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Nicholson L, Piras IS, DeBoth MD, Siniard A, Heras-Garvin A, Stefanova N, Huentelman MJ. Transcriptomic insights into multiple system atrophy from a PLP-α-synuclein transgenic mouse model. Brain Res 2024; 1834:148912. [PMID: 38575106 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.148912] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, neurodegenerative disorder with rapid motor and non-motor symptom progression. MSA is characterized by protein aggregations of α-synuclein found in the cytoplasm of oligodendrocytes. Despite this pathological hallmark, there is still little known about the cause of this disease, resulting in poor treatment options and quality of life post-diagnosis. In this study, we investigated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) via RNA-sequencing of brain samples from a validated PLP-α-synuclein transgenic mouse model, identifying a total of 40 DEGs in the PLP group compared to wild-type (WT), with top detected genes being Gm15446, Mcm6, Aldh7a1 and Gm3435. We observed a significant enrichment of immune pathways and endothelial cell genes among the upregulated genes, whereas downregulated genes were significantly enriched for oligodendrocyte and neuronal genes. We then calculated possible overlap of these DEGs with previously profiled human MSA RNA, resulting in the identification of significant downregulation of the Tsr2 gene. Identifying key gene expression profiles specific to MSA patients is crucial to further understanding the cause, and possible prevention, of this rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Nicholson
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - I S Piras
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - M D DeBoth
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - A Siniard
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - A Heras-Garvin
- Laboratory for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria
| | - N Stefanova
- Laboratory for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - M J Huentelman
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
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2
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Wan L, Zhu S, Chen Z, Qiu R, Tang B, Jiang H. Multidimensional biomarkers for multiple system atrophy: an update and future directions. Transl Neurodegener 2023; 12:38. [PMID: 37501056 PMCID: PMC10375766 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-023-00370-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disease. Biomarkers are urgently required for MSA to improve the diagnostic and prognostic accuracy in clinic and facilitate the development and monitoring of disease-modifying therapies. In recent years, significant research efforts have been made in exploring multidimensional biomarkers for MSA. However, currently few biomarkers are available in clinic. In this review, we systematically summarize the latest advances in multidimensional biomarkers for MSA, including biomarkers in fluids, tissues and gut microbiota as well as imaging biomarkers. Future directions for exploration of novel biomarkers and promotion of implementation in clinic are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Wan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Department of Radiology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- National International Collaborative Research Center for Medical Metabolomics, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Sudan Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Zhao Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Rong Qiu
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Department of Neurology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China.
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
- Hunan International Scientific and Technological Cooperation Base of Neurodegenerative and Neurogenetic Diseases, Changsha, 410008, China.
- National International Collaborative Research Center for Medical Metabolomics, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
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3
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Santulli C, Bon C, De Cecco E, Codrich M, Narkiewicz J, Parisse P, Perissinotto F, Santoro C, Persichetti F, Legname G, Espinoza S, Gustincich S. Neuronal haemoglobin induces loss of dopaminergic neurons in mouse Substantia nigra, cognitive deficits and cleavage of endogenous α-synuclein. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:1048. [PMID: 36526614 PMCID: PMC9758156 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05489-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) presents the selective loss of A9 dopaminergic (DA) neurons of Substantia Nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and the presence of intracellular aggregates called Lewy bodies. α-synuclein (α-syn) species truncated at the carboxy-terminal (C-terminal) accumulate in pathological inclusions and promote α-syn aggregation and toxicity. Haemoglobin (Hb) is the major oxygen carrier protein in erythrocytes. In addition, Hb is expressed in A9 DA neurons where it influences mitochondrial activity. Hb overexpression increases cells' vulnerability in a neurochemical model of PD in vitro and forms cytoplasmic and nucleolar aggregates upon short-term overexpression in mouse SNpc. In this study, α and β-globin chains were co-expressed in DA cells of SNpc in vivo upon stereotaxic injections of an Adeno-Associated Virus isotype 9 (AAV9) and in DA iMN9D cells in vitro. Long-term Hb over-expression in SNpc induced the loss of about 50% of DA neurons, mild motor impairments, and deficits in recognition and spatial working memory. Hb triggered the formation of endogenous α-syn C-terminal truncated species. Similar α-syn fragments were found in vitro in DA iMN9D cells over-expressing α and β- globins when treated with pre-formed α-syn fibrils. Our study positions Hb as a relevant player in PD pathogenesis for its ability to trigger DA cells' loss in vivo and the formation of C-terminal α-syn fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Santulli
- grid.5970.b0000 0004 1762 9868Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Carlotta Bon
- grid.25786.3e0000 0004 1764 2907Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
| | - Elena De Cecco
- grid.5970.b0000 0004 1762 9868Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Marta Codrich
- grid.5970.b0000 0004 1762 9868Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Joanna Narkiewicz
- grid.5970.b0000 0004 1762 9868Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Pietro Parisse
- grid.5942.a0000 0004 1759 508XElettra – Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy ,grid.472635.10000 0004 6476 9521Istituto Officina dei Materiali – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fabio Perissinotto
- grid.5942.a0000 0004 1759 508XElettra – Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
| | - Claudio Santoro
- grid.16563.370000000121663741Department of Health Sciences and Research Center on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), Novara, Italy
| | - Francesca Persichetti
- grid.16563.370000000121663741Department of Health Sciences and Research Center on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), Novara, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- grid.5970.b0000 0004 1762 9868Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy ,grid.5942.a0000 0004 1759 508XElettra – Sincrotrone Trieste S.C.p.A., Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefano Espinoza
