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Wenzhi Y, Xiangyi L, Dongsheng F. The prion-like effect and prion-like protein targeting strategy in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34963. [PMID: 39170125 PMCID: PMC11336370 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34963] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Pathological proteins in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), such as superoxide dismutase 1, TAR DNA-binding protein 43, and fused in sarcoma, exhibit a prion-like pattern. All these proteins have a low-complexity domain and seeding activity in cells. In this review, we summarize the studies on the prion-like effect of these proteins and list six prion-like protein targeting strategies that we believe have potential for ALS therapy, including antisense oligonucleotides, antibody-based technology, peptide, protein chaperone, autophagy enhancement, and heteromultivalent compounds. Considering the pathological complexity and heterogeneity of ALS, we believe that the final solution to ALS therapy is most likely to be an individualized cocktail therapy, including clearance of toxicity, blockage of pathological progress, and protection of neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Wenzhi
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Liu Xiangyi
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Dongsheng
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beijing, China
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2
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Tsekrekou M, Giannakou M, Papanikolopoulou K, Skretas G. Protein aggregation and therapeutic strategies in SOD1- and TDP-43- linked ALS. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1383453. [PMID: 38855322 PMCID: PMC11157337 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1383453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with severe socio-economic impact. A hallmark of ALS pathology is the presence of aberrant cytoplasmic inclusions composed of misfolded and aggregated proteins, including both wild-type and mutant forms. This review highlights the critical role of misfolded protein species in ALS pathogenesis, particularly focusing on Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), and emphasizes the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies targeting these misfolded proteins directly. Despite significant advancements in understanding ALS mechanisms, the disease remains incurable, with current treatments offering limited clinical benefits. Through a comprehensive analysis, the review focuses on the direct modulation of the misfolded proteins and presents recent discoveries in small molecules and peptides that inhibit SOD1 and TDP-43 aggregation, underscoring their potential as effective treatments to modify disease progression and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsekrekou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Giannakou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Papanikolopoulou
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
- ResQ Biotech, Patras Science Park, Rio, Greece
| | - Georgios Skretas
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
- ResQ Biotech, Patras Science Park, Rio, Greece
- Institute for Bio-innovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
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3
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Cao MC, Ryan B, Wu J, Curtis MA, Faull RLM, Dragunow M, Scotter EL. A panel of TDP-43-regulated splicing events verifies loss of TDP-43 function in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis brain tissue. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 185:106245. [PMID: 37527763 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 dysfunction is a molecular hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). A major hypothesis of TDP-43 dysfunction in disease is the loss of normal nuclear function, resulting in impaired RNA regulation and the emergence of cryptic exons. Cryptic exons and differential exon usage are emerging as promising markers of lost TDP-43 function in addition to revealing biological pathways involved in neurodegeneration in ALS/FTD. In this brief report, we identified markers of TDP-43 loss of function by depleting TARDBP from post-mortem human brain pericytes, a manipulable in vitro primary human brain cell model, and identifying differential exon usage events with bulk RNA-sequencing analysis. We present these data in an interactive database (https://www.scotterlab.auckland.ac.nz/research-themes/tdp43-lof-db-v2/) together with seven other TDP-43-depletion datasets we meta-analysed previously, for user analysis of differential expression and splicing signatures. Differential exon usage events that were validated by qPCR were then compiled into a 'differential exon usage panel' with other well-established TDP-43 loss-of-function exon markers. This differential exon usage panel was investigated in ALS and control motor cortex tissue to verify whether, and to what extent, TDP-43 loss of function occurs in ALS. We find that profiles of TDP-43-regulated cryptic exons, changed exon usage and changed 3' UTR usage discriminate ALS brain tissue from controls, verifying that TDP-43 loss of function occurs in ALS. We propose that TDP-43-regulated splicing events that occur in brain tissue will have promise as predictors of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maize C Cao
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Brigid Ryan
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Jane Wu
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Maurice A Curtis
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Richard L M Faull
- Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Mike Dragunow
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
| | - Emma L Scotter
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, New Zealand.
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Weng YT, Chang YM, Chern Y. The Impact of Dysregulated microRNA Biogenesis Machinery and microRNA Sorting on Neurodegenerative Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043443. [PMID: 36834853 PMCID: PMC9959302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are 22-nucleotide noncoding RNAs involved in the differentiation, development, and function of cells in the body by targeting the 3'- untranslated regions (UTR) of mRNAs for degradation or translational inhibition. miRNAs not only affect gene expression inside the cells but also, when sorted into exosomes, systemically mediate the communication between different types of cells. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are age-associated, chronic neurological diseases characterized by the aggregation of misfolded proteins, which results in the progressive degeneration of selected neuronal population(s). The dysregulation of biogenesis and/or sorting of miRNAs into exosomes was reported in several NDs, including Huntington's disease (HD), Parkinson's disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Many studies support the possible roles of dysregulated miRNAs in NDs as biomarkers and therapeutic treatments. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the dysregulated miRNAs in NDs is therefore timely and important for the development of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. In this review, we focus on the dysregulated miRNA machinery and the role of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in NDs. The tools that are available to identify the target miRNA-mRNA axes in NDs in an unbiased manner are also discussed.
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Sigma-1 receptor agonist PRE-084 confers protection against TAR DNA-binding protein-43 toxicity through NRF2 signalling. Redox Biol 2022; 58:102542. [PMID: 36442393 PMCID: PMC9706169 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2022.102542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease affecting upper and lower motor neurons. As a consequence, ALS patients display a locomotor disorder related to muscle weakness and progressive paralysis. Pathological mechanisms that participate in ALS involve deficient unfolded protein response, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, among others. Finding a therapeutic target to break the vicious circle is particularly challenging. Sigma-1 receptor (S1R) is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperone that may be one of those targets. We here address and decipher the efficiency of S1R activation on a key ALS gene, TDP43, in zebrafish vertebrate model. While expression of mutant TDP43 (TDP43G348C) led to locomotor defects, treatment with the reference S1R agonist PRE-084 rescued motor performances in a zebrafish model. Treatment with the agonist ameliorated maximal mitochondrial respiration in the TDP43 context. We observed that TDP43G348C exacerbated ER stress induced by tunicamycin, resulting in increased levels of ER stress chaperone BiP and pro-apoptotic factor CHOP. Importantly, PRE-084 treatment in the same condition further heightened BiP levels but also EIF2α/ATF4 and NRF2 signalling cascades, both known to promote antioxidant protection during ER stress. Moreover, we showed that increasing NRF2 levels directly or by sulforaphane treatment rescued locomotor defects of TDP43G348C zebrafish. For the first time, we here provide the proof of concept that PRE-084 prevents mutant TDP43 toxicity by boosting ER stress response and antioxidant cascade through NRF2 signalling.
