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Wang XX, Chen WZ, Li C, Xu RS. Current potential pathogenic mechanisms of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Rev Neurosci 2024; 35:549-563. [PMID: 38381656 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2024-0010] [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: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disease which damages upper and lower motor neurons (UMN and LMN) innervating the muscles of the trunk, extremities, head, neck and face in cerebrum, brain stem and spinal cord, which results in the progressive weakness, atrophy and fasciculation of muscle innervated by the related UMN and LMN, accompanying with the pathological signs leaded by the cortical spinal lateral tract lesion. The pathogenesis about ALS is not fully understood, and no specific drugs are available to cure and prevent the progression of this disease at present. In this review, we reviewed the structure and associated functions of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), discuss why SOD1 is crucial to the pathogenesis of ALS, and outline the pathogenic mechanisms of SOD1 in ALS that have been identified at recent years, including glutamate-related excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, oxidative stress, axonal transport disruption, prion-like propagation, and the non-cytologic toxicity of glial cells. This review will help us to deeply understand the current progression in this field of SOD1 pathogenic mechanisms in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Xin Wang
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, The Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
- Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Wen-Zhi Chen
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, The Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Cheng Li
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, The Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Ren-Shi Xu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, The Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, National Regional Center for Neurological Diseases, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Jiangxi Hospital, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
- Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
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2
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Misawa H, Kamishima K, Koyama T, Ohgaki L, Morisaki Y, Yamanaka T, Itohara S, Sawano S, Mizunoya W, Ogihara N. Type selective ablation of postnatal slow and fast fatigue-resistant motor neurons in mice induces late onset kinetic and postural tremor following fiber-type transition and myopathy. Exp Neurol 2024; 376:114772. [PMID: 38599366 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2024.114772] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Animals on Earth need to hold postures and execute a series of movements under gravity and atmospheric pressure. VAChT-Cre is a transgenic Cre driver mouse line that expresses Cre recombinase selectively in motor neurons of S-type (slow-twitch fatigue-resistant) and FR-type (fast-twitch fatigue-resistant). Sequential motor unit recruitment is a fundamental principle for fine and smooth locomotion; smaller-diameter motor neurons (S-type, FR-type) first contract low-intensity oxidative type I and type IIa muscle fibers, and thereafter larger-diameter motor neurons (FInt-type, FF-type) are recruited to contract high-intensity glycolytic type IIx and type IIb muscle fibers. To selectively eliminate S- and FR-type motor neurons, VAChT-Cre mice were crossbred with NSE-DTA mice in which the cytotoxic diphtheria toxin A fragment (DTA) was expressed in Cre-expressing neurons. The VAChT-Cre;NSE-DTA mice were born normally but progressively manifested various characteristics, including body weight loss, kyphosis, kinetic and postural tremor, and muscular atrophy. The progressive kinetic and postural tremor was remarkable from around 20 weeks of age and aggravated. Muscular atrophy was apparent in slow muscles, but not in fast muscles. The increase in motor unit number estimation was detected by electromyography, reflecting compensatory re-innervation by remaining FInt- and FF-type motor neurons to the orphaned slow muscle fibers. The muscle fibers gradually manifested fast/slow hybrid phenotypes, and the remaining FInt-and FF-type motor neurons gradually disappeared. These results suggest selective ablation of S- and FR-type motor neurons induces progressive muscle fiber-type transition, exhaustion of remaining FInt- and FF-type motor neurons, and late-onset kinetic and postural tremor in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidemi Misawa
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kai Kamishima
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tenkei Koyama
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Lisa Ohgaki
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuta Morisaki
- Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience of Disease, Brain Research Institute, Niigata University, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Japan
| | - Shigeyoshi Itohara
- Laboratory for Behavioral Genetics, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Shoko Sawano
- Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Wataru Mizunoya
- Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Naomichi Ogihara
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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3
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Cheung SW, Bhavnani E, Simmons DG, Bellingham MC, Noakes PG. Perineuronal nets are phagocytosed by MMP-9 expressing microglia and astrocytes in the SOD1 G93A ALS mouse model. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2024; 50:e12982. [PMID: 38742276 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12982] [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: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are an extracellular matrix structure that encases excitable neurons. PNNs play a role in neuroprotection against oxidative stress. Oxidative stress within motor neurons can trigger neuronal death, which has been implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We investigated the spatio-temporal timeline of PNN breakdown and the contributing cellular factors in the SOD1G93A strain, a fast-onset ALS mouse model. METHODS This was conducted at the presymptomatic (P30), onset (P70), mid-stage (P130), and end-stage disease (P150) using immunofluorescent microscopy, as this characterisation has not been conducted in the SOD1G93A strain. RESULTS We observed a significant breakdown of PNNs around α-motor neurons in the ventral horn of onset and mid-stage disease SOD1G93A mice compared with wild-type controls. This was observed with increased numbers of microglia expressing matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), an endopeptidase that degrades PNNs. Microglia also engulfed PNN components in the SOD1G93A mouse. Further increases in microglia and astrocyte number, MMP-9 expression, and engulfment of PNN components by glia were observed in mid-stage SOD1G93A mice. This was observed with increased expression of fractalkine, a signal for microglia engulfment, within α-motor neurons of SOD1G93A mice. Following PNN breakdown, α-motor neurons of onset and mid-stage SOD1G93A mice showed increased expression of 3-nitrotyrosine, a marker for protein oxidation, which could render them vulnerable to death. CONCLUSIONS Our observations suggest that increased numbers of MMP-9 expressing glia and their subsequent engulfment of PNNs around α-motor neurons render these neurons sensitive to oxidative damage and eventual death in the SOD1G93A ALS model mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Won Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Ekta Bhavnani
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - David G Simmons
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Mark C Bellingham
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
| | - Peter G Noakes
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
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4
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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.
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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
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5
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Kang Y, Saito M, Toyoda H. Molecular, Morphological and Electrophysiological Differences between Alpha and Gamma Motoneurons with Special Reference to the Trigeminal Motor Nucleus of Rat. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5266. [PMID: 38791305 PMCID: PMC11121624 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105266] [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: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The muscle contraction during voluntary movement is controlled by activities of alpha- and gamma-motoneurons (αMNs and γMNs, respectively). In spite of the recent advances in research on molecular markers that can distinguish between αMNs and γMNs, electrophysiological membrane properties and firing patterns of γMNs have remained unknown, while those of αMNs have been clarified in detail. Because of the larger size of αMNs compared to γMNs, blindly or even visually recorded MNs were mostly αMNs, as demonstrated with molecular markers recently. Subsequently, the research on αMNs has made great progress in classifying their subtypes based on the molecular markers and electrophysiological membrane properties, whereas only a few studies demonstrated the electrophysiological membrane properties of γMNs. In this review article, we provide an overview of the recent advances in research on the classification of αMNs and γMNs based on molecular markers and electrophysiological membrane properties, and discuss their functional implication and significance in motor control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngnam Kang
- Department of Behavioral Physiology, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Saito
- Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Sakuragaoka 8-35-1, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan;
| | - Hiroki Toyoda
- Department of Oral Physiology, Graduate School of Dentistry, The University of Osaka, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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6
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Ortega JA, Soares de Aguiar GP, Chandravanshi P, Levy N, Engel E, Álvarez Z. Exploring the properties and potential of the neural extracellular matrix for next-generation regenerative therapies. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 16:e1962. [PMID: 38723788 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a dynamic and complex network of proteins and molecules that surrounds cells and tissues in the nervous system and orchestrates a myriad of biological functions. This review carefully examines the diverse interactions between cells and the ECM, as well as the transformative chemical and physical changes that the ECM undergoes during neural development, aging, and disease. These transformations play a pivotal role in shaping tissue morphogenesis and neural activity, thereby influencing the functionality of the central nervous system (CNS). In our comprehensive review, we describe the diverse behaviors of the CNS ECM in different physiological and pathological scenarios and explore the unique properties that make ECM-based strategies attractive for CNS repair and regeneration. Addressing the challenges of scalability, variability, and integration with host tissues, we review how advanced natural, synthetic, and combinatorial matrix approaches enhance biocompatibility, mechanical properties, and functional recovery. Overall, this review highlights the potential of decellularized ECM as a powerful tool for CNS modeling and regenerative purposes and sets the stage for future research in this exciting field. This article is categorized under: Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Neurological Disease Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alberto Ortega
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
| | - Gisele P Soares de Aguiar
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, Spain
| | - Palash Chandravanshi
- Biomaterials for Neural Regeneration Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Natacha Levy
- Biomaterials for Neural Regeneration Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elisabeth Engel
- IMEM-BRT Group, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, EEBE, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain
- Biomaterials for Regenerative Therapies Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, CIBER-BBN, Madrid, Spain
| | - Zaida Álvarez
- Biomaterials for Neural Regeneration Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER en Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, CIBER-BBN, Madrid, Spain
- Simpson Querrey Institute for BioNanotechnology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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7
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Kampmann M. Molecular and cellular mechanisms of selective vulnerability in neurodegenerative diseases. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:351-371. [PMID: 38575768 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00806-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
The selective vulnerability of specific neuronal subtypes is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. In this Review, I summarize our current understanding of the brain regions and cell types that are selectively vulnerable in different neurodegenerative diseases and describe the proposed underlying cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous mechanisms. I highlight how recent methodological innovations - including single-cell transcriptomics, CRISPR-based screens and human cell-based models of disease - are enabling new breakthroughs in our understanding of selective vulnerability. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms that determine selective vulnerability and resilience would shed light on the key processes that drive neurodegeneration and point to potential therapeutic strategies to protect vulnerable cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Kampmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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8
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Zaman B, Mostafa I, Hassan T, Ahmed S, Esha NJI, Chowdhury FA, Bosu T, Chowdhury HN, Mallick A, Islam MS, Sharmin A, Uddin KM, Hossain MM, Rahman M. Tolperisone hydrochloride improves motor functions in Parkinson's disease via MMP-9 inhibition and by downregulating p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 signaling cascade. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116438. [PMID: 38513594 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116438] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, particularly the p38 MAPK and ERK1/2, has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Recent studies have shown that MAPK signaling pathway can influence the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9), known for its involvement in various physiological and pathological processes, including neurodegenerative diseases. This study explores the modulation of MMP-9 expression via the MAPK/ERK signaling cascade and its potential therapeutic implications in the context of PD-associated motor dysfunction. Here, tolperisone hydrochloride (TL), a muscle relaxant that blocks voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels, was used as a treatment to observe its effect on MAPK signaling and MMP-9 expression. Rotenone (RT) exposure in mice resulted in a significant reduction in substantia nigra and primary motor cortex neurons, which were further evidenced by impairments in motor function. When TL was administered, neuron count was restored (89.0 ± 4.78 vs 117.0 ± 4.46/mm2), and most of the motor dysfunction was alleviated. Mechanistically, TL reduced the protein expression of phospho-p38MAPK (1.06 fold vs 1.00 fold) and phospho-ERK1/2 (1.16 fold vs 1.02 fold), leading to the inhibition of MAPK signaling, as well as reduced MMP-9 concentrations (2.76 ± 0.10 vs 1.94 ± 0.10 ng/mL) in the process of rescuing RT-induced neuronal cell death and motor dysfunction. Computational analysis further revealed TL's potential inhibitory properties against MMP-9 along with N and L-type calcium channels. These findings shed light on TL's neuroprotective effects via MMP-9 inhibition and MAPK signaling downregulation, offering potential therapeutic avenues for PD-associated motor dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bushra Zaman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh; Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Irona Mostafa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Tazree Hassan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Shamim Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Nusrat Jahan Ikbal Esha
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Fowzia Afsana Chowdhury
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Tory Bosu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Humayra Noor Chowdhury
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Anup Mallick
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Mm Shanjid Islam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Ayesha Sharmin
- Department of Chemistry, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Kabir M Uddin
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mainul Hossain
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Mahbubur Rahman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka 1229, Bangladesh.
