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Dong W, Liu S, Li S, Wang Z. Cell reprogramming therapy for Parkinson's disease. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:2444-2455. [PMID: 38526281 PMCID: PMC11090434 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.390965] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is typically characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Many studies have been performed based on the supplementation of lost dopaminergic neurons to treat Parkinson's disease. The initial strategy for cell replacement therapy used human fetal ventral midbrain and human embryonic stem cells to treat Parkinson's disease, which could substantially alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease in clinical practice. However, ethical issues and tumor formation were limitations of its clinical application. Induced pluripotent stem cells can be acquired without sacrificing human embryos, which eliminates the huge ethical barriers of human stem cell therapy. Another widely considered neuronal regeneration strategy is to directly reprogram fibroblasts and astrocytes into neurons, without the need for intermediate proliferation states, thus avoiding issues of immune rejection and tumor formation. Both induced pluripotent stem cells and direct reprogramming of lineage cells have shown promising results in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, there are also ethical concerns and the risk of tumor formation that need to be addressed. This review highlights the current application status of cell reprogramming in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, focusing on the use of induced pluripotent stem cells in cell replacement therapy, including preclinical animal models and progress in clinical research. The review also discusses the advancements in direct reprogramming of lineage cells in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, as well as the controversy surrounding in vivo reprogramming. These findings suggest that cell reprogramming may hold great promise as a potential strategy for treating Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Shuyi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Shangang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Zhengbo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming, Yunnan Province, China
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2
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Zhou H, Ye P, Xiong W, Duan X, Jing S, He Y, Zeng Z, Wei Y, Ye Q. Genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screening in stem cells: theories, applications and challenges. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:218. [PMID: 39026343 PMCID: PMC11264826 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03831-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to the rapid development of stem cell technology, there have been tremendous advances in molecular biological and pathological research, cell therapy as well as organoid technologies over the past decades. Advances in genome editing technology, particularly the discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-related protein 9 (Cas9), have further facilitated the rapid development of stem cell researches. The CRISPR-Cas9 technology now goes beyond creating single gene editing to enable the inhibition or activation of endogenous gene loci by fusing inhibitory (CRISPRi) or activating (CRISPRa) domains with deactivated Cas9 proteins (dCas9). These tools have been utilized in genome-scale CRISPRi/a screen to recognize hereditary modifiers that are synergistic or opposing to malady mutations in an orderly and fair manner, thereby identifying illness mechanisms and discovering novel restorative targets to accelerate medicinal discovery investigation. However, the application of this technique is still relatively rare in stem cell research. There are numerous specialized challenges in applying large-scale useful genomics approaches to differentiated stem cell populations. Here, we present the first comprehensive review on CRISPR-based functional genomics screening in the field of stem cells, as well as practical considerations implemented in a range of scenarios, and exploration of the insights of CRISPR-based screen into cell fates, disease mechanisms and cell treatments in stem cell models. This review will broadly benefit scientists, engineers and medical practitioners in the areas of stem cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Zhou
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Ye
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Xiong
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingxiang Duan
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuili Jing
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan He
- Institute of Regenerative and Translational Medicine, Tianyou Hospital of Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430064, Hubei, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Zhi Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yen Wei
- The Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry and Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qingsong Ye
- Center of Regenerative Medicine and Department of Stomatology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, People's Republic of China.
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Shin T, Song JHT, Kosicki M, Kenny C, Beck SG, Kelley L, Antony I, Qian X, Bonacina J, Papandile F, Gonzalez D, Scotellaro J, Bushinsky EM, Andersen RE, Maury E, Pennacchio LA, Doan RN, Walsh CA. Rare variation in non-coding regions with evolutionary signatures contributes to autism spectrum disorder risk. CELL GENOMICS 2024:100609. [PMID: 39019033 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Little is known about the role of non-coding regions in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We examined three classes of non-coding regions: human accelerated regions (HARs), which show signatures of positive selection in humans; experimentally validated neural VISTA enhancers (VEs); and conserved regions predicted to act as neural enhancers (CNEs). Targeted and whole-genome analysis of >16,600 samples and >4,900 ASD probands revealed that likely recessive, rare, inherited variants in HARs, VEs, and CNEs substantially contribute to ASD risk in probands whose parents share ancestry, which enriches for recessive contributions, but modestly contribute, if at all, in simplex family structures. We identified multiple patient variants in HARs near IL1RAPL1 and in VEs near OTX1 and SIM1 and showed that they change enhancer activity. Our results implicate both human-evolved and evolutionarily conserved non-coding regions in ASD risk and suggest potential mechanisms of how regulatory changes can modulate social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taehwan Shin
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Janet H T Song
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Michael Kosicki
- Environmental Genomics & System Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Connor Kenny
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Samantha G Beck
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lily Kelley
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Irene Antony
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Xuyu Qian
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Julieta Bonacina
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Frances Papandile
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dilenny Gonzalez
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Julia Scotellaro
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Evan M Bushinsky
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rebecca E Andersen
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eduardo Maury
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Len A Pennacchio
- Environmental Genomics & System Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ryan N Doan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Macarelli V, Harding EC, Gershlick DC, Merkle FT. A Short Sequence Targets Transmembrane Proteins to Primary Cilia. Cells 2024; 13:1156. [PMID: 38995007 PMCID: PMC11240719 DOI: 10.3390/cells13131156] [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: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary cilia are finger-like sensory organelles that extend from the bodies of most cell types and have a distinct lipid and protein composition from the plasma membrane. This partitioning is maintained by a diffusion barrier that restricts the entry of non-ciliary proteins, and allows the selective entry of proteins harboring a ciliary targeting sequence (CTS). However, CTSs are not stereotyped and previously reported sequences are insufficient to drive efficient ciliary localisation across diverse cell types. Here, we describe a short peptide sequence that efficiently targets transmembrane proteins to primary cilia in all tested cell types, including human neurons. We generate human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) lines stably expressing a transmembrane construct bearing an extracellular HaloTag and intracellular fluorescent protein, which enables the bright, specific labeling of primary cilia in neurons and other cell types to facilitate studies of cilia in health and disease. We demonstrate the utility of this resource by developing an image analysis pipeline for the automated measurement of primary cilia to detect changes in their length associated with altered signaling or disease state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Macarelli
- Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
- Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Edward C Harding
- Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - David C Gershlick
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Florian T Merkle
- Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
- Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
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5
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Dykstra MM, Weskamp K, Gómez NB, Waksmacki J, Tank E, Glineburg MR, Snyder A, Pinarbasi E, Bekier M, Li X, Bai J, Shahzad S, Nedumaran J, Wieland C, Stewart C, Willey S, Grotewold N, McBride J, Moran JJ, Suryakumar AV, Lucas M, Tessier P, Ward M, Todd P, Barmada SJ. TDP43 autoregulation gives rise to shortened isoforms that are tightly controlled by both transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.02.601776. [PMID: 39005384 PMCID: PMC11244999 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.02.601776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The nuclear RNA-binding protein TDP43 is integrally involved in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Previous studies uncovered N-terminal TDP43 isoforms that are predominantly cytosolic in localization, highly prone to aggregation, and enriched in susceptible spinal motor neurons. In healthy cells, however, these shortened (s)TDP43 isoforms are difficult to detect in comparison to full-length (fl)TDP43, raising questions regarding their origin and selective regulation. Here, we show that sTDP43 is created as a byproduct of TDP43 autoregulation and cleared by nonsense mediated RNA decay (NMD). The sTDP43-encoding transcripts that escape NMD can lead to toxicity but are rapidly degraded post-translationally. Circumventing these regulatory mechanisms by overexpressing sTDP43 results in neurodegeneration in vitro and in vivo via N-terminal oligomerization and impairment of flTDP43 splicing activity, in addition to RNA binding-dependent gain-of-function toxicity. Collectively, these studies highlight endogenous mechanisms that tightly regulate sTDP43 expression and provide insight into the consequences of aberrant sTDP43 accumulation in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan M. Dykstra
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Kaitlin Weskamp
- Chemistry Department, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE
| | - Nicolás B. Gómez
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jacob Waksmacki
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Elizabeth Tank
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - M. Rebecca Glineburg
- Biological Sciences, Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University, Orange, CA
| | | | - Emile Pinarbasi
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Michael Bekier
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Xingli Li
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jen Bai
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Juno Nedumaran
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Clare Wieland
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Corey Stewart
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Sydney Willey
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Nikolas Grotewold
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Jonathon McBride
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - John J. Moran
- Atlanta Pediatric Research Alliance, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
| | | | - Michael Lucas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Peter Tessier
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | | | - Peter Todd
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Sami J. Barmada
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Graduate Program in Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
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6
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Noble MA, Ji Y, Yim KM, Yang JW, Morales M, Abu-Shamma R, Pal A, Poulsen R, Baumgartner M, Noonan JP. Human Accelerated Regions regulate gene networks implicated in apical-to-basal neural progenitor fate transitions. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.30.601407. [PMID: 39005466 PMCID: PMC11244942 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.30.601407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The evolution of the human cerebral cortex involved modifications in the composition and proliferative potential of the neural stem cell (NSC) niche during brain development. Human Accelerated Regions (HARs) exhibit a significant excess of human-specific sequence changes and have been implicated in human brain evolution. Multiple studies support that HARs include neurodevelopmental enhancers with novel activities in humans, but their biological functions in NSCs have not been empirically assessed at scale. Here we conducted a direct-capture Perturb-seq screen repressing 180 neurodevelopmentally active HARs in human iPSC-derived NSCs with single-cell transcriptional readout. After profiling >188,000 NSCs, we identified a set of HAR perturbations with convergent transcriptional effects on gene networks involved in NSC apicobasal polarity, a cellular process whose precise regulation is critical to the developmental emergence of basal radial glia (bRG), a progenitor population that is expanded in humans. Across multiple HAR perturbations, we found convergent dysregulation of specific apicobasal polarity and adherens junction regulators, including PARD3, ABI2, SETD2 , and PCM1 . We found that the repression of one candidate from the screen, HAR181, as well as its target gene CADM1 , disrupted apical PARD3 localization and NSC rosette formation. Our findings reveal interconnected roles for HARs in NSC biology and cortical development and link specific HARs to processes implicated in human cortical expansion.