- grid.25786.3e0000 0004 1764 2907Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy ,grid.16563.370000000121663741Department of Health Sciences and Research Center on Autoimmune and Allergic Diseases (CAAD), University of Piemonte Orientale (UPO), Novara, Italy
| | - Stefano Gustincich
- grid.5970.b0000 0004 1762 9868Area of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy ,grid.25786.3e0000 0004 1764 2907Central RNA Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Genova, Italy
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4
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Colini Baldeschi A, Zattoni M, Vanni S, Nikolic L, Ferracin C, La Sala G, Summa M, Bertorelli R, Bertozzi SM, Giachin G, Carloni P, Bolognesi ML, De Vivo M, Legname G. Innovative Non-PrP-Targeted Drug Strategy Designed to Enhance Prion Clearance. J Med Chem 2022; 65:8998-9010. [PMID: 35771181 PMCID: PMC9289883 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the accumulation of misfolded prion protein (called PrPSc). Although conversion of the cellular prion protein (PrPC) to PrPSc is still not completely understood, most of the therapies developed until now are based on blocking this process. Here, we propose a new drug strategy aimed at clearing prions without any direct interaction with neither PrPC nor PrPSc. Starting from the recent discovery of SERPINA3/SerpinA3n upregulation during prion diseases, we have identified a small molecule, named compound 5 (ARN1468), inhibiting the function of these serpins and effectively reducing prion load in chronically infected cells. Although the low bioavailability of this compound does not allow in vivo studies in prion-infected mice, our strategy emerges as a novel and effective approach to the treatment of prion disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Colini Baldeschi
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Zattoni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Vanni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Lea Nikolic
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Chiara Ferracin
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giuseppina La Sala
- Molecular Modeling & Drug Discovery Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Summa
- Translational Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Rosalia Bertorelli
- Translational Pharmacology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Sine Mandrup Bertozzi
- Analytical Chemistry Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Gabriele Giachin
- Department of Chemical Sciences (DiSC), University of Padua, Via F. Marzolo 1, 35131 Padova, Italy
| | - Paolo Carloni
- Institute for Advanced Simulations (IAS)-5/Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM)-9, "Computational Medicine", Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany.,Institute for Neuroscience and Medicine (INM)-11, "Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging", Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany.,Department of Physics, RWTH-Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Maria Laura Bolognesi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 6, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco De Vivo
- Molecular Modeling & Drug Discovery Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Morego 30, 16163 Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Via Bonomea 265, 34136 Trieste, Italy
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5
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Zattoni M, Mearelli M, Vanni S, Colini Baldeschi A, Tran TH, Ferracin C, Catania M, Moda F, Di Fede G, Giaccone G, Tagliavini F, Zanusso G, Ironside JW, Ferrer I, Legname G. Serpin Signatures in Prion and Alzheimer's Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:3778-3799. [PMID: 35416570 PMCID: PMC9148297 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-022-02817-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Serpins represent the most broadly distributed superfamily of proteases inhibitors. They contribute to a variety of physiological functions and any alteration of the serpin-protease equilibrium can lead to severe consequences. SERPINA3 dysregulation has been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and prion diseases. In this study, we investigated the differential expression of serpin superfamily members in neurodegenerative diseases. SERPIN expression was analyzed in human frontal cortex samples from cases of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD), patients at early stages of AD-related pathology, and age-matched controls not affected by neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, we studied whether Serpin expression was dysregulated in two animal models of prion disease and AD.Our analysis revealed that, besides the already observed upregulation of SERPINA3 in patients with prion disease and AD, SERPINB1, SERPINB6, SERPING1, SERPINH1, and SERPINI1 were dysregulated in sCJD individuals compared to controls, while only SERPINB1 was upregulated in AD patients. Furthermore, we analyzed whether other serpin members were differentially expressed in prion-infected mice compared to controls and, together with SerpinA3n, SerpinF2 increased levels were observed. Interestingly, SerpinA3n transcript and protein were upregulated in a mouse model of AD. The SERPINA3/SerpinA3nincreased anti-protease activity found in post-mortem brain tissue of AD and prion disease samples suggest its involvement in the neurodegenerative processes. A SERPINA3/SerpinA3n role in neurodegenerative disease-related protein aggregation was further corroborated by in vitro SerpinA3n-dependent prion accumulation changes. Our results indicate SERPINA3/SerpinA3n is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of prion and prion-like neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Zattoni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Marika Mearelli
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Silvia Vanni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,Osteoncology Unit, Bioscience Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo Per Lo Studio Dei Tumori (IRST) "Dino Amadori", 47014, Meldola, Italy
| | - Arianna Colini Baldeschi
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Thanh Hoa Tran
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.,VN-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education, The University of Danang, Da Nang, Vietnam
| | - Chiara Ferracin
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Marcella Catania
- Division of Neurology 5 and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Moda
- Division of Neurology 5 and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Fede
- Division of Neurology 5 and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Giaccone
- Division of Neurology 5 and Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Scientific Directorate, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Zanusso
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - James W Ironside
- National CJD Research & Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Institute of Biomedical Research of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain.,Biomedical Research Network Center of Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA), Trieste, Italy.