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9
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Dermentzaki G, Furlan M, Tanaka I, Leonardi T, Rinchetti P, Passos PMS, Bastos A, Ayala YM, Hanna JH, Przedborski S, Bonanomi D, Pelizzola M, Lotti F. Depletion of Mettl3 in cholinergic neurons causes adult-onset neuromuscular degeneration. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113999. [PMID: 38554281 PMCID: PMC11216409 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113999] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron (MN) demise is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Post-transcriptional gene regulation can control RNA's fate, and defects in RNA processing are critical determinants of MN degeneration. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a post-transcriptional RNA modification that controls diverse aspects of RNA metabolism. To assess the m6A requirement in MNs, we depleted the m6A methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in cells and mice. METTL3 depletion in embryonic stem cell-derived MNs has profound and selective effects on survival and neurite outgrowth. Mice with cholinergic neuron-specific METTL3 depletion display a progressive decline in motor behavior, accompanied by MN loss and muscle denervation, culminating in paralysis and death. Reader proteins convey m6A effects, and their silencing phenocopies METTL3 depletion. Among the m6A targets, we identified transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) and discovered that its expression is under epitranscriptomic control. Thus, impaired m6A signaling disrupts MN homeostasis and triggers neurodegeneration conceivably through TDP-43 deregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Dermentzaki
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Departments of Pathology & Cell Biology and Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mattia Furlan
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Iris Tanaka
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Tommaso Leonardi
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Rinchetti
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Departments of Pathology & Cell Biology and Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Patricia M S Passos
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Alliny Bastos
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yuna M Ayala
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Jacob H Hanna
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Serge Przedborski
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Departments of Pathology & Cell Biology and Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dario Bonanomi
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Mattia Pelizzola
- Center for Genomic Science of IIT@SEMM, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Milan, Italy; Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Lotti
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease, Departments of Pathology & Cell Biology and Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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10
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Antonucci S, Caron G, Dikwella N, Krishnamurty SS, Harster A, Zarrin H, Tahanis A, Heuvel FO, Danner SM, Ludolph A, Grycz K, Baczyk M, Zytnicki D, Roselli F. Non-canonical adrenergic neuromodulation of motoneuron intrinsic excitability through β-receptors in wild-type and ALS mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.25.586570. [PMID: 38585891 PMCID: PMC10996613 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.25.586570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Altered neuronal excitability and synaptic inputs to motoneurons are part of the pathophysiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The cAMP/PKA pathway regulates both of them but therapeutic interventions at this level are limited by the lack of knowledge about suitable pharmacological entry points. Here we used transcriptomics on microdissected and in situ motoneurons to reveal the modulation of PKA-coupled receptorome in SOD1(G93A) ALS mice, vs WT, demonstrating the dysregulation of multiple PKA-coupled GPCRs, in particular on vulnerable MNs, and the relative sparing of β-adrenergic receptors. In vivo MN electrophysiology showed that β2/β3 agonists acutely increase excitability, in particular the input/output relationship, demonstrating a non-canonical adrenergic neuromodulation mediated by β2/β3 receptors both in WT and SOD1 mice. The excitability increase corresponds to the upregulation of immediate-early gene expression and dysregulation of ion channels transcriptome. However the β2/β3 neuromodulation is submitted to a strong homeostasis, since a ten days delivery of β2/β3 agonists results in an abolition of the excitability increase. The homeostatic response is largely caused by a substantial downregulation of PKA-coupled GPCRs in MNs from WT and SOD1 mice. Thus, β-adrenergic receptors are physiologically involved in the regulation of MN excitability and transcriptomics, but, intriguingly, a strong homeostatic response is triggered upon chronic pharmacologic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guillaume Caron
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Anthony Harster
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Simon M. Danner
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, Drexel University, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Albert Ludolph
- Dept. of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, DE
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)-Ulm, DE
| | - Kamil Grycz
- Dept. of Neurobiology, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poland
| | - Marcin Baczyk
- Dept. of Neurobiology, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poland
| | - Daniel Zytnicki
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, Paris, France
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Dept. of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, DE
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)-Ulm, DE
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11
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Harris-Warrick RM, Pecchi E, Drouillas B, Brocard F, Bos R. Effect of size on expression of bistability in mouse spinal motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 2024; 131:577-588. [PMID: 38380829 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00320.2023] [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: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Bistability in spinal motoneurons supports tonic spike activity in the absence of excitatory drive. Earlier work in adult preparations suggested that smaller motoneurons innervating slow antigravity muscle fibers are more likely to generate bistability for postural maintenance. However, whether large motoneurons innervating fast-fatigable muscle fibers display bistability is still controversial. To address this, we examined the relationship between soma size and bistability in lumbar (L4-L5) ventrolateral α-motoneurons of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT)-green fluorescent protein (GFP) and Hb9-GFP mice during the first 4 wk of life. We found that as neuron size increases, the prevalence of bistability rises. Smaller α-motoneurons lack bistability, whereas larger fast α-motoneurons [matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)+/Hb9+] with a soma area ≥ 400 µm2 exhibit significantly higher bistability. Ionic currents associated with bistability, including the persistent Nav1.6 current, the thermosensitive Trpm5 Ca2+-activated Na+ current, and the slowly inactivating Kv1.2 current, also scale with cell size. Serotonin evokes full bistability in large motoneurons with partial bistable properties but not in small motoneurons. Our study provides important insights into the neural mechanisms underlying bistability and how motoneuron size correlates with bistability in mice.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Bistability is not a common feature of all mouse spinal motoneurons. It is absent in small, slow motoneurons but present in most large, fast motoneurons. This difference results from differential expression of ionic currents that enable bistability, which are highly expressed in large motoneurons but small or absent in small motoneurons. These results support a possible role for fast motoneurons in maintenance of tonic posture in addition to their known roles in fast movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald M Harris-Warrick
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States
| | - Emilie Pecchi
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Benoît Drouillas
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Frédéric Brocard
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
| | - Rémi Bos
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Institut de Neurosciences de la Timone (INT), UMR 7289, Marseille, France
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12
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Zhu H, Dalvi U, Cazenave W, Cattaert D, Branchereau P. Excitatory action of low frequency depolarizing GABA/glycine synaptic inputs is prevalent in prenatal spinal SOD1 G93A motoneurons. J Physiol 2024; 602:913-932. [PMID: 38345477 DOI: 10.1113/jp285105] [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: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron degeneration and muscle paralysis. Recent evidence suggests the dysfunction of inhibitory signalling in ALS motor neurons. We have shown that embryonic day (E)17.5 spinal motoneurons (MNs) of the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS exhibit an altered chloride homeostasis. At this prenatal stage, inhibition of spinal motoneurons (MNs) is mediated by depolarizing GABAergic/glycinergic postsynaptic potentials (dGPSPs). Here, using an ex vivo preparation and patch clamp recording from MNs with a chloride equilibrium set below spike threshold, we report that low input resistance (Rin ) E17.5 MNs from the SOD1G93A ALS mouse model do not correctly integrate dGPSPs evoked by electrical stimulations of GABA/glycine inputs at different frequencies. Indeed, firing activity of most wild-type (WT) MNs with low Rin was inhibited by incoming dGPSPs, whereas low Rin SOD1G93A MNs were excited or exhibited a dual response (excited by low frequency dGPSPs and inhibited by high frequency dGPSPs). Simulation highlighted the importance of the GABA/glycine input density and showed that pure excitation could be obtained in SOD-like MNs by moving GABA/glycine input away from the cell body to dendrites. This was in agreement with confocal imaging showing a lack of peri-somatic inhibitory terminals in SOD1G93A MNs compared to WT littermates. Putative fast ALS-vulnerable MNs with low Rin are therefore lacking functional inhibition at the near-term prenatal stage. KEY POINTS: We analysed the integration of GABAergic/glycinergic synaptic events by embryonic spinal motoneurons (MNs) in a mouse model of the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) neurodegenerative disease. We found that GABAergic/glycinergic synaptic events do not properly inhibit ALS MNs with low input resistance, most probably corresponding to future vulnerable MNs. We used a neuron model to highlight the importance of the GABA/glycine terminal location and density in the integration of the GABAergic/glycinergic synaptic events. Confocal imaging showed a lack of GABA/glycine terminals on the cell body of ALS MNs. The present study suggests that putative ALS vulnerable MNs with low Rin lack functional inhibition at the near-term stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Zhu
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | - Urvashi Dalvi
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
| | | | - Daniel Cattaert
- University Bordeaux, CNRS, INCIA, UMR 5287, Bordeaux, France
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Si X, Dai S, Fang Y, Tang J, Wang Z, Li Y, Song Z, Chen Y, Liu Y, Zhao G, Zhang B, Pu J. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 inhibition prevents aquaporin-4 depolarization-mediated glymphatic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease. J Adv Res 2024; 56:125-136. [PMID: 36940850 PMCID: PMC10834796 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The glymphatic system offers a perivascular pathway for the clearance of pathological proteins and metabolites to optimize neurological functions. Glymphatic dysfunction plays a pathogenic role in Parkinson's disease (PD); however, the molecular mechanism of glymphatic dysfunction in PD remains elusive. OBJECTIVE To explore whether matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)-mediated β-dystroglycan (β-DG) cleavage is involved in the regulation of aquaporin-4 (AQP4) polarity-mediated glymphatic system in PD. METHODS 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD and A53T mice were used in this study. The glymphatic function was evaluated using ex vivo imaging. TGN-020, an AQP4 antagonist, was administered to investigate the role of AQP4 in glymphatic dysfunction in PD. GM6001, an MMP-9 antagonist, was administered to investigate the role of the MMP-9/β-DG pathway in regulating AQP4. The expression and distribution of AQP4, MMP-9, and β-DG were assessed using western blotting, immunofluorescence, and co-immunoprecipitation. The ultrastructure of basement membrane (BM)-astrocyte endfeet was detected using transmission electron microscopy. Rotarod and open-field tests were performed to evaluate motor behavior. RESULTS Perivascular influx and efflux of cerebral spinal fluid tracers were reduced in MPTP-induced PD mice with impaired AQP4 polarization. AQP4 inhibition aggravated reactive astrogliosis, glymphatic drainage restriction, and dopaminergic neuronal loss in MPTP-induced PD mice. MMP-9 and cleaved β-DG were upregulated in both MPTP-induced PD and A53T mice, with reduced polarized localization of β-DG and AQP4 to astrocyte endfeet. MMP-9 inhibition restored BM-astrocyte endfeet-AQP4 integrity and attenuated MPTP-induced metabolic perturbations and dopaminergic neuronal loss. CONCLUSION AQP4 depolarization contributes to glymphatic dysfunction and aggravates PD pathologies, and MMP-9-mediated β-DG cleavage regulates glymphatic function through AQP4 polarization in PD, which may provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Si
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China; Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang 322000, China
| | - Shaobing Dai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Yi Fang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Jiahui Tang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Zhiyun Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Yaolin Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Zhe Song
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Ying Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China
| | - Guohua Zhao
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China; Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang 322000, China.
