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Bagga P, Singh S, Ram G, Kapil S, Singh A. Diving into progress: a review on current therapeutic advancements in spinal muscular atrophy. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1368658. [PMID: 38854961 PMCID: PMC11157111 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1368658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an uncommon disorder associated with genes characterized by the gradual weakening and deterioration of muscles, often leading to substantial disability and premature mortality. Over the past decade, remarkable strides have been made in the field of SMA therapeutics, revolutionizing the landscape of patient care. One pivotal advancement is the development of gene-targeted therapies, such as nusinersen, onasemnogene abeparvovec and risdiplam which have demonstrated unprecedented efficacy in slowing disease progression. These therapies aim to address the root cause of SMA by targeting the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene, effectively restoring deficient SMN protein levels. The advent of these innovative approaches has transformed the prognosis for many SMA patients, offering a glimmer of hope where there was once limited therapeutic recourse. Furthermore, the emergence of small molecule compounds and RNA-targeting strategies has expanded the therapeutic arsenal against SMA. These novel interventions exhibit diverse mechanisms of action, including SMN protein stabilization and modulation of RNA splicing, showcasing the multifaceted nature of SMA treatment research. Collective efforts of pharmaceutical industries, research centers, and patient advocacy groups have played an important role in expediting the translation of scientific discoveries into visible clinical benefits. This review not only highlights the remarkable progress achieved in SMA therapeutics but also generates the ray of hope for the ongoing efforts required to enhance accessibility, optimize treatment strategies, rehabilitation (care and therapies) and ultimately pave the way for an improved quality of life for individuals affected by SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Bagga
- School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara, India
| | - Sudhakar Singh
- School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara, India
| | - Gobind Ram
- PG Department of Biotechnology, Layalpur Khalsa College, Jalandhar, India
| | - Subham Kapil
- Department of Zoology, DAV College Jalandhar, Jalandhar, India
| | - Avtar Singh
- School of Electrical Engineering and Computing (SoEEC), Adama Science and Technology University (AS-TU), Adama, Ethiopia
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Bhor S, Tonny SH, Dinesh S, Sharma S. Computational screening of damaging nsSNPs in human SOD1 genes associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis identifies destabilising effects of G38R and G42D mutations through in silico evaluation. In Silico Pharmacol 2024; 12:20. [PMID: 38559706 PMCID: PMC10973320 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-024-00191-7] [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: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a complicated neurodegenerative disorder affected by hereditary and environmental variables, is a condition. In this study, the genetic makeup of ALS is investigated, with a focus on the SOD1 gene's single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their ability to affect disease risk. Eleven high-risk missense variations that may impair the functionality of the SOD1 protein were discovered after a thorough examination of SNPs in the SOD1 gene. These mutations were chosen using a variety of prediction approaches, highlighting their importance in the aetiology of ALS. Notably, it was discovered that the stability of the SOD1 wild-type protein structure was compromised by the G38R and G42D SOD1 variants. Additionally, Edaravone, a possible ALS medication, showed a greater affinity for binding mutant SOD1 structures, pointing to potential personalised treatment possibilities. The high-risk SNPs discovered in this investigation seem to have functional effects, especially on the stability of proteins and their interactions with other molecules. This study clarifies the complex genetics of ALS and offers insights into how these genetic variations may affect the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions, particularly in the context of edaravone. In this study advances our knowledge of the genetic mechanisms causing ALS vulnerability and prospective therapeutic strategies. Future studies are necessary to confirm these results and close the gap between individualised clinical applications and improved ALS care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samiksha Bhor
- Department of Bioinformatics, BioNome, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560043 India
| | - Sadia Haque Tonny
- Department of Plant Pathology, Faculty of Agriculture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh, 2202 Bangladesh
| | - Susha Dinesh
- Department of Bioinformatics, BioNome, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560043 India
| | - Sameer Sharma
- Department of Bioinformatics, BioNome, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560043 India
