1
|
Wei R, Wei P, Yuan H, Yi X, Aschner M, Jiang YM, Li SJ. Inflammation in Metal-Induced Neurological Disorders and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biol Trace Elem Res 2024; 202:4459-4481. [PMID: 38206494 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-023-04041-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Essential metals play critical roles in maintaining human health as they participate in various physiological activities. Nonetheless, both excessive accumulation and deficiency of these metals may result in neurotoxicity secondary to neuroinflammation and the activation of microglia and astrocytes. Activation of these cells can promote the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. It is well known that neuroinflammation plays a critical role in metal-induced neurotoxicity as well as the development of neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and multiple sclerosis (MS). Initially seen as a defense mechanism, persistent inflammatory responses are now considered harmful. Astrocytes and microglia are key regulators of neuroinflammation in the central nervous system, and their excessive activation may induce sustained neuroinflammation. Therefore, in this review, we aim to emphasize the important role and molecular mechanisms underlying metal-induced neurotoxicity. Our objective is to raise the awareness on metal-induced neuroinflammation in neurological disorders. However, it is not only just neuroinflammation that different metals could induce; they can also cause harm to the nervous system through oxidative stress, apoptosis, and autophagy, to name a few. The primary pathophysiological mechanism by which these metals induce neurological disorders remains to be determined. In addition, given the various pathways through which individuals are exposed to metals, it is necessary to also consider the effects of co-exposure to multiple metals on neurological disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruokun Wei
- Toxicology Department, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Peiqi Wei
- Toxicology Department, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Haiyan Yuan
- Toxicology Department, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiang Yi
- Toxicology Department, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Michael Aschner
- The Department of Molecular Pharmacology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Yue-Ming Jiang
- Toxicology Department, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, China.
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
| | - Shao-Jun Li
- Toxicology Department, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, China.
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environment and Health Research, Guangxi Medical University, 22 Shuang-yong Rd., Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Grigoryev PN, Gaptrakhmanova GA, Plotnikova AA, Zefirov AL, Mukhamedyarov MA. Endocytosis of Synaptic Vesicle in Motor Nerve Endings of FUS Transgenic Mice with a Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Bull Exp Biol Med 2024:10.1007/s10517-024-06206-9. [PMID: 39264557 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-024-06206-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
In experiments on the motor nerve endings of the diaphragm of transgenic FUS mice with a model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at the pre-symptomatic stage of the disease, the processes of transmitter release and endocytosis of synaptic vesicles were studied. In FUS mice, the intensity of transmitter release during high-frequency stimulation of the motor nerve (50 imp/sec) was lowered. At the same duration of stimulation, the loading of fluorescent dye FM1-43 was lower in FUS mice. However, at the time of stimulation, during which an equal number of quanta are released in wild-type and FUS mice, no differences in the intensity of dye loading were found. Thus, endocytosis is not the key factor in the mechanism of synaptic dysfunction in FUS mice at the pre-symptomatic stage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P N Grigoryev
- Kazan State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, , Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
| | - G A Gaptrakhmanova
- Kazan State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, , Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
| | - A A Plotnikova
- Kazan State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, , Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
| | - A L Zefirov
- Kazan State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, , Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
| | - M A Mukhamedyarov
- Kazan State Medical University, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, , Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Germeys C, Vandoorne T, Davie K, Poovathingal S, Heeren K, Vermeire W, Nami F, Moisse M, Quaegebeur A, Sierksma A, Rué L, Sicart A, Eykens C, De Cock L, De Strooper B, Carmeliet P, Van Damme P, De Bock K, Van Den Bosch L. Targeting EGLN2/PHD1 protects motor neurons and normalizes the astrocytic interferon response. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114719. [PMID: 39255062 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation and dysregulated energy metabolism are linked to motor neuron degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The egl-9 family hypoxia-inducible factor (EGLN) enzymes, also known as prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) enzymes, are metabolic sensors regulating cellular inflammation and metabolism. Using an oligonucleotide-based and a genetic approach, we showed that the downregulation of Egln2 protected motor neurons and mitigated the ALS phenotype in two zebrafish models and a mouse model of ALS. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing of the murine spinal cord revealed that the loss of EGLN2 induced an astrocyte-specific downregulation of interferon-stimulated genes, mediated via the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) protein. In addition, we found that the genetic deletion of EGLN2 restored this interferon response in patient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes, confirming the link between EGLN2 and astrocytic interferon signaling. In conclusion, we identified EGLN2 as a motor neuron protective target normalizing the astrocytic interferon-dependent inflammatory axis in vivo, as well as in patient-derived cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christine Germeys
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tijs Vandoorne
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristofer Davie
- VIB-KU Leuven, Center for Brain & Disease Research Technologies, Single Cell Bioinformatics Unit, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Suresh Poovathingal
- VIB-KU Leuven, Center for Brain & Disease Research Technologies, Single Cell Microfluidics & Analytics Unit, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for AI & Computational Biology (VIB.AI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kara Heeren
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wendy Vermeire
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - FatemehArefeh Nami
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute Leuven (SCIL), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthieu Moisse
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annelies Quaegebeur
- University of Cambridge, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, CB2 2PY Cambridge, UK; Cambridge University Hospitals, Department of Histopathology, CB2 0QQ Cambridge, UK
| | - Annerieke Sierksma
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Molecular Neurobiology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Rué
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrià Sicart
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Caroline Eykens
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lenja De Cock
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart De Strooper
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Research Group Molecular Neurobiology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Dementia Research Institute, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, UK
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Oncology and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Cancer Biology, Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Center for Biotechnology, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Philip Van Damme
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; University Hospitals Leuven, Department of Neurology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien De Bock
- ETH Zürich, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- KU Leuven - University of Leuven, Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology and Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; VIB, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liddell JR, Hilton JBW, Wang YJ, Billings JL, Nikseresht S, Kysenius K, Fuller-Jackson JP, Hare DJ, Crouch PJ. Decreased spinal cord motor neuron numbers in mice depleted of central nervous system copper. Metallomics 2024; 16:mfae036. [PMID: 39251386 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfae036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Disrupted copper availability in the central nervous system (CNS) is implicated as a significant feature of the neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Solute carrier family 31 member 1 (Slc31a1; Ctr1) governs copper uptake in mammalian cells and mutations affecting Slc31a1 are associated with severe neurological abnormalities. Here, we examined the impact of decreased CNS copper caused by ubiquitous heterozygosity for functional Slc31a1 on spinal cord motor neurons in Slc31a1+/- mice. Congruent with the CNS being relatively susceptible to disrupted copper availability, brain and spinal cord tissue from Slc31a1+/- mice contained significantly less copper than wild-type littermates, even though copper levels in other tissues were unaffected. Slc31a1+/- mice had less spinal cord α-motor neurons compared to wild-type littermates, but they did not develop any overt physical signs of motor impairment. By contrast, ALS model SOD1G37R mice had fewer α-motor neurons than control mice and exhibited clear signs of motor function impairment. With the expression of Slc31a1 notwithstanding, spinal cord expression of genes related to copper handling revealed only minor differences between Slc31a1+/- and wild-type mice. This contrasted with SOD1G37R mice where changes in the expression of copper handling genes were pronounced. Similarly, the expression of genes related to toxic glial activation was unchanged in spinal cords from Slc31a1+/- mice but highly upregulated in SOD1G37R mice. Together, results from the Slc31a1+/- mice and SOD1G37R mice indicate that although depleted CNS copper has a significant impact on spinal cord motor neuron numbers, the manifestation of overt ALS-like motor impairment requires additional factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J R Liddell
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - J B W Hilton
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Y J Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - J L Billings
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - S Nikseresht
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - K Kysenius
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - J P Fuller-Jackson
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - D J Hare
- Atomic Medicine Initiative, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - P J Crouch
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Talebi S, Khodagholi F, Bahaeddin Z, Ansari Dezfouli M, Zeinaddini-Meymand A, Berchi Kankam S, Foolad F, Alijaniha F, Fayazi Piranghar F. Does hazelnut consumption affect brain health and function against neurodegenerative diseases? Nutr Neurosci 2024; 27:1008-1024. [PMID: 38151890 DOI: 10.1080/1028415x.2023.2296164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A healthy daily diet and consuming certain nutrients, such as polyphenols, vitamins, and unsaturated fatty acids, may help neuronal health maintenance. Polyphenolic chemicals, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, are involved in the neuroprotective pathway. Because of their nutritional value, nuts have been shown in recent research to be helpful in neuroprotection. OBJECTIVE Hazelnut is often consumed worldwide in various items, including processed foods, particularly in bakery, chocolate, and confectionery products. This nut is an excellent source of vitamins, amino acids, tocopherols, phytosterols, polyphenols, minerals, and unsaturated fatty acids. Consuming hazelnut may attenuate the risk of neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and Huntington's disease due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant qualities. RESULTS Many documents introduce hazelnut as an excellent choice to provide neuroprotection against neurodegenerative disorders and there is some direct proof of its neuroprotective effects. DISCUSSION So hazelnut consumption in daily diet may reduce neurodegenerative disease risk and be advantageous in reducing the imposed costs of dealing with neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shadi Talebi
- Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fariba Khodagholi
- Neuroscience Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Bahaeddin
- Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mitra Ansari Dezfouli
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | | | - Forough Foolad
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Department of Physiology, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Alijaniha
- Traditional Medicine Clinical Trial Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
- School of Persian Medicine, Department of Traditional Persian Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Choi ES, Hnath B, Sha CM, Dokholyan NV. Unveiling the double-edged sword: SOD1 trimers possess tissue-selective toxicity and bind septin-7 in motor neuron-like cells. Structure 2024:S0969-2126(24)00319-8. [PMID: 39208794 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Misfolded species of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are associated with increased death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) models compared to insoluble protein aggregates. The mechanism by which structurally independent SOD1 trimers cause cellular toxicity is unknown but may drive disease pathology. Here, we uncovered the SOD1 trimer interactome-a map of potential tissue-selective protein-binding partners in the brain, spinal cord, and skeletal muscle. We identified binding partners and key pathways associated with SOD1 trimers and found that trimers may affect normal cellular functions such as dendritic spine morphogenesis and synaptic function in the central nervous system and cellular metabolism in skeletal muscle. We discovered SOD1 trimer-selective enrichment of genes. We performed detailed computational and biochemical characterization of SOD1 trimer protein binding for septin-7. Our investigation highlights key proteins and pathways within distinct tissues, revealing a plausible intersection of genetic and pathophysiological mechanisms in ALS through interactions involving SOD1 trimers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther Sue Choi
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Brianna Hnath
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Congzhou Mike Sha
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhao WB, Sheng R. The correlation between mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membranes (MAMs) and Ca 2+ transport in the pathogenesis of diseases. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024:10.1038/s41401-024-01359-9. [PMID: 39117969 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-024-01359-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are vital organelles that influence various cellular physiological and pathological processes. Recent evidence shows that about 5%-20% of the mitochondrial outer membrane is capable of forming a highly dynamic physical connection with the ER, maintained at a distance of 10-30 nm. These interconnections, known as MAMs, represent a relatively conserved structure in eukaryotic cells, acting as a critical platform for material exchange between mitochondria and the ER to maintain various aspects of cellular homeostasis. Particularly, ER-mediated Ca2+ release and recycling are intricately associated with the structure and functionality of MAMs. Thus, MAMs are integral in intracellular Ca2+ transport and the maintenance of Ca2+ homeostasis, playing an essential role in various cellular activities including metabolic regulation, signal transduction, autophagy, and apoptosis. The disruption of MAMs observed in certain pathologies such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases as well as cancers leads to a disturbance in Ca2+ homeostasis. This imbalance potentially aggravates pathological alterations and disease progression. Consequently, a thorough understanding of the link between MAM-mediated Ca2+ transport and these diseases could unveil new perspectives and therapeutic strategies. This review focuses on the changes in MAMs function during disease progression and their implications in relation to MAM-associated Ca2+ transport.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Bin Zhao
- Department of Pharmacology and Laboratory of Aging and Nervous Diseases, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Rui Sheng
- Department of Pharmacology and Laboratory of Aging and Nervous Diseases, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Calma AD, van den Bos M, Pavey N, Santos Silva C, Menon P, Vucic S. Physiological Biomarkers of Upper Motor Neuron Dysfunction in ALS. Brain Sci 2024; 14:760. [PMID: 39199454 PMCID: PMC11352893 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14080760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Upper motor neuron (UMN) dysfunction is an important feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for the diagnosis and understanding of pathogenesis. The identification of UMN signs forms the basis of ALS diagnosis, although may be difficult to discern, especially in the setting of severe muscle weakness. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques have yielded objective physiological biomarkers of UMN dysfunction in ALS, enabling the interrogation of cortical and subcortical neuronal networks with diagnostic, pathophysiological, and prognostic implications. Transcranial magnetic stimulation techniques have provided pertinent pathogenic insights and yielded novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Cortical hyperexcitability, as heralded by a reduction in short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and an increase in short interval intracortical facilitation (SICF), has been associated with lower motor neuron degeneration, patterns of disease evolution, as well as the development of specific ALS clinical features including the split hand phenomenon. Reduction in SICI has also emerged as a potential diagnostic aid in ALS. More recently, physiological distinct inhibitory and facilitatory cortical interneuronal circuits have been identified, which have been shown to contribute to ALS pathogenesis. The triple stimulation technique (TST) was shown to enhance the diagnostic utility of conventional TMS measures in detecting UMN dysfunction. Resting-state EEG is a novel neurophysiological technique developed for directly interrogating cortical neuronal networks in ALS, that have yielded potentially useful physiological biomarkers of UMN dysfunction. The present review discusses physiological biomarkers of UMN dysfunction in ALS, encompassing conventional and novel TMS techniques developed to interrogate the functional integrity of the corticomotoneuronal system, focusing on pathogenic, diagnostic, and prognostic utility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aicee Dawn Calma
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2139, Australia (C.S.S.)