| | - Baorong Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China.
| | - Jiali Pu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310009, China.
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14
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Ovsepian SV, O'Leary VB, Martinez S. Selective vulnerability of motor neuron types and functional groups to degeneration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: review of the neurobiological mechanisms and functional correlates. Brain Struct Funct 2024; 229:1-14. [PMID: 37999738 PMCID: PMC10827929 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02728-6] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative condition characterised by a progressive loss of motor neurons controlling voluntary muscle activity. The disease manifests through a variety of motor dysfunctions related to the extent of damage and loss of neurons at different anatomical locations. Despite extensive research, it remains unclear why some motor neurons are especially susceptible to the disease, while others are affected less or even spared. In this article, we review the neurobiological mechanisms, neurochemical profiles, and morpho-functional characteristics of various motor neuron groups and types of motor units implicated in their differential exposure to degeneration. We discuss specific cell-autonomous (intrinsic) and extrinsic factors influencing the vulnerability gradient of motor units and motor neuron types to ALS, with their impact on disease manifestation, course, and prognosis, as revealed in preclinical and clinical studies. We consider the outstanding challenges and emerging opportunities for interpreting the phenotypic and mechanistic variability of the disease to identify targets for clinical interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saak V Ovsepian
- Faculty of Engineering and Science, University of Greenwich London, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK.
| | - Valerie B O'Leary
- Department of Medical Genetics, Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Ruská 87, 10000, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Salvador Martinez
- Instituto de Neurociencias UMH-CSIC, Avda. Ramon y Cajal, 03550, San Juan de Alicante, Spain.
- Center of Biomedical Network Research on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
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15
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Kang Q, Jiang S, Min J, Hu F, Xu R. Parvalbumin interneurons dysfunction is potentially associated with FαMNs decrease and NRG1-ErbB4 signaling inhibition in spinal cord in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:15324-15339. [PMID: 38157256 PMCID: PMC10781496 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205351] [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: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the alteration of PV interneurons in ALS mainly focusing its dynamic changes and its relationship with motor neurons and ErbB4 signaling. METHODS SOD1G93A mice were used as ALS model. ALS animals were divided into different groups according to birth age: symptomatic prophase (50~60 days), symptomatic phase (90~100 days), and symptomatic progression (130~140 days). Immunofluorescence was performed for measurement of PV-positive interneurons, MMP-9, ChAT, NeuN and ErbB4. RT-qPCR and western blot were used to determine the expression of PV and MMP-9. RESULTS PV expression was remarkably higher in the anterior horn of gray matter compared with posterior horn and area in the middle of gray matter in control mice. In ALS mice, PV, MMP-9 and ErbB4 levels were gradually decreased along with onset. PV, MMP-9 and ErbB4 levels in ALS mice were significantly down-regulated than control mice after onset, indicating the alteration of PV interneurons, FαMNs and ErbB4. SαMNs levels only decreased remarkably at symptomatic progression in ALS mice compared with control mice, while γMNs levels showed no significant change during whole period in all mice. MMP-9 and ErbB4 were positively correlated with PV. NRG1 treatment significantly enhanced the expression of ErBb4, PV and MMP-9 in ALS mice. CONCLUSION PV interneurons decrease is along with FαMNs and ErbB4 decrease in ALS mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Kang
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
| | - Shishi Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
| | - Jun Min
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
| | - Fan Hu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
| | - Renshi Xu
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
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16
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Marriott H, Kabiljo R, Hunt GP, Khleifat AA, Jones A, Troakes C, Pfaff AL, Quinn JP, Koks S, Dobson RJ, Schwab P, Al-Chalabi A, Iacoangeli A. Unsupervised machine learning identifies distinct ALS molecular subtypes in post-mortem motor cortex and blood expression data. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:208. [PMID: 38129934 PMCID: PMC10734072 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01686-8] [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: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) displays considerable clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Machine learning approaches have previously been utilised for patient stratification in ALS as they can disentangle complex disease landscapes. However, lack of independent validation in different populations and tissue samples have greatly limited their use in clinical and research settings. We overcame these issues by performing hierarchical clustering on the 5000 most variably expressed autosomal genes from motor cortex expression data of people with sporadic ALS from the KCL BrainBank (N = 112). Three molecular phenotypes linked to ALS pathogenesis were identified: synaptic and neuropeptide signalling, oxidative stress and apoptosis, and neuroinflammation. Cluster validation was achieved by applying linear discriminant analysis models to cases from TargetALS US motor cortex (N = 93), as well as Italian (N = 15) and Dutch (N = 397) blood expression datasets, for which there was a high assignment probability (80-90%) for each molecular subtype. The ALS and motor cortex specificity of the expression signatures were tested by mapping KCL BrainBank controls (N = 59), and occipital cortex (N = 45) and cerebellum (N = 123) samples from TargetALS to each cluster, before constructing case-control and motor cortex-region logistic regression classifiers. We found that the signatures were not only able to distinguish people with ALS from controls (AUC 0.88 ± 0.10), but also reflect the motor cortex-based disease process, as there was perfect discrimination between motor cortex and the other brain regions. Cell types known to be involved in the biological processes of each molecular phenotype were found in higher proportions, reinforcing their biological interpretation. Phenotype analysis revealed distinct cluster-related outcomes in both motor cortex datasets, relating to disease onset and progression-related measures. Our results support the hypothesis that different mechanisms underpin ALS pathogenesis in subgroups of patients and demonstrate potential for the development of personalised treatment approaches. Our method is available for the scientific and clinical community at https://alsgeclustering.er.kcl.ac.uk .
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather Marriott
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Renata Kabiljo
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Guy P Hunt
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Ahmad Al Khleifat
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Ashley Jones
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Claire Troakes
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
- MRC London Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Abigail L Pfaff
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - John P Quinn
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Sulev Koks
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Richard J Dobson
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, London, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Patrick Schwab
- GlaxoSmithKline, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
- King's College Hospital, London, SE5 9RS, UK
| | - Alfredo Iacoangeli
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King?s College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK.
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- NIHR Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK.
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17
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Sharples SA, Broadhead MJ, Gray JA, Miles GB. M-type potassium currents differentially affect activation of motoneuron subtypes and tune recruitment gain. J Physiol 2023; 601:5751-5775. [PMID: 37988235 DOI: 10.1113/jp285348] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The size principle is a key mechanism governing the orderly recruitment of motor units and is believed to be dependent on passive properties of the constituent motoneurons. However, motoneurons are endowed with voltage-sensitive ion channels that create non-linearities in their input-output functions. Here we describe a role for the M-type potassium current, conducted by KCNQ channels, in the control of motoneuron recruitment in mice. Motoneurons were studied with whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology in transverse spinal slices and identified based on delayed (fast) and immediate (slow) onsets of repetitive firing. M-currents were larger in delayed compared to immediate firing motoneurons, which was not reflected by variations in the presence of Kv7.2 or Kv7.3 subunits. Instead, a more depolarized spike threshold in delayed-firing motoneurons afforded a greater proportion of the total M-current to become activated within the subthreshold voltage range, which translated to a greater influence on their recruitment with little influence on their firing rates. Pharmacological activation of M-currents also influenced motoneuron recruitment at the population level, producing a rightward shift in the recruitment curve of monosynaptic reflexes within isolated mouse spinal cords. These results demonstrate a prominent role for M-type potassium currents in regulating the function of motor units, which occurs primarily through the differential control of motoneuron subtype recruitment. More generally, these findings highlight the importance of active properties mediated by voltage-sensitive ion channels in the differential control of motoneuron recruitment, which is a key mechanism for the gradation of muscle force. KEY POINTS: M-currents exert an inhibitory influence on spinal motor output. This inhibitory influence is exerted by controlling the recruitment, but not the firing rate, of high-threshold fast-like motoneurons, with limited influence on low-threshold slow-like motoneurons. Preferential control of fast motoneurons may be linked to a larger M-current that is activated within the subthreshold voltage range compared to slow motoneurons. Larger M-currents in fast compared to slow motoneurons are not accounted for by differences in Kv7.2 or Kv7.3 channel composition. The orderly recruitment of motoneuron subtypes is shaped by differences in the contribution of voltage-gated ion channels, including KCNQ channels. KCNQ channels may provide a target to dynamically modulate the recruitment gain across the motor pool and readily adjust movement vigour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon A Sharples
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, Fife, UK
| | | | - James A Gray
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, Fife, UK
| | - Gareth B Miles
- School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, Fife, UK
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18
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Harris-Warrick RM, Pecchi E, Drouillas B, Brocard F, Bos R. A size principle for bistability in mouse spinal motoneurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.29.559784. [PMID: 37808773 PMCID: PMC10557784 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.29.559784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Bistability in spinal motoneurons supports tonic spike activity in the absence of excitatory drive. Earlier work in adult preparations suggested that smaller motoneurons innervating slow antigravity muscle fibers are more likely to generate bistability for postural maintenance. However, whether large motoneurons innervating fast-fatigable muscle fibers display bistability related to postural tone is still controversial. To address this, we examined the relationship between soma size and bistability in lumbar ventrolateral α-motoneurons of ChAT-GFP and Hb9-GFP mice across different developmental stages: neonatal (P2-P7), young (P7-P14) and mature (P21-P25). We found that as neuron size increases, the prevalence of bistability rises. Smaller α-motoneurons lack bistability, while larger fast α-motoneurons (MMP-9 + /Hb9 + ) with a soma area ≥ 400µm 2 exhibit significantly higher bistability. Ionic currents associated with bistability, including the persistent Nav1.6 current, thermosensitive Trpm5 Ca 2+ -activated Na + current and the slowly inactivating Kv1.2 current, also scale with cell size. Serotonin evokes full bistability in large motoneurons with partial bistable properties, but not in small motoneurons. Our study provides important insights into the neural mechanisms underlying bistability and how motoneuron size dictates this process. New and Noteworthy Bistability is not a common feature of all mouse spinal motoneurons. It is absent in small, slow motoneurons but present in most large, fast motoneurons. This difference results from differential expression of ionic currents that enable bistability, which are highly expressed in large motoneurons but small or absent in small motoneurons. These results support a possible role for fast motoneurons in maintenance of tonic posture in addition to their known roles in fast movements.
