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Huang M, Liu YU, Yao X, Qin D, Su H. Variability in SOD1-associated amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: geographic patterns, clinical heterogeneity, molecular alterations, and therapeutic implications. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:28. [PMID: 38811997 PMCID: PMC11138100 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00416-x] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of motor neurons, resulting in global health burden and limited post-diagnosis life expectancy. Although primarily sporadic, familial ALS (fALS) cases suggest a genetic basis. This review focuses on SOD1, the first gene found to be associated with fALS, which has been more recently confirmed by genome sequencing. While informative, databases such as ALSoD and STRENGTH exhibit regional biases. Through a systematic global examination of SOD1 mutations from 1993 to 2023, we found different geographic distributions and clinical presentations. Even though different SOD1 variants are expressed at different protein levels and have different half-lives and dismutase activities, these alterations lead to loss of function that is not consistently correlated with disease severity. Gain of function of toxic aggregates of SOD1 resulting from mutated SOD1 has emerged as one of the key contributors to ALS. Therapeutic interventions specifically targeting toxic gain of function of mutant SOD1, including RNA interference and antibodies, show promise, but a cure remains elusive. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on SOD1-associated ALS and describes molecular features and the complex genetic landscape of SOD1, highlighting its importance in determining diverse clinical manifestations observed in ALS patients and emphasizing the need for personalized therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miaodan Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Yong U Liu
- Laboratory for Neuroimmunology in Health and Diseases, Guangzhou First People's Hospital School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Yao
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Major Neurological Diseases, National Key Clinical Department and Key Discipline of Neurology, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Dajiang Qin
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510799, China.
| | - Huanxing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
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2
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Tsekrekou M, Giannakou M, Papanikolopoulou K, Skretas G. Protein aggregation and therapeutic strategies in SOD1- and TDP-43- linked ALS. Front Mol Biosci 2024; 11:1383453. [PMID: 38855322 PMCID: PMC11157337 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2024.1383453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with severe socio-economic impact. A hallmark of ALS pathology is the presence of aberrant cytoplasmic inclusions composed of misfolded and aggregated proteins, including both wild-type and mutant forms. This review highlights the critical role of misfolded protein species in ALS pathogenesis, particularly focusing on Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), and emphasizes the urgent need for innovative therapeutic strategies targeting these misfolded proteins directly. Despite significant advancements in understanding ALS mechanisms, the disease remains incurable, with current treatments offering limited clinical benefits. Through a comprehensive analysis, the review focuses on the direct modulation of the misfolded proteins and presents recent discoveries in small molecules and peptides that inhibit SOD1 and TDP-43 aggregation, underscoring their potential as effective treatments to modify disease progression and improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsekrekou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Giannakou
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Katerina Papanikolopoulou
- Institute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
- ResQ Biotech, Patras Science Park, Rio, Greece
| | - Georgios Skretas
- Institute of Chemical Biology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
- ResQ Biotech, Patras Science Park, Rio, Greece
- Institute for Bio-innovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Centre “Alexander Fleming”, Vari, Greece
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3