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6
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Pérez-Soriano A, Martí MJ. Mini-Review: The MSA transcriptome. Neurosci Lett 2020; 743:135586. [PMID: 33352281 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is an atypical parkinsonism that rapidly affects motor ability and autonomic function, leaving patients wheelchair-bound and dependent for daily activities in 3-5 years. Differential diagnosis is challenging as cases may resemble Parkinson's disease or other ataxic syndromes depending on the clinical variant (MSA-P or MSA-C), especially in early stages. There are limited symptomatic treatments and no disease-modifying therapies. Pathologically, alpha-synuclein aggregates are found in glial cytoplasmic inclusions, among other proteins, as well as in neurons. The molecular pathogenesis of the disease, however, is widely unknown. Transcriptomic studies in MSA have tried to unravel the pathological mechanisms involved in the disease. Several biological and molecular processes have been described in the literature that associate disease pathogenesis with inflammation, mitochondrial, and autophagy related dysfunctions, as well as prion disease and Alzheimer disease associated pathways. These reports have also registered several differential diagnostic biomarker candidates. However, cross-validation between studies, in general, is poor, making clinical applicability and data reliability very challenging. This review will go over the main transcriptomic studies done in MSA, reporting on the most significant transcriptive and post-transcriptive changes described, and focusing on the main consensual findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Pérez-Soriano
- Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic / IDIBAPS / CIBERNED CB06/05/0018/ European Reference Network for Rare NeurologicalDiseases (ERN-RND Project ID: 739510) / Institut de Neurociències, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - María J Martí
- Parkinson's Disease & Movement Disorders Unit, Hospital Clínic / IDIBAPS / CIBERNED CB06/05/0018/ European Reference Network for Rare NeurologicalDiseases (ERN-RND Project ID: 739510) / Institut de Neurociències, University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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7
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Piras IS, Bleul C, Schrauwen I, Talboom J, Llaci L, De Both MD, Naymik MA, Halliday G, Bettencourt C, Holton JL, Serrano GE, Sue LI, Beach TG, Stefanova N, Huentelman MJ. Transcriptional profiling of multiple system atrophy cerebellar tissue highlights differences between the parkinsonian and cerebellar sub-types of the disease. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:76. [PMID: 32493431 PMCID: PMC7268362 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-00950-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare adult-onset neurodegenerative disease of unknown cause, with no effective therapeutic options, and no cure. Limited work to date has attempted to characterize the transcriptional changes associated with the disease, which presents as either predominating parkinsonian (MSA-P) or cerebellar (MSC-C) symptoms. We report here the results of RNA expression profiling of cerebellar white matter (CWM) tissue from two independent cohorts of MSA patients (n = 66) and healthy controls (HC; n = 66). RNA samples from bulk brain tissue and from oligodendrocytes obtained by laser capture microdissection (LCM) were sequenced. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained and were examined before and after stratifying by MSA clinical sub-type.We detected the highest number of DEGs in the MSA-C group (n = 747) while only one gene was noted in MSA-P, highlighting the larger dysregulation of the transcriptome in the MSA-C CWM. Results from both bulk tissue and LCM analysis showed a downregulation of oligodendrocyte genes and an enrichment for myelination processes with a key role noted for the QKI gene. Additionally, we observed a significant upregulation of neuron-specific gene expression in MSA-C and enrichment for synaptic processes. A third cluster of genes was associated with the upregulation of astrocyte and endothelial genes, two cell types with a key role in inflammation processes. Finally, network analysis in MSA-C showed enrichment for β-amyloid related functional classes, including the known Alzheimer's disease (AD) genes, APP and PSEN1.This is the largest RNA profiling study ever conducted on post-mortem brain tissue from MSA patients. We were able to define specific gene expression signatures for MSA-C highlighting the different stages of the complex neurodegenerative cascade of the disease that included alterations in several cell-specific transcriptional programs. Finally, several results suggest a common transcriptional dysregulation between MSA and AD-related genes despite the clinical and neuropathological distinctions between the two diseases.
