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Grønbæk-Thygesen M, Hartmann-Petersen R. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of aspartoacylase and its role in Canavan disease. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:45. [PMID: 38582917 PMCID: PMC10998430 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01224-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Canavan disease is an autosomal recessive and lethal neurological disorder, characterized by the spongy degeneration of the white matter in the brain. The disease is caused by a deficiency of the cytosolic aspartoacylase (ASPA) enzyme, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), an abundant brain metabolite, into aspartate and acetate. On the physiological level, the mechanism of pathogenicity remains somewhat obscure, with multiple, not mutually exclusive, suggested hypotheses. At the molecular level, recent studies have shown that most disease linked ASPA gene variants lead to a structural destabilization and subsequent proteasomal degradation of the ASPA protein variants, and accordingly Canavan disease should in general be considered a protein misfolding disorder. Here, we comprehensively summarize the molecular and cell biology of ASPA, with a particular focus on disease-linked gene variants and the pathophysiology of Canavan disease. We highlight the importance of high-throughput technologies and computational prediction tools for making genotype-phenotype predictions as we await the results of ongoing trials with gene therapy for Canavan disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Grønbæk-Thygesen
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200N, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Rasmus Hartmann-Petersen
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200N, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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2
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Lotun A, Gessler DJ, Gao G. Canavan Disease as a Model for Gene Therapy-Mediated Myelin Repair. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:661928. [PMID: 33967698 PMCID: PMC8102781 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.661928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the scientific and therapeutic fields for rare, genetic central nervous system (CNS) diseases such as leukodystrophies, or white matter disorders, have expanded significantly in part due to technological advancements in cellular and clinical screenings as well as remedial therapies using novel techniques such as gene therapy. However, treatments aimed at normalizing the pathological changes associated with leukodystrophies have especially been complicated due to the innate and variable effects of glial abnormalities, which can cause large-scale functional deficits in developmental myelination and thus lead to downstream neuronal impairment. Emerging research in the past two decades have depicted glial cells, particularly oligodendrocytes and astrocytes, as key, regulatory modulators in constructing and maintaining myelin function and neuronal viability. Given the significance of myelin formation in the developing brain, myelin repair in a time-dependent fashion is critical in restoring homeostatic functionality to the CNS of patients diagnosed with white matter disorders. Using Canavan Disease (CD) as a leukodystrophy model, here we review the hypothetical roles of N-acetylaspartate (NAA), one of the brain's most abundant amino acid derivatives, in Canavan disease's CNS myelinating pathology, as well as discuss the possible functions astrocytes serve in both CD and other leukodystrophies' time-sensitive disease correction. Through this analysis, we also highlight the potential remyelinating benefits of gene therapy for other leukodystrophies in which alternative CNS cell targeting for white matter disorders may be an applicable path for reparative treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anoushka Lotun
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Dominic J Gessler
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States.,Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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3
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Benson MD, Plemel DJA, Freund PR, Lewis JR, Sass JO, Bähr L, Gemperle-Britschgi C, Ferreira P, MacDonald IM. Severe retinal degeneration in a patient with Canavan disease. Ophthalmic Genet 2020; 42:75-78. [PMID: 32975148 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2020.1827441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Background: Canavan disease is an autosomal recessive, neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in ASPA, a gene encoding the enzyme aspartoacylase. Patients present with macrocephaly, developmental delay, hypotonia, vision impairment and accumulation of N-acetylaspartic acid. Progressive white matter changes occur in the central nervous system. The disorder is often fatal in early childhood, but milder forms exist. Materials and methods: Case report. Results: We present the case of a 31-year-old male with mild/juvenile Canavan disease who had severe vision loss due to a retinal degeneration resembling retinitis pigmentosa. Prior to this case, vision loss in Canavan disease had been attributed to optic atrophy based on fundoscopic evidence of optic nerve pallor. Investigations for an alternative cause for our patient's retinal degeneration were non-revealing. Conclusion: We wonder if retinal degeneration may not have been previously recognized as a feature of Canavan disease. We highlight findings from animal models of Canavan disease to further support the association between Canavan disease and retinal degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Benson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Canada
| | - David J A Plemel
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Canada
| | - Paul R Freund
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Dalhousie University , Halifax, Canada
| | - James R Lewis
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Canada
| | - Jörn Oliver Sass
- Research Group Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Department of Natural Science & Institute for Functional Gene Analytics (IFGA), Bonn-Rhein Sieg University of Applied Sciences , Rheinbach, Germany
| | - Luzy Bähr
- Clinical Chemistry & Biochemistry and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital , Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Corinne Gemperle-Britschgi
- Clinical Chemistry & Biochemistry and Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital , Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Ferreira
- Division of Medical Genetics, Alberta Children's Hospital , Calgary, Canada
| | - Ian M MacDonald
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Canada
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4
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Pleasure D, Guo F, Chechneva O, Bannerman P, McDonough J, Burns T, Wang Y, Hull V. Pathophysiology and Treatment of Canavan Disease. Neurochem Res 2020; 45:561-565. [PMID: 30535831 PMCID: PMC11131954 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-018-2693-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- David Pleasure
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Research, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California and UC Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, 95817, Sacramento, CA, USA.