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Unni S, Kommu P, Aouti S, Nalli Y, Bharath MMS, Ali A, Padmanabhan B. Structural insights into the modulation Of SOD1 aggregation By a fungal metabolite Phialomustin-B: Therapeutic potential in ALS. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298196. [PMID: 38446760 PMCID: PMC10917278 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal human motor neuron disease leading to muscle atrophy and paralysis. Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) are associated with familial ALS (fALS). The SOD1 mutants in ALS have a toxic-gain of function by destabilizing the functional SOD1 homodimer, consequently inducing fibril-like aggregation with a cytotoxic non-native trimer intermediate. Therefore, reducing SOD1 oligomerization via chemical modulators is an optimal therapy in ALS. Here, we report the discovery of Phialomustin-B, an unsaturated secondary metabolite from the endophytic fungus Phialophora mustea, as a modulator of SOD1 aggregation. The crystal structure of the SOD1-Phialomustin complex refined to 1.90 Å resolution demonstrated for the first time that the ligand binds to the dimer interface and the lateral region near the electrostatic loop. The aggregation analyses of SOD1WT and the disease mutant SOD1A4V revealed that Phialomustin-B reduces cytotoxic trimerization. We propose that Phialomustin-B is a potent lead molecule with therapeutic potential in fALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sruthi Unni
- Department of Biophysics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Padmini Kommu
- Department of Biophysics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Snehal Aouti
- Department of Biophysics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Yedukondalu Nalli
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Natural Product Division, Jammu, India
| | - M. M. Srinivas Bharath
- Department of Clinical Psychopharmacology and Neurotoxicology, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India
| | - Asif Ali
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Natural Product Division, Jammu, India
- Medicinal & Process Chemistry Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Jankipuram Extension, Lucknow, India
| | - Balasundaram Padmanabhan
- Department of Biophysics, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, India
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4
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Guo Y, Guan T, Yu Q, Sanghai N, Shafiq K, Li M, Jiao X, Na D, Zhang G, Kong J. ALS-linked SOD1 mutations impair mitochondrial-derived vesicle formation and accelerate aging. Redox Biol 2024; 69:102972. [PMID: 38056310 PMCID: PMC10746562 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102972] [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: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) is regarded as the dominant theory for aging. While compelling correlative data have been generated to support the OS theory, a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the accumulation of oxidation-mediated damage and aging has not been firmly established. Superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) is a primary antioxidant in all cells. It is, however, susceptible to oxidation due to OS and gains toxic properties to cells. This study investigates the role of oxidized SOD1 derived from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) linked SOD1 mutations in cell senescence and aging. Herein, we have shown that the cell line NSC34 expressing the G93A mutation of human SOD1 (hSOD1G93A) entered premature senescence as evidenced by a decreased number of the 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU)-positive cells. There was an upregulation of cellular senescence markers compared to cells expressing the wild-type human SOD1 (hSOD1WT). Transgenic mice carrying the hSOD1G93A gene showed aging phenotypes at an early age (135 days) with high levels of P53 and P16 but low levels of SIRT1 and SIRT6 compared with age-matched hSOD1WT transgenic mice. Notably, the levels of oxidized SOD1 were significantly elevated in both the senescent NSC34 cells and 135-day hSOD1G93A mice. Selective removal of oxidized SOD1 by our CT4-directed autophagy significantly decelerated aging, indicating that oxidized SOD1 is a causal factor of aging. Intriguingly, mitochondria malfunctioned in both senescent NSC34 cells and middle-aged hSODG93A transgenic mice. They exhibited increased production of mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs) in response to mild OS in mutant humanSOD1 (hSOD1) transgenic mice at a younger age; however, the mitochondrial response gradually declined with aging. In conclusion, our data show that oxidized SOD1 derived from ALS-linked SOD1 mutants is a causal factor for cellular senescence and aging. Compromised mitochondrial responsiveness to OS may serve as an indicator of premature aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Guo
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada; Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Teng Guan
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada
| | - Qiang Yu
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada
| | - Nitesh Sanghai
- College of Pharmacy, Rady Faculty of Health Science, University of Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kashfia Shafiq
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada
| | - Meiyu Li
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Xin Jiao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Donghui Na
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China
| | - Guohui Zhang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China.
| | - Jiming Kong
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada.