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8
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Mehta SL, Dempsey RJ, Vemuganti R. Role of circular RNAs in brain development and CNS diseases. Prog Neurobiol 2020; 186:101746. [PMID: 31931031 PMCID: PMC7024016 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, many classes of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are expressed at a much higher level in the brain than in other organs. Recent studies have identified a new class of ncRNAs called circular RNAs (circRNAs), which are produced by back-splicing and fusion of either exons, introns, or both exon-intron into covalently closed loops. The circRNAs are also highly enriched in the brain and increase continuously from the embryonic to the adult stage. Although the functional significance and mechanism of action of circRNAs are still being actively explored, they are thought to regulate the transcription of their host genes and sequestration of miRNAs and RNA binding proteins. Some circRNAs are also shown to have translation potential to form peptides. The expression and abundance of circRNAs seem to be spatiotemporally maintained in a normal brain. Altered expression of circRNAs is also thought to mediate several disorders, including brain-tumor growth, and acute and chronic neurodegenerative disorders by affecting mechanisms such as angiogenesis, neuronal plasticity, autophagy, apoptosis, and inflammation. This review discusses the involvement of various circRNAs in brain development and CNS diseases. A better understanding of the circRNA function will help to develop novel therapeutic strategies to treat CNS complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh L Mehta
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Robert J Dempsey
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Raghu Vemuganti
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, United States; William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States.
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9
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Olsen AL, Feany MB. Glial α-synuclein promotes neurodegeneration characterized by a distinct transcriptional program in vivo. Glia 2019; 67:1933-1957. [PMID: 31267577 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
α-Synucleinopathies are neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized pathologically by α-synuclein inclusions in neurons and glia. The pathologic contribution of glial α-synuclein in these diseases is not well understood. Glial α-synuclein may be of particular importance in multiple system atrophy (MSA), which is defined pathologically by glial cytoplasmic α-synuclein inclusions. We have previously described Drosophila models of neuronal α-synucleinopathy, which recapitulate key features of the human disorders. We have now expanded our model to express human α-synuclein in glia. We demonstrate that expression of α-synuclein in glia alone results in α-synuclein aggregation, death of dopaminergic neurons, impaired locomotor function, and autonomic dysfunction. Furthermore, co-expression of α-synuclein in both neurons and glia worsens these phenotypes as compared to expression of α-synuclein in neurons alone. We identify unique transcriptomic signatures induced by glial as opposed to neuronal α-synuclein. These results suggest that glial α-synuclein may contribute to the burden of pathology in the α-synucleinopathies through a cell type-specific transcriptional program. This new Drosophila model system enables further mechanistic studies dissecting the contribution of glial and neuronal α-synuclein in vivo, potentially shedding light on mechanisms of disease that are especially relevant in MSA but also the α-synucleinopathies more broadly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby L Olsen
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mel B Feany
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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10
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Kim T, Valera E, Desplats P. Alterations in Striatal microRNA-mRNA Networks Contribute to Neuroinflammation in Multiple System Atrophy. Mol Neurobiol 2019; 56:7003-7021. [PMID: 30968343 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-019-1577-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Multiple systems atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of α-synuclein in glial cells and neurodegeneration in the striatum, substantia nigra, and cerebellum. Aberrant miRNA regulation has been associated with neurodegeneration, including alterations of specific miRNAs in brain tissue, serum, and cerebrospinal fluid from MSA patients. Still, a causal link between deregulation of miRNA networks and pathological changes in the transcriptome remains elusive. We profiled ~ 800 miRNAs in the striatum of MSA patients in comparison to healthy individuals to identify specific miRNAs altered in MSA. In addition, we performed a parallel screening of 700 transcripts associated with neurodegeneration to determine the impact of miRNA deregulation on the transcriptome. We identified 60 miRNAs with abnormal levels in MSA brains that are involved in extracellular matrix receptor interactions, prion disease, inflammation, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, and addiction pathways. Using the correlation between miRNA expression and the abundance of their known targets, miR-124-3p, miR-19a-3p, miR-27b-3p, and miR-29c-3p were identified as key regulators altered in MSA, mainly contributing to neuroinflammation. Finally, our study also uncovered a potential link between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and MSA pathologies that involves miRNAs and deregulation of BACE1. Our results provide a comprehensive appraisal of miRNA alterations in MSA and their effect on the striatal transcriptome, supporting that aberrant miRNA expression is highly correlated with changes in gene transcription associated with MSA neuropathology, in particular those driving inflammation, disrupting myelination, and potentially impacting α-synuclein accumulation via deregulation of autophagy and prion mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taeyeon Kim
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., MTF 344 MC0624, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0624, USA
| | - Elvira Valera
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., MTF 344 MC0624, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0624, USA
| | - Paula Desplats
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., MTF 344 MC0624, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0624, USA. .,Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr., MTF 344 MC0624, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0624, USA.