| | - Mehdi van den Bos
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2139, Australia (C.S.S.)
| | - Nathan Pavey
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2139, Australia (C.S.S.)
| | - Cláudia Santos Silva
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2139, Australia (C.S.S.)
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Unidade Local de Saúde de Santa Maria, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina-Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Parvathi Menon
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2139, Australia (C.S.S.)
| | - Steve Vucic
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2139, Australia (C.S.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Barreto-Núñez R, Béland LC, Boutej H, Picher-Martel V, Dupré N, Barbeito L, Kriz J. Chronically activated microglia in ALS gradually lose their immune functions and develop unconventional proteome. Glia 2024; 72:1319-1339. [PMID: 38577970 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation and chronic activation of microglial cells are the prominent features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathology. While alterations in the mRNA profile of diseased microglia have been well documented, the actual microglia proteome remains poorly characterized. Here we performed a functional characterization together with proteome analyses of microglial cells at different stages of disease in the SOD1-G93A model of ALS. Functional analyses of microglia derived from the lumbar spinal cord of symptomatic mice revealed: (i) remarkably high mitotic index (close to 100% cells are Ki67+) (ii) significant decrease in phagocytic capacity when compared to age-matched control microglia, and (iii) diminished response to innate immune challenges in vitro and in vivo. Proteome analysis revealed a development of two distinct molecular signatures at early and advanced stages of disease. While at early stages of disease, we identified several proteins implicated in microglia immune functions such as GPNMB, HMBOX1, at advanced stages of disease microglia signature at protein level was characterized with a robust upregulation of several unconventional proteins including rootletin, major vaults proteins and STK38. Upregulation of GPNMB and rootletin has been also found in the spinal cord samples of sporadic ALS. Remarkably, the top biological functions of microglia, in particular in the advanced disease, were not related to immunity/immune response, but were highly enriched in terms linked to RNA metabolism. Together, our results suggest that, over the course of disease, chronically activated microglia develop unconventional protein signatures and gradually lose their immune identity ultimately turning into functionally inefficient immune cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hejer Boutej
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Vincent Picher-Martel
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Division of Neuroscence, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québecṣ-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Nicolas Dupré
- Division of Neuroscence, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québecṣ-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Jasna Kriz
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Faculty Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Dharmadasa T, Pavey N, Tu S, Menon P, Huynh W, Mahoney CJ, Timmins HC, Higashihara M, van den Bos M, Shibuya K, Kuwabara S, Grosskreutz J, Kiernan MC, Vucic S. Novel approaches to assessing upper motor neuron dysfunction in motor neuron disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: IFCN handbook chapter. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 163:68-89. [PMID: 38705104 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Identifying upper motor neuron (UMN) dysfunction is fundamental to the diagnosis and understanding of disease pathogenesis in motor neuron disease (MND). The clinical assessment of UMN dysfunction may be difficult, particularly in the setting of severe muscle weakness. From a physiological perspective, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques provide objective biomarkers of UMN dysfunction in MND and may also be useful to interrogate cortical and network function. Single, paired- and triple pulse TMS techniques have yielded novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in MND, and have provided important pathogenic insights, particularly pertaining to site of disease onset. Cortical hyperexcitability, as heralded by reduced short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and increased short interval intracortical facilitation, has been associated with the onset of lower motor neuron degeneration, along with patterns of disease spread, development of specific clinical features such as the split hand phenomenon, and may provide an indication about the rate of disease progression. Additionally, reduction of SICI has emerged as a potential diagnostic aid in MND. The triple stimulation technique (TST) was shown to enhance the diagnostic utility of conventional TMS measures in detecting UMN dysfunction in MND. Separately, sophisticated brain imaging techniques have uncovered novel biomarkers of neurodegeneration that have bene associated with progression. The present review will discuss the utility of TMS and brain neuroimaging derived biomarkers of UMN dysfunction in MND, focusing on recently developed TMS techniques and advanced neuroimaging modalities that interrogate structural and functional integrity of the corticomotoneuronal system, with an emphasis on pathogenic, diagnostic, and prognostic utility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thanuja Dharmadasa
- Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital City Campus, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nathan Pavey
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sicong Tu
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Parvathi Menon
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - William Huynh
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Colin J Mahoney
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Hannah C Timmins
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Mana Higashihara
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mehdi van den Bos
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kazumoto Shibuya
- Neurology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kuwabara
- Neurology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Precision Neurology, Excellence Cluster Precision Medicine in Inflammation, University of Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Liguori F, Alberti F, Amadio S, Angelini DF, Pilesi E, Vitale G, Tesoriere G, Borsellino G, Vernì F, Volonté C. Pan-neuronal expression of human mutant SOD1 in Drosophila impairs survival and motor performance, induces early neuroinflammation and chromosome aberrations. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167192. [PMID: 38657911 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Several mutations in the SOD1 gene encoding for the antioxidant enzyme Superoxide Dismutase 1, are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a rare and devastating disease characterized by motor neuron degeneration and patients' death within 2-5 years from diagnosis. Motor neuron loss and related symptomatology manifest mostly in adult life and, to date, there is still a gap of knowledge on the precise cellular and molecular events preceding neurodegeneration. To deepen our awareness of the early phases of the disease, we leveraged two Drosophila melanogaster models pan-neuronally expressing either the mutation A4V or G85R of the human gene SOD1 (hSOD1A4V or hSOD1G85R). We demonstrate that pan-neuronal expression of the hSOD1A4V or hSOD1G85R pathogenic construct impairs survival and motor performance in transgenic flies. Moreover, protein and transcript analysis on fly heads indicates that mutant hSOD1 induction stimulates the glial marker Repo, up-regulates the IMD/Toll immune pathways through antimicrobial peptides and interferes with oxidative metabolism. Finally, cytological analysis of larval brains demonstrates hSOD1-induced chromosome aberrations. Of note, these parameters are found modulated in a timeframe when neurodegeneration is not detected. The novelty of our work is twofold: we have expressed for the first time hSOD1 mutations in all neurons of Drosophila and confirmed some ALS-related pathological phenotypes in these flies, confirming the power of SOD1 mutations in generating ALS-like phenotypes. Moreover, we have related SOD1 pathogenesis to chromosome aberrations and antimicrobial peptides up-regulation. These findings were unexplored in the SOD1-ALS field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Liguori
- Experimental Neuroscience and Neurological Disease Models, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143 Rome, Italy; Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti" (IASI), National Research Council (CNR), Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesca Alberti
- Experimental Neuroscience and Neurological Disease Models, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Susanna Amadio
- Experimental Neuroscience and Neurological Disease Models, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Francesca Angelini
- Experimental Neuroscience and Neurological Disease Models, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Pilesi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Vitale
- Experimental Neuroscience and Neurological Disease Models, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Tesoriere
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanna Borsellino
- Experimental Neuroscience and Neurological Disease Models, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Fiammetta Vernì
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "Charles Darwin", Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Volonté
- Experimental Neuroscience and Neurological Disease Models, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 65, 00143 Rome, Italy; Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "Antonio Ruberti" (IASI), National Research Council (CNR), Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Rome, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ropert B, Gallrein C, Schumacher B. DNA repair deficiencies and neurodegeneration. DNA Repair (Amst) 2024; 138:103679. [PMID: 38640601 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2024.103679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are the second most prevalent cause of death in industrialized countries. Alzheimer's Disease is the most widespread and also most acknowledged form of dementia today. Together with Parkinson's Disease they account for over 90 % cases of neurodegenerative disorders caused by proteopathies. Far less known are the neurodegenerative pathologies in DNA repair deficiency syndromes. Such diseases like Cockayne - or Werner Syndrome are described as progeroid syndromes - diseases that cause the premature ageing of the affected persons, and there are clear implications of such diseases in neurologic dysfunction and degeneration. In this review, we aim to draw the attention on commonalities between proteopathy-associated neurodegeneration and neurodegeneration caused by DNA repair defects and discuss how mitochondria are implicated in the development of both disorder classes. Furthermore, we highlight how nematodes are a valuable and indispensable model organism to study conserved neurodegenerative processes in a fast-forward manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Ropert
- Institute for Genome Stability in Aging and Disease, Medical Faculty, University and University Hospital of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, Cologne 50931, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, Cologne 50931, Germany
| | - Christian Gallrein
- Institute for Genome Stability in Aging and Disease, Medical Faculty, University and University Hospital of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, Cologne 50931, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, Cologne 50931, Germany; Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstraße 11, Jena 07745, Germany
| | - Björn Schumacher
- Institute for Genome Stability in Aging and Disease, Medical Faculty, University and University Hospital of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, Cologne 50931, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 26, Cologne 50931, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lin CY, Vanoverbeke V, Trent D, Willey K, Lee YS. The Spatiotemporal Expression of SOCS3 in the Brainstem and Spinal Cord of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Mice. Brain Sci 2024; 14:564. [PMID: 38928564 PMCID: PMC11201580 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14060564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons from the brain and spinal cord. The excessive neuroinflammation is thought to be a common determinant of ALS. Suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3) is pathologically upregulated after injury/diseases to negatively regulate a broad range of cytokines/chemokines that mediate inflammation; however, the role that SOCS3 plays in ALS pathogenesis has not been explored. Here, we found that SOCS3 protein levels were significantly increased in the brainstem of the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)-G93A ALS mice, which is negatively related to a progressive decline in motor function from the pre-symptomatic to the early symptomatic stage. Moreover, SOCS3 levels in both cervical and lumbar spinal cords of ALS mice were also significantly upregulated at the pre-symptomatic stage and became exacerbated at the early symptomatic stage. Concomitantly, astrocytes and microglia/macrophages were progressively increased and reactivated over time. In contrast, neurons were simultaneously lost in the brainstem and spinal cord examined over the course of disease progression. Collectively, SOCS3 was first found to be upregulated during ALS progression to directly relate to both increased astrogliosis and increased neuronal loss, indicating that SOCS3 could be explored to be as a potential therapeutic target of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Yi Lin