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Tamaki Y, Urushitani M. Molecular Dissection of TDP-43 as a Leading Cause of ALS/FTLD. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012508. [PMID: 36293362 PMCID: PMC9604209 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a DNA/RNA binding protein involved in pivotal cellular functions, especially in RNA metabolism. Hyperphosphorylated and ubiquitinated TDP-43-positive neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions are identified in the brain and spinal cord in most cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a substantial proportion of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) cases. TDP-43 dysfunctions and cytoplasmic aggregation seem to be the central pathogenicity in ALS and FTLD. Therefore, unraveling both the physiological and pathological mechanisms of TDP-43 may enable the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies. This review highlights the current understanding of TDP-43 biology and pathology, describing the cellular processes involved in the pathogeneses of ALS and FTLD, such as post-translational modifications, RNA metabolism, liquid–liquid phase separation, proteolysis, and the potential prion-like propagation propensity of the TDP-43 inclusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Tamaki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Makoto Urushitani
- Department of Neurology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu 520-2192, Japan
- Correspondence:
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Chaytow H, Carroll E, Gordon D, Huang YT, van der Hoorn D, Smith HL, Becker T, Becker CG, Faller KME, Talbot K, Gillingwater TH. Targeting phosphoglycerate kinase 1 with terazosin improves motor neuron phenotypes in multiple models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. EBioMedicine 2022; 83:104202. [PMID: 35963713 PMCID: PMC9482929 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder with heterogeneous aetiology and a complex genetic background. Effective therapies are therefore likely to act on convergent pathways such as dysregulated energy metabolism, linked to multiple neurodegenerative diseases including ALS. METHODS Activity of the glycolysis enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase 1 (PGK1) was increased genetically or pharmacologically using terazosin in zebrafish, mouse and ESC-derived motor neuron models of ALS. Multiple disease phenotypes were assessed to determine the therapeutic potential of this approach, including axon growth and motor behaviour, survival and cell death following oxidative stress. FINDINGS We have found that targeting a single bioenergetic protein, PGK1, modulates motor neuron vulnerability in vivo. In zebrafish models of ALS, overexpression of PGK1 rescued motor axon phenotypes and improved motor behaviour. Treatment with terazosin, an FDA-approved compound with a known non-canonical action of increasing PGK1 activity, also improved these phenotypes. Terazosin treatment extended survival, improved motor phenotypes and increased motor neuron number in Thy1-hTDP-43 mice. In ESC-derived motor neurons expressing TDP-43M337V, terazosin protected against oxidative stress-induced cell death and increased basal glycolysis rates, while rescuing stress granule assembly. INTERPRETATION Our data demonstrate that terazosin protects motor neurons via multiple pathways, including upregulating glycolysis and rescuing stress granule formation. Repurposing terazosin therefore has the potential to increase the limited therapeutic options across all forms of ALS, irrespective of disease cause. FUNDING This work was supported by project grant funding from MND Scotland, the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation, Medical Research Council Doctoral Student Training Fellowship [Ref: BST0010Z] and Academy of Medical Sciences grant [SGL023\1100].
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Chaytow
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research; Edinburgh, UK
| | - Emily Carroll
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford; Oxford, UK
| | - David Gordon
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford; Oxford, UK
| | - Yu-Ting Huang
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research; Edinburgh, UK
| | - Dinja van der Hoorn
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research; Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hannah Louise Smith
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research; Edinburgh, UK
| | - Thomas Becker
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research; Edinburgh, UK; Center for Regenerative Therapies at the TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Catherina Gwynne Becker
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research; Edinburgh, UK; Center for Regenerative Therapies at the TU Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford; Oxford, UK
| | - Thomas Henry Gillingwater
- Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh; Edinburgh, UK; Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research; Edinburgh, UK.
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8
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Cao MC, Scotter EL. Novel and known transcriptional targets of ALS/FTD protein TDP-43: Meta-analysis and interactive graphical database. Dis Model Mech 2022; 15:276263. [PMID: 35946434 PMCID: PMC9509890 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.049418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 proteinopathy is the major pathology in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and tau-negative frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Mounting evidence implicates loss of normal TDP-43 RNA processing function as a key pathomechanism. However, the RNA targets of TDP-43 differ by report, and have never been formally collated or compared between models and disease, hampering understanding of TDP-43 function. Here, we conducted re-analysis and meta-analysis of publicly available RNA-sequencing datasets from six TDP-43-knockdown models, and TDP-43-immunonegative neuronal nuclei from ALS/ FTD brain, to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and exon usage (DEU) events. There was little overlap in DEGs between knockdown models, but PFKP, STMN2, CFP, KIAA1324 and TRHDE were common targets and were also differentially expressed in TDP-43-immunonegative neurons. DEG enrichment analysis revealed diverse biological pathways including immune and synaptic functions. Common DEU events in human datasets included well-known targets POLDIP3 and STMN2, and novel targets EXD3, MMAB, DLG5 and GOSR2. Our interactive database https://phpstack-449938-2576646.cloudwaysapps.com/ allows further exploration of TDP-43 DEG and DEU targets. Together, these data identify TDP-43 targets that can be exploited therapeutically or to validate loss-of-function processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maize C Cao
- School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. 3A Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
| | - Emma L Scotter
- School of Biological Sciences and Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. 3A Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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9
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Spinelli EG, Ghirelli A, Riva N, Canu E, Castelnovo V, Domi T, Pozzi L, Carrera P, Silani V, Chiò A, Filippi M, Agosta F. Profiling morphologic MRI features of motor neuron disease caused by TARDBP mutations. Front Neurol 2022; 13:931006. [PMID: 35911889 PMCID: PMC9334911 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.931006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Mutations in the TARDBP gene are a rare cause of genetic motor neuron disease (MND). Morphologic MRI characteristics of MND patients carrying this mutation have been poorly described. Our objective was to investigate distinctive clinical and MRI features of a relatively large sample of MND patients carrying TARDBP mutations. Methods Eleven MND patients carrying a TARDBP mutation were enrolled. Eleven patients with sporadic MND (sMND) and no genetic mutations were also selected and individually matched by age, sex, clinical presentation and disease severity, along with 22 healthy controls. Patients underwent clinical and cognitive evaluations, as well as 3D T1-weighted and diffusion tensor (DT) MRI on a 3 Tesla scanner. Gray matter (GM) atrophy was first investigated at a whole-brain level using voxel-based morphometry (VBM). GM volumes and DT MRI metrics of the main white matter (WM) tracts were also obtained. Clinical, cognitive and MRI features were compared between groups. Results MND with TARDBP mutations was associated with all possible clinical phenotypes, including isolated upper/lower motor neuron involvement, with no predilection for bulbar or limb involvement at presentation. Greater impairment at naming tasks was found in TARDBP mutation carriers compared with sMND. VBM analysis showed significant atrophy of the right lateral parietal cortex in TARDBP patients, compared with controls. A distinctive reduction of GM volumes was found in the left precuneus and right angular gyrus of TARDBP patients compared to controls. WM microstructural damage of the corticospinal tract (CST) and inferior longitudinal fasciculi (ILF) was found in both sMND and TARDBP patients, compared with controls, although decreased fractional anisotropy of the right CST and increased axial diffusivity of the left ILF (p = 0.017) was detected only in TARDBP mutation carriers. Conclusions TARDBP patients showed a distinctive parietal pattern of cortical atrophy and greater damage of motor and extra-motor WM tracts compared with controls, which sMND patients matched for disease severity and clinical presentation were lacking. Our findings suggest that TDP-43 pathology due to TARDBP mutations may cause deeper morphologic alterations in both GM and WM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Gioele Spinelli
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alma Ghirelli
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Nilo Riva
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Elisa Canu
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Castelnovo
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Teuta Domi
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Pozzi
- Experimental Neuropathology Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Carrera
- Laboratory of Clinical Molecular Biology, Unit of Genomics for Human Disease Diagnosis, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy
- “Dino Ferrari” Center, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Adriano Chiò
- Rita Levi Montalcini “Department of Neuroscience, ” ALS Center, University of Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- Neurorehabilitation Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurophysiology Service, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
- *Correspondence: Federica Agosta
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Sharma A, Dey P. Novel insights into the structural changes induced by disease-associated mutations in TDP-43: a computational approach. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2022:1-11. [PMID: 35751132 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2092551] [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: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, the pathogenic aggregation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is found to be strongly associated with several fatal neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTD), etc. While the mutations and truncation in TDP-43 protein have been suggested to be responsible for TDP-43 pathogenesis by accelerating the aggregation process, the effects of these mutations on the bio-mechanism of pathological TDP-43 protein remained poorly understood. Investigating this at the molecular level, we formulized an integrated workflow of molecular dynamic simulation and machine learning models (MD-ML). By performing an extensive structural analysis of three disease-related mutations (i.e., I168A, D169G, and I168A-D169G) in the conserved RNA recognition motifs (RRM1) of TDP-43, we observed that the I168A-D169G double mutant delineates the highest packing of the protein inner core as compared to the other mutations, which may indicate more stability and higher chances of pathogenesis. Moreover, through our MD-ML workflow, we identified the biological descriptors of TDP-43 which includes the interacting residue pairs and individual protein residues that influence the stability of the protein and could be experimentally evaluated to develop potential therapeutic strategies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhibhav Sharma
- School of Computer and System Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Pinki Dey
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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11