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Tollis P, Vitiello E, Migliaccio F, D'Ambra E, Rocchegiani A, Garone MG, Bozzoni I, Rosa A, Carissimo A, Laneve P, Caffarelli E. The long noncoding RNA nHOTAIRM1 is necessary for differentiation and activity of iPSC-derived spinal motor neurons. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:741. [PMID: 37963881 PMCID: PMC10646148 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06196-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian nervous system is made up of an extraordinary array of diverse cells that form intricate functional connections. The programs underlying cell lineage specification, identity and function of the neuronal subtypes are managed by regulatory proteins and RNAs, which coordinate the succession of steps in a stereotyped temporal order. In the central nervous system (CNS), motor neurons (MNs) are responsible for controlling essential functions such as movement, breathing, and swallowing by integrating signal transmission from the cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord (SC) towards peripheral muscles. A prime role in guiding the progression of progenitor cells towards the MN fate has been largely attributed to protein factors. More recently, the relevance of a class of regulatory RNAs abundantly expressed in the CNS - the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) - has emerged overwhelmingly. LncRNA-driven gene expression control is key to regulating any step of MN differentiation and function, and its derangement profoundly impacts neuronal pathophysiology. Here, we uncover a novel function for the neuronal isoform of HOTAIRM1 (nHOTAIRM1), a lncRNA specifically expressed in the SC. Using a model system that recapitulates spinal MN (spMN) differentiation, we show that nHOTAIRM1 intervenes in the binary cell fate decision between MNs and interneurons, acting as a pro-MN factor. Furthermore, human iPSC-derived spMNs without nHOTAIRM1 display altered neurite outgrowth, with a significant reduction of both branch and junction numbers. Finally, the expression of genes essential for synaptic connectivity and neurotransmission is also profoundly impaired when nHOTAIRM1 is absent in spMNs. Mechanistically, nHOTAIRM1 establishes both direct and indirect interactions with a number of target genes in the cytoplasm, being a novel post-transcriptional regulator of MN biology. Overall, our results indicate that the lncRNA nHOTAIRM1 is essential for the specification of MN identity and the acquisition of proper morphology and synaptic activity of post-mitotic MNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Tollis
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano-& Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Erika Vitiello
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Center for Human Technology, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Francesco Migliaccio
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, University Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Institute for Applied Mathematics "Mauro Picone", CNR, Naples, Italy
| | - Eleonora D'Ambra
- Center for Life Nano-& Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Rocchegiani
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Center for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Maria Giovanna Garone
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine, reNEW Melbourne, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
- Stem Cell Biology Department, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia
| | - Irene Bozzoni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano-& Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rosa
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "C. Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano-& Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Laneve
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Rome, CNR, Italy.
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Murphy S, Schmitt-John T, Dowling P, Henry M, Meleady P, Swandulla D, Ohlendieck K. Proteomic profiling of the brain from the wobbler mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis reveals elevated levels of the astrogliosis marker glial fibrillary acidic protein. Eur J Transl Myol 2023; 33:11555. [PMID: 37565261 PMCID: PMC10583141 DOI: 10.4081/ejtm.2023.11555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The wobbler mouse is a widely used model system of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and exhibits progressive neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in association with skeletal muscle wasting. This study has used wobbler brain preparations for the systematic and mass spectrometric determination of proteome-wide changes. The proteomic characterization of total protein extracts from wobbler specimens was carried out with the help of an Orbitrap mass spectrometer and revealed elevated levels of glia cell marker proteins, i.e., glial fibrillary acidic protein and the actin-binding protein coronin. In contrast, the abundance of the actin-binding protein neurabin and the scaffolding protein named piccolo of the presynaptic cytomatrix were shown to be reduced. The increased abundance of glial fibrillary acidic protein, which is frequently used in neuropathological studies as a marker protein of glial scar formation, was confirmed by immunoblotting. In analogy, the proteomic profiling of the brain from another established murine model of motor neuron disease, the SOD1mouse, also showed increased levels of this intermediate filament protein. This suggests that neurodegenerative processes are associated with astrogliosis in both the wobbler and SOD1 brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Murphy
- Charles River Laboratories, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden.