- Department of Neurosciences, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, LRI, NB3-90, 9500 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Huang TN, Shih YT, Yen TL, Hsueh YP. Vcp overexpression and leucine supplementation extend lifespan and ameliorate neuromuscular junction phenotypes of a SOD1G93A-ALS mouse model. Hum Mol Genet 2024; 33:935-944. [PMID: 38382647 PMCID: PMC11102594 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Many genes with distinct molecular functions have been linked to genetically heterogeneous amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), including SuperOxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1) and Valosin-Containing Protein (VCP). SOD1 converts superoxide to oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. VCP acts as a chaperon to regulate protein degradation and synthesis and various other cellular responses. Although the functions of these two genes differ, in the current report we show that overexpression of wild-type VCP in mice enhances lifespan and maintains the size of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of both male and female SOD1G93A mice, a well-known ALS mouse model. Although VCP exerts multiple functions, its regulation of ER formation and consequent protein synthesis has been shown to play the most important role in controlling dendritic spine formation and social and memory behaviors. Given that SOD1 mutation results in protein accumulation and aggregation, it may direct VCP to the protein degradation pathway, thereby impairing protein synthesis. Since we previously showed that the protein synthesis defects caused by Vcp deficiency can be improved by leucine supplementation, to confirm the role of the VCP-protein synthesis pathway in SOD1-linked ALS, we applied leucine supplementation to SOD1G93A mice and, similar to Vcp overexpression, we found that it extends SOD1G93A mouse lifespan. In addition, the phenotypes of reduced muscle strength and fewer NMJs of SOD1G93A mice are also improved by leucine supplementation. These results support the existence of crosstalk between SOD1 and VCP and suggest a critical role for protein synthesis in ASL. Our study also implies a potential therapeutic treatment for ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tzyy-Nan Huang
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec 2, Academia Rd, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yu-Tzu Shih
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec 2, Academia Rd, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan, ROC
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tzu-Li Yen
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec 2, Academia Rd, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Ping Hsueh
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec 2, Academia Rd, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan, ROC
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Otero G, Bolatto C, Isasi E, Cerri S, Rodríguez P, Boragno D, Marco M, Parada C, Stancov M, Cuitinho MN, Olivera-Bravo S. Adult aberrant astrocytes submitted to late passage cultivation lost differentiation markers and decreased their pro-inflammatory profile. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30360. [PMID: 38711658 PMCID: PMC11070869 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30360] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), astrocytes are considered key players in some non-cell non-neuronal autonomous mechanisms that underlie motor neuron death. However, it is unknown how much of these deleterious features were permanently acquired. To assess this point, we evaluated if the most remarkable features of neurotoxic aberrant glial phenotypes (AbAs) isolated from paralytic rats of the ALS model G93A Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) could remain upon long lasting cultivation. Real time PCR, immunolabelling and zymography analysis showed that upon many passages, AbAs preserved the cell proliferation capacity, mitochondrial function and response to different compounds that inhibit some key astrocyte functions but decreased the expression of parameters associated to cell lineage, homeostasis and inflammation. As these results are contrary to the sustained inflammatory status observed along disease progression in SOD1G93A rats, we propose that the most AbAs remarkable features related to homeostasis and neurotoxicity were not permanently acquired and might depend on the signaling coming from the injuring microenvironment present in the degenerating spinal cord of terminal rats.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Otero
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology (NBNP), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carmen Bolatto
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology (NBNP), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Eugenia Isasi
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology (NBNP), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Sofía Cerri
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology (NBNP), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paola Rodríguez
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology (NBNP), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Daniela Boragno
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology (NBNP), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Marta Marco
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology (NBNP), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Chemistry (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Cristina Parada
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Matías Stancov
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology (NBNP), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María Noel Cuitinho
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology (NBNP), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Silvia Olivera-Bravo
- Department of Neurobiology and Neuropathology (NBNP), Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Shiv R, Rakeswari, Farjana N, Subbiah U, Ajith A, Balaji A, Mohanasatheesh S. Characterization of missense nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism of runt-related transcription factor-2 gene - An in silico approach. Indian J Pharmacol 2024; 56:198-205. [PMID: 39078184 PMCID: PMC11286098 DOI: 10.4103/ijp.ijp_533_23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) codes for multiple amino acids, impacting protein functions and disease prognosis. Runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX2), a transcription factor linked to osteoblast differentiation, regulates cell proliferation in endothelium and osteoblastic cells. Understanding Runx2's role in nonosseous tissues is rapidly advancing. This study aims to identify harmful SNPs of the RUNX2 gene that may alter disease susceptibility using computational techniques. METHODS The study uses various in silico methods to identify nonsynonymous SNPs (nsSNPs) of the RUNX2 gene, which could potentially alter protein structure and functions, with further analyses by I-Mutant, ConSurf, Netsurf 3.0, GeneMANIA, and Have (y)Our Protein Explained. RESULTS Six missense nsSNPs were identified as potentially harmful, disease-causing, and damaging. Four were found to be unstable, while five were conserved. All six nsSNPs had a coiled secondary structure. Five nsSNPs were found to be destabilized. CONCLUSION The RUNX2 gene's deleterious missense nsSNPs were identified by this study, and they may be exploited in future experimental studies. These high-risk nsSNPs might be considered target molecules in therapeutic and diagnostic therapies in teeth and bone development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ragul Shiv
- Department of Periodontics, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Rakeswari
- Department of Periodontics, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Nilofer Farjana
- Department of Periodontics, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Usha Subbiah
- Human Genetics Research Centre, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Athira Ajith
- Human Genetics Research Centre, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anitha Balaji
- Department of Periodontics, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S. Mohanasatheesh
- Department of Periodontics, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Bharath Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Lu L, Li J, Jiang X, Bai R. CXCR4/CXCL12 axis: "old" pathway as "novel" target for anti-inflammatory drug discovery. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:1189-1220. [PMID: 38178560 DOI: 10.1002/med.22011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Inflammation is the body's defense response to exogenous or endogenous stimuli, involving complex regulatory mechanisms. Discovering anti-inflammatory drugs with both effectiveness and long-term use safety is still the direction of researchers' efforts. The inflammatory pathway was initially identified to be involved in tumor metastasis and HIV infection. However, research in recent years has proved that the CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4)/CXC motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) axis plays a critical role in the upstream of the inflammatory pathway due to its chemotaxis to inflammatory cells. Blocking the chemotaxis of inflammatory cells by CXCL12 at the inflammatory site may block and alleviate the inflammatory response. Therefore, developing CXCR4 antagonists has become a novel strategy for anti-inflammatory therapy. This review aimed to systematically summarize and analyze the mechanisms of action of the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis in more than 20 inflammatory diseases, highlighting its crucial role in inflammation. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory activities of CXCR4 antagonists were discussed. The findings might help generate new perspectives for developing anti-inflammatory drugs targeting the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liuxin Lu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-tumor Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junjie Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-tumor Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoying Jiang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-tumor Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Renren Bai
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-tumor Chinese Medicines, Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Hu Y, Chen W, Wei C, Jiang S, Li S, Wang X, Xu R. Pathological mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:1036-1044. [PMID: 37862206 PMCID: PMC10749610 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.382985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis refers to a neurodegenerative disease involving the motor system, the cause of which remains unexplained despite several years of research. Thus, the journey to understanding or treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is still a long one. According to current research, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is likely not due to a single factor but rather to a combination of mechanisms mediated by complex interactions between molecular and genetic pathways. The progression of the disease involves multiple cellular processes and the interaction between different complex mechanisms makes it difficult to identify the causative factors of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here, we review the most common amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated pathogenic genes and the pathways involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as summarize currently proposed potential mechanisms responsible for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis disease and their evidence for involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In addition, we discuss current emerging strategies for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Studying the emergence of these new therapies may help to further our understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yushu Hu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Wenzhi Chen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Caihui Wei
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shishi Jiang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Shu Li