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Vahsen BF, Nalluru S, Morgan GR, Farrimond L, Carroll E, Xu Y, Cramb KML, Amein B, Scaber J, Katsikoudi A, Candalija A, Carcolé M, Dafinca R, Isaacs AM, Wade-Martins R, Gray E, Turner MR, Cowley SA, Talbot K. C9orf72-ALS human iPSC microglia are pro-inflammatory and toxic to co-cultured motor neurons via MMP9. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5898. [PMID: 37736756 PMCID: PMC10517114 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41603-0] [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: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron loss, with additional pathophysiological involvement of non-neuronal cells such as microglia. The commonest ALS-associated genetic variant is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) mutation in C9orf72. Here, we study its consequences for microglial function using human iPSC-derived microglia. By RNA-sequencing, we identify enrichment of pathways associated with immune cell activation and cyto-/chemokines in C9orf72 HRE mutant microglia versus healthy controls, most prominently after LPS priming. Specifically, LPS-primed C9orf72 HRE mutant microglia show consistently increased expression and release of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9). LPS-primed C9orf72 HRE mutant microglia are toxic to co-cultured healthy motor neurons, which is ameliorated by concomitant application of an MMP9 inhibitor. Finally, we identify release of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) as a marker for MMP9-dependent microglial dysregulation in co-culture. These results demonstrate cellular dysfunction of C9orf72 HRE mutant microglia, and a non-cell-autonomous role in driving C9orf72-ALS pathophysiology in motor neurons through MMP9 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn F Vahsen
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Sumedha Nalluru
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Georgia R Morgan
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Lucy Farrimond
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Emily Carroll
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Yinyan Xu
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS), CAMS Oxford Institute (COI), Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, UK
| | - Kaitlyn M L Cramb
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Benazir Amein
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Jakub Scaber
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Antigoni Katsikoudi
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Molecular Neurodegeneration Research Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Ana Candalija
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Mireia Carcolé
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WCIN 3BG, UK
| | - Ruxandra Dafinca
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Adrian M Isaacs
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL and Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, WCIN 3BG, UK
| | - Richard Wade-Martins
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre, Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Elizabeth Gray
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Sally A Cowley
- James and Lillian Martin Centre for Stem Cell Research, Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK.
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Oxford Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, University of Oxford, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
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Abdullatef S, Farina C. Publicly available ex vivo transcriptomics datasets to explore CNS physiology and neurodegeneration: state of the art and perspectives. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1211079. [PMID: 37680966 PMCID: PMC10481165 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1211079] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is characterized by an intricate composition of diverse cell types, including neurons and glia cells (astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and microglia), whose functions may differ along time, between sexes and upon pathology. The advancements in high-throughput transcriptomics are providing fundamental insights on cell phenotypes, so that molecular codes and instructions are ever more described for CNS physiology and neurodegeneration. To facilitate the search of relevant information, this review provides an overview of key CNS transcriptomics studies ranging from CNS development to ageing and from physiology to pathology as defined for five neurodegenerative disorders and their relative animal models, with a focus on molecular descriptions whose raw data were publicly available. Accurate phenotypic descriptions of cellular states correlate with functional changes and this knowledge may support research devoted to the development of therapeutic strategies supporting CNS repair and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Abdullatef
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Cinthia Farina
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSpe), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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21
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Cao W, Fan D. Neutrophils: a subgroup of neglected immune cells in ALS. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1246768. [PMID: 37662922 PMCID: PMC10468589 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1246768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of motor neurons. Dysregulated peripheral immunity has been identified as a hallmark of ALS. Neutrophils, as the front-line responders of innate immunity, contribute to host defense through pathogen clearance. However, they can concurrently play a detrimental role in chronic inflammation. With the unveiling of novel functions of neutrophils in neurodegenerative diseases, it becomes essential to review our current understanding of neutrophils and to recognize the gap in our knowledge about their role in ALS. Thus, a detailed comprehension of the biological processes underlying neutrophil-induced pathogenesis in ALS may assist in identifying potential cell-based therapeutic strategies to delay disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Cao
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Dongsheng Fan
- Department of Neurology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Biomarker and Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory for Neuroscience, National Health Commission/Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing, China
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22
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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.
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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
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23
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Valero-Calvo D, Toyos-Rodriguez C, García-Alonso FJ, de la Escosura-Muñiz A. Electrochemical monitoring of enzymatic cleavage in nanochannels with nanoparticle-based enhancement: determination of MMP-9 biomarker. Mikrochim Acta 2023; 190:257. [PMID: 37303001 DOI: 10.1007/s00604-023-05835-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
For the first time the use of nanoparticles as carriers of an enzymatic substrate immobilized inside nanoporous alumina membranes is proposed with the aim of amplifying the nanochannel blocking produced and, consequently, improving the efficiency of an enzyme determination through enzymatic cleavage. Streptavidin-modified polystyrene nanoparticles (PSNPs) are proposed as carrier agents, contributing to the steric and the electrostatic blockage due to the charge they present at different pH values. Electrostatic blockage is the predominant effect that governs the blockage in the interior of the nanochannel and is dependent not just in the charge inside the channel, but also in the polarity of the redox indicator used. Hence, the effect of using negatively charged ([Fe(CN)6]4-) and positively charged ([Ru(NH3)6]3+) redox indicator ions is studied for the first time. Under the optimum conditions, matrix-metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) is detected at clinically relevant levels (100-1200 ng/mL) showing a detection limit of 75 ng/mL and a quantification limit of 251 ng/mL with good reproducibility (RSD: 8%) and selectivity, also showing an excellent performance in real samples with acceptable recovery percentages (in the range around 80-110%). Overall, our approach represents a cheap and fast sensing methodology of great potential in point-of-care diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Valero-Calvo
- NanoBioAnalysis Group, Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Julián Claveria 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Biotechnology Institute of Asturias, University of Oviedo, Santiago Gascon Building, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Celia Toyos-Rodriguez
- NanoBioAnalysis Group, Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Julián Claveria 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Biotechnology Institute of Asturias, University of Oviedo, Santiago Gascon Building, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier García-Alonso
- Biotechnology Institute of Asturias, University of Oviedo, Santiago Gascon Building, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- NanoBioAnalysis Group, Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Julián Clavería 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Alfredo de la Escosura-Muñiz
- NanoBioAnalysis Group, Department of Physical and Analytical Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Julián Claveria 8, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
- Biotechnology Institute of Asturias, University of Oviedo, Santiago Gascon Building, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
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24
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Soles A, Selimovic A, Sbrocco K, Ghannoum F, Hamel K, Moncada EL, Gilliat S, Cvetanovic M. Extracellular Matrix Regulation in Physiology and in Brain Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:7049. [PMID: 37108212 PMCID: PMC10138624 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) surrounds cells in the brain, providing structural and functional support. Emerging studies demonstrate that the ECM plays important roles during development, in the healthy adult brain, and in brain diseases. The aim of this review is to briefly discuss the physiological roles of the ECM and its contribution to the pathogenesis of brain disease, highlighting the gene expression changes, transcriptional factors involved, and a role for microglia in ECM regulation. Much of the research conducted thus far on disease states has focused on "omic" approaches that reveal differences in gene expression related to the ECM. Here, we review recent findings on alterations in the expression of ECM-associated genes in seizure, neuropathic pain, cerebellar ataxia, and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Next, we discuss evidence implicating the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) in regulating the expression of ECM genes. HIF-1 is induced in response to hypoxia, and also targets genes involved in ECM remodeling, suggesting that hypoxia could contribute to ECM remodeling in disease conditions. We conclude by discussing the role microglia play in the regulation of the perineuronal nets (PNNs), a specialized form of ECM in the central nervous system. We show evidence that microglia can modulate PNNs in healthy and diseased brain states. Altogether, these findings suggest that ECM regulation is altered in brain disease, and highlight the role of HIF-1 and microglia in ECM remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa Soles
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Adem Selimovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Kaelin Sbrocco
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Ferris Ghannoum
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Katherine Hamel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Emmanuel Labrada Moncada
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Stephen Gilliat
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Marija Cvetanovic
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 321 Church St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
- Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 2101 6th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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25
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Ketabforoush AHME, Chegini R, Barati S, Tahmasebi F, Moghisseh B, Joghataei MT, Faghihi F, Azedi F. Masitinib: The promising actor in the next season of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis treatment series. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 160:114378. [PMID: 36774721 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114378] [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] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with high mortality and morbidity rate affecting both upper and lower motor neurons (MN). Muscle force reduction, behavioral change, pseudobulbar affect, and cognitive impairments are the most common clinical manifestations of ALS. The main physiopathology of ALS is still unclear, though several studies have identified that oxidative stress, proteinopathies, glutamate-related excitotoxicity, microglial activation, and neuroinflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of ALS. From 1995 until October 2022, only Riluzole, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide (DH) with Quinidine sulfate (Q), Edaravone, and Sodium phenylbutyrate with Taurursodiol (PB/TUDCO) have achieved FDA approval for ALS treatment. Despite the use of these four approved agents, the survival rate and quality of life of ALS patients are still low. Thus, finding novel treatments for ALS patients is an urgent requirement. Masitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, emphasizes the neuro-inflammatory activity of ALS by targeting macrophages, mast cells, and microglia cells. Masitinib downregulates the proinflammatory cytokines, indirectly reduces inflammation, and induces neuroprotection. Also, it was effective in phase 2/3 and 3 clinical trials (CTs) by increasing overall survival and delaying motor, bulbar, and respiratory function deterioration. This review describes the pathophysiology of ALS, focusing on Masitinib's mechanism of action and explaining why Masitinib could be a promising actor in the treatment of ALS patients. In addition, Masitinib CTs and other competitor drugs in phase 3 CTs have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rojin Chegini