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7
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Baghel MS, Burns GD, Tsapatsis M, Mallika AP, Cruz ALF, Cao T, Chen XK, Rosa IDL, Marx SR, Ye Y, Sun S, Li T, Wong PC. Depletion of TDP-43 exacerbates tauopathy-dependent brain atrophy by sensitizing vulnerable neurons to caspase 3-mediated endoproteolysis of tau in a mouse model of Multiple Etiology Dementia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.26.600814. [PMID: 38979270 PMCID: PMC11230425 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.26.600814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
TDP-43 proteinopathy, initially disclosed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), coexists with tauopathy in a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, termed multiple etiology dementias (MEDs), including Alzheimer's Disease (AD). While such co-pathology of TDP-43 is strongly associated with worsened neurodegeneration and steeper cognitive decline, the pathogenic mechanism underlying the exacerbated neuron loss remains elusive. The loss of TDP-43 splicing repression that occurs in presymptomatic ALS-FTD individuals suggests that such early loss could facilitate the pathological conversion of tau to accelerate neuron loss. Here, we report that the loss of TDP-43 repression of cryptic exons in forebrain neurons (CaMKII-CreER;Tardbp f/f mice) is necessary to exacerbate tauopathy-dependent brain atrophy by sensitizing vulnerable neurons to caspase 3-dependent cleavage of endogenous tau to promote tauopathy. Corroborating this finding within the human context, we demonstrate that loss of TDP-43 function in iPSC-derived cortical neurons promotes early cryptic exon inclusion and subsequent caspase 3-mediated endoproteolysis of tau. Using a genetic approach to seed tauopathy in CaMKII-CreER;Tardbp f/f mice by expressing a four-repeat microtubule binding domain of human tau, we show that the amount of tau seed positively correlates with levels of caspase 3-cleaved tau. Importantly, we found that the vulnerability of hippocampal neurons to TDP-43 depletion is dependent on the amount of caspase 3-cleaved tau: from most vulnerable neurons in the CA2/3, followed by those in the dentate gyrus, to the least in CA1. Taken together, our findings strongly support the view that TDP-43 loss-of-function exacerbates tauopathy-dependent brain atrophy by increasing the sensitivity of vulnerable neurons to caspase 3-mediated endoproteolysis of tau, resulting in a greater degree of neurodegeneration in human disorders with co-pathologies of tau and TDP-43. Our work thus discloses novel mechanistic insights and therapeutic targets for human tauopathies harboring co-pathology of TDP-43 and provides a new MED model for testing therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghraj S Baghel
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Grace D Burns
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Margarita Tsapatsis
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Aswathy Peethambaran Mallika
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Anna Lourdes F Cruz
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Tianyu Cao
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Xiaoke K Chen
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Isabel De La Rosa
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Shaelyn R Marx
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Yingzhi Ye
- Department of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Shuying Sun
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Physiology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Tong Li
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Philip C Wong
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 558, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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8
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Ramadoss GN, Namaganda SJ, Hamilton JR, Sharma R, Chow KG, Macklin BL, Sun M, Liu JC, Fellmann C, Watry HL, Jin J, Perez BS, Sandoval Espinoza CR, Matia MP, Lu SH, Judge LM, Nussenzweig A, Adamson B, Murthy N, Doudna JA, Kampmann M, Conklin BR. Neuronal DNA repair reveals strategies to influence CRISPR editing outcomes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.25.600517. [PMID: 38979269 PMCID: PMC11230251 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.25.600517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Genome editing is poised to revolutionize treatment of genetic diseases, but poor understanding and control of DNA repair outcomes hinders its therapeutic potential. DNA repair is especially understudied in nondividing cells like neurons, which must withstand decades of DNA damage without replicating. This lack of knowledge limits the efficiency and precision of genome editing in clinically relevant cells. To address this, we used induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived neurons to examine how postmitotic human neurons repair Cas9-induced DNA damage. We discovered that neurons can take weeks to fully resolve this damage, compared to just days in isogenic iPSCs. Furthermore, Cas9-treated neurons upregulated unexpected DNA repair genes, including factors canonically associated with replication. Manipulating this response with chemical or genetic perturbations allowed us to direct neuronal repair toward desired editing outcomes. By studying DNA repair in postmitotic human cells, we uncovered unforeseen challenges and opportunities for precise therapeutic editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gokul N Ramadoss
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | | | - Jennifer R Hamilton
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | | | - Mengyuan Sun
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Jia-Cheng Liu
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Christof Fellmann
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | | | - Julianne Jin
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Barbara S Perez
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Cindy R Sandoval Espinoza
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | | | - Serena H Lu
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Luke M Judge
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Andre Nussenzweig
- Laboratory of Genome Integrity, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Britt Adamson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
| | - Niren Murthy
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- MBIB Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Martin Kampmann
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Bruce R Conklin
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
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9
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Lemieux MR, Freigassner B, Hanson JL, Thathey Z, Opp MR, Hoeffer CA, Link CD. Multielectrode array characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons in co-culture with primary human astrocytes. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303901. [PMID: 38917115 PMCID: PMC11198861 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived into neurons offer a powerful in vitro model to study cellular processes. One method to characterize functional network properties of these cells is using multielectrode arrays (MEAs). MEAs can measure the electrophysiological activity of cellular cultures for extended periods of time without disruption. Here we used WTC11 hiPSCs with a doxycycline-inducible neurogenin 2 (NGN2) transgene differentiated into neurons co-cultured with primary human astrocytes. We achieved a synchrony index ∼0.9 in as little as six-weeks with a mean firing rate of ∼13 Hz. Previous reports show that derived 3D brain organoids can take several months to achieve similar strong network burst synchrony. We also used this co-culture to model aspects of blood-brain barrier breakdown by using human serum. Our fully human co-culture achieved strong network burst synchrony in a fraction of the time of previous reports, making it an excellent first pass, high-throughput method for studying network properties and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddie R. Lemieux
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Bernhard Freigassner
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Jessica L. Hanson
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Zahra Thathey
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Mark R. Opp
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Charles A. Hoeffer
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Christopher D. Link
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
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10
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Keuss MJ, Harley P, Ryadnov E, Jackson RE, Zanovello M, Wilkins OG, Barattucci S, Mehta PR, Oliveira MG, Parkes JE, Sinha A, Correa-Sánchez AF, Oliver PL, Fisher EM, Schiavo G, Shah M, Burrone J, Fratta P. Loss of TDP-43 induces synaptic dysfunction that is rescued by UNC13A splice-switching ASOs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.20.599684. [PMID: 38979232 PMCID: PMC11230273 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.20.599684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
TDP-43 loss of function induces multiple splicing changes, including a cryptic exon in the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and fronto-temporal lobar degeneration risk gene UNC13A, leading to nonsense-mediated decay of UNC13A transcripts and loss of protein. UNC13A is an active zone protein with an integral role in coordinating pre-synaptic function. Here, we show TDP-43 depletion induces a severe reduction in synaptic transmission, leading to an asynchronous pattern of network activity. We demonstrate that these deficits are largely driven by a single cryptic exon in UNC13A. Antisense oligonucleotides targeting the UNC13A cryptic exon robustly rescue UNC13A protein levels and restore normal synaptic function, providing a potential new therapeutic approach for ALS and other TDP-43-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Keuss
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Peter Harley
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Eugeni Ryadnov
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Rachel E. Jackson
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London; London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Matteo Zanovello
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Oscar G. Wilkins
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute; London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Simone Barattucci
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Puja R. Mehta
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Marcio G. Oliveira
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London; London SE1 1UL, UK
| | | | - Aparna Sinha
- Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator; Harwell, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
| | | | - Peter L. Oliver
- Nucleic Acid Therapy Accelerator; Harwell, Didcot OX11 0FA, UK
| | - Elizabeth M.C. Fisher
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Giampietro Schiavo
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Mala Shah
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University College London; London, WC1N 4AX, UK
| | - Juan Burrone
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London; London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Pietro Fratta
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre and Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London; London, WC1N 3BG, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute; London, NW1 1AT, UK
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11
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McDonald KO, Lyons NMA, Gray LKC, Xu JB, Schoderboeck L, Hughes SM, Basak I. Transcription Factor-Mediated Generation of Dopaminergic Neurons from Human iPSCs-A Comparison of Methods. Cells 2024; 13:1016. [PMID: 38920646 PMCID: PMC11201854 DOI: 10.3390/cells13121016] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Dopaminergic neurons are the predominant brain cells affected in Parkinson's disease. With the limited availability of live human brain dopaminergic neurons to study pathological mechanisms of Parkinson's disease, dopaminergic neurons have been generated from human-skin-cell-derived induced pluripotent stem cells. Originally, induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived dopaminergic neurons were generated using small molecules. These neurons took more than two months to mature. However, the transcription-factor-mediated differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells has revealed quicker and cheaper methods to generate dopaminergic neurons. In this study, we compared and contrasted three protocols to generate induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived dopaminergic neurons using transcription-factor-mediated directed differentiation. We deviated from the established protocols using lentivirus transduction to stably integrate different transcription factors into the AAVS1 safe harbour locus of induced pluripotent stem cells. We used different media compositions to generate more than 90% of neurons in the culture, out of which more than 85% of the neurons were dopaminergic neurons within three weeks. Therefore, from our comparative study, we reveal that a combination of transcription factors along with small molecule treatment may be required to generate a pure population of human dopaminergic neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Indranil Basak
- Department of Biochemistry, Brain Health Research Centre and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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12
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Ferguson R, Goold R, Coupland L, Flower M, Tabrizi SJ. Therapeutic validation of MMR-associated genetic modifiers in a human ex vivo model of Huntington disease. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:1165-1183. [PMID: 38749429 PMCID: PMC11179424 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.04.015] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathological huntingtin (HTT) trinucleotide repeat underlying Huntington disease (HD) continues to expand throughout life. Repeat length correlates both with earlier age at onset (AaO) and faster progression, making slowing its expansion an attractive therapeutic approach. Genome-wide association studies have identified candidate variants associated with altered AaO and progression, with many found in DNA mismatch repair (MMR)-associated genes. We examine whether lowering expression of these genes affects the rate of repeat expansion in human ex vivo models using HD iPSCs and HD iPSC-derived striatal medium spiny neuron-enriched cultures. We have generated a stable CRISPR interference HD iPSC line in which we can specifically and efficiently lower gene expression from a donor carrying over 125 CAG repeats. Lowering expression of each member of the MMR complexes MutS (MSH2, MSH3, and MSH6), MutL (MLH1, PMS1, PMS2, and MLH3), and LIG1 resulted in characteristic MMR deficiencies. Reduced MSH2, MSH3, and MLH1 slowed repeat expansion to the largest degree, while lowering either PMS1, PMS2, or MLH3 slowed it to a lesser degree. These effects were recapitulated in iPSC-derived striatal cultures where MutL factor expression was lowered. CRISPRi-mediated lowering of key MMR factor expression to levels feasibly achievable by current therapeutic approaches was able to effectively slow the expansion of the HTT CAG tract. We highlight members of the MutL family as potential targets to slow pathogenic repeat expansion with the aim to delay onset and progression of HD and potentially other repeat expansion disorders exhibiting somatic instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Ferguson
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Robert Goold
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Lucy Coupland
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Michael Flower
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK; Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK.
