, mechanisms involved are unclear, partly because of the lack of models that reflect the situation in the human tauopathy brain. To accurately model neuron-astrocyte interaction in tauopathies, there is a need for a model that contains both human neurons and human astrocytes, intraneuronal tau pathology and mimics the three-dimensional architecture of the brain. RESULTS Here we established a novel 100-200 µm thick 3D human neuron/astrocyte co-culture model of tau pathology, comprising homogenous populations of hiPSC-derived neurons and primary human astrocytes in microwell format. Using confocal, electron and live microscopy, we validate the procedures by showing that neurons in the 3D co-culture form pre- and postsynapses and display spontaneous calcium transients within 4 weeks. Astrocytes in the 3D co-culture display bipolar and stellate morphologies with extensive processes that ensheath neuronal somas, spatially align with axons and dendrites and can be found perisynaptically. The complex morphology of astrocytes and the interaction with neurons in the 3D co-culture mirrors that in the human brain, indicating the model's potential to study physiological and pathological neuron-astrocyte interaction in vitro. Finally, we successfully implemented a methodology to introduce seed-independent intraneuronal tau aggregation in the 3D co-culture, enabling study of neuron-astrocyte interaction in early tau pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, these data provide proof-of-concept for the utility of this rapid, miniaturized, and standardized 3D model for cell type-specific manipulations, such as the intraneuronal pathology that is associated with neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin L. Batenburg
- grid.12380.380000 0004 1754 9227Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience - Neurodegeneration, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia Sestito
- Crown Bioscience Netherlands B.V. (Formerly OcellO B.V.), Leiden, The Netherlands ,grid.484519.5Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paulien Cornelissen-Steijger
- grid.484519.5Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands ,grid.484519.5Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan R. T. van Weering
- grid.12380.380000 0004 1754 9227Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience - Neurodegeneration, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands ,grid.484519.5Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam Neuroscience - Neurodegeneration, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leo S. Price
- Crown Bioscience Netherlands B.V. (Formerly OcellO B.V.), Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Vivi M. Heine
- grid.484519.5Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands ,grid.484519.5Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wiep Scheper
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience - Neurodegeneration, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. .,Amsterdam UMC location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Human Genetics, Amsterdam Neuroscience - Neurodegeneration, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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McGoldrick P, Lau A, You Z, Durcan TM, Robertson J. Loss of C9orf72 perturbs the Ran-GTPase gradient and nucleocytoplasmic transport, generating compositionally diverse Importin β-1 granules. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112134. [PMID: 36821445 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
A hexanucleotide (GGGGCC)n repeat expansion in C9orf72 causes amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), eliciting toxic effects through generation of RNA foci, dipeptide repeat proteins, and/or loss of C9orf72 protein. Defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT) have been implicated as a pathogenic mechanism underlying repeat expansion toxicity. Here, we show that loss of C9orf72 disrupts the Ran-GTPase gradient and NCT in vitro and in vivo. NCT disruption in vivo is enhanced by the presence of compositionally different types of cytoplasmic Importin β-1 granule that exhibit neuronal subtype-specific properties. We show that the abundance of Importin β-1 granules is increased in the context of C9orf72 deficiency, disrupting interactions with nuclear pore complex proteins. These granules appear to associate with the nuclear envelope and are co-immunoreactive for G3BP1 and K63-ubiquitin. These findings link loss of C9orf72 protein to gain-of-function mechanisms and defects in NCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip McGoldrick
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada.
| | - Agnes Lau
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Zhipeng You
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Thomas M Durcan
- The Neuro's Early Drug Discovery Unit (EDDU), McGill University, 3801 University Street, Montreal, QC H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Janice Robertson
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, 27 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada.
