The search for genetic mouse models of prodromal Parkinson's disease

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Phenotyping and Preclinical Modeling of Familial Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is primarily idiopathic and a highly heterogenous neurodegenerative disease with patients experiencing a wide array of motor and non-motor symptoms. A major challenge for understanding susceptibility to PD is to determine the genetic and environmental factors that influence the mechanisms underlying the variations in disease-associated traits. The pathological hallmark of PD is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta region of the brain and post-mortem Lewy pathology, which leads to the loss of projecting axons innervating the striatum and to impaired motor and cognitive functions. While the cause of PD is still largely unknown, genome-wide association studies provide evidence that numerous polymorphic variants in various genes contribute to sporadic PD, and 10 to 15% of all cases are linked to some form of hereditary mutations, either autosomal dominant or recessive. Among the most common mutations observed in PD patients are in the genes LRRK2, SNCA, GBA1, PINK1, PRKN, and PARK7/DJ-1. In this review, we cover these PD-related mutations, the use of induced pluripotent stem cells as a disease in a dish model, and genetic animal models to better understand the diversity in the pathogenesis and long-term outcomes seen in PD patients.

The role of Toll-like receptors and neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms, significantly affecting patients' life. Pathologically, PD is associated with the extensive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in various regions of the central nervous system (CNS), specifically the substantia nigra. This neuronal loss is accompanied by the aggregation of misfolded protein, named α-synuclein.

MAIN TEXT

Recent studies detected several clues of neuroinflammation in PD samples using postmortem human PD brains and various PD animal models. Some evidence of neuroinflammation in PD patients included higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), presence of activated microglia in various brain regions such as substantia nigra, infiltration of peripheral inflammatory cells in affected brain regions, and altered function of cellular immunity like monocytes phagocytosis defects. On the other side, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are innate immune receptors primarily located on microglia, as well as other immune and non-immune cells, expressing pivotal roles in recognizing exogenous and endogenous stimuli and triggering inflammatory responses. Most studies indicated an increased expression of TLRs in the brain and peripheral blood cells of PD samples. Besides, this upregulation was associated with excessive neuroinflammation followed by neurodegeneration in affected regions. Therefore, evidence proposed that TLR-mediated neuroinflammation might lead to a dopaminergic neural loss in PD patients. In this regard, TLR2, TLR4, and TLR9 have the most prominent roles.

CONCLUSION

Although the presence of inflammation in acute phases of PD might have protective effects concerning the clearance of α-synuclein and delaying the disease advancement, the chronic activation of TLRs and neuroinflammation might lead to neurodegeneration, resulting in the disease progression. Therefore, this study aimed to review additional evidence of the contribution of TLRs and neuroinflammation to PD pathogenesis, with the hope that TLRs could serve as novel disease-modifying therapeutic targets in PD patients in the future.

Low-Expressing Synucleinopathy Mouse Models Based on Oligomer-Forming Mutations and C-Terminal Truncation of α-Synuclein

α-synuclein (αSyn) is the main protein component of Lewy bodies, intracellular inclusions found in the brain of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. Neurotoxic αSyn species are broadly modified post-translationally and, in patients with genetic forms of PD, carry genetically encoded amino acid substitutions. Mutations and C-terminal truncation can increase αSyn oligomerization and fibrillization. Although several genetic mouse models based on αSyn mutations and/or truncations exist, there is still a lack of mouse models for synucleinopathies not relying on overexpression. We report here two synucleinopathy mouse models, which are based on a triple alanine to proline mutation and a C-terminal truncation of αSyn, but do not overexpress the mutant protein when compared to the endogenous mouse protein. We knocked hαSyn ^TP or hαSyn^Δ119 (h stands for "human") into the murine αSyn locus. hαSyn^TP is a structure-based mutant with triple alanine to proline substitutions that favors oligomers, is neurotoxic and evokes PD-like symptoms in Drosophila melanogaster. hαSyn^Δ119 lacks 21 amino acids at the C-terminus, favors fibrillary aggregates and occurs in PD. Knocking-in of hαSyn ^TP or hαSyn^Δ119 into the murine αSyn locus places the mutant protein under the control of the endogenous regulatory elements while simultaneously disrupting the mαSyn gene. Mass spectrometry revealed that hαSyn ^TP and hαSyn^Δ119 mice produced 12 and 10 times less mutant protein, compared to mαSyn in wild type mice. We show phenotypes in 1 and 1.5 years old hαSyn ^TP and hαSyn^Δ119 mice, despite the lower levels of hαSyn^TP and hαSyn^Δ119 expression. Direct comparison of the two mouse models revealed many commonalities but also aspects unique to each model. Commonalities included strong immunoactive state, impaired olfaction and motor coordination deficits. Neither model showed DAergic neuronal loss. Impaired climbing abilities at 1 year of age and a deviant gait pattern at 1.5 years old were specific for hαSyn^Δ119 mice, while a compulsive behavior was exclusively detected in hαSyn ^TP mice starting at 1 year of age. We conclude that even at very moderate levels of expression the two αSyn variants evoke measurable and progressive deficiencies in mutant mice. The two transgenic mouse models can thus be suitable to study αSyn-variant-based pathology in vivo and test new therapeutic approaches.