- , C/o Shriners Hospital, 2425 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Fuzheng Guo
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Research, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California and UC Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, 95817, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Olga Chechneva
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Research, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California and UC Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, 95817, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Peter Bannerman
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Research, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California and UC Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, 95817, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer McDonough
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, 44242, USA
| | - Travis Burns
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Research, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California and UC Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, 95817, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Research, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California and UC Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, 95817, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Vanessa Hull
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Research, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California and UC Davis School of Medicine, 2425 Stockton Blvd, 95817, Sacramento, CA, USA
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Dembic M, Andersen HS, Bastin J, Doktor TK, Corydon TJ, Sass JO, Lopes Costa A, Djouadi F, Andresen BS. Next generation sequencing of RNA reveals novel targets of resveratrol with possible implications for Canavan disease. Mol Genet Metab 2019; 126:64-76. [PMID: 30446350 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2018.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2018] [Revised: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Resveratrol (RSV) is a small compound first identified as an activator of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a key factor in mediating the effects of caloric restriction. Since then, RSV received great attention for its widespread beneficial effects on health and in connection to many diseases. RSV improves the metabolism and the mitochondrial function, and more recently it was shown to restore fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) capacities in patient fibroblasts harboring mutations with residual enzyme activity. Many of RSV's beneficial effects are mediated by the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1α, a direct target of SIRT1 and a master regulator of the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. Despite numerous studies RSV's mechanism of action is still not completely elucidated. Our aim was to investigate the effects of RSV on gene regulation on a wide scale, possibly to detect novel genes whose up-regulation by RSV may be of interest with respect to disease treatment. We performed Next Generation Sequencing of RNA on normal fibroblasts treated with RSV. To investigate whether the effects of RSV are mediated through SIRT1 we expanded the analysis to include SIRT1-knockdown fibroblasts. We identified the aspartoacylase (ASPA) gene, mutated in Canavan disease, to be strongly up-regulated by RSV in several cell lines, including Canavan disease fibroblasts. We further link RSV to the up-regulation of other genes involved in myelination including the glial specific transcription factors POU3F1, POU3F2, and myelin basic protein (MBP). We also observe a strong up-regulation by RSV of the riboflavin transporter gene SLC52a1. Mutations in SLC52a1 cause transient multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD). Our analysis of alternative splicing identified novel metabolically important genes affected by RSV, among which is particularly interesting the α subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα), which regulates the cellular levels of cAMP through adenylyl cyclase. We conclude that in fibroblasts RSV stimulates the PGC-1α and p53 pathways, and up-regulates genes affecting the glucose metabolism, mitochondrial β-oxidation, and mitochondrial biogenesis. We further confirm that RSV might be a relevant treatment in the correction of FAO deficiencies and we suggest that treatment in other metabolic disorders including Canavan disease and MADD might be also beneficial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Dembic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Henriette S Andersen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Jean Bastin
- INSERM UMR-S 1124, Université Paris Descartes, UFR Biomédicale des Saints-Pères, 45, rue des Saints-Pères, 75270 Paris, cedex 06, France
| | - Thomas K Doktor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
| | - Thomas J Corydon
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
| | - Jörn Oliver Sass
- Research Group Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Department of Natural Sciences & IFGA, University of Applied Sciences, Rheinbach, Germany.
| | - Alexandra Lopes Costa
- INSERM UMR-S 1124, Université Paris Descartes, UFR Biomédicale des Saints-Pères, 45, rue des Saints-Pères, 75270 Paris, cedex 06, France
| | - Fatima Djouadi
- INSERM UMR-S 1124, Université Paris Descartes, UFR Biomédicale des Saints-Pères, 45, rue des Saints-Pères, 75270 Paris, cedex 06, France
| | - Brage S Andresen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark.