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de Mena L, Lopez-Scarim J, Rincon-Limas DE. TDP-43 and ER Stress in Neurodegeneration: Friends or Foes? Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:772226. [PMID: 34759799 PMCID: PMC8573113 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.772226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear depletion, abnormal modification, and cytoplasmic aggregation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) are linked to a group of fatal neurodegenerative diseases called TDP-43 proteinopathies, which include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Although our understanding of the physiological function of TDP-43 is rapidly advancing, the molecular mechanisms associated with its pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Accumulating evidence suggests that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) are important players in TDP-43 pathology. However, while neurons derived from autopsied ALS and FTLD patients revealed TDP-43 deposits in the ER and displayed UPR activation, data originated from in vitro and in vivo TDP-43 models produced contradictory results. In this review, we will explore the complex interplay between TDP-43 pathology, ER stress, and the UPR by breaking down the evidence available in the literature and addressing the reasons behind these discrepancies. We also highlight underexplored areas and key unanswered questions in the field. A better synchronization and integration of methodologies, models, and mechanistic pathways will be crucial to discover the true nature of the TDP-43 and ER stress relationship and, ultimately, to uncover the full therapeutic potential of the UPR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena de Mena
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, and Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Joshua Lopez-Scarim
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, and Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Diego E Rincon-Limas
- Department of Neurology, McKnight Brain Institute, and Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Department of Neuroscience, Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.,Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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12
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Kato Y, Sakamoto K. Niclosamide affects intracellular TDP-43 distribution in motor neurons, activates mitophagy, and attenuates morphological changes under stress. J Biosci Bioeng 2021; 132:640-650. [PMID: 34429248 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2021.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by progressive motor neuron loss in the brain and spinal cord; however, its etiology is unknown, and no curative treatment exists. TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), encoded by TARDBP, is a genetic mutation observed in 2-5% of familial ALS, and TDP is known to be mislocalized in the cytoplasm. This study aimed to identify compounds that inhibited the nuclear to cytoplasmic localization of TDP-43 in human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells-derived neurons. TDP-43 transgenic human iPS cells were constructed, differentiated into motor neurons, and then treated with MG-132 and sodium arsenite (stressors) to induce nuclear to cytoplasmic localization of TDP-43. STAT3 inhibitors, such as niclosamide, prevented TDP-43 mislocalization and degraded TDP-43 aggregates, and attenuated morphological changes under stress. Furthermore, niclosamide activated mitophagy via the PINK1-parkin-ubiquitin pathway. These findings suggest niclosamide may be a therapeutic candidate for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Kato
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan; Discovery Technology Laboratories, Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, 2-26-1 Muraoka-Higashi, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-8555, Japan
| | - Kazuichi Sakamoto
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8572, Japan.
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13
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Rapid in vitro quantification of TDP-43 and FUS mislocalisation for screening of gene variants implicated in frontotemporal dementia and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14881. [PMID: 34290285 PMCID: PMC8295343 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94225-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Identified genetic mutations cause 20% of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and 5-10% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases: however, for the remainder of patients the origin of disease is uncertain. The overlap in genetic, clinical and pathological presentation of FTD and ALS suggests these two diseases are related. Post-mortem, ~ 95% of ALS and ~ 50% of FTD patients show redistribution of the nuclear protein TDP-43 to the cytoplasm within affected neurons, while ~ 5% ALS and ~ 10% FTD show mislocalisation of FUS protein. We exploited these neuropathological features to develop an unbiased method for the in vitro quantification of cytoplasmic TDP-43 and FUS. Utilising fluorescently-tagged cDNA constructs and immunocytochemistry, the fluorescence intensity of TDP-43 or FUS was measured in the nucleus and cytoplasm of cells, using the freely available software CellProfiler. Significant increases in the amount of cytoplasmic TDP-43 and FUS were detectable in cells expressing known FTD/ALS-causative TARDBP and FUS gene mutations. Pharmacological intervention with the apoptosis inducer staurosporine and mutation in a secondary gene (CYLD) also induced measurable cytoplasmic mislocalisation of endogenous FUS and TDP-43, respectively. These findings validate this methodology as a novel in vitro technique for the quantification of TDP-43 or FUS mislocalisation that can be used for initial prioritisation of predicted FTD/ALS-causative mutations.
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14
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Mechanisms of TDP-43 Proteinopathy Onset and Propagation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22116004. [PMID: 34199367 PMCID: PMC8199531 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22116004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 is an RNA-binding protein that has been robustly linked to the pathogenesis of a number of neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. While mutations in the TARDBP gene that codes for the protein have been identified as causing disease in a small subset of patients, TDP-43 proteinopathy is present in the majority of cases regardless of mutation status. This raises key questions regarding the mechanisms by which TDP-43 proteinopathy arises and spreads throughout the central nervous system. Numerous studies have explored the role of a variety of cellular functions on the disease process, and nucleocytoplasmic transport, protein homeostasis, RNA interactions and cellular stress have all risen to the forefront as possible contributors to the initiation of TDP-43 pathogenesis. There is also a small but growing body of evidence suggesting that aggregation-prone TDP-43 can recruit physiological TDP-43, and be transmitted intercellularly, providing a mechanism whereby small-scale proteinopathy spreads from cell to cell, reflecting the spread of clinical symptoms observed in patients. This review will discuss the potential role of the aforementioned cellular functions in TDP-43 pathogenesis, and explore how aberrant pathology may spread, and result in a feed-forward cascade effect, leading to robust TDP-43 proteinopathy and disease.
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15
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Don EK, Maschirow A, Radford RAW, Scherer NM, Vidal-Itriago A, Hogan A, Maurel C, Formella I, Stoddart JJ, Hall TE, Lee A, Shi B, Cole NJ, Laird AS, Badrock AP, Chung RS, Morsch M. In vivo Validation of Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) to Investigate Aggregate Formation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:2061-2074. [PMID: 33415684 PMCID: PMC8018926 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-020-02238-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a form of motor neuron disease (MND) that is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons within the spinal cord, brainstem, and motor cortex. Although ALS clinically manifests as a heterogeneous disease, with varying disease onset and survival, a unifying feature is the presence of ubiquitinated cytoplasmic protein inclusion aggregates containing TDP-43. However, the precise mechanisms linking protein inclusions and aggregation to neuronal loss are currently poorly understood. Bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) takes advantage of the association of fluorophore fragments (non-fluorescent on their own) that are attached to an aggregation-prone protein of interest. Interaction of the proteins of interest allows for the fluorescent reporter protein to fold into its native state and emit a fluorescent signal. Here, we combined the power of BiFC with the advantages of the zebrafish system to validate, optimize, and visualize the formation of ALS-linked aggregates in real time in a vertebrate model. We further provide in vivo validation of the selectivity of this technique and demonstrate reduced spontaneous self-assembly of the non-fluorescent fragments in vivo by introducing a fluorophore mutation. Additionally, we report preliminary findings on the dynamic aggregation of the ALS-linked hallmark proteins Fus and TDP-43 in their corresponding nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments using BiFC. Overall, our data demonstrates the suitability of this BiFC approach to study and characterize ALS-linked aggregate formation in vivo. Importantly, the same principle can be applied in the context of other neurodegenerative diseases and has therefore critical implications to advance our understanding of pathologies that underlie aberrant protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Don
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Alina Maschirow
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Rowan A W Radford
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Natalie M Scherer
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Andrés Vidal-Itriago
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Alison Hogan
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Cindy Maurel
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Isabel Formella
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Jack J Stoddart
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Thomas E Hall
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, QLD, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
| | - Albert Lee
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Bingyang Shi
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Nicholas J Cole
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Angela S Laird
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Andrew P Badrock
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
| | - Roger S Chung
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Marco Morsch
- Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
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16
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Wood A, Gurfinkel Y, Polain N, Lamont W, Lyn Rea S. Molecular Mechanisms Underlying TDP-43 Pathology in Cellular and Animal Models of ALS and FTLD. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4705. [PMID: 33946763 PMCID: PMC8125728 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are neurodegenerative disorders that exist on a disease spectrum due to pathological, clinical and genetic overlap. In up to 97% of ALS cases and ~50% of FTLD cases, the primary pathological protein observed in affected tissues is TDP-43, which is hyperphosphorylated, ubiquitinated and cleaved. The TDP-43 is observed in aggregates that are abnormally located in the cytoplasm. The pathogenicity of TDP-43 cytoplasmic aggregates may be linked with both a loss of nuclear function and a gain of toxic functions. The cellular processes involved in ALS and FTLD disease pathogenesis include changes to RNA splicing, abnormal stress granules, mitochondrial dysfunction, impairments to axonal transport and autophagy, abnormal neuromuscular junctions, endoplasmic reticulum stress and the subsequent induction of the unfolded protein response. Here, we review and discuss the evidence for alterations to these processes that have been reported in cellular and animal models of TDP-43 proteinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alistair Wood
- School of Molecular Science, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia;
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Health Research Building, Discovery Way, Murdoch 6150, Australia; (Y.G.); (N.P.)