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13
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Zlamalova E, Rodger C, Greco F, Cheers SR, Kleniuk J, Nadadhur AG, Kadlecova Z, Reid E. Atlastin-1 regulates endosomal tubulation and lysosomal proteolysis in human cortical neurons. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 199:106556. [PMID: 38851544 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106556] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutation of the ATL1 gene is one of the most common causes of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), a group of genetic neurodegenerative conditions characterised by distal axonal degeneration of the corticospinal tract axons. Atlastin-1, the protein encoded by ATL1, is one of three mammalian atlastins, which are homologous dynamin-like GTPases that control endoplasmic reticulum (ER) morphology by fusing tubules to form the three-way junctions that characterise ER networks. However, it is not clear whether atlastin-1 is required for correct ER morphology in human neurons and if so what the functional consequences of lack of atlastin-1 are. Using CRISPR-inhibition we generated human cortical neurons lacking atlastin-1. We demonstrate that ER morphology was altered in these neurons, with a reduced number of three-way junctions. Neurons lacking atlastin-1 had longer endosomal tubules, suggestive of defective tubule fission. This was accompanied by reduced lysosomal proteolytic capacity. As well as demonstrating that atlastin-1 is required for correct ER morphology in human neurons, our results indicate that lack of a classical ER-shaping protein such as atlastin-1 may cause altered endosomal tubulation and lysosomal proteolytic dysfunction. Furthermore, they strengthen the idea that defective lysosome function contributes to the pathogenesis of a broad group of HSPs, including those where the primary localisation of the protein involved is not at the endolysosomal system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliska Zlamalova
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Catherine Rodger
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Francesca Greco
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Samuel R Cheers
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Julia Kleniuk
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Aishwarya G Nadadhur
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zuzana Kadlecova
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Evan Reid
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Department of Medical Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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14
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Mohl GA, Dixon G, Marzette E, McKetney J, Samelson AJ, Serras CP, Jin J, Li A, Boggess SC, Swaney DL, Kampmann M. The disease-causing tau V337M mutation induces tau hypophosphorylation and perturbs axon morphology pathways. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.04.597496. [PMID: 38895329 PMCID: PMC11185762 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.04.597496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Tau aggregation is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia. There are disease-causing variants of the tau-encoding gene, MAPT, and the presence of tau aggregates is highly correlated with disease progression. However, the molecular mechanisms linking pathological tau to neuronal dysfunction are not well understood due to our incomplete understanding of the normal functions of tau in development and aging and how these processes change in the context of causal disease variants of tau. To address these questions in an unbiased manner, we conducted multi-omic characterization of iPSC-derived neurons harboring the MAPT V337M mutation. RNA-seq and phosphoproteomics revealed that both V337M tau and tau knockdown consistently perturbed levels of transcripts and phosphorylation of proteins related to axonogenesis or axon morphology. Surprisingly, we found that neurons with V337M tau had much lower tau phosphorylation than neurons with WT tau. We conducted functional genomics screens to uncover regulators of tau phosphorylation in neurons and found that factors involved in axonogenesis modified tau phosphorylation in both MAPT WT and MAPT V337M neurons. Intriguingly, the p38 MAPK pathway specifically modified tau phosphorylation in MAPT V337M neurons. We propose that V337M tau might perturb axon morphology pathways and tau hypophosphorylation via a "loss of function" mechanism, which could contribute to previously reported cognitive changes in preclinical MAPT gene carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory A Mohl
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Gary Dixon
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Emily Marzette
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Justin McKetney
- Gladstone Data Science and Biotechnology Institute, The J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Quantitative Bioscience Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Avi J Samelson
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Carlota Pereda Serras
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Julianne Jin
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Li
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven C Boggess
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Danielle L Swaney
- Gladstone Data Science and Biotechnology Institute, The J. David Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Quantitative Bioscience Institute, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Martin Kampmann
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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15
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Gómez-Deza J, Nebiyou M, Alkaslasi MR, Nadal-Nicolás FM, Somasundaran P, Slavutsky AL, Ward ME, Li W, Watkins TA, Le Pichon CE. DLK-dependent axonal mitochondrial fission drives degeneration following axotomy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.01.30.526132. [PMID: 36778383 PMCID: PMC9915495 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.30.526132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Currently there are no effective treatments for an array of neurodegenerative disorders to a large part because cell-based models fail to recapitulate disease. Here we developed a reproducible human iPSC-based model where laser axotomy causes retrograde axon degeneration leading to neuronal cell death. Time-lapse confocal imaging revealed that damage triggers an apoptotic wave of mitochondrial fission proceeding from the site of injury to the soma. We demonstrated that this apoptotic wave is locally initiated in the axon by dual leucine zipper kinase (DLK). We found that mitochondrial fission and resultant cell death are entirely dependent on phosphorylation of dynamin related protein 1 (DRP1) downstream of DLK, revealing a new mechanism by which DLK can drive apoptosis. Importantly, we show that CRISPR mediated Drp1 depletion protected mouse retinal ganglion neurons from degeneration after optic nerve crush. Our results provide a powerful platform for studying degeneration of human neurons, pinpoint key early events in damage related neural death and new focus for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Gómez-Deza
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Matthew Nebiyou
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Mor R Alkaslasi
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | | | | | - Anastasia L Slavutsky
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Michael E Ward
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Wei Li
- National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Trent A Watkins
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Neurology, University of California at San Francisco
| | - Claire E Le Pichon
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, United States
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16
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Roohani Y, Huang K, Leskovec J. Predicting transcriptional outcomes of novel multigene perturbations with GEARS. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:927-935. [PMID: 37592036 PMCID: PMC11180609 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01905-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Understanding cellular responses to genetic perturbation is central to numerous biomedical applications, from identifying genetic interactions involved in cancer to developing methods for regenerative medicine. However, the combinatorial explosion in the number of possible multigene perturbations severely limits experimental interrogation. Here, we present graph-enhanced gene activation and repression simulator (GEARS), a method that integrates deep learning with a knowledge graph of gene-gene relationships to predict transcriptional responses to both single and multigene perturbations using single-cell RNA-sequencing data from perturbational screens. GEARS is able to predict outcomes of perturbing combinations consisting of genes that were never experimentally perturbed. GEARS exhibited 40% higher precision than existing approaches in predicting four distinct genetic interaction subtypes in a combinatorial perturbation screen and identified the strongest interactions twice as well as prior approaches. Overall, GEARS can predict phenotypically distinct effects of multigene perturbations and thus guide the design of perturbational experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuf Roohani
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kexin Huang
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jure Leskovec
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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17
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Fang Y, Li X, Tian R. Unlocking Glioblastoma Vulnerabilities with CRISPR-Based Genetic Screening. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5702. [PMID: 38891890 PMCID: PMC11171782 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115702] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults. Despite advancements in treatment, the prognosis for patients with GBM remains poor due to its aggressive nature and resistance to therapy. CRISPR-based genetic screening has emerged as a powerful tool for identifying genes crucial for tumor progression and treatment resistance, offering promising targets for tumor therapy. In this review, we provide an overview of the recent advancements in CRISPR-based genetic screening approaches and their applications in GBM. We highlight how these approaches have been used to uncover the genetic determinants of GBM progression and responsiveness to various therapies. Furthermore, we discuss the ongoing challenges and future directions of CRISPR-based screening methods in advancing GBM research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitong Fang
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Y.F.); (X.L.)
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xing Li
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Y.F.); (X.L.)
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ruilin Tian
- Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China; (Y.F.); (X.L.)
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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18
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Ciucci G, Braga L, Zacchigna S. Discovery platforms for RNA therapeutics. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38760893 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16424] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA therapeutics are emerging as a unique opportunity to drug currently "undruggable" molecules and diseases. While their advantages over conventional, small molecule drugs, their therapeutic implications and the tools for their effective in vivo delivery have been extensively reviewed, little attention has been so far paid to the technological platforms exploited for the discovery of RNA therapeutics. Here, we provide an overview of the existing platforms and ex vivo assays for RNA discovery, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as their main fields of application, with specific focus on RNA therapies that have reached either phase 3 or market approval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Ciucci
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Luca Braga
- Functional Cell Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
| | - Serena Zacchigna
- Cardiovascular Biology Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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19
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Salerno JA, Rehen S. Human pluripotent stem cells as a translational toolkit in psychedelic research in vitro. iScience 2024; 27:109631. [PMID: 38628967 PMCID: PMC11019282 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109631] [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] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Psychedelics, recognized for their impact on perception, are resurging as promising treatments with rapid onset for mood and substance use disorders. Despite increasing evidence from clinical trials, questions persist about the cellular and molecular mechanisms and their precise correlation with treatment outcomes. Murine neurons and immortalized non-neural cell lines harboring overexpressed constructs have shed light on neuroplastic changes mediated by the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR) as the primary mechanism. However, limitations exist in capturing human- and disease-specific traits. Here, we discuss current accomplishments and prospects for incorporating human pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) to complement these models. PSCs can differentiate into various brain cell types, mirroring endogenous expression patterns and cell identities to recreate disease phenotypes. Brain organoids derived from PSCs resemble cell diversity and patterning, while region-specific organoids simulate circuit-level phenotypes. PSC-based models hold significant promise to illuminate the cellular and molecular substrates of psychedelic-induced phenotypic recovery in neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Alexandre Salerno
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Graduate Program in Morphological Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Morphological Sciences, Biomedical Institute, Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Stevens Rehen
- D'Or Institute for Research and Education (IDOR), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Biology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Usona Institute, Fitchburg, WI, USA
- Promega Corporation, Madison, WI, USA
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20
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Parra Bravo C, Giani AM, Madero-Perez J, Zhao Z, Wan Y, Samelson AJ, Wong MY, Evangelisti A, Cordes E, Fan L, Ye P, Zhu D, Pozner T, Mercedes M, Patel T, Yarahmady A, Carling GK, Sterky FH, Lee VMY, Lee EB, DeTure M, Dickson DW, Sharma M, Mok SA, Luo W, Zhao M, Kampmann M, Gong S, Gan L. Human iPSC 4R tauopathy model uncovers modifiers of tau propagation. Cell 2024; 187:2446-2464.e22. [PMID: 38582079 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Tauopathies are age-associated neurodegenerative diseases whose mechanistic underpinnings remain elusive, partially due to a lack of appropriate human models. Here, we engineered human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neuronal lines to express 4R Tau and 4R Tau carrying the P301S MAPT mutation when differentiated into neurons. 4R-P301S neurons display progressive Tau inclusions upon seeding with Tau fibrils and recapitulate features of tauopathy phenotypes including shared transcriptomic signatures, autophagic body accumulation, and reduced neuronal activity. A CRISPRi screen of genes associated with Tau pathobiology identified over 500 genetic modifiers of seeding-induced Tau propagation, including retromer VPS29 and genes in the UFMylation cascade. In progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) brains, the UFMylation cascade is altered in neurofibrillary-tangle-bearing neurons. Inhibiting the UFMylation cascade in vitro and in vivo suppressed seeding-induced Tau propagation. This model provides a robust platform to identify novel therapeutic strategies for 4R tauopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celeste Parra Bravo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Alice Maria Giani
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Jesus Madero-Perez
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Zeping Zhao
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Yuansong Wan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Avi J Samelson
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Man Ying Wong
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Alessandro Evangelisti
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Ethan Cordes
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Li Fan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Pearly Ye
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Daphne Zhu
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Tatyana Pozner
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Maria Mercedes
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Tark Patel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Allan Yarahmady
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Gillian K Carling
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Fredrik H Sterky
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden; Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 41345 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Virginia M Y Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Institute of Aging, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael DeTure
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Manu Sharma
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Sue-Ann Mok
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Wenjie Luo
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Mingrui Zhao
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Martin Kampmann
- Institute for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Shiaoching Gong
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | - Li Gan
- Helen and Robert Appel Alzheimer's Disease Institute, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA; Neuroscience Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA.