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38
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Tabeshmehr P, Eftekharpour E. Tau; One Protein, So Many Diseases. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:244. [PMID: 36829521 PMCID: PMC9953016 DOI: 10.3390/biology12020244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tau, a member of the microtubule-associated proteins, is a known component of the neuronal cytoskeleton; however, in the brain tissue, it is involved in other vital functions beyond maintaining the cellular architecture. The pathologic tau forms aggregates inside the neurons and ultimately forms the neurofibrillary tangles. Intracellular and extracellular accumulation of different tau isoforms, including dimers, oligomers, paired helical filaments and tangles, lead to a highly heterogenous group of diseases named "Tauopathies". About twenty-six different types of tauopathy diseases have been identified that have different clinical phenotypes or pathophysiological characteristics. Although all these diseases are identified by tau aggregation, they are distinguishable based on the specific tau isoforms, the affected cell types and the brain regions. The neuropathological and phenotypical heterogeneity of these diseases impose significant challenges for discovering new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the recent literature on tau protein and the pathophysiological mechanisms of tauopathies. This article mainly focuses on physiologic and pathologic tau and aims to summarize the upstream and downstream events and discuss the current diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eftekhar Eftekharpour
- Spinal Cord Research Centre, Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
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Zuniga G, Levy S, Ramirez P, Mange JD, Gonzalez E, Gamez M, Frost B. Tau-induced deficits in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay contribute to neurodegeneration. Alzheimers Dement 2023; 19:405-420. [PMID: 35416419 PMCID: PMC9673995 DOI: 10.1002/alz.12653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies have evidence of altered RNA processing, we lack a mechanistic understanding of how altered RNA processing arises in these disorders and if such changes are causally linked to neurodegeneration. METHODS Using Drosophila melanogaster models of tauopathy, we find that overall activity of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), a key RNA quality-control mechanism, is reduced. Genetic manipulation of NMD machinery significantly modifies tau-induced neurotoxicity, suggesting that deficits in NMD are causally linked to neurodegeneration. Mechanistically, we find that deficits in NMD are a consequence of aberrant RNA export and RNA accumulation within nuclear envelope invaginations in tauopathy. We identify a pharmacological activator of NMD that suppresses neurodegeneration in tau transgenic Drosophila, indicating that tau-induced deficits in RNA quality control are druggable. DISCUSSION Our studies suggest that NMD activators should be explored for their potential therapeutic value to patients with tauopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle Zuniga
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Simon Levy
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Paulino Ramirez
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Jasmine De Mange
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Elias Gonzalez
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Maria Gamez
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - Bess Frost
- Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas,Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
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40
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Sohn C, Ma J, Ray WJ, Frost B. Pathogenic tau decreases nuclear tension in cultured neurons. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2023; 4:1058968. [PMID: 36756194 PMCID: PMC9901542 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1058968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease, are pathologically defined by the presence of aggregated forms of tau protein in brains of affected individuals. Previous studies report that the negative effects of pathogenic tau on the actin cytoskeleton and microtubules cause a toxic destabilization of the lamin nucleoskeleton and formation of nuclear invaginations and blebs. Based on the known function of the nucleus as a mechanosensor, as well as the high incidence of nuclear pleomorphism in human Alzheimer's disease and related tauopathies, we investigated the effects of pathogenic tau on nuclear tension. We first find that tau-dependent nuclear envelope invagination and relocalization of LInker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton (LINC) complex components are conserved in a newly-developed neuroblastoma cell line that features doxycycline-inducible expression of a tau mutant associated with autosomal dominant frontotemporal dementia. We next determine that a Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based sensor of nuclear tension responds to cytoskeletal stabilization and destabilization when expressed in neuroblastoma cells. Using this nuclear tension sensor, we find that induced expression of pathogenic tau is sufficient to decrease nuclear tension. This work provides the initial proof-of-concept evidence that pathogenic forms of tau alter nuclear tension, paving the way for the future study of altered nuclear mechanosensing in the context of tau-mediated neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claira Sohn
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Jiacheng Ma
- The Neurodegeneration Consortium, Therapeutics Discovery Division, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - William J. Ray
- The Neurodegeneration Consortium, Therapeutics Discovery Division, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Bess Frost
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