| | - Yuval Gurfinkel
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Health Research Building, Discovery Way, Murdoch 6150, Australia; (Y.G.); (N.P.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia;
| | - Nicole Polain
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Health Research Building, Discovery Way, Murdoch 6150, Australia; (Y.G.); (N.P.)
| | - Wesley Lamont
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Centre for Neuromuscular and Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia;
| | - Sarah Lyn Rea
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Health Research Building, Discovery Way, Murdoch 6150, Australia; (Y.G.); (N.P.)
- Hub for Immersive Visualisation and eResearch, Curtin University, Bentley 6102, Australia
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Centre for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Nedlands 6009, Australia
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17
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Tedeschi V, Petrozziello T, Secondo A. Ca 2+ dysregulation in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 363:21-47. [PMID: 34392931 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2021.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease without appropriate cure. One of the main reasons for the lack of a proper pharmacotherapy in ALS is the narrow knowledge on the molecular causes of the disease. In this respect, the identification of dysfunctional pathways in ALS is now considered a critical medical need. Among the causative factors involved in ALS, Ca2+ dysregulation is one of the most important pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease. Of note, Ca2+ dysfunction may induce, directly or indirectly, motor neuron degeneration and loss. Interestingly, both familial (fALS) and sporadic ALS (sALS) share the progressive dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis as a common noxious mechanism. Mechanicistically, Ca2+ dysfunction involves both plasma membrane and intracellular mechanisms, including AMPA receptor (AMPAR)-mediated excitotoxicity, voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) and Ca2+ transporter dysregulation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ deregulation, mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs) dysfunction, lysosomal Ca2+ leak, etc. Here, a comprehensive analysis of the main pathways involved in the dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis has been reported with the aim to focus the attention on new putative druggable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Tedeschi
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Tiziana Petrozziello
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Agnese Secondo
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Odontostomatological Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
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18
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Giannini M, Bayona-Feliu A, Sproviero D, Barroso SI, Cereda C, Aguilera A. TDP-43 mutations link Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis with R-loop homeostasis and R loop-mediated DNA damage. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1009260. [PMID: 33301444 PMCID: PMC7755276 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 is a DNA and RNA binding protein involved in RNA processing and with structural resemblance to heterogeneous ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), whose depletion sensitizes neurons to double strand DNA breaks (DSBs). Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder, in which 97% of patients are familial and sporadic cases associated with TDP-43 proteinopathies and conditions clearing TDP-43 from the nucleus, but we know little about the molecular basis of the disease. After showing with the non-neuronal model of HeLa cells that TDP-43 depletion increases R loops and associated genome instability, we prove that mislocalization of mutated TDP-43 (A382T) in transfected neuronal SH-SY5Y and lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) from an ALS patient cause R-loop accumulation, R loop-dependent increased DSBs and Fanconi Anemia repair centers. These results uncover a new role of TDP-43 in the control of co-transcriptional R loops and the maintenance of genome integrity by preventing harmful R-loop accumulation. Our findings thus link TDP-43 pathology to increased R loops and R loop-mediated DNA damage opening the possibility that R-loop modulation in TDP-43-defective cells might help develop ALS therapies. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is an adult onset, progressive neurodegenerative disease, caused by the selective loss of upper and lower motor neurons in the cerebral cortex, brainstem and spinal cord. The nuclear TDP-43 RNA binding protein, is encoded by a major gene for ALS susceptibility whose mutations are found in 3% of familial and 2% of sporadic ALS cases. Thanks to its ability to recognize DNA and RNA, TDP-43 is involved in different steps of mRNA metabolism and in several mechanisms of genome integrity. This, together with the fact that R loops or DNA-RNA hybrids are a common source of genome instability, prompted us to investigate whether TDP-43 deficiency has any role in R loop homeostasis that could explain previously described DNA damage response defects of ALS cells. We show that TDP-43 plays a role in preventing R loop-accumulation and associated genome instability in neuronal and non-neuronal cells, as well as in patient cell lines. Thus, our study opens the possibility that R loop-modulation in TDP-43-defective cells might help develop ALS therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Giannini
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine-CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Aleix Bayona-Feliu
- Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine-CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
| | - Daisy Sproviero
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
| | - Sonia I. Barroso
- Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine-CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
| | - Cristina Cereda
- Genomic and Post-Genomic Center, IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, Italy
- * E-mail: (CC); (AA)
| | - Andrés Aguilera
- Andalusian Center of Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine-CABIMER, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC-Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville, Spain
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain
- * E-mail: (CC); (AA)
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19
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Jo M, Lee S, Jeon YM, Kim S, Kwon Y, Kim HJ. The role of TDP-43 propagation in neurodegenerative diseases: integrating insights from clinical and experimental studies. Exp Mol Med 2020; 52:1652-1662. [PMID: 33051572 PMCID: PMC8080625 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-020-00513-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a highly conserved nuclear RNA/DNA-binding protein involved in the regulation of RNA processing. The accumulation of TDP-43 aggregates in the central nervous system is a common feature of many neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), and limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE). Accumulating evidence suggests that prion-like spreading of aberrant protein aggregates composed of tau, amyloid-β, and α-synuclein is involved in the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD and PD. Similar to those of prion-like proteins, pathological aggregates of TDP-43 can be transferred from cell-to-cell in a seed-dependent and self-templating manner. Here, we review clinical and experimental studies supporting the prion-like spreading of misfolded TDP-43 and discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying the propagation of these pathological aggregated proteins. The idea that misfolded TDP-43 spreads in a prion-like manner between cells may guide novel therapeutic strategies for TDP-43-associated neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myungjin Jo
- Dementia Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu, 41062, South Korea
| | - Shinrye Lee
- Dementia Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu, 41062, South Korea
| | - Yu-Mi Jeon
- Dementia Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu, 41062, South Korea
| | - Seyeon Kim
- Dementia Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu, 41062, South Korea.,Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, South Korea
| | - Younghwi Kwon
- Dementia Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu, 41062, South Korea.,Department of Brain & Cognitive Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42988, South Korea
| | - Hyung-Jun Kim
- Dementia Research Group, Korea Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu, 41062, South Korea.