CRISPR/Cas9 Technology as a Modern Genetic Manipulation Tool for Recapitulating of Neurodegenerative Disorders in Large Animal Models

BACKGROUND

Neurodegenerative diseases are often the consequence of alterations in structures and functions of the Central Nervous System (CNS) in patients. Despite obtaining massive genomic information concerning the molecular basis of these diseases and since the neurological disorders are multifactorial, causal connections between pathological pathways at the molecular level and CNS disorders development have remained obscure and need to be elucidated to a great extent.

OBJECTIVE

Animal models serve as accessible and valuable tools for understanding and discovering the roles of causative factors in the development of neurodegenerative disorders and finding appropriate treatments. Contrary to rodents and other small animals, large animals, especially non-human primates (NHPs), are remarkably similar to humans; hence, they establish suitable models for recapitulating the main human's neuropathological manifestations that may not be seen in rodent models. In addition, they serve as useful models to discover effective therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative disorders due to their similarity to humans in terms of physiology, evolutionary distance, anatomy, and behavior.

METHODS

In this review, we recommend different strategies based on the CRISPR-Cas9 system for generating animal models of human neurodegenerative disorders and explaining in vivo CRISPR-Cas9 delivery procedures that are applied to disease models for therapeutic purposes.

RESULTS

With the emergence of CRISPR/Cas9 as a modern specific gene-editing technology in the field of genetic engineering, genetic modification procedures such as gene knock-in and knock-out have become increasingly easier compared to traditional gene targeting techniques. Unlike the old techniques, this versatile technology can efficiently generate transgenic large animal models without the need to complicate lab instruments. Hence, these animals can accurately replicate the signs of neurodegenerative disorders.

CONCLUSION

Preclinical applications of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology supply a unique opportunity to establish animal models of neurodegenerative disorders with high accuracy and facilitate perspectives for breakthroughs in the research on the nervous system disease therapy and drug discovery. Furthermore, the useful outcomes of CRISPR applications in various clinical phases are hopeful for their translation to the clinic in a short time.

Mouse models of neurodegeneration: Know your question, know your mouse

Many mutant mouse strains have been developed as models to investigate neurodegenerative disease in humans. However, variability in results among studies using these mouse strains has led to questions about the value of these models. Here, we appraise various mouse models for dissecting neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and emphasize the importance of asking appropriate research questions. In therapeutic studies, we suggest that understanding variability among and within mouse models is crucial for preventing translational failures in human patients.

Animal Models for Parkinson's Disease Research: Trends in the 2000s

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a chronic and progressive movement disorder and the second most common neurodegenerative disease. Although many studies have been conducted, there is an unmet clinical need to develop new treatments because, currently, only symptomatic therapies are available. To achieve this goal, clarification of the pathology is required. Attempts have been made to emulate human PD and various animal models have been developed over the decades. Neurotoxin models have been commonly used for PD research. Recently, advances in transgenic technology have enabled the development of genetic models that help to identify new approaches in PD research. However, PD animal model trends have not been investigated. Revealing the trends for PD research will be valuable for increasing our understanding of the positive and negative aspects of each model. In this article, we clarified the trends for animal models that were used to research PD in the 2000s, and we discussed each model based on these trends.