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Renshi Xu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College; The Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Syvänen V, Koistinaho J, Lehtonen Š. Identification of the abnormalities in astrocytic functions as potential drug targets for neurodegenerative disease. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2024; 19:603-616. [PMID: 38409817 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2024.2322988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Historically, astrocytes were seen primarily as a supportive cell population within the brain; with neurodegenerative disease research focusing exclusively on malfunctioning neurons. However, astrocytes perform numerous tasks that are essential for maintenance of the central nervous system`s complex processes. Disruption of these functions can have negative consequences; hence, it is unsurprising to observe a growing amount of evidence for the essential role of astrocytes in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Targeting astrocytic functions may serve as a potential disease-modifying drug therapy in the future. AREAS COVERED The present review emphasizes the key astrocytic functions associated with neurodegenerative diseases and explores the possibility of pharmaceutical interventions to modify these processes. In addition, the authors provide an overview of current advancement in this field by including studies of possible drug candidates. EXPERT OPINION Glial research has experienced a significant renaissance in the last quarter-century. Understanding how disease pathologies modify or are caused by astrocyte functions is crucial when developing treatments for brain diseases. Future research will focus on building advanced models that can more precisely correlate to the state in the human brain, with the goal of routinely testing therapies in these models.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valtteri Syvänen
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Jari Koistinaho
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, and Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Šárka Lehtonen
- A. I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Neuroscience Center, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Rayner SL, Hogan A, Davidson JM, Cheng F, Luu L, Morsch M, Blair I, Chung R, Lee A. Cyclin F, Neurodegeneration, and the Pathogenesis of ALS/FTD. Neuroscientist 2024; 30:214-228. [PMID: 36062310 DOI: 10.1177/10738584221120182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease and is characterized by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons of the brain and spinal cord. ALS is also linked clinically, genetically, and pathologically to a form of dementia known as frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Identifying gene mutations that cause ALS/FTD has provided valuable insight into the disease process. Several ALS/FTD-causing mutations occur within proteins with roles in protein clearance systems. This includes ALS/FTD mutations in CCNF, which encodes the protein cyclin F: a component of a multiprotein E3 ubiquitin ligase that mediates the ubiquitylation of substrates for their timely degradation. In this review, we provide an update on the link between ALS/FTD CCNF mutations and neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alison Hogan
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Flora Cheng
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Luan Luu
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Marco Morsch
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ian Blair
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Roger Chung
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Albert Lee
- Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Yu M, Xu J, Dutta R, Trapp B, Pieper AA, Cheng F. Network medicine informed multi-omics integration identifies drug targets and repurposable medicines for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.27.586949. [PMID: 38585774 PMCID: PMC10996626 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.27.586949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating, immensely complex neurodegenerative disease by lack of effective treatments. To date, the challenge to establishing effective treatment for ALS remains formidable, partly due to inadequate translation of existing human genetic findings into actionable ALS-specific pathobiology for subsequent therapeutic development. This study evaluates the feasibility of network medicine methodology via integrating human brain-specific multi-omics data to prioritize drug targets and repurposable treatments for ALS. Using human brain-specific genome-wide quantitative trait loci (x-QTLs) under a network-based deep learning framework, we identified 105 putative ALS-associated genes enriched in various known ALS pathobiological pathways, including regulation of T cell activation, monocyte differentiation, and lymphocyte proliferation. Specifically, we leveraged non-coding ALS loci effects from genome-wide associated studies (GWAS) on brain-specific expression quantitative trait loci (QTL) (eQTL), protein QTLs (pQTL), splicing QTL (sQTL), methylation QTL (meQTL), and histone acetylation QTL (haQTL). Applying network proximity analysis of predicted ALS-associated gene-coding targets and existing drug-target networks under the human protein-protein interactome (PPI) model, we identified a set of potential repurposable drugs (including Diazoxide, Gefitinib, Paliperidone, and Dimethyltryptamine) for ALS. Subsequent validation established preclinical and clinical evidence for top-prioritized repurposable drugs. In summary, we presented a network-based multi-omics framework to identify potential drug targets and repurposable treatments for ALS and other neurodegenerative disease if broadly applied.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mucen Yu
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- College of Arts and Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jielin Xu
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Ranjan Dutta
- Department of Neuroscience, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Bruce Trapp
- Department of Neuroscience, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Andrew A. Pieper
- Harrington Discovery Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Geriatric Psychiatry, GRECC, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center; Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
- Institute for Transformative Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland 44106, OH, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Feixiong Cheng
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- Cleveland Clinic Genome Center, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Pota V, Sansone P, De Sarno S, Aurilio C, Coppolino F, Barbarisi M, Barbato F, Fiore M, Cosenza G, Passavanti MB, Pace MC. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Pain: A Narrative Review from Pain Assessment to Therapy. Behav Neurol 2024; 2024:1228194. [PMID: 38524401 PMCID: PMC10960655 DOI: 10.1155/2024/1228194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most frequent neurodegenerative disease of the motor system that affects upper and lower motor neurons, leading to progressive muscle weakness, spasticity, atrophy, and respiratory failure, with a life expectancy of 2-5 years after symptom onset. In addition to motor symptoms, patients with ALS have a multitude of nonmotor symptoms; in fact, it is currently considered a multisystem disease. The purpose of our narrative review is to evaluate the different types of pain, the correlation between pain and the disease's stages, the pain assessment tools in ALS patients, and the available therapies focusing above all on the benefits of cannabis use. Pain is an underestimated and undertreated symptom that, in the last few years, has received more attention from research because it has a strong impact on the quality of life of these patients. The prevalence of pain is between 15% and 85% of ALS patients, and the studies on the type and intensity of pain are controversial. The absence of pain assessment tools validated in the ALS population and the dissimilar study designs influence the knowledge of ALS pain and consequently the pharmacological therapy. Several studies suggest that ALS is associated with changes in the endocannabinoid system, and the use of cannabis could slow the disease progression due to its neuroprotective action and act on pain, spasticity, cramps, sialorrhea, and depression. Our research has shown high patients' satisfaction with the use of cannabis for the treatment of spasticity and related pain. However, especially due to the ethical problems and the lack of interest of pharmaceutical companies, further studies are needed to ensure the most appropriate care for ALS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Pota
- Department of Women, Child, General and Specialistic Surgery, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Sansone
- Department of Women, Child, General and Specialistic Surgery, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Sara De Sarno
- Department of Women, Child, General and Specialistic Surgery, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Caterina Aurilio
- Department of Women, Child, General and Specialistic Surgery, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Coppolino
- Department of Women, Child, General and Specialistic Surgery, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Manlio Barbarisi
- Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Specialties, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Marco Fiore
- Department of Women, Child, General and Specialistic Surgery, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Cosenza
- Department of Women, Child, General and Specialistic Surgery, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Beatrice Passavanti
- Department of Women, Child, General and Specialistic Surgery, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Caterina Pace
- Department of Women, Child, General and Specialistic Surgery, University of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Anilkumar S, Wright-Jin E. NF-κB as an Inducible Regulator of Inflammation in the Central Nervous System. Cells 2024; 13:485. [PMID: 38534329 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The NF-κB (nuclear factor K-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) transcription factor family is critical for modulating the immune proinflammatory response throughout the body. During the resting state, inactive NF-κB is sequestered by IκB in the cytoplasm. The proteasomal degradation of IκB activates NF-κB, mediating its translocation into the nucleus to act as a nuclear transcription factor in the upregulation of proinflammatory genes. Stimuli that initiate NF-κB activation are diverse but are canonically attributed to proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Downstream effects of NF-κB are cell type-specific and, in the majority of cases, result in the activation of pro-inflammatory cascades. Acting as the primary immune responders of the central nervous system, microglia exhibit upregulation of NF-κB upon activation in response to pathological conditions. Under such circumstances, microglial crosstalk with other cell types in the central nervous system can induce cell death, further exacerbating the disease pathology. In this review, we will emphasize the role of NF-κB in triggering neuroinflammation mediated by microglia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sudha Anilkumar
- Neonatal Brain Injury Laboratory, Division of Biomedical Research, Nemours Children's Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Elizabeth Wright-Jin
- Neonatal Brain Injury Laboratory, Division of Biomedical Research, Nemours Children's Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Nemours Children's Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Ban XX, Wan H, Wan XX, Tan YT, Hu XM, Ban HX, Chen XY, Huang K, Zhang Q, Xiong K. Copper Metabolism and Cuproptosis: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Curr Med Sci 2024; 44:28-50. [PMID: 38336987 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-024-2832-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Copper is an essential trace element, and plays a vital role in numerous physiological processes within the human body. During normal metabolism, the human body maintains copper homeostasis. Copper deficiency or excess can adversely affect cellular function. Therefore, copper homeostasis is stringently regulated. Recent studies suggest that copper can trigger a specific form of cell death, namely, cuproptosis, which is triggered by excessive levels of intracellular copper. Cuproptosis induces the aggregation of mitochondrial lipoylated proteins, and the loss of iron-sulfur cluster proteins. In neurodegenerative diseases, the pathogenesis and progression of neurological disorders are linked to copper homeostasis. This review summarizes the advances in copper homeostasis and cuproptosis in the nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases. This offers research perspectives that provide new insights into the targeted treatment of neurodegenerative diseases based on cuproptosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xia Ban
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 430013, China
| | - Hao Wan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 430013, China
| | - Xin-Xing Wan
- Department of Endocrinology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 430013, China
| | - Ya-Ting Tan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 430013, China
| | - Xi-Min Hu
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 430013, China
| | - Hong-Xia Ban
- Affiliated Hospital, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, 010050, China
| | - Xin-Yu Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 430013, China
| | - Kun Huang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 430013, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 430013, China.
- Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
| | - Kun Xiong
- Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 430013, China.
- Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Changsha, 430013, China.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Sunildutt N, Ahmed F, Chethikkattuveli Salih AR, Lim JH, Choi KH. Integrating Transcriptomic and Structural Insights: Revealing Drug Repurposing Opportunities for Sporadic ALS. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:3793-3806. [PMID: 38284068 PMCID: PMC10809234 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons, resulting in debilitating muscle weakness and atrophy. Currently, there are no effective treatments available for ALS, posing significant challenges in managing the disease that affects approximately two individuals per 100,000 people annually. To address the urgent need for effective ALS treatments, we conducted a drug repurposing study using a combination of bioinformatics tools and molecular docking techniques. We analyzed sporadic ALS-related genes from the GEO database and identified key signaling pathways involved in sporadic ALS pathogenesis through pathway analysis using DAVID. Subsequently, we utilized the Clue Connectivity Map to identify potential drug candidates and performed molecular docking using AutoDock Vina to evaluate the binding affinity of short-listed drugs to key sporadic ALS-related genes. Our study identified Cefaclor, Diphenidol, Flubendazole, Fluticasone, Lestaurtinib, Nadolol, Phenamil, Temozolomide, and Tolterodine as potential drug candidates for repurposing in sporadic ALS treatment. Notably, Lestaurtinib demonstrated high binding affinity toward multiple proteins, suggesting its potential as a broad-spectrum therapeutic agent for sporadic ALS. Additionally, docking analysis revealed NOS3 as the gene that interacts with all the short-listed drugs, suggesting its possible involvement in the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of these drugs in sporadic ALS. Overall, our study provides a systematic framework for identifying potential drug candidates for sporadic ALS therapy and highlights the potential of drug repurposing as a promising strategy for discovering new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naina Sunildutt
- Department
of Mechatronics Engineering, Jeju National
University, Jeju63243, Republic
of Korea
| | - Faheem Ahmed
- Department
of Mechatronics Engineering, Jeju National
University, Jeju63243, Republic
of Korea
| | - Abdul Rahim Chethikkattuveli Salih
- Department
of Mechatronics Engineering, Jeju National
University, Jeju63243, Republic
of Korea
- Terasaki
Institute for Biomedical InnovationLos Angeles21100, United States
| | - Jong Hwan Lim
- Department
of Mechatronics Engineering, Jeju National
University, Jeju63243, Republic
of Korea
| | - Kyung Hyun Choi
- Department
of Mechatronics Engineering, Jeju National
University, Jeju63243, Republic
of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Wang Y, Cui L, Zhao H, He H, Chen L, Song X, Liu D, Qiu J, Sun Y. Exploring the Connectivity of Neurodegenerative Diseases: Microglia as the Center. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:6107-6121. [PMID: 38107384 PMCID: PMC10725686 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s440377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Degenerative diseases affect people's life and health and cause a severe social burden. Relevant mechanisms of microglia have been studied, aiming to control and reduce degenerative disease occurrence effectively. This review discussed the specific mechanisms underlying microglia in neurodegenerative diseases, age-related hearing loss, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and peripheral nervous system (PNS) degenerative diseases. It also reviewed the studies of microglia inhibitors (PLX3397/PLX5622) and activators (lipopolysaccharide), and suggested that reducing microglia can effectively curb the genesis and progression of degenerative diseases. Finally, microglial cells' anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory dual role was considered the critical communication point in central and peripheral degenerative diseases. Although it is difficult to describe the complex morphological structure of microglia in a unified manner, this does not prevent them from being a target for future treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- The Second Medical College, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Limei Cui
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - He Zhao
- The Second Medical College, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huhuifen He
- The Second Medical College, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xicheng Song
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dawei Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Qiu
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Sun
- Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases, Yantai, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Belosludtseva NV, Matveeva LA, Belosludtsev KN. Mitochondrial Dyshomeostasis as an Early Hallmark and a Therapeutic Target in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16833. [PMID: 38069154 PMCID: PMC10706047 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal multisystem disease characterized by progressive death of motor neurons, loss of muscle mass, and impaired energy metabolism. More than 40 genes are now known to be associated with ALS, which together account for the majority of familial forms of ALS and only 10% of sporadic ALS cases. To date, there is no consensus on the pathogenesis of ALS, which makes it difficult to develop effective therapy. Accumulating evidence indicates that mitochondria, which play an important role in cellular homeostasis, are the earliest targets in ALS, and abnormalities in their structure and functions contribute to the development of bioenergetic stress and disease progression. Mitochondria are known to be highly dynamic organelles, and their stability is maintained through a number of key regulatory pathways. Mitochondrial homeostasis is dynamically regulated via mitochondrial biogenesis, clearance, fission/fusion, and trafficking; however, the processes providing "quality control" and distribution of the organelles are prone to dysregulation in ALS. Here, we systematically summarized changes in mitochondrial turnover, dynamics, calcium homeostasis, and alterations in mitochondrial transport and functions to provide in-depth insights into disease progression pathways, which may have a significant impact on current symptomatic therapies and personalized treatment programs for patients with ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia V. Belosludtseva
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 3, Pushchino 142290, Russia;
| | - Lyudmila A. Matveeva
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, Mari State University, pl. Lenina 1, Yoshkar-Ola 424001, Russia;
| | - Konstantin N. Belosludtsev
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Institutskaya 3, Pushchino 142290, Russia;
- Department of Biochemistry, Cell Biology and Microbiology, Mari State University, pl. Lenina 1, Yoshkar-Ola 424001, Russia;
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Lombardi M, Corrado L, Piola B, Comi C, Cantello R, D’Alfonso S, Mazzini L, De Marchi F. Variability in Clinical Phenotype in TARDBP Mutations: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case Description and Literature Review. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2039. [PMID: 38002982 PMCID: PMC10671725 DOI: 10.3390/genes14112039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the 43 kDa transactive-response (TAR)-DNA-binding protein (TARDBP) are associated with 2-5% of familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) cases. TAR DNA-Binding Protein 43 (TDP-43) is an RNA/DNA-binding protein involved in several cellular mechanisms (e.g., transcription, pre-mRNA processing, and splicing). Many ALS-linked TARDBP mutations have been described in the literature, but few phenotypic data on monogenic TARDBP-mutated ALS are available. In this paper, (1) we describe the clinical features of ALS patients carrying mutations in the TARDBP gene evaluated at the Tertiary ALS Center at Maggiore della Carità University Hospital, Novara, Italy, from 2010 to 2020 and (2) present the results of our review of the literature on this topic, analyzing data obtained for 267 patients and highlighting their main clinical and demographic features.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Lombardi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.L.); (R.C.); (L.M.)
| | - Lucia Corrado
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.C.); (B.P.); (S.D.)
| | - Beatrice Piola
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.C.); (B.P.); (S.D.)
| | - Cristoforo Comi
- Neurology Unit, S. Andrea Hospital, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy;
| | - Roberto Cantello
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.L.); (R.C.); (L.M.)
| | - Sandra D’Alfonso
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.C.); (B.P.); (S.D.)
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.L.); (R.C.); (L.M.)
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (M.L.); (R.C.); (L.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Duranti E, Villa C. Muscle Involvement in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Understanding the Pathogenesis and Advancing Therapeutics. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1582. [PMID: 38002264 PMCID: PMC10669302 DOI: 10.3390/biom13111582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal condition characterized by the selective loss of motor neurons in the motor cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. Muscle involvement, muscle atrophy, and subsequent paralysis are among the main features of this disease, which is defined as a neuromuscular disorder. ALS is a persistently progressive disease, and as motor neurons continue to degenerate, individuals with ALS experience a gradual decline in their ability to perform daily activities. Ultimately, muscle function loss may result in paralysis, presenting significant challenges in mobility, communication, and self-care. While the majority of ALS research has traditionally focused on pathogenic pathways in the central nervous system, there has been a great interest in muscle research. These studies were carried out on patients and animal models in order to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved and to develop therapies aimed at improving muscle function. This review summarizes the features of ALS and discusses the role of muscle, as well as examines recent studies in the development of treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiara Villa
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Provenzano F, Torazza C, Bonifacino T, Bonanno G, Milanese M. The Key Role of Astrocytes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Their Commitment to Glutamate Excitotoxicity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15430. [PMID: 37895110 PMCID: PMC10607805 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last two decades, there has been increasing evidence supporting non-neuronal cells as active contributors to neurodegenerative disorders. Among glial cells, astrocytes play a pivotal role in driving amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progression, leading the scientific community to focus on the "astrocytic signature" in ALS. Here, we summarized the main pathological mechanisms characterizing astrocyte contribution to MN damage and ALS progression, such as neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, energy metabolism impairment, miRNAs and extracellular vesicles contribution, autophagy dysfunction, protein misfolding, and altered neurotrophic factor release. Since glutamate excitotoxicity is one of the most relevant ALS features, we focused on the specific contribution of ALS astrocytes in this aspect, highlighting the known or potential molecular mechanisms by which astrocytes participate in increasing the extracellular glutamate level in ALS and, conversely, undergo the toxic effect of the excessive glutamate. In this scenario, astrocytes can behave as "producers" and "targets" of the high extracellular glutamate levels, going through changes that can affect themselves and, in turn, the neuronal and non-neuronal surrounding cells, thus actively impacting the ALS course. Moreover, this review aims to point out knowledge gaps that deserve further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Provenzano
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Carola Torazza
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16148 Genova, Italy; (F.P.); (C.T.); (G.B.); (M.M.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Grossini E, De Marchi F, Venkatesan S, Mele A, Ferrante D, Mazzini L. Effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: Evaluation on Plasma Markers and Members of the Neurovascular Unit. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1887. [PMID: 37891966 PMCID: PMC10604350 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress, the alteration of mitochondrial function, and the neurovascular unit (NVU), play a role in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis. We aimed to demonstrate the changes in the plasma redox system and nitric oxide (NO) in 32 new ALS-diagnosed patients in treatment with Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) compared to healthy controls. We also evaluated the effects of plasma on human umbilical cord-derived endothelial vascular cells (HUVEC) and astrocytes. The analyses were performed at the baseline (T0), after three months (T1), and after six months (T2). In ALS patients at T0/T1, the plasma markers of lipid peroxidation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and 4-hydroxy nonenal (4-HNE) were higher, whereas the antioxidants, glutathione (GSH) and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were lower than in healthy controls. At T2, plasma TBARS and 4-HNE decreased, whereas plasma GSH and the GPx activity increased in ALS patients. As regards NO, the plasma levels were firmly lower at T0-T2 than those of healthy controls. Cell viability, and mitochondrial membrane potential in HUVEC/astrocytes treated with the plasma of ALS patients at T0-T2 were reduced, while the oxidant release increased. Those results, which confirmed the fundamental role of oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and of the NVU in ALS pathogenesis, can have a double meaning, acting as disease markers at baseline and potential markers of drug effects in clinical practice and during clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Grossini
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (E.G.); (S.V.)
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Sakthipriyan Venkatesan
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (E.G.); (S.V.)
