1
|
Bhat MA, Dhaneshwar S. Neurodegenerative Diseases: New Hopes and Perspectives. Curr Mol Med 2024; 24:1004-1032. [PMID: 37691199 DOI: 10.2174/1566524023666230907093451] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and Friedrich ataxia are all incurable neurodegenerative diseases defined by the continuous progressive loss of distinct neuronal subtypes. Despite their rising prevalence among the world's ageing population, fewer advances have been made in the concurrent massive efforts to develop newer drugs. Recently, there has been a shift in research focus towards the discovery of new therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we have summarized the recently developed therapies and their status in the management of neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Aadil Bhat
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Lucknow, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, UP, India
| | - Suneela Dhaneshwar
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Maharashtra, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ferrari C, Capacci E, Bagnoli S, Ingannato A, Sorbi S, Nacmias B. The Huntington's Disease Gene in an Italian Cohort of Patients with Bipolar Disorder. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1681. [PMID: 37761821 PMCID: PMC10531383 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091681] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by motor, cognitive and psychiatric manifestations and caused by an expansion of CAG repeats over 35 triplets on the huntingtin (HTT) gene. However, expansions in the range 27-35 repeats (intermediate allele) can be associated with pathological phenotypes. The onset of HD is conventionally defined by the onset of motor symptoms, but psychiatric disturbances can precede the motor phase by up to twenty years. The aims of the present study are to identify HD patients in the pre-motor phase of the disease among patients diagnosed with bipolar disorders and evaluate any differences between bipolar patients carrying the normal HTT allele and patients with the expanded HTT gene. METHODS We assessed the HTT genotype in an Italian cohort of 69 patients who were affected by either type 1 or type 2 bipolar disorder. RESULTS No patient was found to be a carrier of the pathological HTT allele, but 10% of bipolar subjects carried an intermediate allele. Carriers of the intermediate allele were older at the onset of psychiatric symptoms than non-carriers. CONCLUSION The pathological HTT gene was not associated with bipolar disorder, while we found a higher frequency of the intermediate allele among the bipolar population with respect to healthy controls. The identification of this subset of bipolar subjects has implications for the clinical management of patients and their family members and promotes further investigation into possible pathological mechanisms common to both HD and bipolar disorder.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Ferrari
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
| | - Elena Capacci
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
| | - Silvia Bagnoli
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
| | - Assunta Ingannato
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Nacmias
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (E.C.); (S.B.); (A.I.); (S.S.); (B.N.)
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 50143 Florence, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sturchio A, Duker AP, Muñoz-Sanjuan I, Espay AJ. Subtyping monogenic disorders: Huntington disease. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2023; 193:171-184. [PMID: 36803810 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-85555-6.00003-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Huntington disease is a highly disabling neurodegenerative disease characterized by psychiatric, cognitive, and motor deficits. The causal genetic mutation in huntingtin (Htt, also known as IT15), located on chromosome 4p16.3, leads to an expansion of a triplet coding for polyglutamine. The expansion is invariably associated with the disease when >39 repeats. Htt encodes for the protein huntingtin (HTT), which carries out many essential biological functions in the cell, in particular in the nervous system. The precise mechanism of toxicity is not known. Based on a one-gene-one-disease framework, the prevailing hypothesis ascribes toxicity to the universal aggregation of HTT. However, the aggregation process into mutant huntingtin (mHTT) is associated with a reduction of the levels of wild-type HTT. A loss of wild-type HTT may plausibly be pathogenic, contributing to the disease onset and progressive neurodegeneration. Moreover, many other biological pathways are altered in Huntington disease, such as in the autophagic system, mitochondria, and essential proteins beyond HTT, potentially explaining biological and clinical differences among affected individuals. As one gene does not mean one disease, future efforts at identifying specific Huntington subtypes are important to design biologically tailored therapeutic approaches that correct the corresponding biological pathways-rather than continuing to exclusively target the common denominator of HTT aggregation for elimination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Sturchio
- James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Neuro Svenningsson, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Andrew P Duker
- James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | | | - Alberto J Espay
- James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Center for Parkinson's disease and Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dashnow H, Pedersen BS, Hiatt L, Brown J, Beecroft SJ, Ravenscroft G, LaCroix AJ, Lamont P, Roxburgh RH, Rodrigues MJ, Davis M, Mefford HC, Laing NG, Quinlan AR. STRling: a k-mer counting approach that detects short tandem repeat expansions at known and novel loci. Genome Biol 2022; 23:257. [PMID: 36517892 PMCID: PMC9753380 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02826-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Expansions of short tandem repeats (STRs) cause many rare diseases. Expansion detection is challenging with short-read DNA sequencing data since supporting reads are often mapped incorrectly. Detection is particularly difficult for "novel" STRs, which include new motifs at known loci or STRs absent from the reference genome. We developed STRling to efficiently count k-mers to recover informative reads and call expansions at known and novel STR loci. STRling is sensitive to known STR disease loci, has a low false discovery rate, and resolves novel STR expansions to base-pair position accuracy. It is fast, scalable, open-source, and available at: github.com/quinlan-lab/STRling .