- Metabolic Liver Disease Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Shirin Barati
- Department of Anatomy, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tahmasebi
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Bardia Moghisseh
- Student Research Committee, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Joghataei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Faghihi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Fereshteh Azedi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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26
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Steinruecke M, Lonergan RM, Selvaraj BT, Chandran S, Diaz-Castro B, Stavrou M. Blood-CNS barrier dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Proposed mechanisms and clinical implications. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2023; 43:642-654. [PMID: 36704819 PMCID: PMC10108188 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x231153281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
There is strong evidence for blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barrier dysfunction at the early stages of many neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Since impairment of the blood-central nervous system barrier (BCNSB) occurs during the pre-symptomatic stages of ALS, the mechanisms underlying this pathology are likely also involved in the ALS disease process. In this review, we explore how drivers of ALS disease, particularly mitochondrial dysfunction, astrocyte pathology and neuroinflammation, may contribute to BCNSB impairment. Mitochondria are highly abundant in BCNSB tissue and mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS contributes to motor neuron death. Likewise, astrocytes adopt key physical, transport and metabolic functions at the barrier, many of which are impaired in ALS. Astrocytes also show raised expression of inflammatory markers in ALS and ablating ALS-causing transgenes in astrocytes slows disease progression. In addition, key drivers of neuroinflammation, including TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) pathology, matrix metalloproteinase activation and systemic inflammation, affect BCNSB integrity in ALS. Finally, we discuss the translational implications of BCNSB dysfunction in ALS, including the development of biomarkers for disease onset and progression, approaches aimed at restoring BCNSB integrity and in vitro modelling of the neurogliovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Steinruecke
- Edinburgh Medical School, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Bhuvaneish T Selvaraj
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Siddharthan Chandran
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Blanca Diaz-Castro
- Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Maria Stavrou
- Euan MacDonald Centre for MND Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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27
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Naito M, Hideyama T, Teramoto S, Saito T, Kato H, Terashi H, Kwak S, Aizawa H. Pathological features of glial cells and motor neurons in the anterior horn of the spinal cord in sporadic ALS using ADAR2 conditional knockout mice. J Neurol Sci 2023; 444:120520. [PMID: 36527980 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2022.120520] [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: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). In the MNs of patients with ALS, adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 2 (ADAR2)-mediated RNA editing of GluA2 mRNA at the Q/R site is profoundly deficient. In genetically modified mice (ADAR2flox/flox/VAChT-Cre.Fast; AR2), the selective knockout of ADAR2 in cholinergic neurons induced progressive loss of lower MNs. MNs exhibiting an age-related increase in abnormal TDP-43 localization and reduced ADAR2 immunoreactivity are localized in the lateral areas of the anterior horns (AHs) in aged wild-type mice. However, the patterns in the AHs of AR2 mice remain unknown. In this study, we investigated whether similar degeneration is observed in AR2 mice. We compared the number of astrocytes and MNs in the lateral and medial AHs of the lumbar spinal cord of 12-month-old AR2 mice with age-matched wild-type mice. The number of MNs significantly decreased in both the lateral and medial areas in AR2 mice AHs, particularly in the former. The number of reactive astrocytes increased significantly in the lateral areas of the AHs of AR2 mice. In conclusion, stronger activation of astrocytes with reduction of MNs in the ADAR2 deficiency-related lateral area increases in AR2 mice AHs. Fast fatigable MNs are expected to be present in the lateral area of the AHs. We found that MN death is more common in the lateral area of AHs associated with FF MNs due to differences in vulnerability to MN under ADAR2 deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Naito
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takuto Hideyama
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Sayaka Teramoto
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomoko Saito
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Haruhisa Kato
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroo Terashi
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin Kwak
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Aizawa
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
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Jacobi A, Tran NM. Defining Selective Neuronal Resilience and Identifying Targets for Neuroprotection and Axon Regeneration Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing: Experimental Approaches. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2636:1-18. [PMID: 36881292 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3012-9_1] [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] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
A prevalent feature among neurodegenerative conditions, including axonal injury, is that certain neuronal types are disproportionately affected, while others are more resilient. Identifying molecular features that separate resilient from susceptible populations could reveal potential targets for neuroprotection and axon regeneration. A powerful approach to resolve molecular differences across cell types is single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). scRNA-seq is a robustly scalable approach that enables the parallel sampling of gene expression across many individual cells. Here we present a systematic framework to apply scRNA-seq to track neuronal survival and gene expression changes following axonal injury. Our methods utilize the mouse retina because it is an experimentally accessible central nervous system tissue and its cell types have been comprehensively characterized by scRNA-seq. This chapter will focus on preparing retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) for scRNA-seq and pre-processing of sequencing results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Jacobi
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas M Tran
- Center for Brain Science and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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Planinc D, Muhamood N, Cabassi C, Iniesta R, Shaw CE, Hodson-Tole E, Bashford J. Fasciculation electromechanical latency is prolonged in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Neurophysiol 2023; 145:71-80. [PMID: 36442378 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.11.005] [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: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), motor neurons become hyperexcitable and spontaneously discharge electrical impulses causing fasciculations. These can be detected by two noninvasive methods: high-density surface electromyography (HDSEMG) and muscle ultrasonography (MUS). We combined these methods simultaneously to explore the electromechanical properties of fasciculations, seeking a novel biomarker of disease. METHODS Twelve ALS patients and thirteen healthy participants each provided up to 24 minutes of recordings from the right biceps brachii (BB) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM). Two automated algorithms (Surface Potential Quantification Engine and a Gaussian mixture model) were applied to HDSEMG and MUS data to identify correlated electromechanical fasciculation events. RESULTS We identified 4,197 correlated electromechanical fasciculation events. HDSEMG reliably detected electromechanical events up to 30 mm below the skin surface with an inverse correlation between amplitude and depth in ALS muscles. Compared to Healthy-GM muscles (mean = 79.8 ms), electromechanical latency was prolonged in ALS-GM (mean = 108.8 ms; p = 0.0458) and ALS-BB (mean = 112.0 ms; p = 0.0128) muscles. Electromechanical latency did not correlate with disease duration, symptom burden, sum muscle power score or fasciculation frequency. CONCLUSIONS Prolonged fasciculation electromechanical latency indicates impairment of the excitation-contraction coupling mechanism, warranting further exploration as a potential novel biomarker of disease in ALS. SIGNIFICANCE This study points to an electromechanical defect within the muscles of ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Planinc
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - N Muhamood
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - C Cabassi
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - R Iniesta
- Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - C E Shaw
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - E Hodson-Tole
- Musculoskeletal Sciences and Sports Medicine Research Centre, Manchester Institute of Sport, Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom
| | - J Bashford
- UK Dementia Research Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, United Kingdom. https://twitter.com/@SPiQEneurology
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Shin SM, Itson-Zoske B, Fan F, Gani U, Rahman M, Hogan QH, Yu H. Peripheral sensory neurons and non-neuronal cells express functional Piezo1 channels. Mol Pain 2023; 19:17448069231174315. [PMID: 37247618 DOI: 10.1177/17448069231174315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we present evidence showing Piezo1 protein expression in the primary sensory neurons (PSNs) and non-neuronal cells of rat peripheral nervous system. Using a knockdown/knockout validated antibody, we detected Piezo1 immunoreactivity (IR) in ∼60% of PSNs of rat dorsal root ganglia (DRG) with higher IR density in the small- and medium-sized neurons. Piezo1-IR was clearly identified in DRG perineuronal glia, including satellite glial cells (SGCs) and Schwann cells; in sciatic nerve Schwann cells surrounding the axons and cutaneous afferent endings; and in skin epidermal Merkel cells and melanocytes. Neuronal and non-neuronal Piezo1 channels were functional since various cells (dissociated PSNs and SGCs from DRGs, isolated Schwann cells, and primary human melanocytes) exhibited a robust response to Piezo1 agonist Yoda1 by an increase of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). These responses were abolished by non-specific Piezo1 antagonist GsMTx4. Immunoblots showed elevated Piezo1 protein in DRG proximal to peripheral nerve injury-induced painful neuropathy, while PSNs and SGCs from rats with neuropathic pain showed greater Yoda1-evoked elevation of [Ca2+]i and an increased frequency of cells responding to Yoda1, compared to controls. Sciatic nerve application of GsMTx4 alleviated mechanical hypersensitivity induced by Yoda1. Overall, our data show that Piezo1 is widely expressed by the neuronal and non-neuronal cells in the peripheral sensory pathways and that painful nerve injury appeared associated with activation of Piezo1 in PSNs and peripheral glial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Min Shin
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Brandon Itson-Zoske
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Fan Fan
- Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Uarda Gani
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Mahmudur Rahman
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Quinn H Hogan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Hongwei Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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Emerging Potential of the Phosphodiesterase (PDE) Inhibitor Ibudilast for Neurodegenerative Diseases: An Update on Preclinical and Clinical Evidence. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27238448. [PMID: 36500540 PMCID: PMC9737612 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27238448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases constitute a broad range of central nervous system disorders, characterized by neuronal degeneration. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyolotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS) are some of the most frequent neurodegenerative diseases. Despite their diversity, these diseases share some common pathophysiological mechanisms: the abnormal aggregation of disease-related misfolded proteins, autophagosome-lysosome pathway dysregulation, impaired ubiquitin-proteasome system, oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive neuroinflammation. There is still no effective drug that could halt the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, and the current treatments are mainly symptomatic. In this regard, the development of novel multi-target pharmaceutical approaches presents an attractive therapeutic strategy. Ibudilast, an anti-inflammatory drug firstly developed as an asthma treatment, is a cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) inhibitor, which mainly acts by increasing the amount of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), while downregulating the pro-inflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4). The preclinical evidence shows that ibudilast may act neuroprotectively in neurodegenerative diseases, by suppressing neuroinflammation, inhibiting apoptosis, regulating the mitochondrial function and by affecting the ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagosome-lysosome pathways, as well as by attenuating oxidative stress. The clinical trials in ALS and progressive MS also show some promising results. Herein, we aim to provide an update on the emerging preclinical and clinical evidence on the therapeutic potential of ibudilast in these disorders, discuss the potential challenges and suggest the future directions.
