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Musokhranova U, Grau C, Vergara C, Rodríguez-Pascau L, Xiol C, Castells AA, Alcántara S, Rodríguez-Pombo P, Pizcueta P, Martinell M, García-Cazorla A, Oyarzábal A. Mitochondrial modulation with leriglitazone as a potential treatment for Rett syndrome. J Transl Med 2023; 21:756. [PMID: 37884937 PMCID: PMC10601217 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04622-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rett syndrome is a neuropediatric disease occurring due to mutations in MECP2 and characterized by a regression in the neuronal development following a normal postnatal growth, which results in the loss of acquired capabilities such as speech or purposeful usage of hands. While altered neurotransmission and brain development are the center of its pathophysiology, alterations in mitochondrial performance have been previously outlined, shaping it as an attractive target for the disease treatment. METHODS We have thoroughly described mitochondrial performance in two Rett models, patients' primary fibroblasts and female Mecp2tm1.1Bird-/+ mice brain, discriminating between different brain areas. The characterization was made according to their bioenergetics function, oxidative stress, network dynamics or ultrastructure. Building on that, we have studied the effect of leriglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, in the modulation of mitochondrial performance. For that, we treated Rett female mice with 75 mg/kg/day leriglitazone from weaning until sacrifice at 7 months, studying both the mitochondrial performance changes and their consequences on the mice phenotype. Finally, we studied its effect on neuroinflammation based on the presence of reactive glia by immunohistochemistry and through a cytokine panel. RESULTS We have described mitochondrial alterations in Rett fibroblasts regarding both shape and bioenergetic functions, as they displayed less interconnected and shorter mitochondria and reduced ATP production along with increased oxidative stress. The bioenergetic alterations were recalled in Rett mice models, being especially significant in cerebellum, already detectable in pre-symptomatic stages. Treatment with leriglitazone recovered the bioenergetic alterations both in Rett fibroblasts and female mice and exerted an anti-inflammatory effect in the latest, resulting in the amelioration of the mice phenotype both in general condition and exploratory activity. CONCLUSIONS Our studies confirm the mitochondrial dysfunction in Rett syndrome, setting the differences through brain areas and disease stages. Its modulation through leriglitazone is a potential treatment for this disorder, along with other diseases with mitochondrial involvement. This work constitutes the preclinical necessary evidence to lead to a clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uliana Musokhranova
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 39-57 Santa Rosa Street, Esplugues de Llobregat , 08950, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Grau
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 39-57 Santa Rosa Street, Esplugues de Llobregat , 08950, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Clara Xiol
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alba A Castells
- Neural Development Lab, Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Institut de Neurociències, IDIBELL, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Soledad Alcántara
- Neural Development Lab, Departament de Patologia i Terapèutica Experimental, Institut de Neurociències, IDIBELL, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pilar Rodríguez-Pombo
- Centro de Diagnóstico de Enfermedades Moleculares, Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, CBM-CSIC, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Institute for Molecular Biology-IUBM, Universidad Autónoma Madrid, IDIPAZ, Madrid, Spain
- CIBERER-Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Rare Diseases, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Marc Martinell
- Minoryx Therapeutics BE S.A., Gosselies, Charleroi, Belgium
- Minoryx Therapeutics S.L., Barcelona, Spain
| | - Angels García-Cazorla
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 39-57 Santa Rosa Street, Esplugues de Llobregat , 08950, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBERER-Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Rare Diseases, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Oyarzábal
- Synaptic Metabolism and Personalized Therapies Lab, Department of Neurology and MetabERN, Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, 39-57 Santa Rosa Street, Esplugues de Llobregat , 08950, Barcelona, Spain.
- CIBERER-Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Rare Diseases, Madrid, Spain.
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WGCNA Identifies Translational and Proteasome-Ubiquitin Dysfunction in Rett Syndrome. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189954. [PMID: 34576118 PMCID: PMC8465861 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rett Syndrome (RTT) is an X linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene, resulting in severe cognitive and physical disabilities. Despite an apparent normal prenatal and postnatal development period, symptoms usually present around 6 to 18 months of age. Little is known about the consequences of MeCP2 deficiency at a molecular and cellular level before the onset of symptoms in neural cells, and subtle changes at this highly sensitive developmental stage may begin earlier than symptomatic manifestation. Recent transcriptomic studies of patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-differentiated neurons and brain organoids harbouring pathogenic mutations in MECP2, have unravelled new insights into the cellular and molecular changes caused by these mutations. Here we interrogated transcriptomic modifications in RTT patients using publicly available RNA-sequencing datasets of patient iPSCs harbouring pathogenic mutations and healthy control iPSCs by Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA). Preservation analysis identified core gene pathways involved in translation, ribosomal function, and ubiquitination perturbed in some MECP2 mutant iPSC lines. Furthermore, differential gene expression of the parental fibroblasts and iPSC-derived neurons revealed alterations in genes in the ubiquitination pathway and neurotransmission in fibroblasts and differentiated neurons respectively. These findings might suggest that global translational dysregulation and proteasome ubiquitin function in Rett syndrome begins in progenitor cells prior to lineage commitment and differentiation into neural cells.