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harriet Dashnow
- grid.223827.e0000 0001 2193 0096Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| | - Brent S. Pedersen
- grid.223827.e0000 0001 2193 0096Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT USA ,grid.7692.a0000000090126352Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Laurel Hiatt
- grid.223827.e0000 0001 2193 0096Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| | - Joe Brown
- grid.223827.e0000 0001 2193 0096Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| | - Sarah J. Beecroft
- Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre, Kensington, WA Australia ,grid.1012.20000 0004 1936 7910Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA Australia
| | - Gianina Ravenscroft
- grid.1012.20000 0004 1936 7910Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA Australia
| | - Amy J. LaCroix
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Phillipa Lamont
- grid.416195.e0000 0004 0453 3875Neurogenetic Unit, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA Australia
| | - Richard H. Roxburgh
- grid.414055.10000 0000 9027 2851Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Miriam J. Rodrigues
- grid.414055.10000 0000 9027 2851Neurology, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand ,grid.9654.e0000 0004 0372 3343Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Mark Davis
- grid.413880.60000 0004 0453 2856Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Diagnostic Genomics, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Western Australian Department of Health, Nedlands, Australia
| | - Heather C. Mefford
- grid.34477.330000000122986657Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195 USA
| | - Nigel G. Laing
- grid.1012.20000 0004 1936 7910Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and Centre for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA Australia ,grid.413880.60000 0004 0453 2856Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Diagnostic Genomics, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Western Australian Department of Health, Nedlands, Australia
| | - Aaron R. Quinlan
- grid.223827.e0000 0001 2193 0096Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hickman RA, Faust PL, Marder K, Yamamoto A, Vonsattel JP. The distribution and density of Huntingtin inclusions across the Huntington disease neocortex: regional correlations with Huntingtin repeat expansion independent of pathologic grade. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:55. [PMID: 35440014 PMCID: PMC9020040 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01364-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration, especially of the striatum, and the presence of polyglutamine huntingtin (HTT) inclusions. Although HTT inclusions are most abundant in the neocortex, their neocortical distribution and density in relation to the extent of CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene and striatal pathologic grade have yet to be formally established. We immunohistochemically studied 65 brains with a pathologic diagnosis of Huntington disease to investigate the cortical distributions and densities of HTT inclusions within the calcarine (BA17), precuneus (BA7), motor (BA4) and prefrontal (BA9) cortices; in 39 of these brains, a p62 immunostain was used for comparison. HTT inclusions predominate in the infragranular cortical layers (layers V-VI) and layer III, however, the densities of HTT inclusions across the human cerebral cortex are not uniform but are instead regionally contingent. The density of HTT and p62 inclusions (intranuclear and extranuclear) in layers V-VI increases caudally to rostrally (BA17 < BA7 < BA4 < BA9) with the median burden of HTT inclusions being 38-fold greater in the prefrontal cortex (BA9) than in the calcarine cortex (BA17). Conversely, intranuclear HTT inclusions prevail in the calcarine cortex irrespective of HTT CAG length. Neocortical HTT inclusion density correlates with CAG repeat expansion, but not with the neuropathologic grade of striatal degeneration (Vonsattel grade) or with the duration of clinical disease since motor onset. Extrapolation of these findings suggest that HTT inclusions are at a regionally-contingent, CAG-dependent, density during the advanced stages of HD. The distribution and density of HTT inclusions in HD therefore does not provide a measure of pathologic disease stage but rather infers the degree of pathogenic HTT expansion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard A. Hickman
- grid.51462.340000 0001 2171 9952Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065 USA
| | - Phyllis L. Faust
- grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 630 W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| | - Karen Marder
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Ai Yamamoto
- grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 630 W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA ,grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Jean-Paul Vonsattel
- grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital, 630 W 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA ,grid.239585.00000 0001 2285 2675Taub Institute for Research On Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032 USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Extreme conservation of the poly-glutamine tract in huntingtin is related to neurodevelopmental functions: the "better" may become the "enemy of the good" in the course of evolution. Cell Death Differ 2022; 29:266-268. [PMID: 35013554 PMCID: PMC8816902 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00927-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
|
7
|
The evolutionary history of the polyQ tract in huntingtin sheds light on its functional pro-neural activities. Cell Death Differ 2022; 29:293-305. [PMID: 34974533 PMCID: PMC8817008 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00914-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is caused by a pathologically long (>35) CAG repeat located in the first exon of the Huntingtin gene (HTT). While pathologically expanded CAG repeats are the focus of extensive investigations, non-pathogenic CAG tracts in protein-coding genes are less well characterized. Here, we investigated the function and evolution of the physiological CAG tract in the HTT gene. We show that the poly-glutamine (polyQ) tract encoded by CAGs in the huntingtin protein (HTT) is under purifying selection and subjected to stronger selective pressures than CAG-encoded polyQ tracts in other proteins. For natural selection to operate, the polyQ must perform a function. By combining genome-edited mouse embryonic stem cells and cell assays, we show that small variations in HTT polyQ lengths significantly correlate with cells' neurogenic potential and with changes in the gene transcription network governing neuronal function. We conclude that during evolution natural selection promotes the conservation and purity of the CAG-encoded polyQ tract and that small increases in its physiological length influence neural functions of HTT. We propose that these changes in HTT polyQ length contribute to evolutionary fitness including potentially to the development of a more complex nervous system.