Parkinson's disease: experimental models and reality

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive movement disorder of adults and the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. Neuropathologic diagnosis of PD requires moderate-to-marked neuronal loss in the ventrolateral substantia nigra pars compacta and α-synuclein (αS) Lewy body pathology. Nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration correlates with the Parkinsonian motor features, but involvement of other peripheral and central nervous system regions leads to a wide range of non-motor features. Nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration is shared with other parkinsonian disorders, including some genetic forms of parkinsonism, but many of these disorders do not have Lewy bodies. An ideal animal model for PD, therefore, should exhibit age-dependent and progressive dopaminergic neurodegeneration, motor dysfunction, and abnormal αS pathology. Rodent models of PD using genetic or toxin based strategies have been widely used in the past several decades to investigate the pathogenesis and therapeutics of PD, but few recapitulate all the major clinical and pathologic features of PD. It is likely that new strategies or better understanding of fundamental disease processes may facilitate development of better animal models. In this review, we highlight progress in generating rodent models of PD based on impairments of four major cellular functions: mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, autophagy-lysosomal metabolism, ubiquitin-proteasome protein degradation, and endoplasmic reticulum stress/unfolded protein response. We attempt to evaluate how impairment of these major cellular systems contribute to PD and how they can be exploited in rodent models. In addition, we review recent cell biological studies suggesting a link between αS aggregation and impairment of nuclear membrane integrity, as observed during cellular models of apoptosis. We also briefly discuss the role of incompetent phagocytic clearance and how this may be a factor to consider in developing new rodent models of PD.

Behavioral Phenotyping Assays for Genetic Mouse Models of Neurodevelopmental, Neurodegenerative, and Psychiatric Disorders

Animal models offer heuristic research tools to understand the causes of human diseases and to identify potential treatments. With rapidly evolving genetic engineering technologies, mutations identified in a human disorder can be generated in the mouse genome. Phenotypic outcomes of the mutation are then explicated to confirm hypotheses about causes and to discover effective therapeutics. Most neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders are diagnosed primarily by their prominent behavioral symptoms. Mouse behavioral assays analogous to the human symptoms have been developed to analyze the consequences of mutations and to evaluate proposed therapeutics preclinically. Here we describe the range of mouse behavioral tests available in the established behavioral neuroscience literature, along with examples of their translational applications. Concepts presented have been successfully used in other species, including flies, worms, fish, rats, pigs, and nonhuman primates. Identical strategies can be employed to test hypotheses about environmental causes and gene × environment interactions.

Diversity matters - heterogeneity of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral mesencephalon and its relation to Parkinson's Disease

Dopaminergic neurons in the ventral mesencephalon (the ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic complex) are known for their role in a multitude of behaviors, including cognition, reward, addiction and voluntary movement. Dysfunctions of these neurons are the underlying cause of various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression, addiction and schizophrenia. In addition, Parkinson's disease (PD), which is the second most common degenerative disease in developed countries, is characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, leading to the core motor symptoms of the disease. However, only a subset of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral mesencephalon is highly vulnerable to the disease process. Indeed, research over several decades revealed that the neurons in the ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic complex do not form a homogeneous group with respect to anatomy, physiology, function, molecular identity or vulnerability/dysfunction in different diseases. Here, we review how the concept of dopaminergic neuron diversity, assisted by the advent and application of new technologies, evolved and was refined over time and how it shaped our understanding of PD pathogenesis. Understanding this diversity of neurons in the ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic complex at all levels is imperative for the development of new and more selective drugs for both PD and various other neuropsychiatric diseases. Several decades of research revealed that the neurons in the ventral mesencephalic dopaminergic complex do not form a homogeneous group in respect to anatomy, physiology, function, molecular identity or vulnerability/dysfunction in diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we review how this concept evolved and was refined over time and how it shaped our understanding of the pathogenesis of PD. Source of the midbrain image: www.wikimd.org/wiki/index.php/The_Midbrain_or_Mesencephalon; downloaded 28.01.2016. See also Figures and of the paper. This article is part of a special issue on Parkinson disease.