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20
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Aksoy YA, Deng W, Stoddart J, Chung R, Guillemin G, Cole NJ, Neely GG, Hesselson D. "STRESSED OUT": The role of FUS and TDP-43 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2020; 126:105821. [PMID: 32758633 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2020.105821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in fused-in-sarcoma (FUS) and TAR DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43; TARDBP) are known to cause the severe adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Proteinopathy caused by cellular stresses such as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, oxidative stress, mitochondrial stress and proteasomal stress and the formation of stress granules (SGs), cytoplasmic aggregates and inclusions is a hallmark of ALS. FUS and TDP-43, which are DNA/RNA binding proteins that regulate transcription, RNA homeostasis and protein translation are implicated in ALS proteinopathy. Disease-causing mutations in FUS and TDP-43 cause sequestration of these proteins and their interacting partners in the cytoplasm, which leads to aggregation. This mislocalization and formation of aggregates and SGs is cytotoxic and a contributor to neuronal death. We explore how loss-of-nuclear-function and gain-of-cytoplasmic function mechanisms that affect FUS and TPD-43 localization can generate a 'stressed out' neuronal pathology and proteinopathy that drives ALS progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yagiz Alp Aksoy
- Diabetes and Metabolism Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Wei Deng
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale Biophotonics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | - Jack Stoddart
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Roger Chung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Gilles Guillemin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicholas James Cole
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Graham Gregory Neely
- The Dr. John and Anne Chong Laboratory for Functional Genomics, Charles Perkins Centre, Centenary Institute, and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia; Genome Editing Initiative, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - Daniel Hesselson
- Diabetes and Metabolism Division, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia; St Vincent's Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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21
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Williamson MG, Finelli MJ, Sleigh JN, Reddington A, Gordon D, Talbot K, Davies KE, Oliver PL. Neuronal over-expression of Oxr1 is protective against ALS-associated mutant TDP-43 mislocalisation in motor neurons and neuromuscular defects in vivo. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:3584-3599. [PMID: 31642482 PMCID: PMC6927465 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2019] [Revised: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A common pathological hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the related neurodegenerative disorder frontotemporal dementia, is the cellular mislocalization of transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43). Additionally, multiple mutations in the TARDBP gene (encoding TDP-43) are associated with familial forms of ALS. While the exact role for TDP-43 in the onset and progression of ALS remains unclear, the identification of factors that can prevent aberrant TDP-43 localization and function could be clinically beneficial. Previously, we discovered that the oxidation resistance 1 (Oxr1) protein could alleviate cellular mislocalization phenotypes associated with TDP-43 mutations, and that over-expression of Oxr1 was able to delay neuromuscular abnormalities in the hSOD1G93A ALS mouse model. Here, to determine whether Oxr1 can protect against TDP-43-associated phenotypes in vitro and in vivo, we used the same genetic approach in a newly described transgenic mouse expressing the human TDP-43 locus harbouring an ALS disease mutation (TDP-43M337V). We show in primary motor neurons from TDP-43M337V mice that genetically-driven Oxr1 over-expression significantly alleviates cytoplasmic mislocalization of mutant TDP-43. We also further quantified newly-identified, late-onset neuromuscular phenotypes of this mutant line, and demonstrate that neuronal Oxr1 over-expression causes a significant reduction in muscle denervation and neuromuscular junction degeneration in homozygous mutants in parallel with improved motor function and a reduction in neuroinflammation. Together these data support the application of Oxr1 as a viable and safe modifier of TDP-43-associated ALS phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G Williamson
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Mattéa J Finelli
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - James N Sleigh
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK.,UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Amy Reddington
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - David Gordon
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, West Wing, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Kay E Davies
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK
| | - Peter L Oliver
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.,MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
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22
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Dafinca R, Barbagallo P, Farrimond L, Candalija A, Scaber J, Ababneh NA, Sathyaprakash C, Vowles J, Cowley SA, Talbot K. Impairment of Mitochondrial Calcium Buffering Links Mutations in C9ORF72 and TARDBP in iPS-Derived Motor Neurons from Patients with ALS/FTD. Stem Cell Reports 2020; 14:892-908. [PMID: 32330447 PMCID: PMC7220989 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2020.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
TDP-43 dysfunction is common to 97% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases, including those with mutations in C9orf72. To investigate how C9ORF72 mutations drive cellular pathology in ALS and to identify convergent mechanisms between C9ORF72 and TARDBP mutations, we analyzed motor neurons (MNs) derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients with ALS. C9ORF72 iPSC-MNs have higher Ca2+ release after depolarization, delayed recovery to baseline after glutamate stimulation, and lower levels of calbindin compared with CRISPR/Cas9 genome-edited controls. TARDBP iPS-derived MNs show high glutamate-induced Ca2+ release. We identify here, by RNA sequencing, that both C9ORF72 and TARDBP iPSC-MNs have upregulation of Ca2+-permeable AMPA and NMDA subunits and impairment of mitochondrial Ca2+ buffering due to an imbalance of MICU1 and MICU2 on the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter, indicating that impaired mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake contributes to glutamate excitotoxicity and is a shared feature of MNs with C9ORF72 or TARDBP mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruxandra Dafinca
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
| | - Paola Barbagallo
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Lucy Farrimond
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Ana Candalija
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Jakub Scaber
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Nida'a A Ababneh
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Cell Therapy Center, University of Jordan, Queen Rania St, 11942 Amman, Jordan
| | - Chaitra Sathyaprakash
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Jane Vowles
- James Martin Stem Cell Facility Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Sally A Cowley
- James Martin Stem Cell Facility Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
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23
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Bursch F, Kalmbach N, Naujock M, Staege S, Eggenschwiler R, Abo-Rady M, Japtok J, Guo W, Hensel N, Reinhardt P, Boeckers TM, Cantz T, Sterneckert J, Van Den Bosch L, Hermann A, Petri S, Wegner F. Altered calcium dynamics and glutamate receptor properties in iPSC-derived motor neurons from ALS patients with C9orf72, FUS, SOD1 or TDP43 mutations. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:2835-2850. [PMID: 31108504 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The fatal neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by a profound loss of motor neurons (MNs). Until now only riluzole minimally extends life expectancy in ALS, presumably by inhibiting glutamatergic neurotransmission and calcium overload of MNs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the glutamate receptor properties and key aspects of intracellular calcium dynamics in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived MNs from ALS patients with C9orf72 (n = 4 cell lines), fused in sarcoma (FUS) (n = 9), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) (n = 3) or transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP43) (n = 3) mutations as well as healthy (n = 7 cell lines) and isogenic controls (n = 3). Using calcium imaging, we most frequently observed spontaneous transients in mutant C9orf72 MNs. Basal intracellular calcium levels and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA)-induced signal amplitudes were elevated in mutant TDP43 MNs. Besides, a majority of mutant TDP43 MNs responded to 3.5-dihydroxyphenylglycine as metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist. Quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated significantly increased expression levels of AMPA and kainate receptors in mutant FUS cells compared to healthy and isogenic controls. Furthermore, the expression of kainate receptors and voltage gated calcium channels in mutant C9orf72 MNs as well as metabotropic glutamate receptors in mutant SOD1 cells was markedly elevated compared to controls. Our data of iPSC-derived MNs from familial ALS patients revealed several mutation-specific alterations in glutamate receptor properties and calcium dynamics that could play a role in ALS pathogenesis and may lead to future translational strategies with individual stratification of neuroprotective ALS treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franziska Bursch
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Norman Kalmbach
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Maximilian Naujock
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Selma Staege
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Reto Eggenschwiler
- Research Group Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Julia Japtok
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Wenting Guo
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven-University of Leuven, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB-Center for Brain & Disease Research, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niko Hensel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias Cantz
- Research Group Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), KU Leuven-University of Leuven, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, VIB-Center for Brain & Disease Research, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Division for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
| | - Florian Wegner
- Department of Neurology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.,Center of Systems Neuroscience, Hannover, Germany
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24
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Huang SL, Wu LS, Lee M, Chang CW, Cheng WC, Fang YS, Chen YR, Cheng PL, Shen CKJ. A robust TDP-43 knock-in mouse model of ALS. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:3. [PMID: 31964415 PMCID: PMC6975031 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-0881-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, adult-onset degenerative disorder of motor neurons. The diseased spinal cord motor neurons of more than 95% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients are characterized by the mis-metabolism of the RNA/DNA-binding protein TDP-43 (ALS-TDP), in particular, the presence of cytosolic aggregates of the protein. Most available mouse models for the basic or translational studies of ALS-TDP are based on transgenic overexpression of the TDP-43 protein. Here, we report the generation and characterization of mouse lines bearing homologous knock-in of fALS-associated mutation A315T and sALS-associated mutation N390D, respectively. Remarkably, the heterozygous TDP-43 (N390D/+) mice but not those heterozygous for the TDP-43 (A315T/+) mice develop a full spectrum of ALS-TDP-like pathologies at the molecular, cellular and behavioral levels. Comparative analysis of the mutant mice and spinal cord motor neurons (MN) derived from their embryonic stem (ES) cells demonstrates that different ALS-associated TDP-43 mutations possess critical ALS-causing capabilities and pathogenic pathways, likely modified by their genetic background and the environmental factors. Mechanistically, we identify aberrant RNA splicing of spinal cord Bcl-2 pre-mRNA and consequent increase of a negative regulator of autophagy, Bcl-2, which correlate with and are caused by a progressive increase of TDP-43, one of the early events associated with ALS-TDP pathogenesis, in the spinal cord of TDP-43 (N390D/+) mice and spinal cord MN derived from their ES cells. The TDP-43 (N390D/+) knock-in mice appear to be an ideal rodent model for basic as well as translational studies of ALS- TDP.