Collapse
|
8
|
Xiao X, Zhang CY, Zhang Z, Hu Z, Li M, Li T. Revisiting tandem repeats in psychiatric disorders from perspectives of genetics, physiology, and brain evolution. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:466-475. [PMID: 34650204 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01329-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have revealed substantial genetic components comprised of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the heritable risk of psychiatric disorders. However, genetic risk factors not covered by GWAS also play pivotal roles in these illnesses. Tandem repeats, which are likely functional but frequently overlooked by GWAS, may account for an important proportion in the "missing heritability" of psychiatric disorders. Despite difficulties in characterizing and quantifying tandem repeats in the genome, studies have been carried out in an attempt to describe impact of tandem repeats on gene regulation and human phenotypes. In this review, we have introduced recent research progress regarding the genomic distribution and regulatory mechanisms of tandem repeats. We have also summarized the current knowledge of the genetic architecture and biological underpinnings of psychiatric disorders brought by studies of tandem repeats. These findings suggest that tandem repeats, in candidate psychiatric risk genes or in different levels of linkage disequilibrium (LD) with psychiatric GWAS SNPs and haplotypes, may modulate biological phenotypes related to psychiatric disorders (e.g., cognitive function and brain physiology) through regulating alternative splicing, promoter activity, enhancer activity and so on. In addition, many tandem repeats undergo tight natural selection in the human lineage, and likely exert crucial roles in human brain evolution. Taken together, the putative roles of tandem repeats in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders is strongly implicated, and using examples from previous literatures, we wish to call for further attention to tandem repeats in the post-GWAS era of psychiatric disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chu-Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhuohua Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhonghua Hu
- Institute of Molecular Precision Medicine and Hunan Key Laboratory of Molecular Precision Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Center for Medical Genetics and Hunan Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Department of Critical Care Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Hunan Key Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital and Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China. .,National Clinical Research Center on Mental Disorders, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Ming Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China. .,CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China. .,KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
| | - Tao Li
- Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China. .,Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Nikitina M, Bragina E, Nazarenko M, Alifirova V. The role of alleles with an intermediate number of trinucleotide repeats in Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2022; 122:42-50. [DOI: 10.17116/jnevro202212207142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
10
|
Reasoner EE, van der Plas E, Langbehn DR, Conrad AL, Koscik TR, Epping EA, Magnotta VA, Nopoulos PC. Cortical Features in Child and Adolescent Carriers of Mutant Huntingtin (mHTT). J Huntingtons Dis 2022; 11:173-178. [PMID: 35275555 PMCID: PMC9177765 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-210512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Molecular studies provide evidence that mutant huntingtin (mHTT) affects early cortical development; however, cortical development has not been evaluated in child and adolescent carriers of mHTT. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of mHTT on the developmental trajectories of cortical thickness and surface area. METHODS Children and adolescents (6-18 years) participated in the KidsHD study. mHTT carrier status was determined for research purposes only to classify participants as gene expanded (GE) and gene non-expanded (GNE). Cortical features were extracted from 3T neuroimaging using FreeSurfer. Nonlinear mixed effects models were conducted to determine if age, group, and CAG repeat were associated with cortical morphometry. RESULTS Age-related changes in cortical morphometry were similar across groups. Expanded CAG repeat was not significantly associated with cortical features. CONCLUSION While striatal development is markedly different in GE and GNE, developmental change of the cortex appears grossly normal among child and adolescent carrier of mHTT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin E. Reasoner
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Ellen van der Plas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Douglas R. Langbehn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Amy L. Conrad
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Timothy R. Koscik
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Eric A. Epping
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Vincent A. Magnotta
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242,Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242
| | - Peggy C. Nopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242,Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242,Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, Iowa City, IA 52242
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ingannato A, Bagnoli S, Mazzeo S, Bessi V, Matà S, Del Mastio M, Lombardi G, Ferrari C, Sorbi S, Nacmias B. Neurofilament Light Chain and Intermediate HTT Alleles as Combined Biomarkers in Italian ALS Patients. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:695049. [PMID: 34539331 PMCID: PMC8446383 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.695049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To study the possible implication of the two biomarkers, intermediate alleles (IAs) of the Huntingtin (HTT) gene and neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in plasma, in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients. Methods We analyzed IAs in a cohort of 106 Italian ALS patients and measured the plasma NfL levels in 20% of the patients of the cohort. We correlated the two biomarkers with clinical phenotypes. Results Intermediate alleles were present in 7.5% of the patients of our cohort, a frequency higher than that reported in general population. Plasma NfL levels increased with age at onset (p < 0.05). Patients with bulbar onset (BO) had higher plasma NfL concentration (CI −0.61 to −0.06, p = 0.02) and a later age at onset of the disease (CI −24.78 to −4.93, p = 0.006) with respect to the spinal onset (SO) form. Additionally, two of the patients, with IAs and plasma NfL concentration lower with respect to normal alleles’ carriers, presented an age at onset higher than the mean of the entire cohort. Conclusion According to our findings, plasma NfL and IAs of HTT gene may represent potential biomarkers in ALS, providing evidence of a possible implication in clinical phenotype.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Bagnoli
- NEUROFARBA Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Bessi
- NEUROFARBA Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sabrina Matà