| | | | - Paul Dowling
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
| | - Michael Henry
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin.
| | - Paula Meleady
- National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Dublin.
| | - Dieter Swandulla
- Institute of Physiology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Bonn.
| | - Kay Ohlendieck
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland; Kathleen Lonsdale Institute for Human Health Research, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
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Peotter JL, Pustova I, Lettman MM, Shatadal S, Bradberry MM, Winter-Reed AD, Charan M, Sharkey EE, Alvin JR, Bren AM, Oie AK, Chapman ER, Salamat MS, Audhya A. TFG regulates secretory and endosomal sorting pathways in neurons to promote their activity and maintenance. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2210649119. [PMID: 36161950 PMCID: PMC9546632 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2210649119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular pathways that intrinsically regulate neuronal maintenance are poorly understood, but rare pathogenic mutations that underlie neurodegenerative disease can offer important insights into the mechanisms that facilitate lifelong neuronal function. Here, we leverage a rat model to demonstrate directly that the TFG p.R106C variant implicated previously in complicated forms of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) underlies progressive spastic paraparesis with accompanying ventriculomegaly and thinning of the corpus callosum, consistent with disease phenotypes identified in adolescent patients. Analyses of primary cortical neurons obtained from CRISPR-Cas9-edited animals reveal a kinetic delay in biosynthetic secretory protein transport from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), in agreement with prior induced pluripotent stem cell-based studies. Moreover, we identify an unexpected role for TFG in the trafficking of Rab4A-positive recycling endosomes specifically within axons and dendrites. Impaired TFG function compromises the transport of at least a subset of endosomal cargoes, which we show results in down-regulated inhibitory receptor signaling that may contribute to excitation-inhibition imbalances. In contrast, the morphology and trafficking of other organelles, including mitochondria and lysosomes, are unaffected by the TFG p.R106C mutation. Our findings demonstrate a multifaceted role for TFG in secretory and endosomal protein sorting that is unique to cells of the central nervous system and highlight the importance of these pathways to maintenance of corticospinal tract motor neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Peotter
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Iryna Pustova
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Molly M. Lettman
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Shalini Shatadal
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Mazdak M. Bradberry
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Allison D. Winter-Reed
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Maya Charan
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Erin E. Sharkey
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - James R. Alvin
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Alyssa M. Bren
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Annika K. Oie
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Edwin R. Chapman
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
- HHMI, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705
| | - M. Shahriar Salamat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
| | - Anjon Audhya
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705
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Husain M. New mechanistic insights into hereditary spastic paraplegias. Brain 2022; 145:2937-2938. [PMID: 36103409 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Costa AC, Sousa MM. The Role of Spastin in Axon Biology. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:934522. [PMID: 35865632 PMCID: PMC9294387 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.934522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons are highly polarized cells with elaborate shapes that allow them to perform their function. In neurons, microtubule organization—length, density, and dynamics—are essential for the establishment of polarity, growth, and transport. A mounting body of evidence shows that modulation of the microtubule cytoskeleton by microtubule-associated proteins fine tunes key aspects of neuronal cell biology. In this respect, microtubule severing enzymes—spastin, katanin and fidgetin—a group of microtubule-associated proteins that bind to and generate internal breaks in the microtubule lattice, are emerging as key modulators of the microtubule cytoskeleton in different model systems. In this review, we provide an integrative view on the latest research demonstrating the key role of spastin in neurons, specifically in the context of axonal cell biology. We focus on the function of spastin in the regulation of microtubule organization, and axonal transport, that underlie its importance in the intricate control of axon growth, branching and regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catarina Costa
- Nerve Regeneration Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Graduate Program in Molecular and Cell Biology, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Ana Catarina Costa, ; Monica Mendes Sousa,
| | - Monica Mendes Sousa
- Nerve Regeneration Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação e Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Ana Catarina Costa, ; Monica Mendes Sousa,
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