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Polanco JC, Akimov Y, Fernandes A, Briner A, Hand GR, van Roijen M, Balistreri G, Götz J. CRISPRi screening reveals regulators of tau pathology shared between exosomal and vesicle-free tau. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:6/1/e202201689. [PMID: 36316035 PMCID: PMC9622425 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau is a defining feature of Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. Tau pathology is believed to be driven by free tau aggregates and tau carried within exosome-like extracellular vesicles, both of which propagate trans-synaptically and induce tau pathology in recipient neurons by a corrupting process of seeding. Here, we performed a genome-wide CRISPRi screen in tau biosensor cells and identified cellular regulators shared by both mechanisms of tau seeding. We identified ANKLE2, BANF1, NUSAP1, EIF1AD, and VPS18 as the top validated regulators that restrict tau aggregation initiated by both exosomal and vesicle-free tau seeds. None of our validated hits affected the uptake of either form of tau seeds, supporting the notion that they operate through a cell-autonomous mechanism downstream of the seed uptake. Lastly, validation studies with human brain tissue also revealed that several of the identified protein hits are down-regulated in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, suggesting that their decreased activity may be required for the emergence or progression of tau pathology in the human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Polanco
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Yevhen Akimov
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Avinash Fernandes
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Adam Briner
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Gabriel Rhys Hand
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Giuseppe Balistreri
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Molecular and Integrative Biosciences Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jürgen Götz
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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42
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Diez L, Kapinos LE, Lim RYH, Wegmann S. Analysis of Tau/Nucleoporin Interactions by Surface Plasmon Resonance Spectroscopy. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2551:95-109. [PMID: 36310199 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2597-2_8] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Tau, a soluble and predominantly neuronal protein, is best known for its microtubule (MT)-binding function in the cytosol, where it decisively contributes to stability as well as modulation of MT dynamics. In Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies, Tau is altered into forming intracellular neurofibrillary tangles; additionally, also a mislocalization from the cytosol to the nucleus has been observed where interactions of Tau with the nucleus become possible. Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), it was recently shown that Tau can directly interact with certain nucleoporins (e.g., Nup98), components of the nuclear pore complex (NPC). The NPC constitutes large regulated pores in the nuclear envelope that facilitate the bidirectional exchange of proteins, nucleic acids, and other biomolecules between the inner section of the nucleus and the cytosol, the nucleocytoplasmic transport. The mechanism of Tau/Nup interactions is as yet unknown, and a systematic interaction analysis of Tau with different Nups can be of high value to decipher the molecular binding mechanism of Tau to Nups. SPR is a useful tool to analyze binding affinities and kinetic parameters in a label-free environment. While one interaction partner is immobilized on a sensor chip, the second is supplied within a constant flow of buffer. Binding of mobile molecules to immobilized ones changes the refractive index of the medium close to the sensor surface with the signal being proportional to the bound mass. In this chapter, we describe the application of the SPR technique for the investigation of Tau binding to nucleoporins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Diez
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Susanne Wegmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany.
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43
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Cancer Cells Upregulate Tau to Gain Resistance to DNA Damaging Agents. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010116. [PMID: 36612113 PMCID: PMC9817522 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010116] [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: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent reports suggested a role for microtubules in double-strand-DNA break repair. We herein investigated the role of the microtubule-associated protein Tau in radio- and chemotherapy. Noticeably, a lowered expression of Tau in breast cancer cell lines resulted in a significant decrease in mouse-xenograft breast tumor volume after doxorubicin or X-ray treatments. Furthermore, the knockdown of Tau impaired the classical nonhomologous end-joining pathway and led to an improved cellular response to both bleomycin and X-rays. Investigating the mechanism of Tau's protective effect, we found that one of the main mediators of response to double-stranded breaks in DNA, the tumor suppressor p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1), is sequestered in the cytoplasm as a consequence of Tau downregulation. We demonstrated that Tau allows 53BP1 to translocate to the nucleus in response to DNA damage by chaperoning microtubule protein trafficking. Moreover, Tau knockdown chemo-sensitized cancer cells to drugs forming DNA adducts, such as cisplatin and oxaliplatin, and further suggested a general role of Tau in regulating the nuclear trafficking of DNA repair proteins. Altogether, these results suggest that Tau expression in cancer cells may be of interest as a molecular marker for response to DNA-damaging anti-cancer agents. Clinically targeting Tau could sensitize tumors to DNA-damaging treatments.