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11
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Vanni S, Zattoni M, Moda F, Giaccone G, Tagliavini F, Haïk S, Deslys JP, Zanusso G, Ironside JW, Carmona M, Ferrer I, Kovacs GG, Legname G. Hemoglobin mRNA Changes in the Frontal Cortex of Patients with Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:8. [PMID: 29403351 PMCID: PMC5786544 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Hemoglobin is the major protein found in erythrocytes, where it acts as an oxygen carrier molecule. In recent years, its expression has been reported also in neurons and glial cells, although its role in brain tissue remains still unknown. Altered hemoglobin expression has been associated with various neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we investigated hemoglobin mRNA levels in brains of patients affected by variant, iatrogenic, and sporadic forms of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD, iCJD, sCJD, respectively) and in different genetic forms of prion diseases (gPrD) in comparison to Alzheimer's disease (AD) subjects and age-matched controls. Methods: Total RNA was obtained from the frontal cortex of vCJD (n = 20), iCJD (n = 11), sCJD (n = 23), gPrD (n = 30), and AD (n = 14) patients and age-matched controls (n = 30). RT-qPCR was performed for hemoglobin transcripts HBB and HBA1/2 using four reference genes for normalization. In addition, expression analysis of the specific erythrocyte marker ALAS2 was performed in order to account for blood contamination of the tissue samples. Hba1/2 and Hbb protein expression was then investigated with immunofluorescence and confocal microscope analysis. Results: We observed a significant up-regulation of HBA1/2 in vCJD brains together with a significant down-regulation of HBB in iCJD. In addition, while in sporadic and genetic forms of prion disease hemoglobin transcripts did not shown any alterations, both chains display a strong down-regulation in AD brains. These results were confirmed also at a protein level. Conclusions: These data indicate distinct hemoglobin transcriptional responses depending on the specific alterations occurring in different neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, the initial site of misfolding event (central nervous system vs. peripheral tissue)-together with specific molecular and conformational features of the pathological agent of the disease-seem to dictate the peculiar hemoglobin dysregulation found in prion and non-prion neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, these results suggest that gene expression of HBB and HBA1/2 in brain tissue is differentially affected by distinct prion and prion-like aggregating protein strains. Validation of these results in more accessible tissues could prompt the development of novel diagnostic tests for neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Vanni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Zattoni
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy
| | - Fabio Moda
- Neurology and Neuropathology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Foundation Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Giaccone
- Neurology and Neuropathology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Foundation Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Neurology and Neuropathology Unit, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Foundation Carlo Besta Neurological Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Stéphane Haïk
- UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127 and Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7225, ICM, Sorbonne Universités, Paris, France
| | | | - Gianluigi Zanusso
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - James W Ironside
- National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit, Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Margarita Carmona
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isidre Ferrer
- Institut d'Investigació Biomédica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), Bellvitge University Hospital (CIBERNED), Hospitalet de LLobregat, Spain
| | - Gabor G Kovacs
- Institute of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion Biology, Department of Neuroscience, Scuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati, Trieste, Italy
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12
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Marchese D, Botta-Orfila T, Cirillo D, Rodriguez JA, Livi CM, Fernández-Santiago R, Ezquerra M, Martí MJ, Bechara E, Tartaglia GG. Discovering the 3' UTR-mediated regulation of alpha-synuclein. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 45:12888-12903. [PMID: 29149290 PMCID: PMC5728410 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence indicates a link between Parkinson's Disease (PD) and the expression of a-synuclein (SNCA) isoforms with different 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs). Yet, the post-transcriptional mechanisms regulating SNCA expression are unknown. Using a large-scale in vitro /in silico screening we identified RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that interact with SNCA 3′ UTRs. We identified two RBPs, ELAVL1 and TIAR, that bind with high affinity to the most abundant and translationally active 3′ UTR isoform (575 nt). Knockdown and overexpression experiments indicate that both ELAVL1 and TIAR positively regulate endogenous SNCA in vivo. The mechanism of regulation implies mRNA stabilization as well as enhancement of translation in the case of TIAR. We observed significant alteration of both TIAR and ELAVL1 expression in motor cortex of post-mortem brain donors and primary cultured fibroblast from patients affected by PD and Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). Moreover, trans expression quantitative trait loci (trans-eQTLs) analysis revealed that a group of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TIAR genomic locus influences SNCA expression in two different brain areas, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus. Our study sheds light on the 3′ UTR-mediated regulation of SNCA and its link with PD pathogenesis, thus opening up new avenues for investigation of post-transcriptional mechanisms in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenica Marchese