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21
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Wang Y, Wei T, Zhao M, Huang A, Sun F, Chen L, Lin R, Xie Y, Zhang M, Xu S, Sun Z, Hong L, Wang R, Tian R, Li G. Alkenyl oxindole is a novel PROTAC moiety that recruits the CRL4DCAF11 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex for targeted protein degradation. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002550. [PMID: 38768083 PMCID: PMC11104598 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Alkenyl oxindoles have been characterized as autophagosome-tethering compounds (ATTECs), which can target mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) for lysosomal degradation. In order to expand the application of alkenyl oxindoles for targeted protein degradation, we designed and synthesized a series of heterobifunctional compounds by conjugating different alkenyl oxindoles with bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) inhibitor JQ1. Through structure-activity relationship study, we successfully developed JQ1-alkenyl oxindole conjugates that potently degrade BRD4. Unexpectedly, we found that these molecules degrade BRD4 through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, rather than the autophagy-lysosomal pathway. Using pooled CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screening, we revealed that JQ1-alkenyl oxindole conjugates recruit the E3 ubiquitin ligase complex CRL4DCAF11 for substrate degradation. Furthermore, we validated the most potent heterobifunctional molecule HL435 as a promising drug-like lead compound to exert antitumor activity both in vitro and in a mouse xenograft tumor model. Our research provides new employable proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) moieties for targeted protein degradation, providing new possibilities for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tianzi Wei
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Man Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Aima Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fan Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Risheng Lin
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yubao Xie
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shiyu Xu
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Sun
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Hong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Institute of Materia Medica and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ruilin Tian
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Department of Medical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guofeng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
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22
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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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23
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Cerneckis J, Cai H, Shi Y. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs): molecular mechanisms of induction and applications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:112. [PMID: 38670977 PMCID: PMC11053163 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01809-0] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has transformed in vitro research and holds great promise to advance regenerative medicine. iPSCs have the capacity for an almost unlimited expansion, are amenable to genetic engineering, and can be differentiated into most somatic cell types. iPSCs have been widely applied to model human development and diseases, perform drug screening, and develop cell therapies. In this review, we outline key developments in the iPSC field and highlight the immense versatility of the iPSC technology for in vitro modeling and therapeutic applications. We begin by discussing the pivotal discoveries that revealed the potential of a somatic cell nucleus for reprogramming and led to successful generation of iPSCs. We consider the molecular mechanisms and dynamics of somatic cell reprogramming as well as the numerous methods available to induce pluripotency. Subsequently, we discuss various iPSC-based cellular models, from mono-cultures of a single cell type to complex three-dimensional organoids, and how these models can be applied to elucidate the mechanisms of human development and diseases. We use examples of neurological disorders, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and cancer to highlight the diversity of disease-specific phenotypes that can be modeled using iPSC-derived cells. We also consider how iPSC-derived cellular models can be used in high-throughput drug screening and drug toxicity studies. Finally, we discuss the process of developing autologous and allogeneic iPSC-based cell therapies and their potential to alleviate human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Cerneckis
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Hongxia Cai
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Yanhong Shi
- Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, 91010, USA.
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24
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Franks SN, Heon-Roberts R, Ryan BJ. CRISPRi: a way to integrate iPSC-derived neuronal models. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:539-551. [PMID: 38526223 PMCID: PMC11088925 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230190] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The genetic landscape of neurodegenerative diseases encompasses genes affecting multiple cellular pathways which exert effects in an array of neuronal and glial cell-types. Deconvolution of the roles of genes implicated in disease and the effects of disease-associated variants remains a vital step in the understanding of neurodegeneration and the development of therapeutics. Disease modelling using patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has enabled the generation of key cell-types associated with disease whilst maintaining the genomic variants that predispose to neurodegeneration. The use of CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), alongside other CRISPR-perturbations, allows the modelling of the effects of these disease-associated variants or identifying genes which modify disease phenotypes. This review summarises the current applications of CRISPRi in iPSC-derived neuronal models, such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-based screens, and discusses the future opportunities for disease modelling, identification of disease risk modifiers and target/drug discovery in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N.J. Franks
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre and Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Rachel Heon-Roberts
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre and Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Brent J. Ryan
- Oxford Parkinson's Disease Centre and Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
- Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery, Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Building, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QU, UK
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25
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Mohd Rafiq N, Fujise K, Rosenfeld MS, Xu P, De Camilli P. Parkinsonism Sac domain mutation in Synaptojanin-1 affects ciliary properties in iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318943121. [PMID: 38635628 PMCID: PMC11047088 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318943121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Synaptojanin-1 (SJ1) is a major neuronal-enriched PI(4, 5)P2 4- and 5-phosphatase implicated in the shedding of endocytic factors during endocytosis. A mutation (R258Q) that impairs selectively its 4-phosphatase activity causes Parkinsonism in humans and neurological defects in mice (SJ1RQKI mice). Studies of these mice showed, besides an abnormal assembly state of endocytic factors at synapses, the presence of dystrophic nerve terminals selectively in a subset of nigro-striatal dopamine (DA)-ergic axons, suggesting a special lability of DA neurons to the impairment of SJ1 function. Here we have further investigated the impact of SJ1 on DA neurons using iPSC-derived SJ1 KO and SJ1RQKI DA neurons and their isogenic controls. In addition to the expected enhanced clustering of endocytic factors in nerve terminals, we observed in both SJ1 mutant neuronal lines increased cilia length. Further analysis of cilia of SJ1RQDA neurons revealed abnormal accumulation of the Ca2+ channel Cav1.3 and of ubiquitin chains, suggesting a defect in the clearing of ubiquitinated proteins at the ciliary base, where a focal concentration of SJ1 was observed. We suggest that SJ1 may contribute to the control of ciliary protein dynamics in DA neurons, with implications on cilia-mediated signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisha Mohd Rafiq
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Department of Cell biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD20815
| | - Kenshiro Fujise
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Department of Cell biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD20815
| | - Martin Shaun Rosenfeld
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Department of Cell biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD20815
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Department of Cell biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD20815
| | - Pietro De Camilli
- Department of Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Department of Cell biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT06510
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD20815
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26
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Aiken J, Holzbaur ELF. Spastin locally amplifies microtubule dynamics to pattern the axon for presynaptic cargo delivery. Curr Biol 2024; 34:1687-1704.e8. [PMID: 38554708 PMCID: PMC11042977 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.03.010] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Neurons rely on the long-range trafficking of synaptic components to form and maintain the complex neural networks that encode the human experience. With a single neuron capable of forming thousands of distinct en passant synapses along its axon, spatially precise delivery of the necessary synaptic components is paramount. How these synapses are patterned, as well as how the efficient delivery of synaptic components is regulated, remains largely unknown. Here, we reveal a novel role for the microtubule (MT)-severing enzyme spastin in locally enhancing MT polymerization to influence presynaptic cargo pausing and retention along the axon. In human neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we identify sites stably enriched for presynaptic components along the axon prior to the robust assembly of mature presynapses apposed by postsynaptic contacts. These sites are capable of cycling synaptic vesicles, are enriched with spastin, and are hotspots for new MT growth and synaptic vesicle precursor (SVP) pausing/retention. The disruption of neuronal spastin level or activity, by CRISPRi-mediated depletion, transient overexpression, or pharmacologic inhibition of enzymatic activity, interrupts the localized enrichment of dynamic MT plus ends and diminishes SVP accumulation. Using an innovative human heterologous synapse model, where microfluidically isolated human axons recognize and form presynaptic connections with neuroligin-expressing non-neuronal cells, we reveal that neurons deficient for spastin do not achieve the same level of presynaptic component accumulation as control neurons. We propose a model where spastin acts locally as an amplifier of MT polymerization to pattern specific regions of the axon for synaptogenesis and guide synaptic cargo delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayne Aiken
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Erika L F Holzbaur
- Department of Physiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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27
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Casey C, Fullard JF, Sleator RD. Unravelling the genetic basis of Schizophrenia. Gene 2024; 902:148198. [PMID: 38266791 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148198] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Neuronal development is a highly regulated mechanism that is central to organismal function in animals. In humans, disruptions to this process can lead to a range of neurodevelopmental phenotypes, including Schizophrenia (SCZ). SCZ has a significant genetic component, whereby an individual with an SCZ affected family member is eight times more likely to develop the disease than someone with no family history of SCZ. By examining a combination of genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic datasets, large-scale 'omics' studies aim to delineate the relationship between genetic variation and abnormal cellular activity in the SCZ brain. Herein, we provide a brief overview of some of the key omics methods currently being used in SCZ research, including RNA-seq, the assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with high-throughput sequencing (ATAC-seq) and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (3C) approaches (e.g., Hi-C), as well as single-cell/nuclei iterations of these methods. We also discuss how these techniques are being employed to further our understanding of the genetic basis of SCZ, and to identify associated molecular pathways, biomarkers, and candidate drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Casey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland; Center for Disease Neurogenomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - John F Fullard
- Center for Disease Neurogenomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States; Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Roy D Sleator
- Department of Biological Sciences, Munster Technological University, Bishopstown, Cork, Ireland.
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28
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Zhou X, Lee YK, Li X, Kim H, Sanchez-Priego C, Han X, Tan H, Zhou S, Fu Y, Purtell K, Wang Q, Holstein GR, Tang B, Peng J, Yang N, Yue Z. Integrated proteomics reveals autophagy landscape and an autophagy receptor controlling PKA-RI complex homeostasis in neurons. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3113. [PMID: 38600097 PMCID: PMC11006854 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47440-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a conserved, catabolic process essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis. Malfunctional autophagy contributes to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. However, the exact role and targets of autophagy in human neurons remain elusive. Here we report a systematic investigation of neuronal autophagy targets through integrated proteomics. Deep proteomic profiling of multiple autophagy-deficient lines of human induced neurons, mouse brains, and brain LC3-interactome reveals roles of neuronal autophagy in targeting proteins of multiple cellular organelles/pathways, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER), mitochondria, endosome, Golgi apparatus, synaptic vesicle (SV) for degradation. By combining phosphoproteomics and functional analysis in human and mouse neurons, we uncovered a function of neuronal autophagy in controlling cAMP-PKA and c-FOS-mediated neuronal activity through selective degradation of the protein kinase A - cAMP-binding regulatory (R)-subunit I (PKA-RI) complex. Lack of AKAP11 causes accumulation of the PKA-RI complex in the soma and neurites, demonstrating a constant clearance of PKA-RI complex through AKAP11-mediated degradation in neurons. Our study thus reveals the landscape of autophagy degradation in human neurons and identifies a physiological function of autophagy in controlling homeostasis of PKA-RI complex and specific PKA activity in neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Zhou
- Department of Neurology, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Geriatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - You-Kyung Lee
- Department of Neurology, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Xianting Li
- Department of Neurology, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Henry Kim
- Department of Neurology, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Carlos Sanchez-Priego
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Alper Center for Neural Development and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Xian Han
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Integrated Biomedical Sciences Program, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, 38163, USA
| | - Haiyan Tan
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Suiping Zhou
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Yingxue Fu
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA
| | - Kerry Purtell
- Department of Neurology, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Gay R Holstein
- Department of Neurology, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Junmin Peng
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, 38105, USA.
| | - Nan Yang
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Alper Center for Neural Development and Regeneration, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
| | - Zhenyu Yue
- Department of Neurology, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
- Center of Parkinson's Disease Neurobiology, The Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1470 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, 10029, USA.