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Mohammadi S, Seyedalipour B, Hashemi SZ, Hosseinkhani S, Mohseni M. Implications of ALS-Associated Mutations on Biochemical and Biophysical Features of hSOD1 and Aggregation Formation. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-023-10619-y. [PMID: 38196030 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10619-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
One of the recognized motor neuron degenerative disorders is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). By now, several mutations have been reported and linked to ALS patients, some of which are induced by mutations in the human superoxide dismutase (hSOD1) gene. The ALS-provoking mutations are located throughout the structure of hSOD1 and promote the propensity to aggregate. Despite numerous investigations, the underlying mechanism related to the toxicity of mutant hSOD1 through the gain of a toxic function is still vague. We surveyed two mutant forms of hSOD1 by removing and adding cysteine at positions 146 and 72, respectively, to investigate the biochemical characterization and amyloid formation. Our findings predicted the harmful and destabilizing impact of two SOD1 mutants using multiple programs. The specific activity of the wild-type form was about 1.42- and 1.92-fold higher than that of C146R and G72C mutants, respectively. Comparative structural studies using CD spectropolarimetry, and intrinsic and ANS fluorescence showed alterations in secondary structure content, exposure of hydrophobic patches, and structural compactness of WT-hSOD1 vs. mutants. We demonstrated that two mutants were able to promote amyloid-like aggregates under amyloid induction circumstances (50-mM Tris-HCl pH 7.4, 0.2-M KSCN, 50-mM DTT, 37 °C, 190 rpm). Monitoring aggregates were done using an enhancement in thioflavin T fluorescence and alterations in Congo red absorption. The mutants accelerated fibrillation with subsequently greater fluorescence amplitude and a shorter lag time compared to WT-SOD1. These findings support the aggregation of ALS-associated SOD1 mutants as an integral part of ALS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saeede Mohammadi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Bagher Seyedalipour
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
| | - Seyedeh Zohreh Hashemi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Saman Hosseinkhani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Mohseni
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Science, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
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Kang Q, Jiang S, Min J, Hu F, Xu R. Parvalbumin interneurons dysfunction is potentially associated with FαMNs decrease and NRG1-ErbB4 signaling inhibition in spinal cord in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:15324-15339. [PMID: 38157256 PMCID: PMC10781496 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the alteration of PV interneurons in ALS mainly focusing its dynamic changes and its relationship with motor neurons and ErbB4 signaling. METHODS SOD1G93A mice were used as ALS model. ALS animals were divided into different groups according to birth age: symptomatic prophase (50~60 days), symptomatic phase (90~100 days), and symptomatic progression (130~140 days). Immunofluorescence was performed for measurement of PV-positive interneurons, MMP-9, ChAT, NeuN and ErbB4. RT-qPCR and western blot were used to determine the expression of PV and MMP-9. RESULTS PV expression was remarkably higher in the anterior horn of gray matter compared with posterior horn and area in the middle of gray matter in control mice. In ALS mice, PV, MMP-9 and ErbB4 levels were gradually decreased along with onset. PV, MMP-9 and ErbB4 levels in ALS mice were significantly down-regulated than control mice after onset, indicating the alteration of PV interneurons, FαMNs and ErbB4. SαMNs levels only decreased remarkably at symptomatic progression in ALS mice compared with control mice, while γMNs levels showed no significant change during whole period in all mice. MMP-9 and ErbB4 were positively correlated with PV. NRG1 treatment significantly enhanced the expression of ErBb4, PV and MMP-9 in ALS mice. CONCLUSION PV interneurons decrease is along with FαMNs and ErbB4 decrease in ALS mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Kang
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
| | - Shishi Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
| | - Jun Min
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
| | - Fan Hu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
| | - Renshi Xu
- Department of Neurology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
- Department of Neurology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Clinical College of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, P.R. China
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Hashimoto K, Watanabe S, Akutsu M, Muraki N, Kamishina H, Furukawa Y, Yamanaka K. Intrinsic structural vulnerability in the hydrophobic core induces species-specific aggregation of canine SOD1 with degenerative myelopathy-linked E40K mutation. J Biol Chem 2023:104798. [PMID: 37156398 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104798] [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: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Canine degenerative myelopathy (DM), a fatal neurodegenerative disease in dogs, shares clinical and genetic features with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a human motor neuron disease. Mutations in the SOD1 gene encoding Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause canine DM and a subset of inherited human ALS. The most frequent DM causative mutation is homozygous E40K mutation which induces the aggregation of canine SOD1 but not of human SOD1. However, the mechanism through which canine E40K mutation induces species-specific aggregation of SOD1 remains unknown. By screening human/canine chimeric SOD1s, we identified that the humanized mutation of the 117th residue (M117L), encoded by exon 4, significantly reduced aggregation propensity of canine SOD1E40K. Conversely, introducing a mutation of leucine 117 to methionine, a residue homologous to canine, promoted E40K-dependent aggregation in human SOD1. M117L mutation improved protein stability and reduced cytotoxicity of canine SOD1E40K. Furthermore, crystal structural analysis of canine SOD1 proteins revealed that M117L increased the packing within the hydrophobic core of the β-barrel structure, contributing to the increased protein stability. Our findings indicate that the structural vulnerability derived intrinsically from Met 117 in the hydrophobic core of the β-barrel structure induces E40K-dependent species-specific aggregation in canine SOD1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Hashimoto
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Seiji Watanabe
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan.