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Sun LL, Yang SL, Sun H, Li WD, Duan SR. Molecular differences in Alzheimer's disease between male and female patients determined by integrative network analysis. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 23:47-58. [PMID: 30394676 PMCID: PMC6307813 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease and the most common cause of dementia among the elderly. There has been increasing recognition of sex differences in AD prevalence, clinical manifestation, disease course and prognosis. However, there have been few studies on the molecular mechanism underlying these differences. To address this issue, we carried out global gene expression and integrative network analyses based on expression profiles (GSE84422) across 17 cortical regions of 125 individuals with AD. There were few genes that were differentially expressed across the 17 regions between the two sexes, with only four (encoding glutamate metabotropic receptor 2, oestrogen‐related receptor beta, kinesin family member 26B, and aspartoacylase) that were differentially expressed in three regions. A pan‐cortical brain region co‐expression network analysis identified pathways and genes (eg, glycogen synthase kinase 3β) that were significantly associated with clinical characteristics of AD (such as neurofibrillary score) in males only. Similarity analyses between region‐specific networks indicated that male patients exhibited greater variability, especially in the superior parietal lobule, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and occipital visual cortex. A network module analysis revealed an association between clinical traits and crosstalk of sex‐specific modules. An examination of temporal and spatial patterns of sex differences in AD showed that molecular networks were more conserved in females than in males in different cortical regions and at different AD stages. These findings provide insight into critical molecular pathways governing sex differences in AD pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Lin Sun
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Song-Lin Yang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Pharmaceutical Experiment Teaching Center, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Wei-Da Li
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shu-Rong Duan
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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7
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Appu AP, Moffett JR, Arun P, Moran S, Nambiar V, Krishnan JKS, Puthillathu N, Namboodiri AMA. Increasing N-acetylaspartate in the Brain during Postnatal Myelination Does Not Cause the CNS Pathologies of Canavan Disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:161. [PMID: 28626388 PMCID: PMC5454052 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Canavan disease is caused by mutations in the gene encoding aspartoacylase (ASPA), a deacetylase that catabolizes N-acetylaspartate (NAA). The precise involvement of elevated NAA in the pathogenesis of Canavan disease is an ongoing debate. In the present study, we tested the effects of elevated NAA in the brain during postnatal development. Mice were administered high doses of the hydrophobic methyl ester of NAA (M-NAA) twice daily starting on day 7 after birth. This treatment increased NAA levels in the brain to those observed in the brains of Nur7 mice, an established model of Canavan disease. We evaluated various serological parameters, oxidative stress, inflammatory and neurodegeneration markers and the results showed that there were no pathological alterations in any measure with increased brain NAA levels. We examined oxidative stress markers, malondialdehyde content (indicator of lipid peroxidation), expression of NADPH oxidase and nuclear translocation of the stress-responsive transcription factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF-2) in brain. We also examined additional pathological markers by immunohistochemistry and the expression of activated caspase-3 and interleukin-6 by Western blot. None of the markers were increased in the brains of M-NAA treated mice, and no vacuoles were observed in any brain region. These results show that ASPA expression prevents the pathologies associated with excessive NAA concentrations in the brain during postnatal myelination. We hypothesize that the pathogenesis of Canavan disease involves not only disrupted NAA metabolism, but also excessive NAA related signaling processes in oligodendrocytes that have not been fully determined and we discuss some of the potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhilash P. Appu
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Neuroscience Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesda, MD, United States
| | - John R. Moffett
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Neuroscience Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesda, MD, United States
| | - Peethambaran Arun
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Neuroscience Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesda, MD, United States
| | - Sean Moran
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Neuroscience Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesda, MD, United States
| | - Vikram Nambiar
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Neuroscience Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jishnu K. S. Krishnan
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Neuroscience Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesda, MD, United States
| | - Narayanan Puthillathu
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Neuroscience Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesda, MD, United States
| | - Aryan M. A. Namboodiri
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and Neuroscience Program, Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesBethesda, MD, United States