Fibroblast Biomarkers of Sporadic Parkinson's Disease and LRRK2 Kinase Inhibition

It has been uncertain whether specific disease-relevant biomarker phenotypes can be found using sporadic Parkinson’s disease (PD) patient-derived samples, as it has been proposed that there may be a plethora of underlying causes and pathological mechanisms. Fibroblasts derived from familial PD patients harboring leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2), PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), and Parkin mutations show clear disease-relevant mitochondrial phenotypes, which are exacerbated under conditions of pharmacological stress. We utilized fibroblasts derived from non-familial sporadic PD patients (without LRRK2 mutations) or LRRK2 mutation carriers to directly compare the cellular phenotypes during and after mitochondrial stress. We then determined the effects of pharmacological LRRK2 kinase inhibition using LRRK2-in-1. We found that there were two distinct populations of sporadic PD patient-derived fibroblast lines. One group of sporadic PD lines was highly susceptible to valinomycin-induced mitochondrial depolarization, emulating the mutant LRRK2 phenotype. These lines showed elevated mitochondrial superoxide/ nitric oxide levels, displayed increased mitochondrial and lysosome co-localization, and an increased rate of mitochondrial collapse, which corresponded with changes in mitochondrial fission and fusion proteins. The application of LRRK2-in-1 reversed decreased levels of mitochondrial and lysosome co-localization and partially restored mitochondrial network associated proteins and the mitochondrial membrane potential in the fibroblasts. This study identifies novel mitochondrial biomarkers in sporadic PD patient-derived fibroblast lines, which could be used as preclinical tools in which to test novel and known neuroprotective compounds.

Environmental enrichment and brain repair: harnessing the therapeutic effects of cognitive stimulation and physical activity to enhance experience-dependent plasticity

Environmental enrichment (EE) increases levels of novelty and complexity, inducing enhanced sensory, cognitive and motor stimulation. In wild-type rodents, EE has been found to have a range of effects, such as enhancing experience-dependent cellular plasticity and cognitive performance, relative to standard-housed controls. Whilst environmental enrichment is of course a relative term, dependent on the nature of control environmental conditions, epidemiological studies suggest that EE has direct clinical relevance to a range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. EE has been demonstrated to induce beneficial effects in animal models of a wide variety of brain disorders. The first evidence of beneficial effects of EE in a genetically targeted animal model was generated using Huntington's disease transgenic mice. Subsequent studies found that EE was also therapeutic in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease, consistent with epidemiological studies of relevant environmental modifiers. EE has also been found to ameliorate behavioural, cellular and molecular deficits in animal models of various neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Parkinson's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, depression, schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. This review will focus on the effects of EE observed in animal models of neurodegenerative brain diseases, at molecular, cellular and behavioural levels. The proposal that EE may act synergistically with other approaches, such as drug and cell therapies, to facilitate brain repair will be discussed. I will also discuss the therapeutic potential of 'enviromimetics', drugs which mimic or enhance the therapeutic effects of cognitive activity and physical exercise, for both neuroprotection and brain repair.

Research on the premotor symptoms of Parkinson's disease: clinical and etiological implications

BACKGROUND

The etiology and natural history of Parkinson's disease (PD) are not well understood. Some non-motor symptoms such as hyposmia, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, and constipation may develop during the prodromal stage of PD and precede PD diagnosis by years.

OBJECTIVES

We examined the promise and pitfalls of research on premotor symptoms of PD and developed priorities and strategies to understand their clinical and etiological implications.

METHODS

This review was based on a workshop, Parkinson's Disease Premotor Symptom Symposium, held 7-8 June 2012 at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

DISCUSSION

Research on premotor symptoms of PD may offer an excellent opportunity to characterize high-risk populations and to better understand PD etiology. Such research may lead to evaluation of novel etiological hypotheses such as the possibility that environmental toxicants or viruses may initiate PD pathogenesis in the gastrointestinal tract or olfactory bulb. At present, our understanding of premotor symptoms of PD is in its infancy and faces many obstacles. These symptoms are often not specific to PD and have low positive predictive value for early PD diagnosis. Further, the pathological bases and biological mechanisms of these premotor symptoms and their relevance to PD pathogenesis are poorly understood.

CONCLUSION

This is an emerging research area with important data gaps to be filled. Future research is needed to understand the prevalence of multiple premotor symptoms and their etiological relevance to PD. Animal experiments and mechanistic studies will further understanding of the biology of these premotor symptoms and test novel etiological hypothesis.