| | - Masato Akutsu
- Department of Chemistry, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Norifumi Muraki
- Department of Chemistry, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kamishina
- Life Science Research Center, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan; Kyoto AR Advanced Veterinary Medical Center, Kyoto, Japan
| | | | - Koji Yamanaka
- Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Department of Neuroscience and Pathobiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; Institute for Glyco-core Research (iGCORE), Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan; Center for One Medicine Innovative Translational Research (COMIT), Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
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Antonioni A, Govoni V, Brancaleoni L, Donà A, Granieri E, Bergamini M, Gerdol R, Pugliatti M. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Air Pollutants in the Province of Ferrara, Northern Italy: An Ecological Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20085591. [PMID: 37107873 PMCID: PMC10138704 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The etiopathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is still largely unknown, but likely depends on gene-environment interactions. Among the putative sources of environmental exposure are air pollutants and especially heavy metals. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ALS density and the concentration of air pollution heavy metals in Ferrara, northern Italy. An ecological study was designed to correlate the map of ALS distribution and that of air pollutants. All ALS cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2017 (Ferrara University Hospital administrative data) were plotted by residency in 100 sub-areas, and grouped in 4 sectors: urban, rural, northwestern and along the motorway. The concentrations of silver, aluminium, cadmium, chrome, copper, iron, manganese, lead, and selenium in moss and lichens were measured and monitored in 2006 and 2011. Based on 62 ALS patients, a strong and direct correlation of ALS density was observed only with copper concentrations in all sectors and in both sexes (Pearson coefficient (ρ) = 0.758; p = 0.000002). The correlation was higher in the urban sector (ρ = 0.767; p = 0.000128), in women for the overall population (ρ = 0.782, p = 0.000028) and in the urban (ρ = 0.872, p = 0.000047) population, and for the older cohort of diagnosed patients (2000-2009) the assessment correlated with the first assessment of air pollutants in 2006 (ρ = 0.724, p = 0.008). Our data is, in part, consistent with a hypothesis linking copper pollution to ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annibale Antonioni
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.A.); (E.G.)
- Doctoral Program in Translational Neurosciences and Neurotechnologies, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Vittorio Govoni
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.A.); (E.G.)
| | - Lisa Brancaleoni
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessandro Donà
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.A.); (E.G.)
| | - Enrico Granieri
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.A.); (E.G.)
| | - Mauro Bergamini
- Preventive Medicine and Risk Assessment, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Renato Gerdol
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maura Pugliatti
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.A.); (E.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0532-239309
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9
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Amorós MA, Choi ES, Cofré AR, Dokholyan NV, Duzzioni M. Motor neuron-derived induced pluripotent stem cells as a drug screening platform for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:962881. [PMID: 36105357 PMCID: PMC9467621 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.962881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of cell culture models that recapitulate the etiology and features of nervous system diseases is central to the discovery of new drugs and their translation onto therapies. Neuronal tissues are inaccessible due to skeletal constraints and the invasiveness of the procedure to obtain them. Thus, the emergence of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology offers the opportunity to model different neuronal pathologies. Our focus centers on iPSCs derived from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, whose pathology remains in urgent need of new drugs and treatment. In this sense, we aim to revise the process to obtain motor neurons derived iPSCs (iPSC-MNs) from patients with ALS as a drug screening model, review current 3D-models and offer a perspective on bioinformatics as a powerful tool that can aid in the progress of finding new pharmacological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana A. Amorós
- Laboratory of Pharmacological Innovation, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Esther S. Choi
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Axel R. Cofré
- Laboratory of Pharmacological Innovation, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
| | - Nikolay V. Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Marcelo Duzzioni
- Laboratory of Pharmacological Innovation, Institute of Biological Sciences and Health, Federal University of Alagoas, Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil
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10