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Botta-Orfila
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Davide Cirillo
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Torre Girona c/Jordi Girona, 29, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Rodriguez
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico, c/BaldiriReixac, 4, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Maria Livi
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,IFOM, the FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Rubén Fernández-Santiago
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, Institut de Neurociències Hospital Clínic, CIBERNED, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mario Ezquerra
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, Institut de Neurociències Hospital Clínic, CIBERNED, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria J Martí
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Unit, Institut de Neurociències Hospital Clínic, CIBERNED, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Elias Bechara
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gian Gaetano Tartaglia
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is an orphan, fatal, adult-onset neurodegenerative disorder of uncertain etiology that is clinically characterized by various combinations of parkinsonism, cerebellar, autonomic, and motor dysfunction. MSA is an α-synucleinopathy with specific glioneuronal degeneration involving striatonigral, olivopontocerebellar, and autonomic nervous systems but also other parts of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The major clinical variants correlate with the morphologic phenotypes of striatonigral degeneration (MSA-P) and olivopontocerebellar atrophy (MSA-C). While our knowledge of the molecular pathogenesis of this devastating disease is still incomplete, updated consensus criteria and combined fluid and imaging biomarkers have increased its diagnostic accuracy. The neuropathologic hallmark of this unique proteinopathy is the deposition of aberrant α-synuclein in both glia (mainly oligodendroglia) and neurons forming glial and neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions that cause cell dysfunction and demise. In addition, there is widespread demyelination, the pathogenesis of which is not fully understood. The pathogenesis of MSA is characterized by propagation of misfolded α-synuclein from neurons to oligodendroglia and cell-to-cell spreading in a "prion-like" manner, oxidative stress, proteasomal and mitochondrial dysfunction, dysregulation of myelin lipids, decreased neurotrophic factors, neuroinflammation, and energy failure. The combination of these mechanisms finally results in a system-specific pattern of neurodegeneration and a multisystem involvement that are specific for MSA. Despite several pharmacological approaches in MSA models, addressing these pathogenic mechanisms, no effective neuroprotective nor disease-modifying therapeutic strategies are currently available. Multidisciplinary research to elucidate the genetic and molecular background of the deleterious cycle of noxious processes, to develop reliable biomarkers and targets for effective treatment of this hitherto incurable disorder is urgently needed.
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14
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Overk C, Rockenstein E, Valera E, Stefanova N, Wenning G, Masliah E. Multiple system atrophy: experimental models and reality. Acta Neuropathol 2018; 135:33-47. [PMID: 29058121 PMCID: PMC6156777 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rapidly progressing fatal synucleinopathy of the aging population characterized by parkinsonism, dysautonomia, and in some cases ataxia. Unlike other synucleinopathies, in this disorder the synaptic protein, α-synuclein (α-syn), predominantly accumulates in oligodendroglial cells (and to some extent in neurons), leading to maturation defects of oligodendrocytes, demyelination, and neurodegeneration. The mechanisms through which α-syn deposits occur in oligodendrocytes and neurons in MSA are not completely clear. While some studies suggest that α-syn might transfer from neurons to glial cells, others propose that α-syn might be aberrantly overexpressed by oligodendroglial cells. A number of in vivo models have been developed, including transgenic mice overexpressing α-syn under oligodendroglial promoters (e.g.: MBP, PLP, and CNP). Other models have been recently developed either by injecting synthetic α-syn fibrils or brain homogenates from patients with MSA into wild-type mice or by using viral vectors expressing α-syn under the MBP promoter in rats and non-human primates. Each of these models reproduces some of the neuropathological and functional aspects of MSA; however, none of them fully replicate the spectrum of MSA. Understanding better the mechanisms of how α-syn accumulates in oligodendrocytes and neurons will help in developing better models that recapitulate various pathogenic aspects of MSA in combination with translatable biomarkers of early stages of the disease that are necessary to devise disease-modifying therapeutics for MSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassia Overk
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0624, USA
| | - Edward Rockenstein
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0624, USA
| | - Elvira Valera
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0624, USA
| | - Nadia Stefanova
- Division of Clinical Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gregor Wenning
- Division of Clinical Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Eliezer Masliah
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0624, USA.