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29
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Haq I, Ngo JC, Roy N, Pan RL, Nawsheen N, Chiu R, Zhang Y, Fujita M, Soni RK, Wu X, Bennett DA, Menon V, Olah M, Sher F. An integrated toolkit for human microglia functional genomics. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:104. [PMID: 38600587 PMCID: PMC11005142 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03700-9] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microglia, the brain's resident immune cells, play vital roles in brain development, and disorders like Alzheimer's disease (AD). Human iPSC-derived microglia (iMG) provide a promising model to study these processes. However, existing iMG generation protocols face challenges, such as prolonged differentiation time, lack of detailed characterization, and limited gene function investigation via CRISPR-Cas9. METHODS Our integrated toolkit for in-vitro microglia functional genomics optimizes iPSC differentiation into iMG through a streamlined two-step, 20-day process, producing iMG with a normal karyotype. We confirmed the iMG's authenticity and quality through single-cell RNA sequencing, chromatin accessibility profiles (ATAC-Seq), proteomics and functional tests. The toolkit also incorporates a drug-dependent CRISPR-ON/OFF system for temporally controlled gene expression. Further, we facilitate the use of multi-omic data by providing online searchable platform that compares new iMG profiles to human primary microglia: https://sherlab.shinyapps.io/IPSC-derived-Microglia/ . RESULTS Our method generates iMG that closely align with human primary microglia in terms of transcriptomic, proteomic, and chromatin accessibility profiles. Functionally, these iMG exhibit Ca2 + transients, cytokine driven migration, immune responses to inflammatory signals, and active phagocytosis of CNS related substrates including synaptosomes, amyloid beta and myelin. Significantly, the toolkit facilitates repeated iMG harvesting, essential for large-scale experiments like CRISPR-Cas9 screens. The standalone ATAC-Seq profiles of our iMG closely resemble primary microglia, positioning them as ideal tools to study AD-associated single nucleotide variants (SNV) especially in the genome regulatory regions. CONCLUSIONS Our advanced two-step protocol rapidly and efficiently produces authentic iMG. With features like the CRISPR-ON/OFF system and a comprehensive multi-omic data platform, our toolkit equips researchers for robust microglial functional genomic studies. By facilitating detailed SNV investigation and offering a sustainable cell harvest mechanism, the toolkit heralds significant progress in neurodegenerative disease drug research and therapeutic advancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imdadul Haq
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jason C Ngo
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nainika Roy
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Richard L Pan
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nadiya Nawsheen
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca Chiu
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroimmunology Core, Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ya Zhang
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Neuroimmunology Core, Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Division of Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Masashi Fujita
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rajesh K Soni
- Proteomics Core, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xuebing Wu
- Department of Medicine, Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Vilas Menon
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marta Olah
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Falak Sher
- Center for Translational and Computational Neuroimmunology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Aging Brain, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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30
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DeVault L, Mateusiak C, Palucki J, Brent M, Milbrandt J, DiAntonio A. The response of Dual-leucine zipper kinase (DLK) to nocodazole: Evidence for a homeostatic cytoskeletal repair mechanism. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0300539. [PMID: 38574058 PMCID: PMC10994325 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic and pharmacological perturbation of the cytoskeleton enhances the regenerative potential of neurons. This response requires Dual-leucine Zipper Kinase (DLK), a neuronal stress sensor that is a central regulator of axon regeneration and degeneration. The damage and repair aspects of this response are reminiscent of other cellular homeostatic systems, suggesting that a cytoskeletal homeostatic response exists. In this study, we propose a framework for understanding DLK mediated neuronal cytoskeletal homeostasis. We demonstrate that low dose nocodazole treatment activates DLK signaling. Activation of DLK signaling results in a DLK-dependent transcriptional signature, which we identify through RNA-seq. This signature includes genes likely to attenuate DLK signaling while simultaneously inducing actin regulating genes. We identify alterations to the cytoskeleton including actin-based morphological changes to the axon. These results are consistent with the model that cytoskeletal disruption in the neuron induces a DLK-dependent homeostatic mechanism, which we term the Cytoskeletal Stress Response (CSR) pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura DeVault
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Chase Mateusiak
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - John Palucki
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Michael Brent
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Milbrandt
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Aaron DiAntonio
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
- Needleman Center for Neurometabolism and Axonal Therapeutics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America
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31
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Lai JD, Berlind JE, Fricklas G, Lie C, Urenda JP, Lam K, Sta Maria N, Jacobs R, Yu V, Zhao Z, Ichida JK. KCNJ2 inhibition mitigates mechanical injury in a human brain organoid model of traumatic brain injury. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:519-536.e8. [PMID: 38579683 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.03.004] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) strongly correlates with neurodegenerative disease. However, it remains unclear which neurodegenerative mechanisms are intrinsic to the brain and which strategies most potently mitigate these processes. We developed a high-intensity ultrasound platform to inflict mechanical injury to induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cortical organoids. Mechanically injured organoids elicit classic hallmarks of TBI, including neuronal death, tau phosphorylation, and TDP-43 nuclear egress. We found that deep-layer neurons were particularly vulnerable to injury and that TDP-43 proteinopathy promotes cell death. Injured organoids derived from C9ORF72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia (ALS/FTD) patients displayed exacerbated TDP-43 dysfunction. Using genome-wide CRISPR interference screening, we identified a mechanosensory channel, KCNJ2, whose inhibition potently mitigated neurodegenerative processes in vitro and in vivo, including in C9ORF72 ALS/FTD organoids. Thus, targeting KCNJ2 may reduce acute neuronal death after brain injury, and we present a scalable, genetically flexible cerebral organoid model that may enable the identification of additional modifiers of mechanical stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Lai
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Neurological & Rare Diseases, Dewpoint Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Joshua E Berlind
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Gabriella Fricklas
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Cecilia Lie
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jean-Paul Urenda
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kelsey Lam
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Naomi Sta Maria
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Russell Jacobs
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Violeta Yu
- Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA; Neurological & Rare Diseases, Dewpoint Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Justin K Ichida
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad CIRM Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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32
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Li X, Sun S, Zhang W, Liang Z, Fang Y, Sun T, Wan Y, Ma X, Zhang S, Xu Y, Tian R. Identification of genetic modifiers enhancing B7-H3-targeting CAR T cell therapy against glioblastoma through large-scale CRISPRi screening. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:95. [PMID: 38561797 PMCID: PMC10986136 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-03027-6] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly aggressive brain tumor with a poor prognosis. Current treatment options are limited and often ineffective. CAR T cell therapy has shown success in treating hematologic malignancies, and there is growing interest in its potential application in solid tumors, including GBM. However, current CAR T therapy lacks clinical efficacy against GBM due to tumor-related resistance mechanisms and CAR T cell deficiencies. Therefore, there is a need to improve CAR T cell therapy efficacy in GBM. METHODS We conducted large-scale CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screens in GBM cell line U87 MG cells co-cultured with B7-H3 targeting CAR T cells to identify genetic modifiers that can enhance CAR T cell-mediated tumor killing. Flow cytometry-based tumor killing assay and CAR T cell activation assay were performed to validate screening hits. Bioinformatic analyses on bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing data and the TCGA database were employed to elucidate the mechanism underlying enhanced CAR T efficacy upon knocking down the selected screening hits in U87 MG cells. RESULTS We established B7-H3 as a targetable antigen for CAR T therapy in GBM. Through large-scale CRISPRi screening, we discovered genetic modifiers in GBM cells, including ARPC4, PI4KA, ATP6V1A, UBA1, and NDUFV1, that regulated the efficacy of CAR T cell-mediated tumor killing. Furthermore, we discovered that TNFSF15 was upregulated in both ARPC4 and NDUFV1 knockdown GBM cells and revealed an immunostimulatory role of TNFSF15 in modulating tumor-CAR T interaction to enhance CAR T cell efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights the power of CRISPR-based genetic screening in investigating tumor-CAR T interaction and identifies potential druggable targets in tumor cells that confer resistance to CAR T cell killing. Furthermore, we devised targeted strategies that synergize with CAR T therapy against GBM. These findings shed light on the development of novel combinatorial strategies for effective immunotherapy of GBM and other solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Li
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
| | - Shiyu Sun
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China
| | - Wansong Zhang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
| | - Ziwei Liang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
| | - Yitong Fang
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
| | - Tianhu Sun
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China
| | - Yong Wan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518020, China
| | - Xingcong Ma
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China
| | - Shuqun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, 710004, China.
| | - Yang Xu
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China.
| | - Ruilin Tian
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China.
- Key University Laboratory of Metabolism and Health of Guangdong, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, China.