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25
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Prasad A, Bharathi V, Sivalingam V, Girdhar A, Patel BK. Molecular Mechanisms of TDP-43 Misfolding and Pathology in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:25. [PMID: 30837838 PMCID: PMC6382748 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 428] [Impact Index Per Article: 85.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a versatile RNA/DNA binding protein involved in RNA-related metabolism. Hyper-phosphorylated and ubiquitinated TDP-43 deposits act as inclusion bodies in the brain and spinal cord of patients with the motor neuron diseases: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). While the majority of ALS cases (90-95%) are sporadic (sALS), among familial ALS cases 5-10% involve the inheritance of mutations in the TARDBP gene and the remaining (90-95%) are due to mutations in other genes such as: C9ORF72, SOD1, FUS, and NEK1 etc. Strikingly however, the majority of sporadic ALS patients (up to 97%) also contain the TDP-43 protein deposited in the neuronal inclusions, which suggests of its pivotal role in the ALS pathology. Thus, unraveling the molecular mechanisms of the TDP-43 pathology seems central to the ALS therapeutics, hence, we comprehensively review the current understanding of the TDP-43's pathology in ALS. We discuss the roles of TDP-43's mutations, its cytoplasmic mis-localization and aberrant post-translational modifications in ALS. Also, we evaluate TDP-43's amyloid-like in vitro aggregation, its physiological vs. pathological oligomerization in vivo, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), and potential prion-like propagation propensity of the TDP-43 inclusions. Finally, we describe the various evolving TDP-43-induced toxicity mechanisms, such as the impairment of endocytosis and mitotoxicity etc. and also discuss the emerging strategies toward TDP-43 disaggregation and ALS therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Basant K. Patel
- Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Sangareddy, India
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26
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Single-copy expression of an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked TDP-43 mutation (M337V) in BAC transgenic mice leads to altered stress granule dynamics and progressive motor dysfunction. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 121:148-162. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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27
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Mitsuzawa S, Akiyama T, Nishiyama A, Suzuki N, Kato M, Warita H, Izumi R, Osana S, Koyama S, Kato T, Suzuki Y, Aoki M. TARDBP p.G376D mutation, found in rapid progressive familial ALS, induces mislocalization of TDP-43. eNeurologicalSci 2018; 11:20-22. [PMID: 29928714 PMCID: PMC6006914 DOI: 10.1016/j.ensci.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shio Mitsuzawa
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Akiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Ayumi Nishiyama
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.,Department of Medical Genetics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Naoki Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kato
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Warita
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Rumiko Izumi
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Shion Osana
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
| | - Shingo Koyama
- Division of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Internal Medicine III, Yamagata University School of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Takeo Kato
- Division of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Internal Medicine III, Yamagata University School of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata-shi, Yamagata 990-9585, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Nihonkai General Hospital, 30 Akiho-machi, Sakata-shi, Yamagata 998-8501, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan
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28
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Orrù S, Coni P, Floris A, Littera R, Carcassi C, Sogos V, Brancia C. Reduced stress granule formation and cell death in fibroblasts with the A382T mutation of TARDBP gene: evidence for loss of TDP-43 nuclear function. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 25:4473-4483. [PMID: 28172957 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
TAR deoxyribonucleic acid-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a key protein in the pathogenesis of amyoptrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Recent studies suggest that mutations in the TDP-43 coding gene, TARDBP, as well as variations in TDP-43 protein expression levels may disrupt the dynamics of stress granules (SGs). However, it remains unclear whether the pathogenetic effect of the TDP-43 protein is exerted at the cytoplasmic level, through direct participation to SG composition, or at nuclear level, through control of proteins essential to SG assembly. To clarify this point, we investigated the dynamics of SG formation in primary skin fibroblast cultures from the patients with ALS together with the A382T mutation and the patients with ALS and healthy controls with wild-type TDP-43. Under stress conditions induced by sodium arsenite, we found that in human fibroblasts TDP-43 did not translocate to the SGs but instead contributed to the SG formation through a regulatory effect on the G3BP1 core protein. We found that the A382T mutation caused a significant reduction in the number of SGs per cell (P < 0.01) as well as the percentage of cells that form SGs (P < 0.00001). Following stress stimuli, a significant decrease of viability was observed for cells with the TDP-43 A382T mutation (P < 0.0005).
We can therefore conclude that the A382T mutation caused a reduction in the ability of cells to respond to stress through loss of TDP-43 function in SG nucleation. The pathogenetic action revealed in our study model does not seem to be mediated by changes in the localization of the TDP-43 protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandro Orrù
- Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, R. Binaghi Hospital, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Paola Coni
- Paola Coni, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Andrea Floris
- Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, R. Binaghi Hospital, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberto Littera
- Regional Transplant Center, R. Binaghi Hospital, ASL Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Carlo Carcassi
- Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Cagliari, R. Binaghi Hospital, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valeria Sogos
- Paola Coni, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Carla Brancia
- Paola Coni, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
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29
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Weskamp K, Barmada SJ. TDP43 and RNA instability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Res 2018; 1693:67-74. [PMID: 29395044 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The nuclear RNA-binding protein TDP43 is integrally involved in RNA processing. In accord with this central function, TDP43 levels are tightly regulated through a negative feedback loop, in which TDP43 recognizes its own RNA transcript, destabilizes it, and reduces new TDP43 protein production. In the neurodegenerative disorder amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cytoplasmic mislocalization and accumulation of TDP43 disrupt autoregulation; conversely, inefficient TDP43 autoregulation can lead to cytoplasmic TDP43 deposition and subsequent neurodegeneration. Because TDP43 plays a multifaceted role in maintaining RNA metabolism, its mislocalization and accumulation interrupt several RNA processing pathways that in turn affect RNA stability and gene expression. TDP43-mediated disruption of these pathways-including alternative mRNA splicing, non-coding RNA processing, and RNA granule dynamics-may directly or indirectly contribute to ALS pathogenesis. Therefore, strategies that restore effective TDP43 autoregulation may ultimately prevent neurodegeneration in ALS and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlin Weskamp
- Neuroscience Graduate Program and Department of Neurology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sami J Barmada
- Neuroscience Graduate Program and Department of Neurology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
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30