- Molecular Neuropathology Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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15
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Kaindlstorfer C, Jellinger KA, Eschlböck S, Stefanova N, Weiss G, Wenning GK. The Relevance of Iron in the Pathogenesis of Multiple System Atrophy: A Viewpoint. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 61:1253-1273. [PMID: 29376857 PMCID: PMC5798525 DOI: 10.3233/jad-170601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Iron is essential for cellular development and maintenance of multiple physiological processes in the central nervous system. The disturbance of its homeostasis leads to abnormal iron deposition in the brain and causes neurotoxicity via generation of free radicals and oxidative stress. Iron toxicity has been established in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease; however, its contribution to multiple system atrophy (MSA) remains elusive. MSA is characterized by cytoplasmic inclusions of misfolded α-synuclein (α-SYN) in oligodendrocytes referred to as glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs). Remarkably, the oligodendrocytes possess high amounts of iron, which together with GCI pathology make a contribution toward MSA pathogenesis likely. Consistent with this observation, the GCI density is associated with neurodegeneration in central autonomic networks as well as olivopontocerebellar and striatonigral pathways. Iron converts native α-SYN into a β-sheet conformation and promotes its aggregation either directly or via increasing levels of oxidative stress. Interestingly, α-SYN possesses ferrireductase activity and α-SYN expression underlies iron mediated translational control via RNA stem loop structures. Despite a correlation between progressive putaminal atrophy and iron accumulation as well as clinical decline, it remains unclear whether pathologic iron accumulation in MSA is a secondary event in the cascade of neuronal degeneration rather than a primary cause. This review summarizes the current knowledge of iron in MSA and gives evidence for perturbed iron homeostasis as a potential pathogenic factor in MSA-associated neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sabine Eschlböck
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Nadia Stefanova
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Günter Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gregor K. Wenning
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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16
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Whittaker HT, Qui Y, Bettencourt C, Houlden H. Multiple system atrophy: genetic risks and alpha-synuclein mutations. F1000Res 2017; 6:2072. [PMID: 29225795 PMCID: PMC5710304 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.12193.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is one of the few neurodegenerative disorders where we have a significant understanding of the clinical and pathological manifestations but where the aetiology remains almost completely unknown. Research to overcome this hurdle is gaining momentum through international research collaboration and a series of genetic and molecular discoveries in the last few years, which have advanced our knowledge of this rare synucleinopathy. In MSA, the discovery of α-synuclein pathology and glial cytoplasmic inclusions remain the most significant findings. Families with certain types of α-synuclein mutations develop diseases that mimic MSA, and the spectrum of clinical and pathological features in these families suggests a spectrum of severity, from late-onset Parkinson's disease to MSA. Nonetheless, controversies persist, such as the role of common α-synuclein variants in MSA and whether this disorder shares a common mechanism of spreading pathology with other protein misfolding neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we review these issues, specifically focusing on α-synuclein mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather T Whittaker
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Yichen Qui
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Henry Houlden
- Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,MRC Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.,Neurogenetics Laboratory, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, UK
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17
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Curry-Hyde A, Chen BJ, Ueberham U, Arendt T, Janitz M. Multiple System Atrophy: Many Lessons from the Transcriptome. Neuroscientist 2017; 24:294-307. [PMID: 28770651 DOI: 10.1177/1073858417723915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a complex, multifactorial, debilitating neurodegenerative disease that is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. MSA has two subclasses, MSA-P and MSA-C, defined by the dominance of parkinsonism or cerebellar dysfunction in the earlier stages of disease, coupled with dysautonomia. This distinction between subclasses becomes largely redundant as the disease progresses. Aggregation of α-synuclein is a clinical marker used to confirm MSA diagnoses, which can only be performed postmortem. Transcriptome profiling provides in-depth information about the diseased state and can contribute to further understanding of MSA, enabling easier and more rapid diagnosis as well as contributing to improving the quality of life of people with MSA. Currently, there is no method of diagnosing MSA with certainty, and there is no cure for this disease. This review provides an update on current advances in investigations of molecular pathology of MSA with particular focus on perturbation of individual gene expression and MSA transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashton Curry-Hyde
- 1 School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bei Jun Chen
- 1 School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Uwe Ueberham
- 2 Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Arendt
- 2 Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Janitz
- 1 School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,2 Paul Flechsig Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
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18
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Chen BJ, Ueberham U, Mills JD, Kirazov L, Kirazov E, Knobloch M, Bochmann J, Jendrek R, Takenaka K, Bliim N, Arendt T, Janitz M. RNA sequencing reveals pronounced changes in the noncoding transcriptome of aging synaptosomes. Neurobiol Aging 2017; 56:67-77. [PMID: 28499146 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2017.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Normal aging is associated with impairments in cognitive functions. These alterations are caused by diminutive changes in the biology of synapses, and ineffective neurotransmission, rather than loss of neurons. Hitherto, only a few studies, exploring molecular mechanisms of healthy brain aging in higher vertebrates, utilized synaptosomal fractions to survey local changes in aging-related transcriptome dynamics. Here we present, for the first time, a comparative analysis of the synaptosomes transcriptome in the aging mouse brain using RNA sequencing. Our results show changes in the expression of genes contributing to biological pathways related to neurite guidance, synaptosomal physiology, and RNA splicing. More intriguingly, we also discovered alterations in the expression of thousands of novel, unannotated lincRNAs during aging. Further, detailed characterization of the cleavage and polyadenylation factor I subunit 1 (Clp1) mRNA and protein expression indicates its increased expression in neuronal processes of hippocampal stratum radiatum in aging mice. Together, our study uncovers a new layer of transcriptional regulation which is targeted by aging within the local environment of interconnecting neuronal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Jun Chen