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Cicaloni V, Pecorelli A, Tinti L, Rossi M, Benedusi M, Cervellati C, Spiga O, Santucci A, Hayek J, Salvini L, Tinti C, Valacchi G. Proteomic profiling reveals mitochondrial alterations in Rett syndrome. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 155:37-48. [PMID: 32445864 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Rett syndrome (RTT) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder associated with mutation in MECP2 gene. Despite a well-defined genetic cause, there is a growing consensus that a metabolic component could play a pivotal role in RTT pathophysiology. Indeed, perturbed redox homeostasis and inflammation, i.e. oxinflammation, with mitochondria dysfunction as the central hub between the two phenomena, appear as possible key contributing factors to RTT pathogenesis and its clinical features. While these RTT-related changes have been widely documented by transcriptomic profiling, proteomics studies supporting these evidences are still limited. Here, using primary dermal fibroblasts from control and patients, we perform a large-scale proteomic analysis that, together with data mining approaches, allow us to carry out the first comprehensive characterization of RTT cellular proteome, showing mainly changes in expression of proteins involved in the mitochondrial network. These findings parallel with an altered expression of key mediators of mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy associated with abnormal mitochondrial morphology. In conclusion, our proteomic analysis confirms the pathological relevance of mitochondrial dysfunction in RTT pathogenesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Cicaloni
- Toscana Life Science Foundation, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Alessandra Pecorelli
- Plants for Human Health Institute, Animal Science Dept., NC Research Campus, NC State University, 600 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA
| | - Laura Tinti
- Toscana Life Science Foundation, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Marco Rossi
- Toscana Life Science Foundation, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Mascia Benedusi
- Department of Biomedical and Specialist Surgical Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Carlo Cervellati
- Department of Morphology and Experimental Medicine University of Ferrara, via Borsari 46, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Ottavia Spiga
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Via Aldo Moro 2, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Annalisa Santucci
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Via Aldo Moro 2, University of Siena, Siena, Italy
| | - Joussef Hayek
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, University General Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Viale M. Bracci 16, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Salvini
- Toscana Life Science Foundation, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Cristina Tinti
- Toscana Life Science Foundation, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Plants for Human Health Institute, Animal Science Dept., NC Research Campus, NC State University, 600 Laureate Way, Kannapolis, NC, 28081, USA; Department of Biomedical and Specialist Surgical Sciences, Section of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; Kyung Hee University, Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul, South Korea.
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Pecorelli A, Cervellati C, Cordone V, Hayek J, Valacchi G. Compromised immune/inflammatory responses in Rett syndrome. Free Radic Biol Med 2020; 152:100-106. [PMID: 32119978 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), a key transcriptional regulator, account for most cases of Rett syndrome (RTT), a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder with no known cure. Despite extensive research to elucidate MeCP2 functions, the mechanisms underlying RTT pathophysiology are still unclear. In addition to a variety of neurological symptoms, RTT also includes a plethora of additional phenotypical features including altered lipid metabolism, redox imbalance, immune dysfunction and mitochondrial abnormalities that explain its multisystemic nature. Here, we provide an overview of the current knowledge on the potential role of dysregulated inflammatory and immune responses in RTT. The findings show that abnormalities of humoral and cell-mediated immunity together with chronic low-grade inflammation in multiple organs represent not only clinical manifestations of RTT but rather can contribute to its development and deteriorating course. A future research challenge could be to target therapeutically immune dysfunction as a novel means for RTT management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Pecorelli
- Plants for Human Health Institute, Dept. of Animal Science, NC Research Campus, NC State University, Kannapolis, 28081, NC, USA
| | - Carlo Cervellati
- Dept. of Biomedical and Specialist Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Valeria Cordone
- Dept. of Biomedical and Specialist Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Joussef Hayek
- Child Neuropsychiatry Unit, University General Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Plants for Human Health Institute, Dept. of Animal Science, NC Research Campus, NC State University, Kannapolis, 28081, NC, USA; Dept. of Biomedical and Specialist Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy; Dept. of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, 02447, Seoul, South Korea.
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