- SOD Neurologia 1, Dipartimento Neuromuscolo-Scheletrico e Degli Organi di Senso, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Monica Del Mastio
- SOD Neurologia 1, Dipartimento Neuromuscolo-Scheletrico e Degli Organi di Senso, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Camilla Ferrari
- NEUROFARBA Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- NEUROFARBA Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| | - Benedetta Nacmias
- NEUROFARBA Department, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, Florence, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
van der Plas E, Schultz JL, Nopoulos PC. The Neurodevelopmental Hypothesis of Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2021; 9:217-229. [PMID: 32925079 PMCID: PMC7683043 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-200394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The current dogma of HD pathoetiology posits it is a degenerative disease affecting primarily the striatum, caused by a gain of function (toxicity) of the mutant mHTT that kills neurons. However, a growing body of evidence supports an alternative theory in which loss of function may also influence the pathology.This theory is predicated on the notion that HTT is known to be a vital gene for brain development. mHTT is expressed throughout life and could conceivably have deleterious effects on brain development. The end event in the disease is, of course, neurodegeneration; however the process by which that occurs may be rooted in the pathophysiology of aberrant development.To date, there have been multiple studies evaluating molecular and cellular mechanisms of abnormal development in HD, as well as studies investigating abnormal brain development in HD animal models. However, direct study of how mHTT could affect neurodevelopment in humans has not been approached until recent years. The current review will focus on the most recent findings of a unique study of children at-risk for HD, the Kids-HD study. This study evaluates brain structure and function in children ages 6-18 years old who are at risk for HD (have a parent or grand-parent with HD).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ellen van der Plas
- University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Jordan L Schultz
- University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Peg C Nopoulos
- University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Iowa City, IA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Świtońska-Kurkowska K, Krist B, Delimata J, Figiel M. Juvenile Huntington's Disease and Other PolyQ Diseases, Update on Neurodevelopmental Character and Comparative Bioinformatic Review of Transcriptomic and Proteomic Data. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:642773. [PMID: 34277598 PMCID: PMC8281051 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.642773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine (PolyQ) diseases are neurodegenerative disorders caused by the CAG repeat expansion mutation in affected genes resulting in toxic proteins containing a long chain of glutamines. There are nine PolyQ diseases: Huntington’s disease (HD), spinocerebellar ataxias (types 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 17), dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA), and spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). In general, longer CAG expansions and longer glutamine tracts lead to earlier disease presentations in PolyQ patients. Rarely, cases of extremely long expansions are identified for PolyQ diseases, and they consistently lead to juvenile or sometimes very severe infantile-onset polyQ syndromes. In apparent contrast to the very long CAG tracts, shorter CAGs and PolyQs in proteins seems to be the evolutionary factor enhancing human cognition. Therefore, polyQ tracts in proteins can be modifiers of brain development and disease drivers, which contribute neurodevelopmental phenotypes in juvenile- and adult-onset PolyQ diseases. Therefore we performed a bioinformatics review of published RNAseq polyQ expression data resulting from the presence of polyQ genes in search of neurodevelopmental expression patterns and comparison between diseases. The expression data were collected from cell types reflecting stages of development such as iPSC, neuronal stem cell, neurons, but also the adult patients and models for PolyQ disease. In addition, we extended our bioinformatic transcriptomic analysis by proteomics data. We identified a group of 13 commonly downregulated genes and proteins in HD mouse models. Our comparative bioinformatic review highlighted several (neuro)developmental pathways and genes identified within PolyQ diseases and mouse models responsible for neural growth, synaptogenesis, and synaptic plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Bart Krist
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Joanna Delimata
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Maciej Figiel
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Schultz JL, Saft C, Nopoulos PC. Association of CAG Repeat Length in the Huntington Gene With Cognitive Performance in Young Adults. Neurology 2021; 96:e2407-e2413. [PMID: 33692166 PMCID: PMC10508647 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000011823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationships between CAG repeat length in the huntingtin gene and cognitive performance in participants above and below the disease threshold for Huntington disease (HD), we performed a cross-sectional analysis of the Enroll-HD database. METHODS We analyzed data from young, developing adults (≤30 years of age) without a history of depression, apathy, or cognitive deficits. We included participants with and without the gene expansion (CAG ≥36) for HD. All participants had to have a Total Functional Capacity Score of 13, a diagnostic confidence level of zero, and a total motor score of <10 and had to be >28.6 years from their predicted motor onset. We performed regression analyses to investigate the nonlinear relationship between CAG repeat length and various cognitive measures controlling for age, sex, and education level. RESULTS There were significant positive relationships between CAG repeat length and the Symbol Digit Modalities, Stroop Color Naming, and Stroop Interference test scores. There were significant negative relationships between CAG repeat length and scores on Parts A and B of the Trails Making Test (p < 0.05), indicating that longer CAG repeat lengths were associated with better performance. DISCUSSION An increasing number of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene below disease threshold and low pathologic CAG ranges were associated with some improvements in cognitive performance. These findings outline the relationship between CAG repeats within the huntingtin gene and cognitive development. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE This study provides Class IV evidence that CAG repeat length is positively associated with cognitive function across a spectrum of CAG repeat lengths.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan L Schultz
- From the Departments of Psychiatry (J.L.S., P.C.N.) and Neurology (J.L.S., P.C.N.), Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa; Division of Pharmacy Practice and Sciences (J.L.S.), University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City; Department of Neurology (C.S.), Huntington Center NRW, Ruhr-University Bochum, St Josef-Hospital, Bochum, Germany; and Stead Family Children's Hospital at the University of Iowa (P.C.N.), Iowa City.