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Butchbach MER, Scott RC. Biological networks and complexity in early-onset motor neuron diseases. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1035406. [PMID: 36341099 PMCID: PMC9634177 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1035406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) are neuromuscular disorders where the spinal motor neurons-either the cell bodies themselves or their axons-are the primary cells affected. To date, there are 120 different genes that are lost or mutated in pediatric-onset MNDs. Most of these childhood-onset disorders, aside from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), lack viable therapeutic options. Previous research on MNDs has focused on understanding the pathobiology of a single, specific gene mutation and targeting therapies to that pathobiology. This reductionist approach has yielded therapeutic options for a specific disorder, in this case SMA. Unfortunately, therapies specific for SMA have not been effective against other pediatric-onset MNDs. Pursuing the same approach for the other defined MNDs would require development of at least 120 independent treatments raising feasibility issues. We propose an alternative to this this type of reductionist approach by conceptualizing MNDs in a complex adaptive systems framework that will allow identification of common molecular and cellular pathways which form biological networks that are adversely affected in early-onset MNDs and thus MNDs with similar phenotypes despite diverse genotypes. This systems biology approach highlights the complexity and self-organization of the motor system as well as the ways in which it can be affected by these genetic disorders. Using this integrated approach to understand early-onset MNDs, we would be better poised to expand the therapeutic repertoire for multiple MNDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew E. R. Butchbach
- Division of Neurology, Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware, Wilmington, DE, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States,*Correspondence: Matthew E. R. Butchbach
| | - Rod C. Scott
- Division of Neurology, Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware, Wilmington, DE, United States,Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States,Neurosciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom,Rod C. Scott
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Arshad JZ, Hanif M. Hydroxypyrone derivatives in drug discovery: from chelation therapy to rational design of metalloenzyme inhibitors. RSC Med Chem 2022; 13:1127-1149. [PMID: 36325396 PMCID: PMC9579940 DOI: 10.1039/d2md00175f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The versatile structural motif of hydroxypyrone is found in natural products and can be easily converted into hydroxypyridone and hydroxythiopyridone analogues. The favourable toxicity profile and ease of functionalization to access a vast library of compounds make them an ideal structural scaffold for drug design and discovery. This versatile scaffold possesses excellent metal chelating properties that can be exploited for chelation therapy in clinics. Deferiprone [1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-one] was the first orally active chelator to treat iron overload in thalassemia major. Metal complexes of hydroxy-(thio)pyr(id)ones have been investigated as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents, and anticancer and antidiabetic agents. In recent years, this compound class has demonstrated potential in discovering and developing metalloenzyme inhibitors. This review article summarizes recent literature on hydroxy-(thio)pyr(id)ones as inhibitors for metalloenzymes such as histone deacetylases, tyrosinase and metallo-β-lactamase. Different approaches to the design of hydroxy-(thio)pyr(id)ones and their biological properties against selected metalloenzymes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jahan Zaib Arshad
- Department of Chemistry, Government College Women University Sialkot Sialkot Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Hanif
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland Private Bag 92019 Auckland 1142 New Zealand (+64) 9 373 7599 ext. 87422
- MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology Wellington New Zealand
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Feng D, Zhou J, Liu H, Wu X, Li F, Zhao J, Zhang Y, Wang L, Chao M, Wang Q, Qin H, Ge S, Liu Q, Zhang J, Qu Y. Astrocytic NDRG2-PPM1A interaction exacerbates blood-brain barrier disruption after subarachnoid hemorrhage. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabq2423. [PMID: 36179025 PMCID: PMC9524825 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq2423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) injury critically exacerbates the poor prognosis of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The massively increased matrix metalloproteinases 9 (MMP-9) plays a deleterious role in BBB. However, the main source and mechanism of MMP-9 production after SAH remain unclear. We reported that the increased MMP-9 was mainly derived from reactive astrocytes after SAH. Ndrg2 knockout in astrocytes inhibited MMP-9 expression after SAH and attenuated BBB damage. Astrocytic Ndrg2 knockout decreased the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and the transcription of MMP-9. Notably, cytoplasmic NDRG2 bound to the protein phosphatase PPM1A and restricted the dephosphorylation of Smad2/3. Accordingly, TAT-QFNP12, a novel engineered peptide that could block the NDRG2-PPM1A binding and reduce Smad2/3 dephosphorylation, decreased astrocytic MMP-9 production and BBB disruption after SAH. In conclusion, this study identified NDRG2-PPM1A signaling in reactive astrocytes as a key switch for MMP-9 production and provided a novel therapeutic avenue for BBB protection after SAH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayun Feng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, International Cooperation Platform for Encephalopathy of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710038, China
| | - Jinpeng Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, International Cooperation Platform for Encephalopathy of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710038, China
| | - Haixiao Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, International Cooperation Platform for Encephalopathy of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710038, China
| | - Xun Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, International Cooperation Platform for Encephalopathy of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710038, China
| | - Fei Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, International Cooperation Platform for Encephalopathy of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710038, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- Department of Medical Genetics and Development Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Min Chao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, International Cooperation Platform for Encephalopathy of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710038, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, International Cooperation Platform for Encephalopathy of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710038, China
| | - Huaizhou Qin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, International Cooperation Platform for Encephalopathy of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710038, China
| | - Shunnan Ge
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, International Cooperation Platform for Encephalopathy of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710038, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Neurology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China
| | - Yan Qu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, International Cooperation Platform for Encephalopathy of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an 710038, China
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Woschitz V, Mei I, Hedlund E, Murray LM. Mouse models of SMA show divergent patterns of neuronal vulnerability and resilience. Skelet Muscle 2022; 12:22. [PMID: 36089582 PMCID: PMC9465884 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-022-00305-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a form of motor neuron disease affecting primarily children characterised by the loss of lower motor neurons (MNs). Breakdown of the neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) is an early pathological event in SMA. However, not all motor neurons are equally vulnerable, with some populations being lost early in the disease while others remain intact at the disease end-stage. A thorough understanding of the basis of this selective vulnerability will give critical insight into the factors which prohibit pathology in certain motor neuron populations and consequently help identify novel neuroprotective strategies. Methods To retrieve a comprehensive understanding of motor neuron susceptibility in SMA, we mapped NMJ pathology in 20 muscles from the Smn2B/- SMA mouse model and cross-compared these data with published data from three other commonly used mouse models. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms regulating selective resilience and vulnerability, we analysed published RNA sequencing data acquired from differentially vulnerable motor neurons from two different SMA mouse models. Results In the Smn2B/- mouse model of SMA, we identified substantial NMJ loss in the muscles from the core, neck, proximal hind limbs and proximal forelimbs, with a marked reduction in denervation in the distal limbs and head. Motor neuron cell body loss was greater at T5 and T11 compared with L5. We subsequently show that although widespread denervation is observed in each SMA mouse model (with the notable exception of the Taiwanese model), all models have a distinct pattern of selective vulnerability. A comparison of previously published data sets reveals novel transcripts upregulated with a disease in selectively resistant motor neurons, including genes involved in axonal transport, RNA processing and mitochondrial bioenergetics. Conclusions Our work demonstrates that the Smn2B/- mouse model shows a pattern of selective vulnerability which bears resemblance to the regional pathology observed in SMA patients. We found drastic differences in patterns of selective vulnerability across the four SMA mouse models, which is critical to consider during experimental design. We also identified transcript groups that potentially contribute to the protection of certain motor neurons in SMA mouse models. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13395-022-00305-9.
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Sánchez-Ventura J, Canal C, Hidalgo J, Penas C, Navarro X, Torres-Espin A, Fouad K, Udina E. Aberrant perineuronal nets alter spinal circuits, impair motor function, and increase plasticity. Exp Neurol 2022; 358:114220. [PMID: 36064003 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114220] [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: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are a specialized extracellular matrix that have been extensively studied in the brain. Cortical PNNs are implicated in synaptic stabilization, plasticity inhibition, neuroprotection, and ionic buffering. However, the role of spinal PNNs, mainly found around motoneurons, is still unclear. Thus, the goal of this study is to elucidate the role of spinal PNNs on motor function and plasticity in both intact and spinal cord injured mice. We used transgenic mice lacking the cartilage link protein 1 (Crtl1 KO mice), which is implicated in PNN assembly. Crtl1 KO mice showed disorganized PNNs with an altered proportion of their components in both motor cortex and spinal cord. Behavioral and electrophysiological tests revealed motor impairments and hyperexcitability of spinal reflexes in Crtl1 KO compared to WT mice. These functional outcomes were accompanied by an increase in excitatory synapses around spinal motoneurons. Moreover, following spinal lesions of the corticospinal tract, Crtl1 KO mice showed increased contralateral sprouting compared to WT mice. Altogether, the lack of Crtl1 generates aberrant PNNs that alter excitatory synapses and change the physiological properties of motoneurons, overall altering spinal circuits and producing motor impairment. This disorganization generates a permissive scenario for contralateral axons to sprout after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Sánchez-Ventura
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - C Canal
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - J Hidalgo
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - C Penas
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - X Navarro
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain
| | - A Torres-Espin
- Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Brain and Spinal Injury Center (BASIC), Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - K Fouad
- Neuroscience and Mental Health Institute, Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitative Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - E Udina
- Institute of Neuroscience, Department Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, and Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Bellaterra, Spain.
