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Soldatov VO, Kukharsky MS, Belykh AE, Sobolev AM, Deykin AV. Retinal Damage in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Underlying Mechanisms. Eye Brain 2021; 13:131-146. [PMID: 34012311 PMCID: PMC8128130 DOI: 10.2147/eb.s299423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease resulting in a gradual loss of motor neuron function. Although ophthalmic complaints are not presently considered a classic symptom of ALS, retinal changes such as thinning, axonal degeneration and inclusion bodies have been found in many patients. Retinal abnormalities observed in postmortem human tissues and animal models are similar to spinal cord changes in ALS. These findings are not dramatically unexpected because retina shares an ontogenetic relationship with the brain, and many genes are associated both with neurodegeneration and retinal diseases. Experimental studies have demonstrated that ALS affects many “vulnerable points” of the retina. Aggregate deposition, impaired nuclear protein import, endoplasmic reticulum stress, glutamate excitotoxicity, vascular regression, and mitochondrial dysfunction are factors suspected as being the main cause of motor neuron damage in ALS. Herein, we show that all of these pathways can affect retinal cells in the same way as motor neurons. Furthermore, we suppose that understanding the patterns of neuro-ophthalmic interaction in ALS can help in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav O Soldatov
- Core Facility Centre, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - Michail S Kukharsky
- Department of General and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medical Biology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russia.,Laboratory of Genetic Modelling of Neurodegenerative Processes, Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Russia
| | - Andrey E Belykh
- Department of Pathophysiology, Kursk State Medical University, Kursk, Russia
| | - Andrey M Sobolev
- Laboratory of Genetic Modelling of Neurodegenerative Processes, Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Russia
| | - Alexey V Deykin
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia.,Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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Abad-Morales V, Domènech EB, Garanto A, Marfany G. mRNA expression analysis of the SUMO pathway genes in the adult mouse retina. Biol Open 2015; 4:224-32. [PMID: 25617419 PMCID: PMC4365491 DOI: 10.1242/bio.201410645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sumoylation is a reversible post-translational modification that regulates different cellular processes by conjugation/deconjugation of SUMO moieties to target proteins. Most work on the functional relevance of SUMO has focused on cell cycle, DNA repair and cancer in cultured cells, but data on the inter-dependence of separate components of the SUMO pathway in highly specialized tissues, such as the retina, is still scanty. Nonetheless, several retinal transcription factors (TFs) relevant for cone and rod fate, as well as some circadian rhythm regulators, are regulated by sumoylation. Here we present a comprehensive survey of SUMO pathway gene expression in the murine retina by quantitative RT-PCR and in situ hybridization (ISH). The mRNA expression levels were quantified in retinas obtained under four different light/dark conditions, revealing distinct levels of gene expression. In addition, a SUMO pathway retinal gene atlas based on the mRNA expression pattern was drawn. Although most genes are ubiquitously expressed, some patterns could be defined in a first step to determine its biological significance and interdependence. The wide expression of the SUMO pathway genes, the transcriptional response under several light/dark conditions, and the diversity of expression patterns in different cell layers clearly support sumoylation as a relevant post-translational modification in the retina. This expression atlas intends to be a reference framework for retinal researchers and to depict a more comprehensive view of the SUMO-regulated processes in the retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Abad-Morales
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elena B Domènech
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alejandro Garanto
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Present address: Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gemma Marfany
- Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain Institut de Biomedicina de la Universitat de Barcelona (IBUB), Barcelona, Spain
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van Blitterswijk M, Wang ET, Friedman BA, Keagle PJ, Lowe P, Leclerc AL, van den Berg LH, Housman DE, Veldink JH, Landers JE. Characterization of FUS mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using RNA-Seq. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60788. [PMID: 23577159 PMCID: PMC3620060 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2012] [Accepted: 03/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease resulting in severe muscle weakness and eventual death by respiratory failure. Although little is known about its pathogenesis, mutations in fused in sarcoma/translated in liposarcoma (FUS) are causative for familial ALS. FUS is a multifunctional protein that is involved in many aspects of RNA processing. To elucidate the role of FUS in ALS, we overexpressed wild-type and two mutant forms of FUS in HEK-293T cells, as well as knocked-down FUS expression. This was followed by RNA-Seq to identify genes which displayed differential expression or altered splicing patterns. Pathway analysis revealed that overexpression of wild-type FUS regulates ribosomal genes, whereas knock-down of FUS additionally affects expression of spliceosome related genes. Furthermore, cells expressing mutant FUS displayed global transcription patterns more similar to cells overexpressing wild-type FUS than to the knock-down condition. This observation suggests that FUS mutants do not contribute to the pathogenesis of ALS through a loss-of-function. Finally, our results demonstrate that the R521G and R522G mutations display differences in their influence on transcription and splicing. Taken together, these results provide additional insights into the function of FUS and how mutations contribute to the development of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marka van Blitterswijk
- Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Eric T. Wang
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Brad A. Friedman
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Pamela J. Keagle
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Patrick Lowe
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ashley Lyn Leclerc
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Leonard H. van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - David E. Housman
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Jan H. Veldink
- Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - John E. Landers
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Ibrahim F, Nakaya T, Mourelatos Z. RNA dysregulation in diseases of motor neurons. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE 2011; 7:323-52. [PMID: 22035195 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathol-011110-130307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are neurodegenerative disorders that lead to paralysis and typically carry a dismal prognosis. In children, inherited spinal muscular atrophies are the predominant diseases that affect motor neurons, whereas in adults, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, which is inherited but mostly sporadic, is the most common MND. In recent years, we have witnessed a revolution in this field, sparked by the discovery of the genes that cause MNDs. Remarkably, at least 10 genes, whose products are either RNA-binding proteins or proteins that function in RNA processing and regulation, cause MNDs and place the dysregulation of RNA pathways at the center of motor neuron degeneration pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fadia Ibrahim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Division of Neuropathology, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
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Calissano M, Latchman DS. Cell-specific regulation of the pro-survival Brn-3b transcription factor by microRNAs. Mol Cell Neurosci 2010; 45:317-23. [PMID: 20609388 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2010.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2010] [Revised: 06/03/2010] [Accepted: 06/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that the Brn-3b transcription factor is subjected to post-transcriptional gene regulation by specific microRNAs (mir-23 and mir-214) in the ND7 and SHSY-5Y neuronal cell lines (Calissano et al., 2007). As Brn-3b plays an essential role in the survival of retinal ganglion cells in the rat (Erkman et al., 1996; Gan et al., 1996; Gan et al., 1999; Erkman et al., 2000), we wanted to investigate whether mir-23 and mir-214 are expressed and target Brn-3b mRNA in a retinal ganglion cell line (RGC-5) thus potentially killing the cells expressing it. Here we show that, possibly due to its pro-survival role, Brn-3b is protected from degradation by microRNAs in RGC-5 cells in contrast to its fate in other cell types. This seems to be accomplished by i) the lack of expression of one of the two microRNAs targeting its 3'UTR and by ii) the requirement of at least two distinct microRNAs to mediate its down-regulation in retinal ganglion cells. We speculate that this mechanism could have a widespread role in the regulation of mRNAs encoding for essential proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Calissano
- Medical Molecular Biology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, WC1N 1EH London, UK.
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Lagier-Tourenne C, Polymenidou M, Cleveland DW. TDP-43 and FUS/TLS: emerging roles in RNA processing and neurodegeneration. Hum Mol Genet 2010; 19:R46-64. [PMID: 20400460 PMCID: PMC3167692 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddq137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 727] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2010] [Accepted: 04/06/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) are neurodegenerative diseases with clinical and pathological overlap. Landmark discoveries of mutations in the transactive response DNA-binding protein (TDP-43) and fused in sarcoma/translocated in liposarcoma (FUS/TLS) as causative of ALS and FTLD, combined with the abnormal aggregation of these proteins, have initiated a shifting paradigm for the underlying pathogenesis of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. TDP-43 and FUS/TLS are both RNA/DNA-binding proteins with striking structural and functional similarities. Their association with ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases is redirecting research efforts toward understanding the role of RNA processing regulation in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Don W. Cleveland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-6070, USA
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RNA processing pathways in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neurogenetics 2010; 11:275-90. [PMID: 20349096 DOI: 10.1007/s10048-010-0239-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2009] [Accepted: 02/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RNA processing is a tightly regulated, highly complex pathway which includes RNA transcription, pre-mRNA splicing, editing, transportation, translation, and degradation of RNA. Over the past few years, several RNA processing genes have been shown to be mutated or genetically associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), including the RNA-binding proteins TDP-43 and FUS/TLS. These findings suggest that RNA processing may represent a common pathogenic mechanism involved in development of ALS. In this review, we will discuss six ALS-related, RNA processing genes including their discovery, function, and commonalities.
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