| | - Carsten Saft
- From the Departments of Psychiatry (J.L.S., P.C.N.) and Neurology (J.L.S., P.C.N.), Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa; Division of Pharmacy Practice and Sciences (J.L.S.), University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City; Department of Neurology (C.S.), Huntington Center NRW, Ruhr-University Bochum, St Josef-Hospital, Bochum, Germany; and Stead Family Children's Hospital at the University of Iowa (P.C.N.), Iowa City
| | - Peggy C Nopoulos
- From the Departments of Psychiatry (J.L.S., P.C.N.) and Neurology (J.L.S., P.C.N.), Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa; Division of Pharmacy Practice and Sciences (J.L.S.), University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City; Department of Neurology (C.S.), Huntington Center NRW, Ruhr-University Bochum, St Josef-Hospital, Bochum, Germany; and Stead Family Children's Hospital at the University of Iowa (P.C.N.), Iowa City
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Schultz JL, van der Plas E, Langbehn DR, Conrad AL, Nopoulos PC. Age-Related Cognitive Changes as a Function of CAG Repeat in Child and Adolescent Carriers of Mutant Huntingtin. Ann Neurol 2021; 89:1036-1040. [PMID: 33521985 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Limited data exists regarding the disease course of Huntington's Disease (HD) in children and young adults. Here, we evaluate the trajectory of various cognitive skill development as a function of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat length in children and adolescents that carry the mutation that causes HD. We discovered that the development of verbal skills seems to plateau earlier as CAG repeat length increases. These findings increase our understanding of the relationship between neurodegeneration and neurodevelopment and may have far-reaching implications for future gene-therapy treatment strategies. ANN NEUROL 2021;89:1036-1040.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordan L Schultz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Department of Pharmacy Practice and Sciences, University of Iowa College of Pharmacy, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Ellen van der Plas
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Douglas R Langbehn
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Amy L Conrad
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Peg C Nopoulos
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Mitsuhashi S, Frith MC, Matsumoto N. Genome-wide survey of tandem repeats by nanopore sequencing shows that disease-associated repeats are more polymorphic in the general population. BMC Med Genomics 2021; 14:17. [PMID: 33413375 PMCID: PMC7791882 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-020-00853-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tandem repeats are highly mutable and contribute to the development of human disease by a variety of mechanisms. It is difficult to predict which tandem repeats may cause a disease. One hypothesis is that changeable tandem repeats are the source of genetic diseases, because disease-causing repeats are polymorphic in healthy individuals. However, it is not clear whether disease-causing repeats are more polymorphic than other repeats. METHODS We performed a genome-wide survey of the millions of human tandem repeats using publicly available long read genome sequencing data from 21 humans. We measured tandem repeat copy number changes using tandem-genotypes. Length variation of known disease-associated repeats was compared to other repeat loci. RESULTS We found that known Mendelian disease-causing or disease-associated repeats, especially CAG and 5'UTR GGC repeats, are relatively long and polymorphic in the general population. We also show that repeat lengths of two disease-causing tandem repeats, in ATXN3 and GLS, are correlated with near-by GWAS SNP genotypes. CONCLUSIONS We provide a catalog of polymorphic tandem repeats across a variety of repeat unit lengths and sequences, from long read sequencing data. This method especially if used in genome wide association study, may indicate possible new candidates of pathogenic or biologically important tandem repeats in human genomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Satomi Mitsuhashi
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Fukuura 3-9, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.
- Department of Genomic Function and Diversity, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, M&D Tower 24F, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan.
| | - Martin C Frith
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
- Computational Bio Big-Data Open Innovation Laboratory (CBBD-OIL), AIST, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naomichi Matsumoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Fukuura 3-9, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, 236-0004, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Piras IS, Picinelli C, Iennaco R, Baccarin M, Castronovo P, Tomaiuolo P, Cucinotta F, Ricciardello A, Turriziani L, Nanetti L, Mariotti C, Gellera C, Lintas C, Sacco R, Zuccato C, Cattaneo E, Persico AM. Huntingtin gene CAG repeat size affects autism risk: Family-based and case-control association study. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2020; 183:341-351. [PMID: 32652810 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The Huntingtin (HTT) gene contains a CAG repeat in exon 1, whose expansion beyond 39 repeats consistently leads to Huntington's disease (HD), whereas normal-to-intermediate alleles seemingly modulate brain structure, function and behavior. The role of the CAG repeat in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) was investigated applying both family-based and case-control association designs, with the SCA3 repeat as a negative control. Significant overtransmission of "long" CAG alleles (≥17 repeats) to autistic children and of "short" alleles (≤16 repeats) to their unaffected siblings (all p < 10-5 ) was observed in 612 ASD families (548 simplex and 64 multiplex). Surprisingly, both 193 population controls and 1,188 neurological non-HD controls have significantly lower frequencies of "short" CAG alleles compared to 185 unaffected siblings and higher rates of "long" alleles compared to 548 ASD patients from the same families (p < .05-.001). The SCA3 CAG repeat displays no association. "Short" HTT alleles seemingly exert a protective effect from clinically overt autism in families carrying a genetic predisposition for ASD, while "long" alleles may enhance autism risk. Differential penetrance of autism-inducing genetic/epigenetic variants may imply atypical developmental trajectories linked to HTT functions, including excitation/inhibition imbalance, cortical neurogenesis and apoptosis, neuronal migration, synapse formation, connectivity and homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio Stefano Piras
- Neurogenomics Division, The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Chiara Picinelli
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaele Iennaco
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Baccarin
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Castronovo
- Mafalda Luce Center for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Milan, Italy
| | - Pasquale Tomaiuolo
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Francesca Cucinotta
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Arianna Ricciardello
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Laura Turriziani
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Nanetti
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Caterina Mariotti
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinzia Gellera
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Lintas
- Unit of Child and Adolescent NeuroPsychiatry & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Sacco
- Unit of Child and Adolescent NeuroPsychiatry & Laboratory of Molecular Psychiatry and Neurogenetics, University Campus Bio-Medico, Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Zuccato
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Cattaneo
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio M Persico
- Interdepartmental Program "Autism 0-90", "Gaetano Martino" University Hospital, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Ciriegio AE, Pfalzer AC, Hale L, McDonell KE, Claassen DO, Compas BE. Investigating the interplay of working memory, affective symptoms, and coping with stress in offspring of parents with Huntington's disease. Neuropsychology 2020; 34:2020-57026-001. [PMID: 32757576 PMCID: PMC11299586 DOI: 10.1037/neu0000692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The offspring of parents with Huntington's disease (HD) are faced with substantial levels of chronic uncontrollable and unpredictable stress. These stressors may place them at heightened risk of psychological distress and negative effects on executive functioning. This study investigated working memory, secondary control coping strategies (e.g., cognitive reappraisal, acceptance, distraction), and symptoms of anxiety/depression in offspring at risk for HD. METHOD Adolescent (ages 10-19) and young adult (ages 20-29) offspring (n = 33; mean [M] age = 19.12 years, standard deviation [SD] = 6.01 years; 61% female) of parents with HD were recruited in a Huntington Disease Society of America Level 1 Center of Excellence. Participants completed self-report measures of coping and neuropsychiatric symptoms (i.e., anxiety, depression) and a standardized working memory assessment. Pearson correlations and path analyses were used to test associations. RESULTS Participant scores on the working memory assessment were significantly lower compared with normative data, and scores on a mixed anxiety/depression scale revealed a significant elevation compared with normative data. Working memory, secondary control coping, and symptoms of anxiety/depression were significantly correlated. Analyses of the full model revealed that the total indirect effect of working memory on anxiety/depression through secondary control coping was significant (β = -0.20). CONCLUSION Secondary control coping skills are an important factor in understanding the relationship between working memory and symptoms of anxiety/depression in the offspring of parents with HD. Future longitudinal research is needed to establish the direction of these associations. Working memory and coping skills represent potential targets for intervention to reduce the risk of anxiety/depression in this population. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Anna C. Pfalzer