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33
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Mohamad Zamberi NN, Abuhamad AY, Low TY, Mohtar MA, Syafruddin SE. dCas9 Tells Tales: Probing Gene Function and Transcription Regulation in Cancer. CRISPR J 2024; 7:73-87. [PMID: 38635328 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2023.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based genome editing is evolving into an essential tool in the field of biological and medical research. Notably, the development of catalytically deactivated Cas9 (dCas9) enzyme has substantially broadened its traditional boundaries in gene editing or perturbation. The conjugation of dCas9 with various molecular effectors allows precise control over transcriptional processes, epigenetic modifications, visualization of chromosomal dynamics, and several other applications. This expanded repertoire of CRISPR-Cas9 applications has emerged as an invaluable molecular tool kit that empowers researchers to comprehensively interrogate and gain insights into health and diseases. This review delves into the advancements in Cas9 protein engineering, specifically on the generation of various dCas9 tools that have significantly enhanced the CRISPR-based technology capability and versatility. We subsequently discuss the multifaceted applications of dCas9, especially in interrogating the regulation and function of genes that involve in supporting cancer pathogenesis. In addition, we also delineate the designing and utilization of dCas9-based tools as well as highlighting its current constraints and transformative potentials in cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurul Nadia Mohamad Zamberi
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Asmaa Y Abuhamad
- Bionanotechnology Research Group, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Teck Yew Low
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - M Aiman Mohtar
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Saiful Effendi Syafruddin
- UKM Medical Molecular Biology Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Cheras, Malaysia, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
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Sinha IR, Sandal PS, Burns GD, Mallika AP, Irwin KE, Cruz ALF, Wang V, Rodríguez JL, Wong PC, Ling JP. Large-scale RNA-seq mining reveals ciclopirox triggers TDP-43 cryptic exons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.27.587011. [PMID: 38585725 PMCID: PMC10996699 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.27.587011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Nuclear clearance and cytoplasmic aggregation of TDP-43 in neurons, initially identified in ALS-FTD, are hallmark pathological features observed across a spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases. We previously found that TDP-43 loss-of-function leads to the transcriptome-wide inclusion of deleterious cryptic exons in brains and biofluids post-mortem as well as during the presymptomatic stage of ALS-FTD, but upstream mechanisms that lead to TDP-43 dysregulation remain unclear. Here, we developed a web-based resource (SnapMine) to determine the levels of TDP-43 cryptic exon inclusion across hundreds of thousands of publicly available RNA sequencing datasets. We established cryptic exon inclusion across a variety of human cells and tissues to provide ground truth references for future studies on TDP-43 dysregulation. We then explored studies that were entirely unrelated to TDP-43 or neurodegeneration and found that ciclopirox olamine (CPX), an FDA-approved antifungal, can trigger the inclusion of TDP-43-associated cryptic exons in a variety of mouse and human primary cells. CPX induction of cryptic exon occurs via heavy metal toxicity and oxidative stress, suggesting that similar vulnerabilities could play a role in neurodegeneration. Our work demonstrates how diverse datasets can be linked through common biological features and underscores that public archives of sequencing data represent a vastly underutilized resource with tremendous potential for uncovering novel insights into complex biological mechanisms and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irika R Sinha
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Parker S Sandal
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Grace D Burns
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | - Katherine E Irwin
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Anna Lourdes F Cruz
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Vania Wang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | | | - Philip C Wong
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jonathan P Ling
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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35
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Williams D, Glasstetter LM, Jong TT, Kapoor A, Zhu S, Zhu Y, Gehrlein A, Vocadlo DJ, Jagasia R, Marugan JJ, Sidransky E, Henderson MJ, Chen Y. Development of quantitative high-throughput screening assays to identify, validate, and optimize small-molecule stabilizers of misfolded β-glucocerebrosidase with therapeutic potential for Gaucher disease and Parkinson's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.22.586364. [PMID: 38712038 PMCID: PMC11071283 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.22.586364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Glucocerebrosidase (GCase) is implicated in both a rare, monogenic disorder (Gaucher disease, GD) and a common, multifactorial condition (Parkinson's disease); hence, it is an urgent therapeutic target. To identify correctors of severe protein misfolding and trafficking obstruction manifested by the pathogenic L444P-variant of GCase, we developed a suite of quantitative, high-throughput, cell-based assays. First, we labeled GCase with a small pro-luminescent HiBiT peptide reporter tag, enabling quantitation of protein stabilization in cells while faithfully maintaining target biology. TALEN-based gene editing allowed for stable integration of a single HiBiT-GBA1 transgene into an intragenic safe-harbor locus in GBA1-knockout H4 (neuroglioma) cells. This GD cell model was amenable to lead discovery via titration-based quantitative high-throughput screening and lead optimization via structure-activity relationships. A primary screen of 10,779 compounds from the NCATS bioactive collections identified 140 stabilizers of HiBiT-GCase-L444P, including both pharmacological chaperones (ambroxol and non-inhibitory chaperone NCGC326) and proteostasis regulators (panobinostat, trans-ISRIB, and pladienolide B). Two complementary high-content imaging-based assays were deployed to triage hits: the fluorescence-quenched substrate LysoFix-GBA captured functional lysosomal GCase activity, while an immunofluorescence assay featuring antibody hGCase-1/23 provided direct visualization of GCase lysosomal translocation. NCGC326 was active in both secondary assays and completely reversed pathological glucosylsphingosine accumulation. Finally, we tested the concept of combination therapy, by demonstrating synergistic actions of NCGC326 with proteostasis regulators in enhancing GCase-L444P levels. Looking forward, these physiologically-relevant assays can facilitate the identification, pharmacological validation, and medicinal chemistry optimization of new chemical matter targeting GCase, ultimately leading to a viable therapeutic for two protein-misfolding diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darian Williams
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Logan M. Glasstetter
- Molecular Neurogenetics Section, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Tiffany T. Jong
- Molecular Neurogenetics Section, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Abhijeet Kapoor
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Sha Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Yanping Zhu
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Alexandra Gehrlein
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - David J. Vocadlo
- Department of Chemistry and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Ravi Jagasia
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Neuroscience and Rare Diseases Discovery and Translational Area, Roche Innovation Center Basel, 4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Juan J. Marugan
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Ellen Sidransky
- Molecular Neurogenetics Section, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Mark J. Henderson
- Division of Preclinical Innovation, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850
| | - Yu Chen
- Molecular Neurogenetics Section, Medical Genetics Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
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36
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Tsubouchi A, An Y, Kawamura Y, Yanagihashi Y, Nakayama H, Murata Y, Teranishi K, Ishiguro S, Aburatani H, Yachie N, Ota S. Pooled CRISPR screening of high-content cellular phenotypes using ghost cytometry. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2024; 4:100737. [PMID: 38531306 PMCID: PMC10985231 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Recent advancements in image-based pooled CRISPR screening have facilitated the mapping of diverse genotype-phenotype associations within mammalian cells. However, the rapid enrichment of cells based on morphological information continues to pose a challenge, constraining the capacity for large-scale gene perturbation screening across diverse high-content cellular phenotypes. In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of multimodal ghost cytometry-based cell sorting, including both fluorescent and label-free high-content phenotypes, for rapid pooled CRISPR screening within vast cell populations. Using the high-content cell sorter operating in fluorescence mode, we successfully executed kinase-specific CRISPR screening targeting genes influencing the nuclear translocation of RelA. Furthermore, using the multiparametric, label-free mode, we performed large-scale screening to identify genes involved in macrophage polarization. Notably, the label-free platform can enrich target phenotypes without requiring invasive staining, preserving untouched cells for downstream assays and expanding the potential for screening cellular phenotypes even when suitable markers are absent.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuri An
- ThinkCyte Inc., Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Soh Ishiguro
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Applied Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Hiroyuki Aburatani
- Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Nozomu Yachie
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Applied Science, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Sadao Ota
- ThinkCyte Inc., Tokyo 113-8654, Japan; Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan.
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37
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Wenzell NA, Tuch BB, McMinn DL, Lyons MJ, Kirk CJ, Taunton J. Global signal peptide profiling reveals principles of selective Sec61 inhibition. Nat Chem Biol 2024:10.1038/s41589-024-01592-7. [PMID: 38519575 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01592-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Cotransins target the Sec61 translocon and inhibit the biogenesis of an undefined subset of secretory and membrane proteins. Remarkably, cotransin inhibition depends on the unique signal peptide (SP) of each Sec61 client, which is required for cotranslational translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum. It remains unknown how an SP's amino acid sequence and biophysical properties confer sensitivity to structurally distinct cotransins. Here we describe a fluorescence-based, pooled-cell screening platform to interrogate nearly all human SPs in parallel. We profiled two cotransins with distinct effects on cancer cells and discovered a small subset of SPs, including the oncoprotein human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3), with increased sensitivity to the more selective cotransin, KZR-9873. By comparing divergent mouse and human orthologs, we unveiled a position-dependent effect of arginine on SP sensitivity. Our multiplexed profiling platform reveals how cotransins can exploit subtle sequence differences to achieve SP discrimination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A Wenzell
- Chemistry and Chemical Biology Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brian B Tuch
- Kezar Life Sciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Matthew J Lyons
- Chemistry and Chemical Biology Program, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Jack Taunton
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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38
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Yang Q, Barbachano-Guerrero A, Fairchild LM, Rowland TJ, Dowell RD, Allen MA, Warren CJ, Sawyer SL. Macrophages derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) serve as a high-fidelity cellular model for investigating HIV-1, dengue, and influenza viruses. J Virol 2024; 98:e0156323. [PMID: 38323811 PMCID: PMC10949493 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01563-23] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are important target cells for diverse viruses and thus represent a valuable system for studying virus biology. Isolation of primary human macrophages is done by culture of dissociated tissues or from differentiated blood monocytes, but these methods are both time consuming and result in low numbers of recovered macrophages. Here, we explore whether macrophages derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-which proliferate indefinitely and potentially provide unlimited starting material-could serve as a faithful model system for studying virus biology. Human iPSC-derived monocytes were differentiated into macrophages and then infected with HIV-1, dengue virus, or influenza virus as model human viruses. We show that iPSC-derived macrophages support the replication of these viruses with kinetics and phenotypes similar to human blood monocyte-derived macrophages. These iPSC-derived macrophages were virtually indistinguishable from human blood monocyte-derived macrophages based on surface marker expression (flow cytometry), transcriptomics (RNA sequencing), and chromatin accessibility profiling. iPSC lines were additionally generated from non-human primate (chimpanzee) fibroblasts. When challenged with dengue virus, human and chimpanzee iPSC-derived macrophages show differential susceptibility to infection, thus providing a valuable resource for studying the species-tropism of viruses. We also show that blood- and iPSC-derived macrophages both restrict influenza virus at a late stage of the virus lifecycle. Collectively, our results substantiate iPSC-derived macrophages as an alternative to blood monocyte-derived macrophages for the study of virus biology. IMPORTANCE Macrophages have complex relationships with viruses: while macrophages aid in the removal of pathogenic viruses from the body, macrophages are also manipulated by some viruses to serve as vessels for viral replication, dissemination, and long-term persistence. Here, we show that iPSC-derived macrophages are an excellent model that can be exploited in virology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Yang
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Laurence M. Fairchild
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Teisha J. Rowland
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Robin D. Dowell
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome Boulder Branch, BioFrontiers Institute, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Computer Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Mary A. Allen
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
- Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome Boulder Branch, BioFrontiers Institute, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Cody J. Warren
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Center for Retrovirus Research, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Viruses and Emerging Pathogens Program, Infectious Diseases Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sara L. Sawyer
- BioFrontiers Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
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39
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Leventhal MJ, Zanella CA, Kang B, Peng J, Gritsch D, Liao Z, Bukhari H, Wang T, Pao PC, Danquah S, Benetatos J, Nehme R, Farhi S, Tsai LH, Dong X, Scherzer CR, Feany MB, Fraenkel E. A systems-biology approach connects aging mechanisms with Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.17.585262. [PMID: 38559190 PMCID: PMC10980014 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.17.585262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Age is the strongest risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease, the most common neurodegenerative disorder. However, the mechanisms connecting advancing age to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease are incompletely understood. We conducted an unbiased, genome-scale, forward genetic screen for age-associated neurodegeneration in Drosophila to identify the underlying biological processes required for maintenance of aging neurons. To connect genetic screen hits to Alzheimer's disease pathways, we measured proteomics, phosphoproteomics, and metabolomics in Drosophila models of Alzheimer's disease. We further identified Alzheimer's disease human genetic variants that modify expression in disease-vulnerable neurons. Through multi-omic, multi-species network integration of these data, we identified relationships between screen hits and tau-mediated neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we computationally and experimentally identified relationships between screen hits and DNA damage in Drosophila and human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells. Our work identifies candidate pathways that could be targeted to attenuate the effects of age on neurodegeneration and Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Leventhal
- MIT Ph.D. Program in Computational and Systems Biology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Camila A Zanella
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Byunguk Kang