| | - Angelica Mele
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Daniela Ferrante
- Statistic Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Kalia M, Miotto M, Ness D, Opie-Martin S, Spargo TP, Di Rienzo L, Biagini T, Petrizzelli F, Al Khleifat A, Kabiljo R, Mazza T, Ruocco G, Milanetti E, Dobson RJB, Al-Chalabi A, Iacoangeli A. Molecular dynamics analysis of superoxide dismutase 1 mutations suggests decoupling between mechanisms underlying ALS onset and progression. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:5296-5308. [PMID: 37954145 PMCID: PMC10637862 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.09.016] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene are the second most common known cause of ALS. SOD1 variants express high phenotypic variability and over 200 have been reported in people with ALS. It was previously proposed that variants can be broadly classified in two groups, 'wild-type like' (WTL) and 'metal binding region' (MBR) variants, based on their structural location and biophysical properties. MBR variants, but not WTL variants, were associated with a reduction of SOD1 enzymatic activity. In this study we used molecular dynamics and large clinical datasets to characterise the differences in the structural and dynamic behaviour of WTL and MBR variants with respect to the wild-type SOD1, and how such differences influence the ALS clinical phenotype. Our study identified marked structural differences, some of which are observed in both variant groups, while others are group specific. Moreover, collecting clinical data of approximately 500 SOD1 ALS patients carrying variants, we showed that the survival time of patients carrying an MBR variant is generally longer (∼6 years median difference, p < 0.001) with respect to patients with a WTL variant. In conclusion, our study highlighted key differences in the dynamic behaviour between WTL and MBR SOD1 variants, and between variants and wild-type SOD1 at an atomic and molecular level, that could be further investigated to explain the associated phenotypic variability. Our results support the hypothesis of a decoupling between mechanisms of onset and progression of SOD1 ALS, and an involvement of loss-of-function of SOD1 with the disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Munishikha Kalia
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Mattia Miotto
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Deborah Ness
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Sarah Opie-Martin
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Thomas P. Spargo
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Lorenzo Di Rienzo
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Tommaso Biagini
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Francesco Petrizzelli
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Ahmad Al Khleifat
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | - Renata Kabiljo
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
| | | | | | - Tommaso Mazza
- Bioinformatics Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, S. Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Edoardo Milanetti
- Center for Life Nano & Neuro Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
- Department of Physics, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Richard JB Dobson
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King’s College London, London, UK
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
- Clinical Neurosciences, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | - Alfredo Iacoangeli
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre and Dementia Unit at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Tomiyama ALMR, Cartarozzi LP, de Oliveira Coser L, Chiarotto GB, Oliveira ALR. Neuroprotection by upregulation of the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) in SOD1 G93A mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1211486. [PMID: 37711512 PMCID: PMC10498468 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1211486] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that progressively affects motoneurons, causing muscle atrophy and evolving to death. Astrocytes inhibit the expression of MHC-I by neurons, contributing to a degenerative outcome. The present study verified the influence of interferon β (IFN β) treatment, a proinflammatory cytokine that upregulates MHC-I expression, in SOD1G93A transgenic mice. For that, 17 days old presymptomatic female mice were subjected to subcutaneous application of IFN β (250, 1,000, and 10,000 IU) every other day for 20 days. Rotarod motor test, clinical score, and body weight assessment were conducted every third day throughout the treatment period. No significant intergroup variations were observed in such parameters during the pre-symptomatic phase. All mice were then euthanized, and the spinal cords collected for comparative analysis of motoneuron survival, reactive gliosis, synapse coverage, microglia morphology classification, cytokine analysis by flow cytometry, and RT-qPCR quantification of gene transcripts. Additionally, mice underwent Rotarod motor assessment, weight monitoring, and neurological scoring. The results show that IFN β treatment led to an increase in the expression of MHC-I, which, even at the lowest dose (250 IU), resulted in a significant increase in neuronal survival in the ALS presymptomatic period which lasted until the onset of the disease. The treatment also influenced synaptic preservation by decreasing excitatory inputs and upregulating the expression of AMPA receptors by astrocytes. Microglial reactivity quantified by the integrated density of pixels did not decrease with treatment but showed a less activated morphology, coupled with polarization to an M1 profile. Disease progression upregulated gene transcripts for pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and IFN β treatment significantly decreased mRNA expression for IL4. Overall, the present results demonstrate that a low dosage of IFN β shows therapeutic potential by increasing MHC-I expression, resulting in neuroprotection and immunomodulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Alexandre L. R. Oliveira
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology—University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
De Marchi F, Tondo G, Corrado L, Menegon F, Aprile D, Anselmi M, D’Alfonso S, Comi C, Mazzini L. Neuroinflammatory Pathways in the ALS-FTD Continuum: A Focus on Genetic Variants. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1658. [PMID: 37628709 PMCID: PMC10454262 DOI: 10.3390/genes14081658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Frontotemporal dementia (FDT) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders that, in several cases, overlap in clinical presentation, and genetic and pathological disease mechanisms. About 10-15% of ALS cases and up to 40% of FTD are familial, usually with dominant traits. ALS and FTD, in several cases, share common gene mutations, such as in C9ORF72, TARDBP, SQSTM-1, FUS, VCP, CHCHD10, and TBK-1. Also, several mechanisms are involved in ALS and FTD pathogenesis, such as protein misfolding, oxidative stress, and impaired axonal transport. In addition, neuroinflammation and neuroinflammatory cells, such as astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, and lymphocytes and, overall, the cellular microenvironment, have been proposed as pivotal players in the pathogenesis the ALS-FTD spectrum disorders. This review overviews the current evidence regarding neuroinflammatory markers in the ALS/FTD continuum, focusing on the neuroinflammatory pathways involved in the genetic cases, moving from post-mortem reports to in vivo biofluid and neuroimaging data. We further discuss the potential link between genetic and autoimmune disorders and potential therapeutic implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Giacomo Tondo
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (G.T.); (D.A.); (C.C.)
| | - Lucia Corrado
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Federico Menegon
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Davide Aprile
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (G.T.); (D.A.); (C.C.)
| | - Matteo Anselmi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Sandra D’Alfonso
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.C.); (S.D.)
| | - Cristoforo Comi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, S. Andrea Hospital, University of Piemonte Orientale, 13100 Vercelli, Italy; (G.T.); (D.A.); (C.C.)
- Interdisciplinary Research Center of Autoimmune Diseases (IRCAD), University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Song J, Dikwella N, Sinske D, Roselli F, Knöll B. SRF deletion results in earlier disease onset in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e167694. [PMID: 37339001 PMCID: PMC10445689 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.167694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in neuronal activity modulate the vulnerability of motoneurons (MNs) in neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). So far, the molecular basis of neuronal activity's impact in ALS is poorly understood. Herein, we investigated the impact of deleting the neuronal activity-stimulated transcription factor (TF) serum response factor (SRF) in MNs of SOD1G93A mice. SRF was present in vulnerable MMP9+ MNs. Ablation of SRF in MNs induced an earlier disease onset starting around 7-8 weeks after birth, as revealed by enhanced weight loss and decreased motor ability. This earlier disease onset in SRF-depleted MNs was accompanied by a mild elevation of neuroinflammation and neuromuscular synapse degeneration, whereas overall MN numbers and mortality were unaffected. In SRF-deficient mice, MNs showed impaired induction of autophagy-encoding genes, suggesting a potentially new SRF function in transcriptional regulation of autophagy. Complementary, constitutively active SRF-VP16 enhanced autophagy-encoding gene transcription and autophagy progression in cells. Furthermore, SRF-VP16 decreased ALS-associated aggregate induction. Chemogenetic modulation of neuronal activity uncovered SRF as having important TF-mediating activity-dependent effects, which might be beneficial to reduce ALS disease burden. Thus, our data identify SRF as a gene regulator connecting neuronal activity with the cellular autophagy program initiated in degenerating MNs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jialei Song
- Institute of Neurobiochemistry and
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Natalie Dikwella
- Institute of Neurobiochemistry and
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases-Ulm (DZNE-Ulm), Ulm, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Genç B, Nho B, Seung H, Helmold B, Park H, Gözütok Ö, Kim S, Park J, Ye S, Lee H, Lee N, Yu SS, Kim S, Lee J, Özdinler H. Novel rAAV vector mediated intrathecal HGF delivery has an impact on neuroimmune modulation in the ALS motor cortex with TDP-43 pathology. Gene Ther 2023; 30:560-574. [PMID: 36823441 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-023-00383-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based gene therapies offer an immense opportunity for rare diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is defined by the loss of the upper and the lower motor neurons. Here, we describe generation, characterization, and utilization of a novel vector system, which enables expression of the active form of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) under EF-1α promoter with bovine growth hormone (bGH) poly(A) sequence and is effective with intrathecal injections. HGF's role in promoting motor neuron survival had been vastly reported. Therefore, we investigated whether intrathecal delivery of HGF would have an impact on one of the most common pathologies of ALS: the TDP-43 pathology. Increased astrogliosis, microgliosis and progressive upper motor neuron loss are important consequences of ALS in the motor cortex with TDP-43 pathology. We find that cortex can be modulated via intrathecal injection, and that expression of HGF reduces astrogliosis, microgliosis in the motor cortex, and help restore ongoing UMN degeneration. Our findings not only introduce a novel viral vector for the treatment of ALS, but also demonstrate modulation of motor cortex by intrathecal viral delivery, and that HGF treatment is effective in reducing astrogliosis and microgliosis in the motor cortex of ALS with TDP-43 pathology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barış Genç
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Boram Nho
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Helixmith Co., Ltd., R&D Center, 21, Magokjungang 8-ro 7-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07794, Republic of Korea
| | - Hana Seung
- Helixmith Co., Ltd., R&D Center, 21, Magokjungang 8-ro 7-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07794, Republic of Korea
| | - Benjamin Helmold
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Huiwon Park
- Helixmith Co., Ltd., R&D Center, 21, Magokjungang 8-ro 7-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07794, Republic of Korea
| | - Öge Gözütok
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Seunghyun Kim
- Helixmith Co., Ltd., R&D Center, 21, Magokjungang 8-ro 7-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07794, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinil Park
- Helixmith Co., Ltd., R&D Center, 21, Magokjungang 8-ro 7-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07794, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanghyun Ye
- Helixmith Co., Ltd., R&D Center, 21, Magokjungang 8-ro 7-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07794, Republic of Korea
| | - Haneul Lee
- Helixmith Co., Ltd., R&D Center, 21, Magokjungang 8-ro 7-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07794, Republic of Korea
| | - Nayeon Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Shin Yu
- Helixmith Co., Ltd., R&D Center, 21, Magokjungang 8-ro 7-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07794, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunyoung Kim
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
- Helixmith Co., Ltd., R&D Center, 21, Magokjungang 8-ro 7-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07794, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghun Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Helixmith Co., Ltd., R&D Center, 21, Magokjungang 8-ro 7-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 07794, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hande Özdinler
- Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 303 E. Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Center for Molecular Innovation and Drug Discovery, Center for Developmental Therapeutics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 60208, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Torazza C, Provenzano F, Gallia E, Cerminara M, Balbi M, Bonifacino T, Tessitore S, Ravera S, Usai C, Musante I, Puliti A, Van Den Bosch L, Jafar-nejad P, Rigo F, Milanese M, Bonanno G. Genetic Downregulation of the Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Type 5 Dampens the Reactive and Neurotoxic Phenotype of Adult ALS Astrocytes. Cells 2023; 12:1952. [PMID: 37566031 PMCID: PMC10416852 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). Astrocytes display a toxic phenotype in ALS, which results in MN damage. Glutamate (Glu)-mediated excitotoxicity and group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) play a pathological role in the disease progression. We previously demonstrated that in vivo genetic ablation or pharmacological modulation of mGluR5 reduced astrocyte activation and MN death, prolonged survival and ameliorated the clinical progression in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS. This study aimed to investigate in vitro the effects of mGluR5 downregulation on the reactive spinal cord astrocytes cultured from adult late symptomatic SOD1G93A mice. We observed that mGluR5 downregulation in SOD1G93A astrocytes diminished the cytosolic Ca2+ overload under resting conditions and after mGluR5 simulation and reduced the expression of the reactive glial markers GFAP, S100β and vimentin. In vitro exposure to an anti-mGluR5 antisense oligonucleotide or to the negative allosteric modulator CTEP also ameliorated the altered reactive astrocyte phenotype. Downregulating mGluR5 in SOD1G93A mice reduced the synthesis and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and ameliorated the cellular bioenergetic profile by improving the diminished oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis and by lowering the excessive lactate dehydrogenase activity. Most relevantly, mGluR5 downregulation hampered the neurotoxicity of SOD1G93A astrocytes co-cultured with spinal cord MNs. We conclude that selective reduction in mGluR5 expression in SOD1G93A astrocytes positively modulates the astrocyte reactive phenotype and neurotoxicity towards MNs, further supporting mGluR5 as a promising therapeutic target in ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carola Torazza
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Francesca Provenzano
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Elena Gallia
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Maria Cerminara
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (M.C.); (A.P.)