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | - Lisa Hale
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
| | | | | | - Bruce E. Compas
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ellis N, Tee A, McAllister B, Massey T, McLauchlan D, Stone T, Correia K, Loupe J, Kim KH, Barker D, Hong EP, Chao MJ, Long JD, Lucente D, Vonsattel JPG, Pinto RM, Elneel KA, Ramos EM, Mysore JS, Gillis T, Wheeler VC, Medway C, Hall L, Kwak S, Sampaio C, Ciosi M, Maxwell A, Chatzi A, Monckton DG, Orth M, Landwehrmeyer GB, Paulsen JS, Shoulson I, Myers RH, van Duijn E, Rickards H, MacDonald ME, Lee JM, Gusella JF, Jones L, Holmans P. Genetic Risk Underlying Psychiatric and Cognitive Symptoms in Huntington's Disease. Biol Psychiatry 2020; 87:857-865. [PMID: 32087949 PMCID: PMC7156911 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat in the HTT gene. It is diagnosed following a standardized examination of motor control and often presents with cognitive decline and psychiatric symptoms. Recent studies have detected genetic loci modifying the age at onset of motor symptoms in HD, but genetic factors influencing cognitive and psychiatric presentations are unknown. METHODS We tested the hypothesis that psychiatric and cognitive symptoms in HD are influenced by the same common genetic variation as in the general population by 1) constructing polygenic risk scores from large genome-wide association studies of psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders and of intelligence and 2) testing for correlation with the presence of psychiatric and cognitive symptoms in a large sample (n = 5160) of patients with HD. RESULTS Polygenic risk score for major depression was associated specifically with increased risk of depression in HD, as was schizophrenia risk score with psychosis and irritability. Cognitive impairment and apathy were associated with reduced polygenic risk score for intelligence. CONCLUSIONS Polygenic risk scores for psychiatric disorders, particularly depression and schizophrenia, are associated with increased risk of the corresponding psychiatric symptoms in HD, suggesting a common genetic liability. However, the genetic liability to cognitive impairment and apathy appears to be distinct from other psychiatric symptoms in HD. No associations were observed between HD symptoms and risk scores for other neurodegenerative disorders. These data provide a rationale for treatments effective in depression and schizophrenia to be used to treat depression and psychotic symptoms in HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Ellis
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, UHW Main Building, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Amelia Tee
- Cardiff University School of Medicine, UHW Main Building, Heath Park, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Branduff McAllister
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Massey
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Duncan McLauchlan
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom,Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Timothy Stone
- Department of Targeted Intervention, Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, Faculty of Medical Science, University College of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Correia
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jacob Loupe
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama
| | - Kyung-Hee Kim
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Douglas Barker
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Eun Pyo Hong
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael J. Chao
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey D. Long
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa,Department of Psychiatry, Roy and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Diane Lucente
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jean Paul G. Vonsattel
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Ricardo Mouro Pinto
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kawther Abu Elneel
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Eliana Marisa Ramos
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jayalakshmi Srinidhi Mysore
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tammy Gillis
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Vanessa C. Wheeler
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Christopher Medway
- All Wales Medical Genetics Service, Institute of Medical Genetics, University Hospital Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Lynsey Hall
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Marc Ciosi
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
| | - Alastair Maxwell
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
| | - Afroditi Chatzi
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
| | - Darren G. Monckton
- Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow
| | - Michael Orth
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Jane S. Paulsen
- Department of Psychiatry, Roy and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa,Department of Neurology, Roy and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Ira Shoulson
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Richard H. Myers
- Department of Neurology and Genome Science Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Erik van Duijn
- Department of Psychiatry, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands,Mental Health Care Centre Delfland, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Hugh Rickards
- National Centre for Mental Health, Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom,College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Marcy E. MacDonald
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts,Medical and Population Genetics Program, the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jong-min Lee
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - James F. Gusella
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts,Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts,Medical and Population Genetics Program, the Broad Institute of M.I.T. and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts,Department of Pathology and Cell Biology and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Lesley Jones
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Holmans
- Medical Research Council Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics, Division of Psychological Medicine and Clinical Neurology, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Kumar A, Kumar V, Singh K, Kumar S, Kim YS, Lee YM, Kim JJ. Therapeutic Advances for Huntington's Disease. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10010043. [PMID: 31940909 PMCID: PMC7016861 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10010043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington’s disease (HD) is a progressive neurological disease that is inherited in an autosomal fashion. The cause of disease pathology is an expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats within the huntingtin gene (HTT) on chromosome 4 (4p16.3), which codes the huntingtin protein (mHTT). The common symptoms of HD include motor and cognitive impairment of psychiatric functions. Patients exhibit a representative phenotype of involuntary movement (chorea) of limbs, impaired cognition, and severe psychiatric disturbances (mood swings, depression, and personality changes). A variety of symptomatic treatments (which target glutamate and dopamine pathways, caspases, inhibition of aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, transcriptional dysregulation, and fetal neural transplants, etc.) are available and some are in the pipeline. Advancement in novel therapeutic approaches include targeting the mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein and the HTT gene. New gene editing techniques will reduce the CAG repeats. More appropriate and readily tractable treatment goals, coupled with advances in analytical tools will help to assess the clinical outcomes of HD treatments. This will not only improve the quality of life and life span of HD patients, but it will also provide a beneficial role in other inherited and neurological disorders. In this review, we aim to discuss current therapeutic research approaches and their possible uses for HD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Kumar
- Department of Genetics, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, UP, India;
| | - Vijay Kumar
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea; (Y.-S.K.); (Y.-M.L.)