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Young JJ, Lavakumar M, Tampi D, Balachandran S, Tampi RR. Frontotemporal dementia: latest evidence and clinical implications. Ther Adv Psychopharmacol 2018; 8:33-48. [PMID: 29344342 PMCID: PMC5761910 DOI: 10.1177/2045125317739818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) describes a cluster of neurocognitive syndromes that present with impairment of executive functioning, changes in behavior, and a decrease in language proficiency. FTD is the second most common form of dementia in those younger than 65 years and is expected to increase in prevalence as the population ages. This goal in our review is to describe advances in the understanding of neurobiological pathology, classification, assessment, and treatment of FTD syndromes. METHODS PubMed was searched to obtain reviews and studies that pertain to advancements in genetics, neurobiology, neuroimaging, classification, and treatment of FTD syndromes. Articles were chosen with a predilection to more recent preclinical/clinical trials and systematic reviews. RESULTS Recent reviews and trials indicate a significant advancement in the understanding of molecular and neurobiological clinical correlates to variants of FTD. Genetic and histopathologic markers have only recently been discovered in the past decade. Current therapeutic modalities are limited, with most studies reporting improvement in symptoms with nonpharmacological interventions. However, a small number of studies have reported improvement of behavioral symptoms with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment. Stimulants may help with disinhibition, apathy, and risk-taking behavior. Memantine and cholinesterase inhibitors have not demonstrated efficacy in ameliorating FTD symptoms. Antipsychotics have been used to treat agitation and psychosis, but safety concerns and side effect profiles limit utilization in the general FTD population. Nevertheless, recent breakthroughs in the understanding of FTD pathology have led to developments in pharmacological interventions that focus on producing treatments with autoimmune, genetic, and molecular targets. CONCLUSION FTD is an underdiagnosed group of neurological syndromes comprising multiple variants with distinct neurobiological profiles and presentations. Recent advances suggest there is an array of potential novel therapeutic targets, although data concerning their effectiveness are still preliminary or preclinical. Further studies are required to develop pharmacological interventions, as there are currently no US Food and Drug administration approved treatments to manage FTD syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Joseph Young
- Department of Psychiatry, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mallika Lavakumar
- Department of Psychiatry, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Deena Tampi
- Mercy Regional Medical Center, 3700 Kolbe Rd, Lorain, OH 44053, USA
| | - Silpa Balachandran
- Department of Psychiatry, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Rajesh R Tampi
- MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109, USA
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31
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Moller A, Bauer CS, Cohen RN, Webster CP, De Vos KJ. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated mutant SOD1 inhibits anterograde axonal transport of mitochondria by reducing Miro1 levels. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:4668-4679. [PMID: 28973175 PMCID: PMC5886184 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Defective axonal transport is an early neuropathological feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We have previously shown that ALS-associated mutations in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) impair axonal transport of mitochondria in motor neurons isolated from SOD1 G93A transgenic mice and in ALS mutant SOD1 transfected cortical neurons, but the underlying mechanisms remained unresolved. The outer mitochondrial membrane protein mitochondrial Rho GTPase 1 (Miro1) is a master regulator of mitochondrial axonal transport in response to cytosolic calcium (Ca2+) levels ([Ca2+]c) and mitochondrial damage. Ca2+ binding to Miro1 halts mitochondrial transport by modifying its interaction with kinesin-1 whereas mitochondrial damage induces Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN)-induced Putative Kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin-dependent degradation of Miro1 and consequently stops transport. To identify the mechanism underlying impaired axonal transport of mitochondria in mutant SOD1-related ALS we investigated [Ca2+]c and Miro1 levels in ALS mutant SOD1 expressing neurons. We found that expression of ALS mutant SOD1 reduced the level of endogenous Miro1 but did not affect [Ca2+]c. ALS mutant SOD1 induced reductions in Miro1 levels were Parkin dependent. Moreover, both overexpression of Miro1 and ablation of PINK1 rescued the mitochondrial axonal transport deficit in ALS mutant SOD1-expressing cortical and motor neurons. Together these results provide evidence that ALS mutant SOD1 inhibits axonal transport of mitochondria by inducing PINK1/Parkin-dependent Miro1 degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annekathrin Moller
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Claudia S Bauer
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Rebecca N Cohen
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Christopher P Webster
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Kurt J De Vos
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
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32
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Tadić V, Malci A, Goldhammer N, Stubendorff B, Sengupta S, Prell T, Keiner S, Liu J, Guenther M, Frahm C, Witte OW, Grosskreutz J. Sigma 1 receptor activation modifies intracellular calcium exchange in the G93A hSOD1 ALS model. Neuroscience 2017; 359:105-118. [PMID: 28723387 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Aberrations in intracellular calcium (Ca2+) have been well established within amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a severe motor neuron disease. Intracellular Ca2+ concentration is controlled in part through the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) mitochondria Ca2+ cycle (ERMCC). The ER supplies Ca2+ to the mitochondria at close contacts between the two organelles, i.e. the mitochondria-associated ER membranes (MAMs). The Sigma 1 receptor (Sig1R) is enriched at MAMs, where it acts as an inter-organelle signaling modulator. However, its impact on intracellular Ca2+ at the cellular level remains to be thoroughly investigated. Here, we used cultured embryonic mice spinal neurons to investigate the influence of Sig1R activation on intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in the presence of G93AhSOD1 (G93A), an established ALS-causing mutation. Sig1R expression was increased in G93A motor neurons relative to non-transgenic (nontg) controls. Furthermore, we demonstrated significantly reduced bradykinin-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores in G93A spinal neurons, which were normalized by the Sig1R agonist SA4503. Moreover, SA4503 accelerated cytosolic Ca2+ clearance following a) AMPAR activation by kainate and b) IP3R-mediated ER Ca2+ release following bradykinin stimulation in both genotypes. PRE-084 (another Sig1R agonist) did not exert any significant effects on cytosolic Ca2+. Both Sig1R expression and functionality were altered by the G93A mutation, indicating the centrality of Sig1R in ALS pathology. Here, we showed that intracellular Ca2+ shuttling can be manipulated by Sig1R activation, thus demonstrating the value of using the pharmacological manipulation of Sig1R to understand Ca2+ homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vedrana Tadić
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Ayse Malci
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Nadine Goldhammer
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Beatrice Stubendorff
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Saikata Sengupta
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Tino Prell
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Silke Keiner
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Jingyu Liu
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Madlen Guenther
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Christiane Frahm
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Otto W Witte
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Hans Berger Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
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33
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The wide genetic landscape of clinical frontotemporal dementia: systematic combined sequencing of 121 consecutive subjects. Genet Med 2017; 20:240-249. [PMID: 28749476 PMCID: PMC5846812 DOI: 10.1038/gim.2017.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 05/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose To define the genetic spectrum and relative gene frequencies underlying clinical frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Methods We investigated the frequencies and mutations in neurodegenerative disease genes in 121 consecutive FTD subjects using an unbiased, combined sequencing approach, complemented by cerebrospinal fluid Aβ1-42 and serum progranulin measurements. Subjects were screened for C9orf72 repeat expansions, GRN and MAPT mutations, and, if negative, mutations in other neurodegenerative disease genes, by whole-exome sequencing (WES) (n = 108), including WES-based copy-number variant (CNV) analysis. Results Pathogenic and likely pathogenic mutations were identified in 19% of the subjects, including mutations in C9orf72 (n = 8), GRN (n = 7, one 11-exon macro-deletion) and, more rarely, CHCHD10, TARDBP, SQSTM1 and UBQLN2 (each n = 1), but not in MAPT or TBK1. WES also unraveled pathogenic mutations in genes not commonly linked to FTD, including mutations in Alzheimer (PSEN1, PSEN2), lysosomal (CTSF, 7-exon macro-deletion) and cholesterol homeostasis pathways (CYP27A1). Conclusion Our unbiased approach reveals a wide genetic spectrum underlying clinical FTD, including 11% of seemingly sporadic FTD. It unravels several mutations and CNVs in genes and pathways hitherto not linked to FTD. This suggests that clinical FTD might be the converging downstream result of a delicate susceptibility of frontotemporal brain networks to insults in various pathways.