PINK1 heterozygous mutations induce subtle alterations in dopamine-dependent synaptic plasticity

Homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in the phosphatase and tensin homolog-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) gene are causative of autosomal recessive, early onset Parkinson's disease. Single heterozygous mutations have been detected repeatedly both in a subset of patients and in unaffected individuals, and the significance of these mutations has long been debated. Several neurophysiological studies from non-manifesting PINK1 heterozygotes have demonstrated the existence of neural plasticity abnormalities, indicating the presence of specific endophenotypic traits in the heterozygous state. We performed a functional analysis of corticostriatal synaptic plasticity in heterozygous PINK1 knockout (PINK1(+/-) ) mice using a multidisciplinary approach and observed that, despite normal motor behavior, repetitive activation of cortical inputs to striatal neurons failed to induce long-term potentiation (LTP), whereas long-term depression was normal. Although nigral dopaminergic neurons exhibited normal morphological and electrophysiological properties with normal responses to dopamine receptor activation, a significantly lower dopamine release was measured in the striatum of PINK1(+/-) mice compared with control mice, suggesting that a decrease in stimulus-evoked dopamine overflow acts as a major determinant for the LTP deficit. Accordingly, pharmacological agents capable of increasing the availability of dopamine in the synaptic cleft restored normal LTP in heterozygous mice. Moreover, monoamine oxidase B inhibitors rescued physiological LTP and normal dopamine release. Our results provide novel evidence for striatal plasticity abnormalities, even in the heterozygous disease state. These alterations might be considered an endophenotype to this monogenic form of Parkinson's disease and a valid tool with which to characterize early disease stage and design possible disease-modifying therapies.

Loss of PINK1 enhances neurodegeneration in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease triggered by mitochondrial stress

Parkinson's disease (PD) shows a complex etiology, where both genetic and environmental factors contribute to initiation and advance of pathology. Mitochondrial dysfunction and mutation of genes implicated in mitochondria quality control are recognized contributors to etiopathology and progression of PD. Here we report the development and characterization of a genetic mouse model of PD with a combined etiology comprising: 1) induction of mitochondrial stress achieved through the expression of a mitochondrial matrix protein that accumulates in an unfolded state and 2) deletion of PINK1 gene. Using this model we address the role of PINK1 in mitochondrial quality control and disease progression. To induce mitochondrial stress specifically in catecholaminergic neurons we generated transgenic animals where the conditional expression of mitochondrial unfolded ornithine transcarbamylase (dOTC) is achieved under the tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) promoter. The mice were characterized in terms of survival, growth and motor behaviour. The characterization was followed by analysis of cell death induced in dopaminergic neurons and responsiveness to l-dopa. We demonstrate that accumulation of dOTC in dopaminergic neurons causes neurodegeneration and motor behaviour impairment that illustrates a parkinsonian phenotype. This associates with l-dopa responsiveness validating the model as a model of PD. The combined transgenic model where dOTC is overexpressed in PINK1 KO background presents increased neurodegeneration as compared to dOTC transgenic in wild-type background. Moreover, this combined model does not show responsiveness to l-dopa. Our in vivo data show that loss of PINK1 accelerates neurodegenerative phenotypes induced by mitochondrial stress triggered by the expression of an unfolded protein in this organelle.

α-Synuclein in the olfactory system in Parkinson's disease: role of neural connections on spreading pathology

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by bradykinesia, rigidity, resting tremor, and postural instability. Neuropathologically, intracellular aggregates of α-synuclein in Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites appear in particular brain areas according to a sequence of stages. Clinical diagnosis is usually established when motor symptoms are evident (corresponding to Braak stage III or later), years or even decades after onset of the disease. Research at early stages is therefore essential to understand the etiology of PD and improve treatment. Although classically considered as a motor disease, non-motor symptoms have recently gained interest. Olfactory deficits are among the earliest non-motor features of PD. Interestingly, α-synuclein deposits are present in the olfactory bulb and anterior olfactory nucleus at Braak stage I. Several lines of evidence have led to proposals that PD pathology spreads by a prion-like mechanism via the olfactory and vagal systems to the substantia nigra. In this context, current data on the temporal appearance of α-synuclein aggregates in the olfactory system of both humans and transgenic mice are of particular relevance. In addition to the proposed retrograde nigral involvement via brainstem nuclei, olfactory pathways could potentially reach the substantia nigra, and the possibility of centrifugal progression warrants investigation. This review analyzes the involvement of α-synuclein in different elements of the olfactory system, in both humans and transgenic models, from the hodological perspective of possible anterograde and/or retrograde progression of this proteinopathy within the olfactory system and beyond-to the substantia nigra and the remainder of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α: reliable targets for protective therapies in Parkinson's Disease?