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Blum JA, Gitler AD. Singling out motor neurons in the age of single-cell transcriptomics. Trends Genet 2022; 38:904-919. [PMID: 35487823 PMCID: PMC9378604 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Motor neurons are a remarkably powerful cell type in the central nervous system. They innervate and control the contraction of virtually every muscle in the body and their dysfunction underlies numerous neuromuscular diseases. Some motor neurons seem resistant to degeneration whereas others are vulnerable. The intrinsic heterogeneity of motor neurons in adult organisms has remained elusive. The development of high-throughput single-cell transcriptomics has changed the paradigm, empowering rapid isolation and profiling of motor neuron nuclei, revealing remarkable transcriptional diversity within the skeletal and autonomic nervous systems. Here, we discuss emerging technologies for defining motor neuron heterogeneity in the adult motor system as well as implications for disease and spinal cord injury. We establish a roadmap for future applications of emerging techniques - such as epigenetic profiling, spatial RNA sequencing, and single-cell somatic mutational profiling to adult motor neurons, which will revolutionize our understanding of the healthy and degenerating adult motor system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Blum
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Aaron D Gitler
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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Kiryu-Seo S, Matsushita R, Tashiro Y, Yoshimura T, Iguchi Y, Katsuno M, Takahashi R, Kiyama H. Impaired disassembly of the axon initial segment restricts mitochondrial entry into damaged axons. EMBO J 2022; 41:e110486. [PMID: 36004759 PMCID: PMC9574747 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2021110486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The proteasome is essential for cellular responses to various physiological stressors. However, how proteasome function impacts the stress resilience of regenerative damaged motor neurons remains unclear. Here, we develop a unique mouse model using a regulatory element of the activating transcription factor (Atf3) gene to label mitochondria in a damage‐induced manner while simultaneously genetically disrupting the proteasome. Using this model, we observed that in injury‐induced proteasome‐deficient mouse motor neurons, the increase of mitochondrial influx from soma into axons is inhibited because neurons fail to disassemble ankyrin G, an organizer of the axon initial segment (AIS), in a proteasome‐dependent manner. Further, these motor neurons exhibit amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)‐like degeneration despite having regenerative potential. Selectively vulnerable motor neurons in SOD1G93A ALS mice, which induce ATF3 in response to pathological damage, also fail to disrupt the AIS, limiting the number of axonal mitochondria at a pre‐symptomatic stage. Thus, damage‐induced proteasome‐sensitive AIS disassembly could be a critical post‐translational response for damaged motor neurons to temporarily transit to an immature state and meet energy demands for axon regeneration or preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumiko Kiryu-Seo
- Department of Functional Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Reika Matsushita
- Department of Functional Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Tashiro
- Department of Neurology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yoshimura
- Department of Child Development and Molecular Brain Science, United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yohei Iguchi
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahisa Katsuno
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Takahashi
- Department of Neurology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kiyama
- Department of Functional Anatomy and Neuroscience, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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The Cell Autonomous and Non-Cell Autonomous Aspects of Neuronal Vulnerability and Resilience in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11081191. [PMID: 36009818 PMCID: PMC9405388 DOI: 10.3390/biology11081191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease characterized by a progressive paralysis due to the loss of particular neurons in our nervous system called motor neurons, that exert voluntary control of all our skeletal muscles. It is not entirely understood why motor neurons are particularly vulnerable in ALS, neither is it completely clear why certain groups of motor neurons, including those that regulate eye movement, are rather resilient to this disease. However, both vulnerability and resilience to ALS likely reflect cell intrinsic properties of different motor neuron subpopulations as well as non-cell autonomous events regulated by surrounding cell types. In this review we dissect the particular properties of different motor neuron types and their responses to disease that may underlie their respective vulnerabilities and resilience. Disease progression in ALS involves multiple cell types that are closely connected to motor neurons and we here also discuss their contributions to the differential vulnerability of motor neurons. Abstract Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is defined by the loss of upper motor neurons (MNs) that project from the cerebral cortex to the brain stem and spinal cord and of lower MNs in the brain stem and spinal cord which innervate skeletal muscles, leading to spasticity, muscle atrophy, and paralysis. ALS involves several disease stages, and multiple cell types show dysfunction and play important roles during distinct phases of disease initiation and progression, subsequently leading to selective MN loss. Why MNs are particularly vulnerable in this lethal disease is still not entirely clear. Neither is it fully understood why certain MNs are more resilient to degeneration in ALS than others. Brain stem MNs of cranial nerves III, IV, and VI, which innervate our eye muscles, are highly resistant and persist until the end-stage of the disease, enabling paralyzed patients to communicate through ocular tracking devices. MNs of the Onuf’s nucleus in the sacral spinal cord, that innervate sphincter muscles and control urogenital functions, are also spared throughout the disease. There is also a differential vulnerability among MNs that are intermingled throughout the spinal cord, that directly relate to their physiological properties. Here, fast-twitch fatigable (FF) MNs, which innervate type IIb muscle fibers, are affected early, before onset of clinical symptoms, while slow-twitch (S) MNs, that innervate type I muscle fibers, remain longer throughout the disease progression. The resilience of particular MN subpopulations has been attributed to intrinsic determinants and multiple studies have demonstrated their unique gene regulation and protein content in health and in response to disease. Identified factors within resilient MNs have been utilized to protect more vulnerable cells. Selective vulnerability may also, in part, be driven by non-cell autonomous processes and the unique surroundings and constantly changing environment close to particular MN groups. In this article, we review in detail the cell intrinsic properties of resilient and vulnerable MN groups, as well as multiple additional cell types involved in disease initiation and progression and explain how these may contribute to the selective MN resilience and vulnerability in ALS.
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Trentini A, Manfrinato MC, Castellazzi M, Bellini T. Sex-Related Differences of Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs): New Perspectives for These Biomarkers in Cardiovascular and Neurological Diseases. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12081196. [PMID: 35893290 PMCID: PMC9331234 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12081196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now established that sex differences occur in clinical manifestation, disease progression, and prognosis for both cardiovascular (CVDs) and central nervous system (CNS) disorders. As such, a great deal of effort is now being put into understanding these differences and turning them into “advantages”: (a) for the discovery of new sex-specific biomarkers and (b) through a review of old biomarkers from the perspective of the “newly” discovered sex/gender medicine. This is also true for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), enzymes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling, which play a role in both CVDs and CNS disorders. However, most of the studies conducted up to now relegated sex to a mere confounding variable used for statistical model correction rather than a determining factor that can influence MMP levels and, in turn, disease prognosis. Consistently, this approach causes a loss of information that might help clinicians in identifying novel patterns and improve the applicability of MMPs in clinical practice by providing sex-specific threshold values. In this scenario, the current review aims to gather the available knowledge on sex-related differences in MMPs levels in CVDs and CNS conditions, hoping to shed light on their use as sex-specific biomarkers of disease prognosis or progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Trentini
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
- University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Manfrinato
- University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.C.M.); (T.B.)
| | - Massimiliano Castellazzi
- University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.C.M.); (T.B.)
- Interdepartmental Research Center for the Study of Multiple Sclerosis and Inflammatory and Degenerative Diseases of the Nervous System, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Tiziana Bellini
- University Center for Studies on Gender Medicine, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.C.M.); (T.B.)
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Cooper F, Tsakiridis A. Towards clinical applications of in vitro-derived axial progenitors. Dev Biol 2022; 489:110-117. [PMID: 35718236 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.06.006] [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: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The production of the tissues that make up the mammalian embryonic trunk takes place in a head-tail direction, via the differentiation of posteriorly-located axial progenitor populations. These include bipotent neuromesodermal progenitors (NMPs), which generate both spinal cord neurectoderm and presomitic mesoderm, the precursor of the musculoskeleton. Over the past few years, a number of studies have described the derivation of NMP-like cells from mouse and human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). In turn, these have greatly facilitated the establishment of PSC differentiation protocols aiming to give rise efficiently to posterior mesodermal and neural cell types, which have been particularly challenging to produce using previous approaches. Moreover, the advent of 3-dimensional-based culture systems incorporating distinct axial progenitor-derived cell lineages has opened new avenues toward the functional dissection of early patterning events and cell vs non-cell autonomous effects. Here, we provide a brief overview of the applications of these cell types in disease modelling and cell therapy and speculate on their potential uses in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fay Cooper
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology, School of Bioscience, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Anestis Tsakiridis
- Centre for Stem Cell Biology, School of Bioscience, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom.
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Salvany S, Casanovas A, Piedrafita L, Gras S, Calderó J, Esquerda JE. Accumulation of misfolded SOD1 outlines distinct patterns of motor neuron pathology and death during disease progression in a SOD1 G93A mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Pathol 2022; 32:e13078. [PMID: 35584812 PMCID: PMC9616096 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.13078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Early misfolded superoxide dismutase 1 (mfSOD1) accumulation, motor neuron (MN) degeneration, and microgliosis are hallmark pathological features in SOD1G93A amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice. Because of the different vulnerabilities of distinct MN subtypes, degenerating and surviving MNs coexist in different proportions during disease progression. By examining the expression of misfolded conformers of SOD1 using specific antibodies, we defined distinct MN phenotypes that were evaluated during disease progression and the local neuroinflammatory reaction. The most severe phenotype corresponded to somata of fast‐twitch subtype MNs, which exhibited highly positive mfSOD1 immunostaining and an extreme degree of vacuolar degeneration. Vacuoles, which are of mitochondrial origin, contain mfSOD1 in conjunction with nonmitochondrial proteins, such as chromogranin, CD81, and flotillin. The fusion of ER‐derived vesicles enriched in mfSOD1 with outer mitochondrial membranes is thought to be the primary mechanism for vacuole formation. In addition, the ulterior coalescence of enlarged mitochondria may lead to the formation of giant vacuoles. Vacuolar degeneration is a transient degenerative process occurring early during the presymptomatic stages of the disease in ALS mice. Some vacuolated MNs are also positive for pMLKL, the effector protein of necroptosis. This indicates a newly described mechanism in which extracellular vesicles derived from damaged MNs, via cellular secretion or necroptotic disruption, may be the triggers for initiating neuroinflammation, glial‐mediated neurotoxicity, and disease spreading. Furthermore, as MN degeneration in mutant SOD1 mice is noncell autonomous, the effects of experimentally increasing or decreasing the microglial response on the expression of MN phenotypes were also evaluated, demonstrating bidirectional cross talk signaling between the degree of expression of mfSOD1 and local neuroinflammation. More detailed knowledge regarding these processes occurring long before the end stages of the disease is necessary to identify novel molecular targets for future preclinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Salvany
- Patologia Neuromuscular Experimental, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Anna Casanovas
- Patologia Neuromuscular Experimental, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lídia Piedrafita
- Patologia Neuromuscular Experimental, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sílvia Gras
- Patologia Neuromuscular Experimental, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Jordi Calderó
- Patologia Neuromuscular Experimental, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Josep E Esquerda
- Patologia Neuromuscular Experimental, Departament de Medicina Experimental, Facultat de Medicina, Universitat de Lleida and Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida (IRBLleida), Lleida, Catalonia, Spain
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Hur SK, Hunter M, Dominique MA, Farag M, Cotton-Samuel D, Khan T, Trojanowski JQ, Spiller KJ, Lee VMY. Slow motor neurons resist pathological TDP-43 and mediate motor recovery in the rNLS8 model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:75. [PMID: 35568882 PMCID: PMC9107273 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01373-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In the intermediate stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), surviving motor neurons (MNs) that show intrinsic resistance to TDP-43 proteinopathy can partially compensate for the loss of their more disease-susceptible counterparts. Elucidating the mechanisms of this compensation may reveal approaches for attenuating motor impairment in ALS patients. In the rNLS8 mouse model of ALS-like pathology driven by doxycycline-regulated neuronal expression of human TDP-43 lacking a nuclear localization signal (hTDP-43ΔNLS), slow MNs are more resistant to disease than fast-fatigable (FF) MNs and can mediate recovery following transgene suppression. In the present study, we used a viral tracing strategy to show that these disease-resistant slow MNs sprout to reinnervate motor endplates of adjacent muscle fibers vacated by degenerated FF MNs. Moreover, we found that neuromuscular junctions within fast-twitch skeletal muscle (tibialis anterior, TA) reinnervated by SK3-positive slow MNs acquire resistance to axonal dieback when challenged with a second course of hTDP-43ΔNLS pathology. The selective resistance of reinnervated neuromuscular junctions was specifically induced by the unique pattern of reinnervation following TDP-43-induced neurodegeneration, as recovery from unilateral sciatic nerve crush did not produce motor units resistant to subsequent hTDP-43ΔNLS. Using cross-reinnervation and self-reinnervation surgery in which motor axons are disconnected from their target muscle and reconnected to a new muscle, we show that FF MNs remain hTDP-43ΔNLS-susceptible and slow MNs remain resistant, regardless of which muscle fibers they control. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that MN identity dictates the susceptibility of neuromuscular junctions to TDP-43 pathology and slow MNs can drive recovery of motor systems due to their remarkable resilience to TDP-43-driven degeneration. This study highlights a potential pathway for regaining motor function with ALS pathology in the advent of therapies that halt the underlying neurodegenerative process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seong Kwon Hur
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Mandana Hunter
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Myrna A. Dominique
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Madona Farag
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Dejania Cotton-Samuel
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Tahiyana Khan
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - John Q. Trojanowski
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Krista J. Spiller
- grid.497530.c0000 0004 0389 4927Janssen Research and Development, Neuroscience Therapeutic Area, 1400 McKean Rd, Spring House, PA 19002 USA
| | - Virginia M.-Y. Lee
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Maloney Building, 3rd Floor, 3600 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2676 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA ,grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
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May-Dracka TL, Gao F, Hopkins BT, Hronowski X, Chen T, Chodaparambil JV, Metrick CM, Cullivan M, Enyedy I, Kaliszczak M, Kankel MW, Marx I, Michell-Robinson MA, Murugan P, Kumar PR, Rooney M, Schuman E, Sen A, Wang T, Ye T, Peterson EA. Discovery of Phospholipase D Inhibitors with Improved Drug-like Properties and Central Nervous System Penetrance. ACS Med Chem Lett 2022; 13:665-673. [PMID: 35450377 PMCID: PMC9014516 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Phospholipase D (PLD) is a phospholipase enzyme responsible for hydrolyzing phosphatidylcholine into the lipid signaling molecule, phosphatidic acid, and choline. From a therapeutic perspective, PLD has been implicated in human cancer progression as well as a target for neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's. Moreover, knockdown of PLD rescues the ALS phenotype in multiple Drosophila models of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and displays modest motor benefits in an SOD1 ALS mouse model. To further validate whether inhibiting PLD is beneficial for the treatment of ALS, a brain penetrant small molecule inhibitor with suitable PK properties to test in an ALS animal model is needed. Using a combination of ligand-based drug discovery and structure-based design, a dual PLD1/PLD2 inhibitor was discovered that is single digit nanomolar in the Calu-1 cell assay and has suitable PK properties for in vivo studies. To capture the in vivo measurement of PLD inhibition, a transphosphatidylation pharmacodynamic LC-MS assay was developed, in which a dual PLD1/PLD2 inhibitor was found to reduce PLD activity by 15-20-fold.