- Correspondence: (V.K.); (J.-J.K.)
| | - Kritanjali Singh
- Central Research Station, Subharti Medical College, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut 250002, India;
| | - Sukesh Kumar
- PG Department of Botany, Nalanda College, Bihar Sharif, Magadh University, Bihar 824234, India;
| | - You-Sam Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea; (Y.-S.K.); (Y.-M.L.)
| | - Yun-Mi Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea; (Y.-S.K.); (Y.-M.L.)
| | - Jong-Joo Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk 38541, Korea; (Y.-S.K.); (Y.-M.L.)
- Correspondence: (V.K.); (J.-J.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Chaudhuri P, Prajapati KP, Anand BG, Dubey K, Kar K. Amyloid cross-seeding raises new dimensions to understanding of amyloidogenesis mechanism. Ageing Res Rev 2019; 56:100937. [PMID: 31430565 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2019.100937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Hallmarks of most of the amyloid pathologies are surprisingly found to be heterocomponent entities such as inclusions and plaques which contain diverse essential proteins and metabolites. Experimental studies have already revealed the occurrence of coaggregation and cross-seeding during amyloid formation of several proteins and peptides, yielding multicomponent assemblies of amyloid nature. Further, research reports on the co-occurrence of more than one type of amyloid-linked pathologies in the same individual suggest the possible cross-talk among the disease related amyloidogenic protein species during their amyloid growth. In this review paper, we have tried to gain more insight into the process of coaggregation and cross-seeding during amyloid aggregation of proteins, particularly focusing on their relevance to the pathogenesis of the protein misfolding diseases. Revelation of amyloid cross-seeding and coaggregation seems to open new dimensions in our mechanistic understanding of amyloidogenesis and such knowledge may possibly inspire better designing of anti-amyloid therapeutics.
Collapse
|
22
|
Gardiner SL, Trompet S, Sabayan B, Boogaard MW, Jukema JW, Slagboom PE, Roos RAC, van der Grond J, Aziz NA. Repeat variations in polyglutamine disease-associated genes and cognitive function in old age. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 84:236.e17-236.e28. [PMID: 31522753 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Although the heritability of cognitive function in old age is substantial, genome-wide association studies have had limited success in elucidating its genetic basis, leaving a considerable amount of "missing heritability." Aside from single nucleotide polymorphisms, genome-wide association studies are unable to assess other large sources of genetic variation, such as tandem repeat polymorphisms. Therefore, here, we studied the association of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat variations in polyglutamine disease-associated genes (PDAGs) with cognitive function in older adults. In a large cohort consisting of 5786 participants, we found that the CAG repeat number in 3 PDAGs (TBP, HTT, and AR) were significantly associated with the decline in cognitive function, which together accounted for 0.49% of the variation. Furthermore, in an magnetic resonance imaging substudy, we found that CAG repeat polymorphisms in 4 PDAGs (ATXN2, CACNA1A, ATXN7, and AR) were associated with different imaging characteristics, including brain stem, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus, and amygdala volumes. Our findings indicate that tandem repeat polymorphisms are associated with cognitive function in older adults and highlight the importance of PDAGs in elucidating its missing heritability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Gardiner
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Stella Trompet
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Behnam Sabayan
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Merel W Boogaard
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - J Wouter Jukema
- Department of Cardiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - P Eline Slagboom
- Department of Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Raymund A C Roos
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen van der Grond
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - N Ahmad Aziz
- Population Health Sciences, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany; Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Alptekin D, Pazarcı P, Bereketoğlu MA, Erkoç MA, Ilgaz NS, Lüleyap Ü. Huntington hastalığı tanısı almış hastalarda ve ailelerinde CAG trinükleotid tekrar sayılarının fragman analizi ile tespiti. CUKUROVA MEDICAL JOURNAL 2019. [DOI: 10.17826/cumj.461390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
|
24
|
Cortical neurodevelopment in pre-manifest Huntington's disease. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 23:101913. [PMID: 31491822 PMCID: PMC6627026 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Background The expression of the HTT CAG repeat expansion mutation causes neurodegeneration in Huntington's disease (HD). Objectives: In light of the – mainly in-vitro – evidence suggesting an additional role of huntingtin in neurodevelopment we used 3T MRI to test the hypothesis that in CAG-expanded individuals without clinical signs of HD (preHD) there is evidence for neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Methods We specifically investigated the complexity of cortical folding, a measure of cortical neurodevelopment, employing a novel method to quantify local fractal dimension (FD) measures that uses spherical harmonic reconstructions. Results The complexity of cortical folding differed at a group level between preHD (n = 57) and healthy volunteers (n = 57) in areas of the motor and visual system as well as temporal cortical areas. However, there was no association between the complexity of cortical folding and the loss in putamen volume that was clearly evident in preHD. Conclusions Our results suggest that HTT CAG repeat length may have an influence on cortical folding without evidence that this leads to developmental pathology or was clinically meaningful. This suggests that the HTT CAG-repeat expansion mutation may influence the processes governing cortical neurodevelopment; however, that influence seems independent of the events that lead to neurodegeneration. Measures of cortical neurodevelopment in preclinical Huntington's disease (HD) gene carriers differ from healthy volunteers The influence on cortical folding of the HD gene was not associated with developmental pathology or clinically meaningful The influence of the HD gene on cortical neurodevelopment may differ from that on neurodegeneration
Collapse
|
25
|