Neuroinflammation has received increased attention as a target for putative neuroprotective therapies in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Two prototypic pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) have been implicated as main effectors of the functional consequences of neuroinflammation on neurodegeneration in PD models. In this review, we describe that the functional interaction between these cytokines in the brain differs from the periphery (e.g., their expression is not induced by each other) and present data showing predominantly a toxic effect of these cytokines when expressed at high doses and for a sustained period of time in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SN). In addition, we highlight opposite evidence showing protective effects of these two main cytokines when conditions of duration, amount of expression or state of activation of the target or neighboring cells are changed. Furthermore, we discuss these results in the frame of previous disappointing results from anti-TNF-α clinical trials against Multiple Sclerosis, another neurodegenerative disease with a clear neuroinflammatory component. In conclusion, we hypothesize that the available evidence suggests that the duration and dose of IL-1β or TNF-α expression is crucial to predict their functional effect on the SN. Since these parameters are not amenable for measurement in the SN of PD patients, we call for an in-depth analysis to identify downstream mediators that could be common to the toxic (and not the protective) effects of these cytokines in the SN. This strategy could spare the possible neuroprotective effect of these cytokines operative in the patient at the time of treatment, increasing the probability of efficacy in a clinical setting. Alternatively, receptor-specific agonists or antagonists could also provide a way to circumvent undesired effects of general anti-inflammatory or specific anti-IL-1β or TNF-α therapies against PD.

Evaluating and responding to mitochondrial dysfunction: the mitochondrial unfolded-protein response and beyond

During development and cellular differentiation, tissue- and cell-specific programs mediate mitochondrial biogenesis to meet physiological needs. However, environmental and disease-associated factors can perturb mitochondrial activities, requiring cells to adapt to protect mitochondria and maintain cellular homeostasis. Several mitochondrion-to-nucleus signaling pathways, or retrograde responses, have been described, but the mechanisms by which mitochondrial stress or dysfunction is sensed to coordinate precisely the appropriate response has only recently begun to be understood. Recent studies of the mitochondrial unfolded-protein response (UPRmt) indicate that the cell monitors mitochondrial protein import efficiency as an indicator of mitochondrial function. Here, we review how the cell evaluates mitochondrial function and regulates transcriptional induction of the UPRmt, adapts protein-synthesis rates and activates mitochondrial autophagy to promote mitochondrial function and cell survival during stress.

Expression of human E46K-mutated α-synuclein in BAC-transgenic rats replicates early-stage Parkinson's disease features and enhances vulnerability to mitochondrial impairment

Parkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, is etiologically heterogeneous, with most cases thought to arise from a combination of environmental factors and genetic predisposition; about 10% of cases are caused by single gene mutations. While neurotoxin models replicate many of the key behavioral and neurological features, they often have limited relevance to human exposures. Genetic models replicate known disease-causing mutations, but are mostly unsuccessful in reproducing major features of PD. In this study, we created a BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) transgenic rat model of PD expressing the E46K mutation of α-synuclein, which is pathogenic in humans. The mutant protein was expressed at levels ~2-3-fold above endogenous α-synuclein levels. At 12 months of age, there was no overt damage to the nigrostriatal dopamine system; however, (i) alterations in striatal neurotransmitter metabolism, (ii) accumulation and aggregation of α-synuclein in nigral dopamine neurons, and (iii) evidence of oxidative stress suggest this model replicates several preclinical features of PD. Further, when these animals were exposed to rotenone, a mitochondrial toxin linked to PD, they showed heightened sensitivity, indicating that α-synuclein expression modulates the vulnerability to mitochondrial impairment. We conclude that these animals are well-suited to examination of gene-environment interactions that are relevant to PD.