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Schmidt S, Holzer M, Arendt T, Sonntag M, Morawski M. Tau Protein Modulates Perineuronal Extracellular Matrix Expression in the TauP301L-acan Mouse Model. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12040505. [PMID: 35454094 PMCID: PMC9027016 DOI: 10.3390/biom12040505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tau mutations promote the formation of tau oligomers and filaments, which are neuropathological signs of several tau-associated dementias. Types of neurons in the CNS are spared of tau pathology and are surrounded by a specialized form of extracellular matrix; called perineuronal nets (PNs). Aggrecan, the major PN proteoglycans, is suggested to mediate PNs neuroprotective function by forming an external shield preventing the internalization of misfolded tau. We recently demonstrated a correlation between aggrecan amount and the expression and phosphorylation of tau in a TauP310L-acan mouse model, generated by crossbreeding heterozygous aggrecan mice with a significant reduction of aggrecan and homozygous TauP301L mice. Neurodegenerative processes have been associated with changes of PN structure and protein signature. In this study, we hypothesized that the structure and protein expression of PNs in this TauP310L-acan mouse is regulated by tau. Immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses demonstrate that protein levels of PN components differ between TauP301LHET-acanWT and TauP301LHET-acanHET mice, accompanied by changes in the expression of protein phosphatase 2 A. In addition, tau can modulate PN components such as brevican. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed a physical connection between PN components and tau. These data demonstrate a complex, mutual interrelation of tau and the proteoglycans of the PN.
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Neuroprotective effects of violacein in a model of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:4439. [PMID: 35292673 PMCID: PMC8924276 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06470-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive death of motor neurons and muscle atrophy, with defective neuron-glia interplay and emergence of aberrant glial phenotypes having a role in disease pathology. Here, we have studied if the pigment violacein with several reported protective/antiproliferative properties may control highly neurotoxic astrocytes (AbAs) obtained from spinal cord cultures of symptomatic hSOD1G93A rats, and if it could be neuroprotective in this ALS experimental model. At concentrations lower than those reported as protective, violacein selectively killed aberrant astrocytes. Treatment of hSOD1G93A rats with doses equivalent to the concentrations that killed AbAs caused a marginally significant delay in survival, partially preserved the body weight and soleus muscle mass and improved the integrity of the neuromuscular junction. Reduced motor neuron death and glial reactivity was also found and likely related to decreased inflammation and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9. Thus, in spite that new experimental designs aimed at extending the lifespan of hSOD1G93A rats are needed, improvements observed upon violacein treatment suggest a significant therapeutic potential that deserves further studies.
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Rochat C, Bernard-Marissal N, Källstig E, Pradervand S, Perrin FE, Aebischer P, Raoul C, Schneider BL. Astrocyte-targeting RNA interference against mutated superoxide dismutase 1 induces motoneuron plasticity and protects fast-fatigable motor units in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Glia 2022; 70:842-857. [PMID: 34978340 PMCID: PMC9303637 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24140] [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: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by SOD1 gene mutations, both cell‐autonomous and noncell‐autonomous mechanisms lead to the selective degeneration of motoneurons (MN). Here, we evaluate the therapeutic potential of gene therapy targeting mutated SOD1 in mature astrocytes using mice expressing the mutated SOD1G93A protein. An AAV‐gfaABC1D vector encoding an artificial microRNA is used to deliver RNA interference against mutated SOD1 selectively in astrocytes. The treatment leads to the progressive rescue of neuromuscular junction occupancy, to the recovery of the compound muscle action potential in the gastrocnemius muscle, and significantly improves neuromuscular function. In the spinal cord, gene therapy targeting astrocytes protects a small pool of the most vulnerable fast‐fatigable MN until disease end stage. In the gastrocnemius muscle of the treated SOD1G93A mice, the fast‐twitch type IIB muscle fibers are preserved from atrophy. Axon collateral sprouting is observed together with muscle fiber type grouping indicative of denervation/reinnervation events. The transcriptome profiling of spinal cord MN shows changes in the expression levels of factors regulating the dynamics of microtubules. Gene therapy delivering RNA interference against mutated SOD1 in astrocytes protects fast‐fatigable motor units and thereby improves neuromuscular function in ALS mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cylia Rochat
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Brain Mind Institute, Lausanne
| | - Nathalie Bernard-Marissal
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Brain Mind Institute, Lausanne.,INSERM, MMG, Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Emma Källstig
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Brain Mind Institute, Lausanne.,Bertarelli Platform for Gene Therapy, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva
| | - Sylvain Pradervand
- Genomic Technologies Facility, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Patrick Aebischer
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Brain Mind Institute, Lausanne
| | - Cédric Raoul
- INM, Université Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Bernard L Schneider
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Brain Mind Institute, Lausanne.,Bertarelli Platform for Gene Therapy, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Geneva
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Pampalakis G, Angelis G, Zingkou E, Vekrellis K, Sotiropoulou G. A chemogenomic approach is required for effective treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e657. [PMID: 35064780 PMCID: PMC8783349 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
ALS is a fatal untreatable disease involving degeneration of motor neurons. Μultiple causative genes encoding proteins with versatile functions have been identified indicating that diverse biological pathways lead to ALS. Chemical entities still represent a promising choice to delay ALS progression, attenuate symptoms and/or increase life expectancy, but also gene-based and stem cell-based therapies are in the process of development, and some are tested in clinical trials. Various compounds proved effective in transgenic models overexpressing distinct ALS causative genes unfortunately though, they showed no efficacy in clinical trials. Notably, while animal models provide a uniform genetic background for preclinical testing, ALS patients are not stratified, and the distinct genetic forms of ALS are treated as one group, which could explain the observed discrepancies between treating genetically homogeneous mice and quite heterogeneous patient cohorts. We suggest that chemical entity-genotype correlation should be exploited to guide patient stratification for pharmacotherapy, that is administered drugs should be selected based on the ALS genetic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Pampalakis
- Department of Pharmacology - Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Georgios Angelis
- Department of Pharmacology - Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Rion-Patras, Greece
| | - Eleni Zingkou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Rion-Patras, Greece
| | - Kostas Vekrellis
- Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgia Sotiropoulou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, Rion-Patras, Greece
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Lotti F, Przedborski S. Motoneuron Diseases. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 28:323-352. [PMID: 36066831 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07167-6_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Motoneuron diseases (MNDs) represent a heterogeneous group of progressive paralytic disorders, mainly characterized by the loss of upper (corticospinal) motoneurons, lower (spinal) motoneurons or, often both. MNDs can occur from birth to adulthood and have a highly variable clinical presentation, even within gene-positive forms, suggesting the existence of environmental and genetic modifiers. A combination of cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous mechanisms contributes to motoneuron degeneration in MNDs, suggesting multifactorial pathogenic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Lotti
- Departments of Neurology, Pathology & Cell Biology, and Neuroscience, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Serge Przedborski
- Departments of Neurology, Pathology & Cell Biology, and Neuroscience, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Bączyk M, Manuel M, Roselli F, Zytnicki D. From Physiological Properties to Selective Vulnerability of Motor Units in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2022; 28:375-394. [PMID: 36066833 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07167-6_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Spinal alpha-motoneurons are classified in several types depending on the contractile properties of the innervated muscle fibers. This diversity is further displayed in different levels of vulnerability of distinct motor units to neurodegenerative diseases such as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). We summarize recent data suggesting that, contrary to the excitotoxicity hypothesis, the most vulnerable motor units are hypoexcitable and experience a reduction in their firing prior to symptoms onset in ALS. We suggest that a dysregulation of activity-dependent transcriptional programs in these motoneurons alter crucial cellular functions such as mitochondrial biogenesis, autophagy, axonal sprouting capability and re-innervation of neuromuscular junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Bączyk
- Department of Neurobiology, Poznań University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland
| | - Marin Manuel
- SPPIN - Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Francesco Roselli
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)-Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Neurozentrum Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Daniel Zytnicki
- SPPIN - Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
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