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Spatial Technology Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Jiajie Peng
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Gritsch
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhixiang Liao
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hassan Bukhari
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tao Wang
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Present address: School of Computer Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Ping-Chieh Pao
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Serwah Danquah
- Spatial Technology Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Benetatos
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ralda Nehme
- Spatial Technology Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA USA
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samouil Farhi
- Spatial Technology Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA USA
| | - Li-Huei Tsai
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xianjun Dong
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clemens R Scherzer
- Precision Neurology Program, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical school, Boston, MA, USA
- APDA Center for Advanced Parkinson’s Disease Research, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Present address: Stephen and Denise Adams Center of Yale School of Medicine, CT, USA
| | - Mel B Feany
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ernest Fraenkel
- MIT Ph.D. Program in Computational and Systems Biology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Lead contact
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40
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Lemieux MR, Freigassner B, Thathey Z, Opp MR, Hoeffer CA, Link CD. Multielectrode array characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cell derived neurons in co-culture with primary human astrocytes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.04.583341. [PMID: 38496655 PMCID: PMC10942372 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.04.583341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived into neurons offer a powerful in vitro model to study cellular processes. One method to characterize functional network properties of these cells is using multielectrode arrays (MEAs). MEAs can measure the electrophysiological activity of cellular cultures for extended periods of time without disruption. Here we used WTC11 hiPSCs with a doxycycline-inducible neurogenin 2 (NGN2) transgene differentiated into neurons co-cultured with primary human astrocytes. We achieved a synchrony index ~0.9 in as little as six-weeks with a mean firing rate of ~13 Hz. Previous reports show that derived 3D brain organoids can take several months to achieve similar strong network burst synchrony. We also used this co-culture to model aspects of sporadic Alzheimer's disease by mimicking blood-brain barrier breakdown using a human serum. Our fully human co-culture achieved strong network burst synchrony in a fraction of the time of previous reports, making it an excellent first pass, high-throughput method for studying network properties and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddie R Lemieux
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder
| | | | - Zahra Thathey
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder
| | - Mark R Opp
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder
| | - Charles A Hoeffer
- Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado Boulder
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41
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Nazeen S, Wang X, Zielinski D, Lam I, Hallacli E, Xu P, Ethier E, Strom R, Zanella CA, Nithianandam V, Ritter D, Henderson A, Saurat N, Afroz J, Nutter-Upham A, Benyamini H, Copty J, Ravishankar S, Morrow A, Mitchel J, Neavin D, Gupta R, Farbehi N, Grundman J, Myers RH, Scherzer CR, Trojanowski JQ, Van Deerlin VM, Cooper AA, Lee EB, Erlich Y, Lindquist S, Peng J, Geschwind DH, Powell J, Studer L, Feany MB, Sunyaev SR, Khurana V. Deep sequencing of proteotoxicity modifier genes uncovers a Presenilin-2/beta-amyloid-actin genetic risk module shared among alpha-synucleinopathies. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.03.583145. [PMID: 38496508 PMCID: PMC10942362 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.03.583145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Whether neurodegenerative diseases linked to misfolding of the same protein share genetic risk drivers or whether different protein-aggregation pathologies in neurodegeneration are mechanistically related remains uncertain. Conventional genetic analyses are underpowered to address these questions. Through careful selection of patients based on protein aggregation phenotype (rather than clinical diagnosis) we can increase statistical power to detect associated variants in a targeted set of genes that modify proteotoxicities. Genetic modifiers of alpha-synuclein (ɑS) and beta-amyloid (Aβ) cytotoxicity in yeast are enriched in risk factors for Parkinson's disease (PD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD), respectively. Here, along with known AD/PD risk genes, we deeply sequenced exomes of 430 ɑS/Aβ modifier genes in patients across alpha-synucleinopathies (PD, Lewy body dementia and multiple system atrophy). Beyond known PD genes GBA1 and LRRK2, rare variants AD genes (CD33, CR1 and PSEN2) and Aβ toxicity modifiers involved in RhoA/actin cytoskeleton regulation (ARGHEF1, ARHGEF28, MICAL3, PASK, PKN2, PSEN2) were shared risk factors across synucleinopathies. Actin pathology occurred in iPSC synucleinopathy models and RhoA downregulation exacerbated ɑS pathology. Even in sporadic PD, the expression of these genes was altered across CNS cell types. Genome-wide CRISPR screens revealed the essentiality of PSEN2 in both human cortical and dopaminergic neurons, and PSEN2 mutation carriers exhibited diffuse brainstem and cortical synucleinopathy independent of AD pathology. PSEN2 contributes to a common-risk signal in PD GWAS and regulates ɑS expression in neurons. Our results identify convergent mechanisms across synucleinopathies, some shared with AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumaiya Nazeen
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xinyuan Wang
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dina Zielinski
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Whitehead Institute of Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Isabel Lam
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erinc Hallacli
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ping Xu
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Ethier
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ronya Strom
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Camila A Zanella
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vanitha Nithianandam
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dylan Ritter
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander Henderson
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nathalie Saurat
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jalwa Afroz
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Hadar Benyamini
- Whitehead Institute of Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Joseph Copty
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Autumn Morrow
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan Mitchel
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Health Sciences & Technology, Harvard Medical School & Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA
| | - Drew Neavin
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Renuka Gupta
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nona Farbehi
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jennifer Grundman
- Department of Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Richard H Myers
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clemens R Scherzer
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - John Q Trojanowski
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vivianna M Van Deerlin
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Antony A Cooper
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Edward B Lee
- Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yaniv Erlich
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Susan Lindquist
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jian Peng
- Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Daniel H Geschwind
- Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Semel Institute, Program in Neurogenetics, Department of Neurology and Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joseph Powell
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Lorenz Studer
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, New York, NY, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Mel B Feany
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Shamil R Sunyaev
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Vikram Khurana
- Division of Movement Disorders, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
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42
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Peidli S, Green TD, Shen C, Gross T, Min J, Garda S, Yuan B, Schumacher LJ, Taylor-King JP, Marks DS, Luna A, Blüthgen N, Sander C. scPerturb: harmonized single-cell perturbation data. Nat Methods 2024; 21:531-540. [PMID: 38279009 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-023-02144-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Analysis across a growing number of single-cell perturbation datasets is hampered by poor data interoperability. To facilitate development and benchmarking of computational methods, we collect a set of 44 publicly available single-cell perturbation-response datasets with molecular readouts, including transcriptomics, proteomics and epigenomics. We apply uniform quality control pipelines and harmonize feature annotations. The resulting information resource, scPerturb, enables development and testing of computational methods, and facilitates comparison and integration across datasets. We describe energy statistics (E-statistics) for quantification of perturbation effects and significance testing, and demonstrate E-distance as a general distance measure between sets of single-cell expression profiles. We illustrate the application of E-statistics for quantifying similarity and efficacy of perturbations. The perturbation-response datasets and E-statistics computation software are publicly available at scperturb.org. This work provides an information resource for researchers working with single-cell perturbation data and recommendations for experimental design, including optimal cell counts and read depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Peidli
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany.
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Tessa D Green
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ciyue Shen
- Departments of Cell Biology and Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Joseph Min
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuele Garda
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany
- Institute for Computer Science, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bo Yuan
- Departments of Cell Biology and Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Linus J Schumacher
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Debora S Marks
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Augustin Luna
- Departments of Cell Biology and Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Computational Biology Branch, National Library of Medicine and Developmental Therapeutics Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Nils Blüthgen
- Institute of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany.
- Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Chris Sander
- Departments of Cell Biology and Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Geller E, Noble MA, Morales M, Gockley J, Emera D, Uebbing S, Cotney JL, Noonan JP. Massively parallel disruption of enhancers active in human neural stem cells. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113693. [PMID: 38271204 PMCID: PMC11078116 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113693] [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: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Changes in gene regulation have been linked to the expansion of the human cerebral cortex and to neurodevelopmental disorders, potentially by altering neural progenitor proliferation. However, the effects of genetic variation within regulatory elements on neural progenitors remain obscure. We use sgRNA-Cas9 screens in human neural stem cells (hNSCs) to disrupt 10,674 genes and 26,385 conserved regions in 2,227 enhancers active in the developing human cortex and determine effects on proliferation. Genes with proliferation phenotypes are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and show biased expression in specific fetal human brain neural progenitor populations. Although enhancer disruptions overall have weaker effects than gene disruptions, we identify enhancer disruptions that severely alter hNSC self-renewal. Disruptions in human accelerated regions, implicated in human brain evolution, also alter proliferation. Integrating proliferation phenotypes with chromatin interactions reveals regulatory relationships between enhancers and their target genes contributing to neurogenesis and potentially to human cortical evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Geller
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Mark A Noble
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Matheo Morales
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Jake Gockley
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Deena Emera
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Severin Uebbing
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Justin L Cotney
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - James P Noonan
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Wu Tsai Institute, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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44
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Damiani D, Baggiani M, Della Vecchia S, Naef V, Santorelli FM. Pluripotent Stem Cells as a Preclinical Cellular Model for Studying Hereditary Spastic Paraplegias. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2615. [PMID: 38473862 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052615] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs) comprise a family of degenerative diseases mostly hitting descending axons of corticospinal neurons. Depending on the gene and mutation involved, the disease could present as a pure form with limb spasticity, or a complex form associated with cerebellar and/or cortical signs such as ataxia, dysarthria, epilepsy, and intellectual disability. The progressive nature of HSPs invariably leads patients to require walking canes or wheelchairs over time. Despite several attempts to ameliorate the life quality of patients that have been tested, current therapeutical approaches are just symptomatic, as no cure is available. Progress in research in the last two decades has identified a vast number of genes involved in HSP etiology, using cellular and animal models generated on purpose. Although unanimously considered invaluable tools for basic research, those systems are rarely predictive for the establishment of a therapeutic approach. The advent of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells allowed instead the direct study of morphological and molecular properties of the patient's affected neurons generated upon in vitro differentiation. In this review, we revisited all the present literature recently published regarding the use of iPS cells to differentiate HSP patient-specific neurons. Most studies have defined patient-derived neurons as a reliable model to faithfully mimic HSP in vitro, discovering original findings through immunological and -omics approaches, and providing a platform to screen novel or repurposed drugs. Thereby, one of the biggest hopes of current HSP research regards the use of patient-derived iPS cells to expand basic knowledge on the disease, while simultaneously establishing new therapeutic treatments for both generalized and personalized approaches in daily medical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devid Damiani
- Molecular Medicine for Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Via dei Giacinti 2, 56128 Pisa, Italy
| | - Matteo Baggiani
- Molecular Medicine for Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Via dei Giacinti 2, 56128 Pisa, Italy
| | - Stefania Della Vecchia
- Molecular Medicine for Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Via dei Giacinti 2, 56128 Pisa, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health (NEUROFARBA), University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini, 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
| | - Valentina Naef
- Molecular Medicine for Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Via dei Giacinti 2, 56128 Pisa, Italy
| | - Filippo Maria Santorelli
- Molecular Medicine for Neurodegenerative and Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Via dei Giacinti 2, 56128 Pisa, Italy
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45