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44
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Dickson JR, Frosch MP, Hyman BT. Altered localization of nucleoporin 98 in primary tauopathies. Brain Commun 2022; 5:fcac334. [PMID: 36601621 PMCID: PMC9806717 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcac334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleoporin 98 is a nuclear pore complex component that is mislocalized in Alzheimer's disease and the alteration in nucleoporin 98 has been attributed to tau. In order to determine if nucleoporin 98 mislocalization is a general feature of tauopathies, we assessed the localization of nucleoporin 98 in neurons in primary tauopathies, including frontotemporal lobar degeneration-tau, corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy. Immunofluorescence staining was performed on frontal cortex and occipital cortex tissue from cases of primary tauopathies and controls without neurodegenerative disease using antibodies to identify nucleoporin 98, phospho-tau (Ser202, Thr205) monoclonal antibody and neuronal marker microtubule-associated protein 2. The stained tissue was imaged by fluorescence microscopy and the number of neurons with mislocalized nucleoporin 98 and phospho-tau (Ser202, Thr205) monoclonal antibody staining was quantified. In frontal cortex tissue, all primary tauopathies examined demonstrated significantly increased numbers of neurons with abnormal localization of nucleoporin 98 along the nuclear envelope compared with control tissue. Additionally, frontotemporal lobar degeneration-tau and corticobasal degeneration in the frontal cortex demonstrated significantly increased numbers of neurons with a cytoplasmic mislocalization of nucleoporin 98 compared with control tissue. The number of neurons with mislocalized nucleoporin 98 was significantly correlated with the number of neurons with phospho-tau (Ser202, Thr205) monoclonal antibody-positive tau staining. In the occipital cortex, which is relatively spared from pathological tau accumulations in these primary tauopathies, the localization of nucleoporin 98 was not significantly altered. This study demonstrates that nucleoporin 98 mislocalization is a feature of primary tauopathies and is associated with pathological tau accumulation. In the context of prior research demonstrating nucleoporin 98 mislocalization in Alzheimer's disease and an interaction between tau and nucleoporin 98, these results further support the hypothesis that pathological tau may contribute to nucleoporin 98 mislocalization. Given the critical role of the nuclear pore complex in nucleocytoplasmic transport, the identification of nucleoporin 98 mislocalization in primary tauopathies highlights a potential pathophysiological disruption in these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Dickson
- Department of Neurology, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew P Frosch
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Department of Pathology and Neurology Service, C.S. Kubik Laboratory for Neuropathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bradley T Hyman
- Correspondence to: Bradley T. Hyman Building 114, 114 16th Street Charlestown, MA 02129, USA E-mail:
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Khalil B, Chhangani D, Wren MC, Smith CL, Lee JH, Li X, Puttinger C, Tsai CW, Fortin G, Morderer D, Gao J, Liu F, Lim CK, Chen J, Chou CC, Croft CL, Gleixner AM, Donnelly CJ, Golde TE, Petrucelli L, Oskarsson B, Dickson DW, Zhang K, Shorter J, Yoshimura SH, Barmada SJ, Rincon-Limas DE, Rossoll W. Nuclear import receptors are recruited by FG-nucleoporins to rescue hallmarks of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Mol Neurodegener 2022; 17:80. [PMID: 36482422 PMCID: PMC9733332 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-022-00585-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cytoplasmic mislocalization and aggregation of TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is a hallmark of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) disease spectrum, causing both nuclear loss-of-function and cytoplasmic toxic gain-of-function phenotypes. While TDP-43 proteinopathy has been associated with defects in nucleocytoplasmic transport, this process is still poorly understood. Here we study the role of karyopherin-β1 (KPNB1) and other nuclear import receptors in regulating TDP-43 pathology. METHODS We used immunostaining, immunoprecipitation, biochemical and toxicity assays in cell lines, primary neuron and organotypic mouse brain slice cultures, to determine the impact of KPNB1 on the solubility, localization, and toxicity of pathological TDP-43 constructs. Postmortem patient brain and spinal cord tissue was stained to assess KPNB1 colocalization with TDP-43 inclusions. Turbidity assays were employed to study the dissolution and prevention of aggregation of recombinant TDP-43 fibrils in vitro. Fly models of TDP-43 proteinopathy were used to determine the effect of KPNB1 on their neurodegenerative phenotype in vivo. RESULTS We discovered that several members of the nuclear import receptor protein family can reduce the formation of pathological TDP-43 aggregates. Using KPNB1 as a model, we found that its activity depends on the prion-like C-terminal region of TDP-43, which mediates the co-aggregation with phenylalanine and glycine-rich nucleoporins (FG-Nups) such as Nup62. KPNB1 is recruited into these co-aggregates where it acts as a molecular chaperone that reverses aberrant phase transition of Nup62 and TDP-43. These findings are supported by the discovery that Nup62 and KPNB1 are also sequestered into pathological TDP-43 aggregates in ALS/FTD postmortem CNS tissue, and by the identification of the fly ortholog of KPNB1 as a strong protective modifier in Drosophila models of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Our results show that KPNB1 can rescue all hallmarks of TDP-43 pathology, by restoring its solubility and nuclear localization, and reducing neurodegeneration in cellular and animal models of ALS/FTD. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest a novel NLS-independent mechanism where, analogous to its canonical role in dissolving the diffusion barrier formed by FG-Nups in the nuclear pore, KPNB1 is recruited into TDP-43/FG-Nup co-aggregates present in TDP-43 proteinopathies and therapeutically reverses their deleterious phase transition and mislocalization, mitigating neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Khalil