Rodriguez CM, Todd PK. New pathologic mechanisms in nucleotide repeat expansion disorders. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 130:104515. [PMID: 31229686 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tandem microsatellite repeats are common throughout the human genome and intrinsically unstable, exhibiting expansions and contractions both somatically and across generations. Instability in a small subset of these repeats are currently linked to human disease, although recent findings suggest more disease-causing repeats await discovery. These nucleotide repeat expansion disorders (NREDs) primarily affect the nervous system and commonly lead to neurodegeneration through toxic protein gain-of-function, protein loss-of-function, and toxic RNA gain-of-function mechanisms. However, the lines between these categories have blurred with recent findings of unconventional Repeat Associated Non-AUG (RAN) translation from putatively non-coding regions of the genome. Here we review two emerging topics in NREDs: 1) The mechanisms by which RAN translation occurs and its role in disease pathogenesis and 2) How nucleotide repeats as RNA and translated proteins influence liquid-liquid phase separation, membraneless organelle dynamics, and nucleocytoplasmic transport. We examine these topics with a particular eye on two repeats: the CGG repeat expansion responsible for Fragile X syndrome and Fragile X-associated Tremor Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) and the intronic GGGGCC repeat expansion in C9orf72, the most common inherited cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Our thesis is that these emerging disease mechanisms can inform a broader understanding of the native roles of microsatellites in cellular function and that aberrations in these native processes provide clues to novel therapeutic strategies for these currently untreatable disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C M Rodriguez
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - P K Todd
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
HTT gene intermediate alleles in neurodegeneration: evidence for association with Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 2019; 76:215.e9-215.e14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2018.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
27
|
Croce KR, Yamamoto A. A role for autophagy in Huntington's disease. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 122:16-22. [PMID: 30149183 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The lysosome-mediated degradation pathway known as macroautophagy is the most versatile means through which cells can eliminate and recycle unwanted materials. Through both selective and non-selective means, macroautophagy can degrade a wide range of cargoes from bulk cytosol to organelles and aggregated proteins. Although studies of disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis suggest that autophagic and lysosomal dysfunction directly contributes to disease, this had not been the case for the polyglutamine disorder Huntington's disease (HD), for which there was little indication of a disruption in the autophagic-lysosomal system. This supported the possibility of targeting autophagy as a much needed therapeutic approach to combat this disease. Possibly challenging this view, however, are a recent set of studies suggesting that the protein affected in Huntington's disease, huntingtin, might mechanistically contribute to macroautophagy. In this review, we will explore how autophagy might impact or be impacted by HD pathogenesis, and whether a therapeutic approach centering on autophagy may be possible for this yet incurable disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katherine R Croce
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States
| | - Ai Yamamoto
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States; Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Hannan AJ. Tandem Repeats and Repeatomes: Delving Deeper into the 'Dark Matter' of Genomes. EBioMedicine 2018; 31:3-4. [PMID: 29665999 PMCID: PMC6013752 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Hannan
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Hashimoto M, Ho G, Takamatsu Y, Wada R, Sugama S, Takenouchi T, Masliah E, Waragai M. Possible Role of the Polyglutamine Elongation in Evolution of Amyloid-Related Evolvability. J Huntingtons Dis 2018; 7:297-307. [PMID: 30372687 PMCID: PMC6294593 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-180309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases, such as Huntington's disease and the spinocerebellar ataxias, are characterized by the accumulation of elongated polyQ sequences (epolyQ) and mostly occur during midlife. Considering that polyQ disorders have not been selected out in evolution, there might be important physiological functions of epolyQ during development and/or reproduction. In a similar context, the physiological functions of neurodegeneration-associated amyloidogenic proteins (APs), such as β-amyloid in Alzheimer's disease and α-synuclein in Parkinson's disease, remain elusive. In this regard, we recently proposed that evolvability for coping with diverse stressors in the brain, which is beneficial for offspring, might be relevant to the physiological functions of APs. Given analogous properties of APs and epolyQ in terms of neurotoxic amyloid-fibril formation, the objective of this paper is to determine whether evolvability could also be applied to the physiological functions of epolyQ. Indeed, APs and epolyQ are similar in many ways, including functional redundancy of non-amyloidogenic homologues, hormesis conferred by the heterogeneity of the stress-induced protein aggregates, the transgenerational prion-like transmission of the protein aggregates via germ cells, and the antagonistic pleiotropy relationship between evolvability and neurodegenerative disease. Given that epolyQ is widely expressed from microorganisms to human brain, whereas APs are only identified in vertebrates, evolvability of epolyQ is considered to be much more primitive compared to those of APs during evolution. Collectively, epolyQ may be not only be important in the pathophysiology of polyQ diseases, but also in the evolution of amyloid-related evolvability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Hashimoto
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Gilbert Ho
- PCND Neuroscience Research Institute, Poway, CA, USA
| | - Yoshiki Takamatsu
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryoko Wada
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuei Sugama
- Department of Physiology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takato Takenouchi
- Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Division of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Masaaki Waragai
- Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|