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Karbassi E, Padgett R, Bertero A, Reinecke H, Klaiman JM, Yang X, Hauschka SD, Murry CE. Targeted CRISPR activation is functional in engineered human pluripotent stem cells but undergoes silencing after differentiation into cardiomyocytes and endothelium. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:95. [PMID: 38372898 PMCID: PMC10876724 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-05101-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer opportunities to study human biology where primary cell types are limited. CRISPR technology allows forward genetic screens using engineered Cas9-expressing cells. Here, we sought to generate a CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) hiPSC line to activate endogenous genes during pluripotency and differentiation. We first targeted catalytically inactive Cas9 fused to VP64, p65 and Rta activators (dCas9-VPR) regulated by the constitutive CAG promoter to the AAVS1 safe harbor site. These CRISPRa hiPSC lines effectively activate target genes in pluripotency, however the dCas9-VPR transgene expression is silenced after differentiation into cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells. To understand this silencing, we systematically tested different safe harbor sites and different promoters. Targeting to safe harbor sites hROSA26 and CLYBL loci also yielded hiPSCs that expressed dCas9-VPR in pluripotency but silenced during differentiation. Muscle-specific regulatory cassettes, derived from cardiac troponin T or muscle creatine kinase promoters, were also silent after differentiation when dCas9-VPR was introduced. In contrast, in cell lines where the dCas9-VPR sequence was replaced with cDNAs encoding fluorescent proteins, expression persisted during differentiation in all loci and with all promoters. Promoter DNA was hypermethylated in CRISPRa-engineered lines, and demethylation with 5-azacytidine enhanced dCas9-VPR gene expression. In summary, the dCas9-VPR cDNA is readily expressed from multiple loci during pluripotency but induces silencing in a locus- and promoter-independent manner during differentiation to mesoderm derivatives. Researchers intending to use this CRISPRa strategy during stem cell differentiation should pilot their system to ensure it remains active in their population of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaheh Karbassi
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Ruby Padgett
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Alessandro Bertero
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Molecular Biotechnology Center "Guido Tarone", Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, 10126, Italy
| | - Hans Reinecke
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Jordan M Klaiman
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Xiulan Yang
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Stephen D Hauschka
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Center for Translational Muscle Research, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Charles E Murry
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
- Center for Cardiovascular Biology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
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46
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Seddighi S, Qi YA, Brown AL, Wilkins OG, Bereda C, Belair C, Zhang YJ, Prudencio M, Keuss MJ, Khandeshi A, Pickles S, Kargbo-Hill SE, Hawrot J, Ramos DM, Yuan H, Roberts J, Sacramento EK, Shah SI, Nalls MA, Colón-Mercado JM, Reyes JF, Ryan VH, Nelson MP, Cook CN, Li Z, Screven L, Kwan JY, Mehta PR, Zanovello M, Hallegger M, Shantaraman A, Ping L, Koike Y, Oskarsson B, Staff NP, Duong DM, Ahmed A, Secrier M, Ule J, Jacobson S, Reich DS, Rohrer JD, Malaspina A, Dickson DW, Glass JD, Ori A, Seyfried NT, Maragkakis M, Petrucelli L, Fratta P, Ward ME. Mis-spliced transcripts generate de novo proteins in TDP-43-related ALS/FTD. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadg7162. [PMID: 38277467 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adg7162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Functional loss of TDP-43, an RNA binding protein genetically and pathologically linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD), leads to the inclusion of cryptic exons in hundreds of transcripts during disease. Cryptic exons can promote the degradation of affected transcripts, deleteriously altering cellular function through loss-of-function mechanisms. Here, we show that mRNA transcripts harboring cryptic exons generated de novo proteins in TDP-43-depleted human iPSC-derived neurons in vitro, and de novo peptides were found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with ALS or FTD. Using coordinated transcriptomic and proteomic studies of TDP-43-depleted human iPSC-derived neurons, we identified 65 peptides that mapped to 12 cryptic exons. Cryptic exons identified in TDP-43-depleted human iPSC-derived neurons were predictive of cryptic exons expressed in postmortem brain tissue from patients with TDP-43 proteinopathy. These cryptic exons produced transcript variants that generated de novo proteins. We found that the inclusion of cryptic peptide sequences in proteins altered their interactions with other proteins, thereby likely altering their function. Last, we showed that 18 de novo peptides across 13 genes were present in CSF samples from patients with ALS/FTD spectrum disorders. The demonstration of cryptic exon translation suggests new mechanisms for ALS/FTD pathophysiology downstream of TDP-43 dysfunction and may provide a potential strategy to assay TDP-43 function in patient CSF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahba Seddighi
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yue A Qi
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD), National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Anna-Leigh Brown
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Oscar G Wilkins
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
- Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Colleen Bereda
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD), National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Cedric Belair
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yong-Jie Zhang
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Mercedes Prudencio
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Matthew J Keuss
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Aditya Khandeshi
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sarah Pickles
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Sarah E Kargbo-Hill
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - James Hawrot
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniel M Ramos
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD), National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Hebao Yuan
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jessica Roberts
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD), National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Erika Kelmer Sacramento
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Syed I Shah
- Data Tecnica International, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Mike A Nalls
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD), National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Data Tecnica International, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jennifer M Colón-Mercado
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Joel F Reyes
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Veronica H Ryan
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Matthew P Nelson
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD), National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Casey N Cook
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Ziyi Li
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD), National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Data Tecnica International, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Laurel Screven
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD), National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Justin Y Kwan
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Puja R Mehta
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Matteo Zanovello
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Martina Hallegger
- Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Lingyan Ping
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yuka Koike
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Björn Oskarsson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Nathan P Staff
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Duc M Duong
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Aisha Ahmed
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Maria Secrier
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, UCL Genetics Institute, UCL, London, UK
| | - Jernej Ule
- Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at King's College London, London, UK
| | - Steven Jacobson
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Daniel S Reich
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jonathan D Rohrer
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Andrea Malaspina
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Jonathan D Glass
- Department of Neurology, Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alessandro Ori
- Leibniz Institute on Aging, Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Beutenbergstrasse 11, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Nicholas T Seyfried
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Manolis Maragkakis
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Leonard Petrucelli
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Pietro Fratta
- UCL Queen Square Motor Neuron Disease Centre, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
- Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Michael E Ward
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD), National Institute on Aging and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Santhosh Kumar S, Naseri NN, Pather SR, Hallacli E, Ndayisaba A, Buenaventura C, Acosta K, Roof J, Fazelinia H, Spruce LA, Luk K, Khurana V, Rhoades E, Shalem O. Sequential CRISPR screening reveals partial NatB inhibition as a strategy to mitigate alpha-synuclein levels in human neurons. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadj4767. [PMID: 38335281 PMCID: PMC10857481 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) protein levels correlate with the risk and severity of Parkinson's disease and related neurodegenerative diseases. Lowering αSyn is being actively investigated as a therapeutic modality. Here, we systematically map the regulatory network that controls endogenous αSyn using sequential CRISPR-knockout and -interference screens in an αSyn gene (SNCA)-tagged cell line and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons (iNeurons). We uncover αSyn modifiers at multiple regulatory layers, with amino-terminal acetyltransferase B (NatB) enzymes being the most potent endogenous αSyn modifiers in both cell lines. Amino-terminal acetylation protects the cytosolic αSyn from rapid degradation by the proteasome in a Ube2w-dependent manner. Moreover, we show that pharmacological inhibition of methionyl-aminopeptidase 2, a regulator of NatB complex formation, attenuates endogenous αSyn in iNeurons carrying SNCA triplication. Together, our study reveals several gene networks that control endogenous αSyn, identifies mechanisms mediating the degradation of nonacetylated αSyn, and illustrates potential therapeutic pathways for decreasing αSyn levels in synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranya Santhosh Kumar
- Department of Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Nima N. Naseri
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sarshan R. Pather
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Erinc Hallacli
- Division of Movement Disorders and Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alain Ndayisaba
- Division of Movement Disorders and Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chris Buenaventura
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Karen Acosta
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jennifer Roof
- Proteomics Core Facility, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hossein Fazelinia
- Proteomics Core Facility, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lynn A. Spruce
- Proteomics Core Facility, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kelvin Luk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Vikram Khurana
- Division of Movement Disorders and Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Rhoades
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ophir Shalem
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Sweeney KM, Chantarawong S, Barbieri EM, Cajka G, Liu M, Spruce L, Fazelinia H, Portz B, Copley K, Lapidot T, Duhamel L, Greenwald P, Saida N, Shalgi R, Shorter J, Shalem O. CRISPR screen for protein inclusion formation uncovers a role for SRRD in the regulation of intermediate filament dynamics and aggresome assembly. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011138. [PMID: 38315730 PMCID: PMC10868785 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The presence of large protein inclusions is a hallmark of neurodegeneration, and yet the precise molecular factors that contribute to their formation remain poorly understood. Screens using aggregation-prone proteins have commonly relied on downstream toxicity as a readout rather than the direct formation of aggregates. Here, we combined a genome-wide CRISPR knockout screen with Pulse Shape Analysis, a FACS-based method for inclusion detection, to identify direct modifiers of TDP-43 aggregation in human cells. Our screen revealed both canonical and novel proteostasis genes, and unearthed SRRD, a poorly characterized protein, as a top regulator of protein inclusion formation. APEX biotin labeling reveals that SRRD resides in proximity to proteins that are involved in the formation and breakage of disulfide bonds and to intermediate filaments, suggesting a role in regulation of the spatial dynamics of the intermediate filament network. Indeed, loss of SRRD results in aberrant intermediate filament fibrils and the impaired formation of aggresomes, including blunted vimentin cage structure, during proteotoxic stress. Interestingly, SRRD also localizes to aggresomes and unfolded proteins, and rescues proteotoxicity in yeast whereby its N-terminal low complexity domain is sufficient to induce this affect. Altogether this suggests an unanticipated and broad role for SRRD in cytoskeletal organization and cellular proteostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn M. Sweeney
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sapanna Chantarawong
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Edward M. Barbieri
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Greg Cajka
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Matthew Liu
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Lynn Spruce
- Proteomics Core Facility, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Hossein Fazelinia
- Proteomics Core Facility, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Bede Portz
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Katie Copley
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Tomer Lapidot
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Lauren Duhamel
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Phoebe Greenwald
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Naseeb Saida
- Department of Biochemistry, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Reut Shalgi
- Department of Biochemistry, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Ophir Shalem
- Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Sun J, Noss S, Banerjee D, Das M, Girirajan S. Strategies for dissecting the complexity of neurodevelopmental disorders. Trends Genet 2024; 40:187-202. [PMID: 37949722 PMCID: PMC10872993 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.10.009] [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: 05/27/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are associated with a wide range of clinical features, affecting multiple pathways involved in brain development and function. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing have unveiled numerous genetic variants associated with NDDs, which further contribute to disease complexity and make it challenging to infer disease causation and underlying mechanisms. Herein, we review current strategies for dissecting the complexity of NDDs using model organisms, induced pluripotent stem cells, single-cell sequencing technologies, and massively parallel reporter assays. We further highlight single-cell CRISPR-based screening techniques that allow genomic investigation of cellular transcriptomes with high efficiency, accuracy, and throughput. Overall, we provide an integrated review of experimental approaches that can be applicable for investigating a broad range of complex disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawan Sun
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Serena Noss
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Deepro Banerjee
- Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Maitreya Das
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Santhosh Girirajan
- Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Biosciences Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Bioinformatics and Genomics Graduate Program, The Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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50
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Beirute-Herrera J, López-Amo Calvo B, Edenhofer F, Esk C. The promise of genetic screens in human in vitro brain models. Biol Chem 2024; 405:13-24. [PMID: 37697643 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0174] [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: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Advances of in vitro culture models have allowed unprecedented insights into human neurobiology. At the same time genetic screening has matured into a robust and accessible experimental strategy allowing for the simultaneous study of many genes in parallel. The combination of both technologies is a newly emerging tool for neuroscientists, opening the door to identifying causal cell- and tissue-specific developmental and disease mechanisms. However, with complex experimental genetic screening set-ups new challenges in data interpretation and experimental scope arise that require a deep understanding of the benefits and challenges of individual approaches. In this review, we summarize the literature that applies genetic screening to in vitro brain models, compare experimental strengths and weaknesses and point towards future directions of these promising approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julianne Beirute-Herrera
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Beatriz López-Amo Calvo
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Frank Edenhofer
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Christopher Esk
- Institute of Molecular Biology, University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Innsbruck, Technikerstr. 25, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Science (IMBA), Vienna BioCenter (VBC), Dr. Bohr Gasse 3, 1030 Vienna, Austria
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