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Deepak Chhangani
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Melissa C Wren
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Courtney L Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Track, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Jannifer H Lee
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Track, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Xingli Li
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | | | - Chih-Wei Tsai
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Gael Fortin
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Dmytro Morderer
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Junli Gao
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Feilin Liu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Chun Kim Lim
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-konoe, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Jingjiao Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
- Geriatric Department, Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Ching-Chieh Chou
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Cara L Croft
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London, London, UK
| | - Amanda M Gleixner
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Christopher J Donnelly
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research, University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Todd E Golde
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | | | | | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Ke Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Shige H Yoshimura
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Yoshida-konoe, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sami J Barmada
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Diego E Rincon-Limas
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
- Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Wilfried Rossoll
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
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46
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Zhou J, Corvaisier M, Malycheva D, Alvarado-Kristensson M. Hubbing the Cancer Cell. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5924. [PMID: 36497405 PMCID: PMC9738523 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14235924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic transformation drives adaptive changes in a growing tumor that affect the cellular organization of cancerous cells, resulting in the loss of specialized cellular functions in the polarized compartmentalization of cells. The resulting altered metabolic and morphological patterns are used clinically as diagnostic markers. This review recapitulates the known functions of actin, microtubules and the γ-tubulin meshwork in orchestrating cell metabolism and functional cellular asymmetry.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maria Alvarado-Kristensson
- Molecular Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Skåne University Hospital Malmö 1, Lund University, 20502 Malmö, Sweden
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47
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Tortorella I, Argentati C, Emiliani C, Morena F, Martino S. Biochemical Pathways of Cellular Mechanosensing/Mechanotransduction and Their Role in Neurodegenerative Diseases Pathogenesis. Cells 2022; 11:3093. [PMID: 36231055 PMCID: PMC9563116 DOI: 10.3390/cells11193093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we shed light on recent advances regarding the characterization of biochemical pathways of cellular mechanosensing and mechanotransduction with particular attention to their role in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis. While the mechanistic components of these pathways are mostly uncovered today, the crosstalk between mechanical forces and soluble intracellular signaling is still not fully elucidated. Here, we recapitulate the general concepts of mechanobiology and the mechanisms that govern the mechanosensing and mechanotransduction processes, and we examine the crosstalk between mechanical stimuli and intracellular biochemical response, highlighting their effect on cellular organelles' homeostasis and dysfunction. In particular, we discuss the current knowledge about the translation of mechanosignaling into biochemical signaling, focusing on those diseases that encompass metabolic accumulation of mutant proteins and have as primary characteristics the formation of pathological intracellular aggregates, such as Alzheimer's Disease, Huntington's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinson's Disease. Overall, recent findings elucidate how mechanosensing and mechanotransduction pathways may be crucial to understand the pathogenic mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases and emphasize the importance of these pathways for identifying potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Tortorella
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Chiara Argentati
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Carla Emiliani
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
- Centro di Eccellenza CEMIN (Materiali Innovativi Nanostrutturali per Applicazioni Chimica Fisiche e Biomediche), University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesco Morena
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
| | - Sabata Martino
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, 06123 Perugia, Italy
- Centro di Eccellenza CEMIN (Materiali Innovativi Nanostrutturali per Applicazioni Chimica Fisiche e Biomediche), University of Perugia, 06123 Perugia, Italy
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48
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Kalukula Y, Stephens AD, Lammerding J, Gabriele S. Mechanics and functional consequences of nuclear deformations. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2022; 23:583-602. [PMID: 35513718 PMCID: PMC9902167 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00480-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