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Wobst HJ, Wesolowski SS, Chadchankar J, Delsing L, Jacobsen S, Mukherjee J, Deeb TZ, Dunlop J, Brandon NJ, Moss SJ. Cytoplasmic Relocalization of TAR DNA-Binding Protein 43 Is Not Sufficient to Reproduce Cellular Pathologies Associated with ALS In vitro. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:46. [PMID: 28286471 PMCID: PMC5323424 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the gene TARDBP, which encodes TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), are a rare cause of familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). While the majority of mutations are found in the C-terminal glycine-rich domain, an alanine to valine amino acid change at position 90 (A90V) in the bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) of TDP-43 has been described. This sequence variant has previously been shown to cause cytoplasmic mislocalization of TDP-43 and decrease protein solubility, leading to the formation of insoluble aggregates. Since the A90V mutation has been described both in patients as well as healthy controls, its pathogenic potential in ALS and FTD remains unclear. Here we compare properties of overexpressed A90V to the highly pathogenic M337V mutation. Though both mutations drive mislocalization of the protein to the cytoplasm to the same extent, M337V produces more significant damage in terms of protein solubility, levels of pathogenic phosphorylation, and formation of C-terminal truncated protein species. Furthermore, the M337V, but not the A90V mutant, leads to a downregulation of histone deacetylase 6 and Ras GTPase-activating protein-binding protein. We conclude that in the absence of another genetic or environmental ‘hit’ the A90V variant is not sufficient to cause the deleterious phenotypes associated with ALS and FTD, despite prominent cytoplasmic protein relocalization of TDP-43.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heike J Wobst
- AstraZeneca-Tufts Laboratory for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Steven S Wesolowski
- IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Neuroscience IMED, AstraZeneca, Cambridge MA, USA
| | - Jayashree Chadchankar
- AstraZeneca-Tufts Laboratory for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Louise Delsing
- AstraZeneca-Tufts Laboratory for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, BostonMA, USA; IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Discovery ScienceMölndal, Sweden
| | - Steven Jacobsen
- IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Neuroscience IMED, AstraZeneca, Cambridge MA, USA
| | - Jayanta Mukherjee
- AstraZeneca-Tufts Laboratory for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - Tarek Z Deeb
- AstraZeneca-Tufts Laboratory for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston MA, USA
| | - John Dunlop
- IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Neuroscience IMED, AstraZeneca, Cambridge MA, USA
| | - Nicholas J Brandon
- IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca Neuroscience IMED, AstraZeneca, Cambridge MA, USA
| | - Stephen J Moss
- AstraZeneca-Tufts Laboratory for Basic and Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, BostonMA, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, BostonMA, USA
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Dafinca R, Scaber J, Ababneh N, Lalic T, Weir G, Christian H, Vowles J, Douglas AGL, Fletcher-Jones A, Browne C, Nakanishi M, Turner MR, Wade-Martins R, Cowley SA, Talbot K. C9orf72 Hexanucleotide Expansions Are Associated with Altered Endoplasmic Reticulum Calcium Homeostasis and Stress Granule Formation in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Neurons from Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Stem Cells 2016; 34:2063-78. [PMID: 27097283 PMCID: PMC4979662 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 178] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
An expanded hexanucleotide repeat in a noncoding region of the C9orf72 gene is a major cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), accounting for up to 40% of familial cases and 7% of sporadic ALS in European populations. We have generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from fibroblasts of patients carrying C9orf72 hexanucleotide expansions, differentiated these to functional motor and cortical neurons, and performed an extensive phenotypic characterization. In C9orf72 iPSC‐derived motor neurons, decreased cell survival is correlated with dysfunction in Ca2+ homeostasis, reduced levels of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl‐2, increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, C9orf72 motor neurons, and also cortical neurons, show evidence of abnormal protein aggregation and stress granule formation. This study is an extensive characterization of iPSC‐derived motor neurons as cellular models of ALS carrying C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeats, which describes a novel pathogenic link between C9orf72 mutations, dysregulation of calcium signaling, and altered proteostasis and provides a potential pharmacological target for the treatment of ALS and the related neurodegenerative disease frontotemporal dementia. Stem Cells2016;34:2063–2078
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jane Vowles
- James Martin Stem Cell Facility, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Cathy Browne
- James Martin Stem Cell Facility, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Mahito Nakanishi
- Research Center for Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | | | - Sally A Cowley
- James Martin Stem Cell Facility, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Hasegawa M, Hara-Miyauchi C, Ohta H, Sakimura K, Okano H, Okano HJ. Analysis of RNA metabolism in peripheral WBCs of TDP-43 KI mice identifies novel biomarkers of ALS. Neurosci Res 2015; 106:12-22. [PMID: 26672899 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2015.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2015] [Revised: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Diagnostic biomarkers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have yet to be identified. One of the causes of neuronal cell death in neurodegenerative diseases is abnormal RNA metabolism, although the mechanisms by which this occurs are unclear. Detection of abnormal RNA metabolism in white blood cells (WBCs) could lead to a new biomarker of ALS onset. TAR DNA-binding protein 43kDa (TDP-43) is an RNA-binding protein that regulates RNA metabolism. We previously developed a mouse model of ALS that exhibits adult-onset motor dysfunction; these mutant TDP-43 knock in (KI) mice heterozygously express mutant human TDP-43 (A382T or G348C). In the present study, we examined TDP-43 mRNA levels in WBCs of KI mice and found that A382T mutant mRNA is significantly higher than G348C. Our results suggest that each mutant TDP-43 induces distinct RNA metabolism, and that the expression of total TDP-43 alone in WBC is not suitable as an ALS biomarker. To identify additional candidates, we focused on survival and apoptosis-related factors and examined their mRNA metabolism in WBCs. mRNA levels of both Smn1 and Naip5 correlated with TDP-43 levels and also differed between A382T and G348C. Together, TDP-43 and these factors may enable detection of abnormalities in individual ALS pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minami Hasegawa
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1058461, Japan; Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Chikako Hara-Miyauchi
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1058461, Japan; Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hiroki Ohta
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1058461, Japan; Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1058461, Japan
| | - Kenji Sakimura
- Department of Cellular Neurobiology, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachidori Niigata Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8585, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Hirotaka James Okano
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1058461, Japan; Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
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Li YQ, Tan MS, Yu JT, Tan L. Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies. Mol Neurobiol 2015; 53:6091-6105. [PMID: 26537902 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-015-9507-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is characterized by progressive deterioration of frontal and anterior temporal lobes of the brain and often exhibits frontotemporal dementia (FTD) on clinic, in <65-year-old patients at the time of diagnosis. Interdisciplinary approaches combining genetics, molecular and cell biology, and laboratory animal science have revealed some of its potential molecular mechanisms. Although there is still no effective treatment to delay, prevent, and reverse the progression of FTD, emergence of agents targeting molecular mechanisms has been beginning to promote potential pharmaceutical development. Our review summarizes the latest new findings of FTLD and challenges in FTLD therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Qing Li
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Meng-Shan Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jin-Tai Yu
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China. .,Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Lan Tan
- Department of Neurology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
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Wang X, Ma M, Teng J, Che X, Zhang W, Feng S, Zhou S, Zhang Y, Wu E, Ding X. Valproate Attenuates 25-kDa C-Terminal Fragment of TDP-43-Induced Neuronal Toxicity via Suppressing Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Activating Autophagy. Int J Biol Sci 2015; 11:752-61. [PMID: 26078717 PMCID: PMC4466456 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.11880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disease. To date, there is no any effective pharmacological treatment for improving patients' symptoms and quality of life. Rapidly emerging evidence suggests that C-terminal fragments (CTFs) of TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43), including TDP-35 and TDP-25, may play an important role in ALS pathogenesis. Valproate (VPA), a widely used antiepileptic drug, has neuroprotective effects on neurodegenerative disorders. As for ALS, preclinical studies also provide encouraging evidence for multiple beneficial effects in ALS mouse models. However, the potential molecular mechanisms have not been explored. Here, we show protective effects of VPA against TDP-43 CTFs-mediated neuronal toxicity and its underlying mechanisms in vitro. Remarkably, TDP-43 CTFs induced neuronal damage via endoplastic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated apoptosis. Furthermore, autophagic self-defense system was activated to reduce TDP-43 CTFs-induced neuronal death. Finally, VPA attenuated TDP-25-induced neuronal toxicity via suppressing ER stress-mediated apoptosis and enhancing autophagy. Taken together, these results demonstrate that VPA exerts neuroprotective effects against TDP-43 CTFs-induced neuronal damage. Thus, we provide new molecular evidence for VPA treatment in patients with ALS and other TDP-43 proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejing Wang
- 1. Department of neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Mingming Ma
- 2. Department of neurology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China
| | - Junfang Teng
- 1. Department of neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Xiangqian Che
- 4. Department of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- 1. Department of neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Shuman Feng
- 2. Department of neurology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450003, China
| | - Shuang Zhou
- 3. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58105, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- 3. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58105, USA
| | - Erxi Wu
- 3. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, 58105, USA
| | - Xuebing Ding
- 1. Department of neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
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Buratti E. Functional Significance of TDP-43 Mutations in Disease. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2015; 91:1-53. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2015.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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