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Uwe Ueberham
- Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, School of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - James D Mills
- Department of (Neuro)Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ludmil Kirazov
- Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, School of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Evgeni Kirazov
- Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, School of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Mara Knobloch
- Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, School of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jana Bochmann
- Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, School of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Renate Jendrek
- Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, School of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Konii Takenaka
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicola Bliim
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Thomas Arendt
- Paul-Flechsig-Institute for Brain Research, University of Leipzig, School of Medicine, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Janitz
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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19
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Santiago JA, Potashkin JA. Blood Transcriptomic Meta-analysis Identifies Dysregulation of Hemoglobin and Iron Metabolism in Parkinson' Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2017; 9:73. [PMID: 28424608 PMCID: PMC5372821 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2017.00073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disrupted iron metabolism has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that severely affects movement and coordination, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying this association remain unknown. To this end, we performed a transcriptomic meta-analysis of four blood microarrays in PD. We observed a significant downregulation of genes related to hemoglobin including, hemoglobin delta (HBD), alpha hemoglobin stabilizing protein (ASHP), genes implicated in iron metabolism including, solute carrier family 11 member 2 (SLC11A2), ferrochelatase (FECH), and erythrocyte-specific genes including erythrocyte membrane protein (EPB42), and 5′-aminolevulinate synthase 2 (ALAS2). Pathway and network analysis identified enrichment in processes related to mitochondrial membrane, oxygen transport, oxygen and heme binding, hemoglobin complex, erythrocyte development, tetrapyrrole metabolism and the spliceosome. Collectively, we identified a subnetwork of genes in blood that may provide a molecular explanation for the disrupted hemoglobin and iron metabolism in the pathogenesis of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose A Santiago
- The Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Department, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North ChicagoIL, USA
| | - Judith A Potashkin
- The Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology Department, The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North ChicagoIL, USA
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20
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Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a devastating and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. The clinical presentation of this disease is highly variable, with parkinsonism, cerebellar ataxia and autonomic failure being the most common - and often debilitating - symptoms. These symptoms progress rapidly, and patients die from MSA-related complications after 9 years of symptom duration on average. Unfortunately, the course of the disease cannot be improved by drug or surgical treatment. In addition, symptomatic treatment options are currently limited, and therapeutic benefits are often only transient. Thus, further interventional studies of candidate disease-modifying and symptomatic therapies are essential to improve patient care. In the past 15 years, the understanding of MSA-specific requirements in trial methodology has improved, resulting in a substantial increase in high-quality interventional studies. In this Review, we discuss MSA risk factors, clinical presentation and neuropathology, and we provide a hypothesis on key pathophysiological events, a summary of recent randomized controlled trials, and an overview of ongoing international collaborations.
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21
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Chen BJ, Mills JD, Takenaka K, Bliim N, Halliday GM, Janitz M. Characterization of circular RNAs landscape in multiple system atrophy brain. J Neurochem 2016; 139:485-496. [DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2016] [Revised: 07/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bei Jun Chen
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - James D. Mills
- Deptartment of (Neuro) Pathology; Academic Medical Center and Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences; Centre for Neuroscience; University of Amsterdam; Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Konii Takenaka
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Nicola Bliim
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Glenda M. Halliday
- Neuroscience Research Australia; Sydney New South Wales Australia
- School of Medical Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Michael Janitz
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences; University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales Australia
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Jellinger KA, Wenning GK. Multiple system atrophy: pathogenic mechanisms and biomarkers. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2016; 123:555-72. [PMID: 27098666 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-016-1545-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a unique proteinopathy that differs from other α-synucleinopathies since the pathological process resulting from accumulation of aberrant α-synuclein (αSyn) involves the oligodendroglia rather than neurons, although both pathologies affect multiple parts of the brain, spinal cord, autonomic and peripheral nervous system. Both the etiology and pathogenesis of MSA are unknown, although animal models have provided insight into the basic molecular changes of this disorder. Accumulation of aberrant αSyn in oligodendroglial cells and preceded by relocation of p25α protein from myelin to oligodendroglia results in the formation of insoluble glial cytoplasmic inclusions that cause cell dysfunction and demise. These changes are associated with proteasomal, mitochondrial and lipid transport dysfunction, oxidative stress, reduced trophic transport, neuroinflammation and other noxious factors. Their complex interaction induces dysfunction of the oligodendroglial-myelin-axon-neuron complex, resulting in the system-specific pattern of neurodegeneration characterizing MSA as a synucleinopathy with oligodendroglio-neuronopathy. Propagation of modified toxic αSyn species from neurons to oligodendroglia by "prion-like" transfer and its spreading associated with neuronal pathways result in a multi-system involvement. No reliable biomarkers are currently available for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of MSA. Multidisciplinary research to elucidate the genetic and molecular background of the deleterious cycle of noxious processes, to develop reliable diagnostic biomarkers and to deliver targets for effective treatment of this hitherto incurable disorder is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt A Jellinger
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, Alberichgasse 5/13, 1150, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Gregor K Wenning
- Division of Clinical Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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