As the home of cellular genetic information, the nucleus has a critical role in determining cell fate and function in response to various signals and stimuli. In addition to biochemical inputs, the nucleus is constantly exposed to intrinsic and extrinsic mechanical forces that trigger dynamic changes in nuclear structure and morphology. Emerging data suggest that the physical deformation of the nucleus modulates many cellular and nuclear functions. These functions have long been considered to be downstream of cytoplasmic signalling pathways and dictated by gene expression. In this Review, we discuss an emerging perspective on the mechanoregulation of the nucleus that considers the physical connections from chromatin to nuclear lamina and cytoskeletal filaments as a single mechanical unit. We describe key mechanisms of nuclear deformations in time and space and provide a critical review of the structural and functional adaptive responses of the nucleus to deformations. We then consider the contribution of nuclear deformations to the regulation of important cellular functions, including muscle contraction, cell migration and human disease pathogenesis. Collectively, these emerging insights shed new light on the dynamics of nuclear deformations and their roles in cellular mechanobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohalie Kalukula
- University of Mons, Soft Matter and Biomaterials group, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, Place du Parc, 20 B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Andrew D. Stephens
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jan Lammerding
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA,Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Sylvain Gabriele
- University of Mons, Soft Matter and Biomaterials group, Interfaces and Complex Fluids Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, CIRMAP, Place du Parc, 20 B-7000 Mons, Belgium
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49
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Prissette M, Fury W, Koss M, Racioppi C, Fedorova D, Dragileva E, Clarke G, Pohl T, Dugan J, Ahrens D, Chiu J, Hunt C, Siao CJ, Young T, Bhowmick A, Rogulin V, Desclaux M, Hayden EY, Podgorski M, Gao M, Macdonald LE, Frendewey D, Yancopoulos GD, Zambrowicz B. Disruption of nuclear envelope integrity as a possible initiating event in tauopathies. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111249. [PMID: 36001963 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule-associated protein tau is an abundant component of neurons of the central nervous system. In Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative tauopathies, tau is found hyperphosphorylated and aggregated in neurofibrillary tangles. To obtain a better understanding of the cellular perturbations that initiate tau pathogenesis, we performed a CRISPR-Cas9 screen for genetic modifiers that enhance tau aggregation. This initial screen yielded three genes, BANF1, ANKLE2, and PPP2CA, whose inactivation promotes the accumulation of tau in a phosphorylated and insoluble form. In a complementary screen, we identified three additional genes, LEMD2, LEMD3, and CHMP7, that, when overexpressed, provide protection against tau aggregation. The proteins encoded by the identified genes are mechanistically linked and recognized for their roles in the maintenance and repair of the nuclear envelope. These results implicate the disruption of nuclear envelope integrity as a possible initiating event in tauopathies and reveal targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wen Fury
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Taylor Pohl
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | - John Dugan
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | - Joyce Chiu
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Tara Young
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Min Gao
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY, USA
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50
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Fourest-Lieuvin A, Vinit A, Blot B, Perrot A, Denarier E, Saudou F, Arnal I. Controlled Tau Cleavage in Cells Reveals Abnormal Localizations of Tau Fragments. Neuroscience 2022; 518:162-177. [PMID: 35995336 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.08.016] [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: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In several forms of dementia, such as Alzheimer's disease, the cytoskeleton-associated protein tau undergoes proteolysis, giving rise to fragments that have a toxic impact on neuronal homeostasis. How these fragments interact with cellular structures, in particular with the cytoskeleton, is currently incompletely understood. Here, we developed a method, derived from a Tobacco Etch Virus (TEV) protease system, to induce controlled cleavage of tau at specific sites. Five tau proteins containing specific TEV recognition sites corresponding to pathological proteolytic sites were engineered, and tagged with GFP at one end and mCherry at the other. Following controlled cleavage to produce GFP-N-terminal and C-terminal-mCherry fragments, we followed the fate of tau fragments in cells. Our results showed that whole engineered tau proteins associate with the cytoskeleton similarly to the non-modified tau, whereas tau fragments adopted different localizations with respect to the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons. These distinct localizations were confirmed by expressing each separate fragment in cells. Some cleavages - in particular cleavages at amino-acid positions 124 or 256 - displayed a certain level of cellular toxicity, with an unusual relocalization of the N-terminal fragments to the nucleus. Based on the data presented here, inducible cleavage of tau by the TEV protease appears to be a valuable tool to reproduce tau fragmentation in cells and study the resulting consequences on cell physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Fourest-Lieuvin
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France.
| | - Angélique Vinit
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Béatrice Blot
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Anthime Perrot
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Eric Denarier
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Frédéric Saudou
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Isabelle Arnal
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, U1216, CEA, CNRS, CHU Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble Institut Neurosciences, 38000 Grenoble, France.
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