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Matilde Balbi
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Tiziana Bonifacino
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
- Inter-University Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching & Research (Centro 3R), 56122 Pisa, Italy
| | - Sara Tessitore
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| | - Silvia Ravera
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via Alberti L.B. 2, 16132 Genova, Italy;
| | - Cesare Usai
- Institute of Biophysics, National Research Council (CNR), Via De Marini 6, 16149 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Ilaria Musante
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Aldamaria Puliti
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (M.C.); (A.P.)
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Ludo Van Den Bosch
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Neurology, and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven-University of Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- VIB-Center for Brain & Disease Research, Laboratory of Neurobiology, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA; (P.J.-n.); (F.R.)
| | - Marco Milanese
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Giambattista Bonanno
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy; (C.T.); (F.P.); (E.G.); (M.B.); (T.B.); (S.T.); (G.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Gouveia D, Correia J, Cardoso A, Carvalho C, Oliveira AC, Almeida A, Gamboa Ó, Ribeiro L, Branquinho M, Sousa A, Lopes B, Sousa P, Moreira A, Coelho A, Rêma A, Alvites R, Ferreira A, Maurício AC, Martins Â. Intensive neurorehabilitation and allogeneic stem cells transplantation in canine degenerative myelopathy. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1192744. [PMID: 37520009 PMCID: PMC10374290 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1192744] [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: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Degenerative myelopathy (DM) is a neurodegenerative spinal cord disease with upper motor neurons, with progressive and chronic clinical signs, similar to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). DM has a complex etiology mainly associated with SOD1 gene mutation and its toxic role, with no specific treatment. Daily intensive rehabilitation showed survival time near 8 months but most animals are euthanized 6-12 months after clinical signs onset. Methods This prospective controlled blinded cohort clinical study aims to evaluate the neural regeneration response ability of DM dogs subjected to an intensive neurorehabilitation protocol with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation. In total, 13 non-ambulatory (OFS 6 or 8) dogs with homozygous genotype DM/DM and diagnosed by exclusion were included. All were allocated to the intensive neurorehabilitation with MSCs protocol (INSCP) group (n = 8) or to the ambulatory rehabilitation protocol (ARP) group (n = 5), which differ in regard to training intensity, modalities frequency, and MSCs transplantation. The INSCP group was hospitalized for 1 month (T0 to T1), followed by MSCs transplantation (T1) and a second month (T2), whereas the ARP group was under ambulatory treatment for the same 2 months. Results Survival mean time of total population was 375 days, with 438 days for the INSCP group and 274 for the ARP group, with a marked difference on the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. When comparing the literature's results, there was also a clear difference in the one-sample t-test (p = 0.013) with an increase in time of approximately 70%. OFS classifications between groups at each time point were significantly different (p = 0.008) by the one-way ANOVA and the independent sample t-test. Discussion This INSCP showed to be safe, feasible, and a possibility for a long progression of DM dogs with quality of life and functional improvement. This study should be continued.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Débora Gouveia
- Arrábida Veterinary Hospital, Arrábida Animal Rehabilitation Center, Setubal, Portugal
- Superior School of Health, Protection and Animal Welfare, Polytechnic Institute of Lusophony, Lisboa, Portugal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jéssica Correia
- Arrábida Veterinary Hospital, Arrábida Animal Rehabilitation Center, Setubal, Portugal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Cardoso
- Arrábida Veterinary Hospital, Arrábida Animal Rehabilitation Center, Setubal, Portugal
- Superior School of Health, Protection and Animal Welfare, Polytechnic Institute of Lusophony, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Carla Carvalho
- Arrábida Veterinary Hospital, Arrábida Animal Rehabilitation Center, Setubal, Portugal
| | - Ana Catarina Oliveira
- Arrábida Veterinary Hospital, Arrábida Animal Rehabilitation Center, Setubal, Portugal
- Superior School of Health, Protection and Animal Welfare, Polytechnic Institute of Lusophony, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - António Almeida
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Óscar Gamboa
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lénio Ribeiro
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mariana Branquinho
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salaza, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal, Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Sousa
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salaza, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal, Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Bruna Lopes
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salaza, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal, Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Sousa
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salaza, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal, Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Alícia Moreira
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salaza, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal, Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - André Coelho
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salaza, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal, Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Rêma
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salaza, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal, Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rui Alvites
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salaza, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal, Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto Universitário de Ciências da Saúde (IUCS), Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário (CESPU), Gandra, Portugal
| | - António Ferreira
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisboa, Portugal
- CIISA - Centro Interdisciplinar-Investigáo em Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Av. Universi dade Técnica de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Colette Maurício
- Departamento de Clínicas Veterinárias, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salaza, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Centro de Estudos de Ciência Animal, Instituto de Ciências, Tecnologias e Agroambiente da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ângela Martins
- Arrábida Veterinary Hospital, Arrábida Animal Rehabilitation Center, Setubal, Portugal
- Superior School of Health, Protection and Animal Welfare, Polytechnic Institute of Lusophony, Lisboa, Portugal
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusófona University, Lisboa, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Martinelli I, Zucchi E, Simonini C, Gianferrari G, Zamboni G, Pinti M, Mandrioli J. The landscape of cognitive impairment in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18:1427-1433. [PMID: 36571338 PMCID: PMC10075107 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.361535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 gene account for only a minority of total amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases, the discovery of this gene has been crucial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis research. Since the identification of superoxide dismutase 1 in 1993, the field of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genetics has considerably widened, improving our understanding of the diverse pathogenic basis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this review, we focus on cognitive impairment in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Literature has mostly reported that cognition remains intact in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients, but recent reports highlight frontal lobe function frailty in patients carrying different superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutations. We thoroughly reviewed all the various mutations reported in the literature to contribute to a comprehensive database of superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis genotype-phenotype correlation. Such a resource could ultimately improve our mechanistic understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, enabling a more robust assessment of how the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotype responds to different variants across genes, which is important for the therapeutic strategy targeting genetic mutations. Cognition in superoxide dismutase 1-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis deserves further longitudinal research since this peculiar frailty in patients with similar mutations can be conditioned by external factors, including environment and other unidentified agents including modifier genes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Martinelli
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia; Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Zucchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Simonini
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Gianferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanna Zamboni
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marcello Pinti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Department of Neurosciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena; Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
De Marchi F, Franjkic T, Schito P, Russo T, Nimac J, Chami AA, Mele A, Vidatic L, Kriz J, Julien JP, Apic G, Russell RB, Rogelj B, Cannon JR, Baralle M, Agosta F, Hecimovic S, Mazzini L, Buratti E, Munitic I. Emerging Trends in the Field of Inflammation and Proteinopathy in ALS/FTD Spectrum Disorder. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1599. [PMID: 37371694 PMCID: PMC10295684 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteinopathy and neuroinflammation are two main hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. They also represent rare common events in an exceptionally broad landscape of genetic, environmental, neuropathologic, and clinical heterogeneity present in patients. Here, we aim to recount the emerging trends in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) spectrum disorder. Our review will predominantly focus on neuroinflammation and systemic immune imbalance in ALS and FTD, which have recently been highlighted as novel therapeutic targets. A common mechanism of most ALS and ~50% of FTD patients is dysregulation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), an RNA/DNA-binding protein, which becomes depleted from the nucleus and forms cytoplasmic aggregates in neurons and glia. This, in turn, via both gain and loss of function events, alters a variety of TDP-43-mediated cellular events. Experimental attempts to target TDP-43 aggregates or manipulate crosstalk in the context of inflammation will be discussed. Targeting inflammation, and the immune system in general, is of particular interest because of the high plasticity of immune cells compared to neurons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Toni Franjkic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
- Metisox, Cambridge CB24 9NL, UK;
| | - Paride Schito
- Department of Neurology & Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (T.R.)
| | - Tommaso Russo
- Department of Neurology & Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (T.R.)
| | - Jerneja Nimac
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Graduate School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anna A. Chami
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Angelica Mele
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Lea Vidatic
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.V.); (S.H.)
| | - Jasna Kriz
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | | | | | - Boris Rogelj
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jason R. Cannon
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA;
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Silva Hecimovic
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.V.); (S.H.)