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Mendes MI, Smith DE, Pop A, Lennertz P, Fernandez Ojeda MR, Kanhai WA, van Dooren SJ, Anikster Y, Barić I, Boelen C, Campistol J, de Boer L, Kariminejad A, Kayserili H, Roubertie A, Verbruggen KT, Vianey-Saban C, Williams M, Salomons GS. Clinically Distinct Phenotypes of Canavan Disease Correlate with Residual Aspartoacylase Enzyme Activity. Hum Mutat 2017; 38:524-531. [PMID: 28101991 PMCID: PMC5412892 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We describe 14 patients with 12 novel missense mutations in ASPA, the gene causing Canavan disease (CD). We developed a method to study the effect of these 12 variants on the function of aspartoacylase—the hydrolysis of N‐acetyl‐l‐aspartic acid (NAA) to aspartate and acetate. The wild‐type ASPA open reading frame (ORF) and the ORFs containing each of the variants were transfected into HEK293 cells. Enzyme activity was determined by incubating cell lysates with NAA and measuring the released aspartic acid by LC–MS/MS. Clinical data were obtained for 11 patients by means of questionnaires. Four patients presented with a non‐typical clinical picture or with the milder form of CD, whereas seven presented with severe CD. The mutations found in the mild patients corresponded to the variants with the highest residual enzyme activities, suggesting that this assay can help evaluate unknown variants found in patients with atypical presentation. We have detected a correlation between clinical presentation, enzyme activity, and genotype for CD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa I Mendes
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Metabolic Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Desirée Ec Smith
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Metabolic Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ana Pop
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Metabolic Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pascal Lennertz
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Metabolic Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matilde R Fernandez Ojeda
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Metabolic Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Warsha A Kanhai
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Metabolic Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Silvy Jm van Dooren
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Metabolic Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yair Anikster
- Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center and Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | - Ivo Barić
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Center Zagreb & University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Caroline Boelen
- Department of Pediatrics, Admiraal De Ruyter Ziekenhuis, Goes, Zeeland, The Netherlands
| | - Jaime Campistol
- Neurology Department, CIBERER ISCIII, Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Lonneke de Boer
- Department of pediatrics, metabolic diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Hulya Kayserili
- Medical Genetics Department, Koç University School of Medicine (KUSOM), Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Agathe Roubertie
- Département de Neuropédiatrie, Hopital Gui de Chauliac, Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France.,INSERM U1051, Institut des Neurosciences de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Krijn T Verbruggen
- Beatrix Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Christine Vianey-Saban
- Centre de Biologie et de Pathologie Est CHU de Lyon, Service Maladies Héréditaires du Métabolisme et Dépistage Néonatal, Lyon, France
| | - Monique Williams
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Metabolic Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gajja S Salomons
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Metabolic Unit, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Jolly S, Fudge A, Pringle N, Richardson WD, Li H. Combining Double Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization with Immunolabelling for Detection of the Expression of Three Genes in Mouse Brain Sections. J Vis Exp 2016:e53976. [PMID: 27077668 DOI: 10.3791/53976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Detection of gene expression in different types of brain cells e.g., neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, oligodendrocyte precursors and microglia, can be hampered by the lack of specific primary or secondary antibodies for immunostaining. Here we describe a protocol to detect the expression of three different genes in the same brain section using double fluorescence in situ hybridization with two gene-specific probes followed by immunostaining with an antibody of high specificity directed against the protein encoded by a third gene. The Aspartoacyclase (ASPA) gene, mutations of which can lead to a rare human white matter disease - Canavan disease - is thought to be expressed in oligodendrocytes and microglia but not in astrocytes and neurons. However, the precise expression pattern of ASPA in the brain has yet to be established. This protocol has allowed us to determine that ASPA is expressed in a subset of mature oligodendrocytes and it can be generally applied to a wide range of gene expression pattern studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Jolly
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London
| | - Alexander Fudge
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London
| | - Nigel Pringle
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London
| | | | - Huiliang Li
- Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London;
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10
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Ahmed SS, Gao G. Making the White Matter Matters: Progress in Understanding Canavan's Disease and Therapeutic Interventions Through Eight Decades. JIMD Rep 2015; 19:11-22. [PMID: 25604619 DOI: 10.1007/8904_2014_356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Revised: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Canavan's disease (CD) is a fatal autosomal recessive pediatric leukodystrophy in which patients show severe neurodegeneration and typically die by the age of 10, though life expectancy in patients can be highly variable. Currently, there is no effective treatment for CD; however, gene therapy seems to be a feasible approach to combat the disease. Being a monogenic defect, the disease provides an excellent model system to develop gene therapy approaches that can be extended to other monogenic leukodystrophies and neurodegenerative diseases. CD results from mutations in a single gene aspartoacylase which hydrolyses N-acetyl aspartic acid (NAA) which accumulates in its absences. Since CD is one of the few diseases that show high NAA levels, it can also be used to study the enigmatic biological role of NAA. The disease was first described in 1931, and this review traces the progress made in the past 8 decades to understand the disease by enumerating current hypotheses and ongoing palliative measures to alleviate patient symptoms in the context of the latest advances in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seemin S Ahmed
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, ASC6, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
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