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ivana Munitic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Buchner F, Dokuzluoglu Z, Grass T, Rodriguez-Muela N. Spinal Cord Organoids to Study Motor Neuron Development and Disease. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1254. [PMID: 37374039 DOI: 10.3390/life13061254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are a heterogeneous group of disorders that affect the cranial and/or spinal motor neurons (spMNs), spinal sensory neurons and the muscular system. Although they have been investigated for decades, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms; and therefore, efficacious therapies are scarce. Model organisms and relatively simple two-dimensional cell culture systems have been instrumental in our current knowledge of neuromuscular disease pathology; however, in the recent years, human 3D in vitro models have transformed the disease-modeling landscape. While cerebral organoids have been pursued the most, interest in spinal cord organoids (SCOs) is now also increasing. Pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-based protocols to generate SpC-like structures, sometimes including the adjacent mesoderm and derived skeletal muscle, are constantly being refined and applied to study early human neuromuscular development and disease. In this review, we outline the evolution of human PSC-derived models for generating spMN and recapitulating SpC development. We also discuss how these models have been applied to exploring the basis of human neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we provide an overview of the main challenges to overcome in order to generate more physiologically relevant human SpC models and propose some exciting new perspectives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Felix Buchner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Grass
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Natalia Rodriguez-Muela
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Dučić T, Koch JC. Synchrotron-Based Fourier-Transform Infrared Micro-Spectroscopy of Cerebrospinal Fluid from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients Reveals a Unique Biomolecular Profile. Cells 2023; 12:1451. [PMID: 37296572 PMCID: PMC10253168 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease, with the most common adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder affecting motoneurons. Although disruptions in macromolecular conformation and homeostasis have been described in association with ALS, the underlying pathological mechanisms are still not completely understood, and unambiguous biomarkers are lacking. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is appealing to extensive interest due to its potential to resolve biomolecular conformation and content, as this approach offers a non-invasive, label-free identification of specific biologically relevant molecules in a few microliters of CSF sample. Here, we analyzed the CSF of 33 ALS patients compared to 32 matched controls using FTIR spectroscopy and multivariate analysis and demonstrated major differences in the molecular contents. A significant change in the conformation and concentration of RNA is demonstrated. Moreover, significantly increased glutamate and carbohydrates are found in ALS. Moreover, key markers of lipid metabolism are strongly altered; specifically, we find a decrease in unsaturated lipids and an increase in peroxidation of lipids in ALS, whereas the total amount of lipids compared to proteins is reduced. Our study demonstrates that FTIR characterization of CSF could represent a powerful tool for ALS diagnosis and reveals central features of ALS pathophysiology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Dučić
- CELLS−ALBA, Carrer de la Llum 2-26, Cerdanyola del Valles, 08290 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jan Christoph Koch
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Santarelli S, Londero C, Soldano A, Candelaresi C, Todeschini L, Vernizzi L, Bellosta P. Drosophila melanogaster as a model to study autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases induced by proteinopathies. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1082047. [PMID: 37274187 PMCID: PMC10232775 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1082047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteinopathies are a large group of neurodegenerative diseases caused by both genetic and sporadic mutations in particular genes which can lead to alterations of the protein structure and to the formation of aggregates, especially toxic for neurons. Autophagy is a key mechanism for clearing those aggregates and its function has been strongly associated with the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS), hence mutations in both pathways have been associated with the onset of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly those induced by protein misfolding and accumulation of aggregates. Many crucial discoveries regarding the molecular and cellular events underlying the role of autophagy in these diseases have come from studies using Drosophila models. Indeed, despite the physiological and morphological differences between the fly and the human brain, most of the biochemical and molecular aspects regulating protein homeostasis, including autophagy, are conserved between the two species.In this review, we will provide an overview of the most common neurodegenerative proteinopathies, which include PolyQ diseases (Huntington's disease, Spinocerebellar ataxia 1, 2, and 3), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (C9orf72, SOD1, TDP-43, FUS), Alzheimer's disease (APP, Tau) Parkinson's disease (a-syn, parkin and PINK1, LRRK2) and prion diseases, highlighting the studies using Drosophila that have contributed to understanding the conserved mechanisms and elucidating the role of autophagy in these diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Santarelli
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Chiara Londero
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Alessia Soldano
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Carlotta Candelaresi
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Leonardo Todeschini
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Luisa Vernizzi
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Paola Bellosta
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CiBiO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Maruyama T, Tanabe S, Uyeda A, Suzuki T, Muramatsu R. Free fatty acids support oligodendrocyte survival in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1081190. [PMID: 37252191 PMCID: PMC10213402 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1081190] [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: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the white matter degeneration. Although changes in blood lipids are involved in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, the pathological role of blood lipids in ALS remains unclear. Methods and results We performed lipidome analysis on the plasma of ALS model mice, mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G93A) mice, and found that the concentration of free fatty acids (FFAs), including oleic acid (OA) and linoleic acid (LA), decreased prior to disease onset. An in vitro study revealed that OA and LA directly inhibited glutamate-induced oligodendrocytes cell death via free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1). A cocktail containing OA/LA suppressed oligodendrocyte cell death in the spinal cord of SOD1G93A mice. Discussion These results suggested that the reduction of FFAs in the plasma is a pathogenic biomarker for ALS in the early stages, and supplying a deficiency in FFAs is a potential therapeutic approach for ALS by preventing oligodendrocyte cell death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Maruyama
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Pharmacoscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shogo Tanabe
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiko Uyeda
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Suzuki
- Department of Pharmacoscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Rieko Muramatsu
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Mavadat E, Seyedalipour B, Hosseinkhani S. A double point mutation of SOD1 targeting net charge promotes aggregation under destabilizing conditions: Correlation of charge distribution and ALS-provoking mutation. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130325. [PMID: 36791828 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
A progressive neurodegenerative illness such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by the misfolding and aggregation of human CuZn superoxide dismutase (hSOD1) into amyloid aggregates. Thus, designing strategies for the choice of WT-SOD1 and double mutant (G12D/G138E) with an increased net negative charge can be a good idea to elucidate the pathological mechanism of SOD1 in ALS under some destabilizing conditions. Consequently, we show evidence that protein charge, together with other destabilizing conditions, plays an important role in ALS disease. To achieve this purpose, we use methods, such as spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to monitor the formation of amyloid aggregation. The specific activity of WT-SOD1 was approximately 1.72 times higher than that of the double mutant. Under amyloidogenic circumstances, structural properties such as local, secondary, oligomeric, and fibrillar structures were explored. The double mutant's far-UV CD spectra displayed a broad minimum peak in the region 213 to 218 nm, suggesting the production of β-rich amyloid fibrils. FTIR spectra of the double mutant samples at different incubation times showed a low-frequency peak around 1630-1640 cm-1, attributed to a parallel β-sheet. Moreover, CR-binding assay and TEM analysis revealed and confirmed that mutation with an increased repulsive charge promotes the formation of fibrous aggregates. Consequently, ALS mutations with a higher repulsive charge are the apparent exceptions that validate the rule. This findings revealed that the double mutant increases protein aggregation through a novel mechanism, likely involving destabilization of structure and a change in the net negative charge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Mavadat
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Bagher Seyedalipour
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
| | - Saman Hosseinkhani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Ma XY, Yang TT, Liu L, Peng XC, Qian F, Tang FR. Ependyma in Neurodegenerative Diseases, Radiation-Induced Brain Injury and as a Therapeutic Target for Neurotrophic Factors. Biomolecules 2023; 13:754. [PMID: 37238624 PMCID: PMC10216700 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuron loss caused by the progressive damage to the nervous system is proposed to be the main pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Ependyma is a layer of ciliated ependymal cells that participates in the formation of the brain-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCB). It functions to promotes the circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and the material exchange between CSF and brain interstitial fluid. Radiation-induced brain injury (RIBI) shows obvious impairments of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In the neuroinflammatory processes after acute brain injury, a large amount of complement proteins and infiltrated immune cells are circulated in the CSF to resist brain damage and promote substance exchange through the BCB. However, as the protective barrier lining the brain ventricles, the ependyma is extremely vulnerable to cytotoxic and cytolytic immune responses. When the ependyma is damaged, the integrity of BCB is destroyed, and the CSF flow and material exchange is affected, leading to brain microenvironment imbalance, which plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and other neurotrophic factors promote the differentiation and maturation of ependymal cells to maintain the integrity of the ependyma and the activity of ependymal cilia, and may have therapeutic potential in restoring the homeostasis of the brain microenvironment after RIBI or during the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yu Ma
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Ting-Ting Yang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Lian Liu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Xiao-Chun Peng
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Feng Qian
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434023, China
| | - Feng-Ru Tang
- Radiation Physiology Laboratory, Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative, National University of Singapore, Singapore 138602, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Rogers CQ, Ramirez M, Landon CS, DeBlasi JM, Koutnik AP, Ari C, D'Agostino DP. A Glutamate Scavenging Protocol Combined with Deanna Protocol in SOD1-G93A Mouse Model of ALS. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15081821. [PMID: 37111040 PMCID: PMC10141074 DOI: 10.3390/nu15081821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease of neuronal degeneration in the motor cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord, resulting in impaired motor function and premature demise as a result of insufficient respiratory drive. ALS is associated with dysfunctions in neurons, neuroglia, muscle cells, energy metabolism, and glutamate balance. Currently, there is not a widely accepted, effective treatment for this condition. Prior work from our lab has demonstrated the efficacy of supplemental nutrition with the Deanna Protocol (DP). In the present study, we tested the effects of three different treatments in a mouse model of ALS. These treatments were the DP alone, a glutamate scavenging protocol (GSP) alone, and a combination of the two treatments. Outcome measures included body weight, food intake, behavioral assessments, neurological score, and lifespan. Compared to the control group, DP had a significantly slower decline in neurological score, strength, endurance, and coordination, with a trend toward increased lifespan despite a greater loss of weight. GSP had a significantly slower decline in neurological score, strength, endurance, and coordination, with a trend toward increased lifespan. DP+GSP had a significantly slower decline in neurological score with a trend toward increased lifespan, despite a greater loss of weight. While each of the treatment groups fared better than the control group, the combination of the DP+GSP was not better than either of the individual treatments. We conclude that the beneficial effects of the DP and the GSP in this ALS mouse model are distinct, and appear to offer no additional benefit when combined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Q Rogers
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Laboratory of Metabolic Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Melissa Ramirez
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Laboratory of Metabolic Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Carol S Landon
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Laboratory of Metabolic Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Janine M DeBlasi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Laboratory of Metabolic Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Andrew P Koutnik
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Laboratory of Metabolic Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Human Healthspan, Resilience and Performance, Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, 40 S Alcaniz St, Pensacola, FL 32502, USA
| | - Csilla Ari
- Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Ketone Technologies LLC, 12608 Forest Hills Dr, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Dominic P D'Agostino
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Laboratory of Metabolic Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
- Ketone Technologies LLC, 12608 Forest Hills Dr, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Fan J, Miao Y, Zhao Y, Guan Y, Zhang L, Pan L, Feng Q, Yao J, Sun C. Icaritin inhibits oxidative stress in murine astrocytes by binding to Orai1 to block store-operated calcium channel. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 101:873-882. [PMID: 36527176 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Previous study has shown that icaritin (ICT) has meaningful protective effect on cerebral ischemic stroke, and this study aimed to investigate its mechanism from the aspect of protecting astrocytes from oxidative stress. Murine primary astrocytes were pretreated by ICT and exposed to H2 O2 to induce oxidative stress. The results indicated that ICT inhibited H2 O2 -induced astrocytes apoptosis, decreased Bax and cleaved caspase-3, and increased Bcl-2. In addition, ICT inhibited H2 O2 -induced oxidative stress, increased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm ), and maintained mitochondrial morphology. ICT decreased the synthesis of malondialdehyde and increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Moreover, ICT suppressed the transient and resting intracellular Ca2+ overload. Further investigation revealed that ICT could target the combination with Orai1 to block store-operated calcium channel induced by H2 O2 . However, ICT did not enhance the protective effect of RO2959, a selective blocker of Orai1. These results indicate that ICT can play a neuroprotective role against oxidative stress injury by binding to Orai1 to block SOCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Fan
- Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Linyi, China
| | - Yu Miao
- Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Yun Zhao
- Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Linyi, China
| | - Yongxia Guan
- Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Linyi, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Linyi, China
| | - Lihong Pan
- Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Linyi, China
| | - Qun Feng
- Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Linyi, China
| | - Jingchun Yao
- Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Linyi, China
| | - Chenghong Sun
- Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, China
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Linyi, China
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Yu X, Liu MM, Zheng CY, Liu YT, Wang Z, Wang ZY. Telomerase reverse transcriptase and neurodegenerative diseases. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1165632. [PMID: 37063844 PMCID: PMC10091515 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1165632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are chronic conditions that result in progressive damage to the nervous system, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Age is a major risk factor for NDs. Telomere shortening is a biological marker of cellular aging, and telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) has been shown to slow down this process by maintaining telomere length. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) makes the brain a unique immune organ, and while the number of T cells present in the central nervous system is limited, they play an important role in NDs. Research suggests that NDs can be influenced by modulating peripheral T cell immune responses, and that TERT may play a significant role in T cell senescence and NDs. This review focuses on the current state of research on TERT in NDs and explores the potential connections between TERT, T cells, and NDs. Further studies on aging and telomeres may provide valuable insights for developing therapeutic strategies for age-related diseases.
Collapse
|