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Zhang DY, Wang J, Fleeman RM, Kuhn MK, Swulius MT, Proctor EA, Dokholyan NV. Monosialotetrahexosylganglioside Promotes Early Aβ42 Oligomer Formation and Maintenance. ACS Chem Neurosci 2022; 13:1979-1991. [PMID: 35713284 PMCID: PMC10137048 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.2c00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The aggregation of the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide is associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Cell membrane composition, especially monosialotetrahexosylganglioside (GM1), is known to promote the formation of Aβ fibrils, yet little is known about the roles of GM1 in the early steps of Aβ oligomer formation. Here, by using GM1-contained liposomes as a mimic of the neuronal cell membrane, we demonstrate that GM1 is a critical trigger of Aβ oligomerization and aggregation. We find that GM1 not only promotes the formation of Aβ fibrils but also facilitates the maintenance of Aβ42 oligomers on liposome membranes. We structurally characterize the Aβ42 oligomers formed on the membrane and find that GM1 captures Aβ by binding to its arginine-5 residue. To interrogate the mechanism of Aβ42 oligomer toxicity, we design a new liposome-based Ca2+-encapsulation assay and provide new evidence for the Aβ42 ion channel hypothesis. Finally, we determine the toxicity of Aβ42 oligomers formed on membranes. Overall, by uncovering the roles of GM1 in mediating early Aβ oligomer formation and maintenance, our work provides a novel direction for pharmaceutical research for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Yan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States
| | - Rebecca M Fleeman
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States.,Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, United States
| | - Madison K Kuhn
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States.,Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, United States
| | - Matthew T Swulius
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Proctor
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States.,Department of Neurosurgery, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States.,Center for Neural Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, United States.,Department of Engineering Science & Mechanics, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, United States
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, United States.,Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033-0850, United States.,Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, State College, Pennsylvania 16801, United States
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11
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Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides are involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) development. The interactions of these peptides with copper and zinc ions also seem to be crucial for this pathology. Although Cu(II) and Zn(II) ions binding by Aβ peptides has been scrupulously investigated, surprisingly, this phenomenon has not been so thoroughly elucidated for N-truncated Aβ4-x-probably the most common version of this biomolecule. This negligence also applies to mixed Cu-Zn complexes. From the structural in silico analysis presented in this work, it appears that there are two possible mixed Cu-Zn(Aβ4-x) complexes with different stoichiometries and, consequently, distinct properties. The Cu-Zn(Aβ4-x) complex with 1:1:1 stoichiometry may have a neuroprotective superoxide dismutase-like activity. On the other hand, another mixed 2:1:2 Cu-Zn(Aβ4-x) complex is perhaps a seed for toxic oligomers. Hence, this work proposes a novel research direction for our better understanding of AD development.
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Hnath B, Dokholyan NV. Toxic SOD1 trimers are off-pathway in the formation of amyloid-like fibrils in ALS. Biophys J 2022; 121:2084-2095. [PMID: 35505609 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulation of insoluble amyloid fibrils is widely studied as a critical factor in the pathology of multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease. Misfolded Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) was the first protein linked to ALS, and non-native SOD1 trimeric oligomers were recently linked to cytotoxicity, while larger oligomers were protective to cells. The balance between trimers and larger aggregates in the process of SOD1 aggregation is, thus, a critical determinant of potential therapeutic approaches to treat ALS. Yet, it is unknown whether these trimeric oligomers are a necessary intermediate for larger aggregate formation or a distinct off-pathway species competing with fibril formation. Depending on the on- or off-pathway scenario of trimer formation, we expect drastically different therapeutic approaches. Here, we show that the toxic SOD1 trimer is an off-pathway intermediate competing with protective fibril formation. We design mutant SOD1 constructs that remain in a trimeric state (super stable trimers) and show that stabilizing the trimeric SOD1 prevents formation of fibrils in vitro and in a motor neuron like cell model (NSC-34). Using size exclusion chromatography, we track the aggregation kinetics of purified SOD1 and show direct competition of trimeric SOD1 with larger oligomer and fibril formation. Finally, we show the trimer is structurally independent of both larger soluble oligomers and insoluble fibrils using circular dichroism spectroscopy and limited proteolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna Hnath
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
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13
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Liu W, Wang G, Wang Z, Wang G, Huang J, Liu B. Repurposing small-molecule drugs for modulating toxic protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases. Drug Discov Today 2022; 27:1994-2007. [PMID: 35395400 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are often age-related disorders that can cause dementia in people, usually over 65 years old, are still lacking effective therapies. Some NDs have recently been linked to toxic protein aggregates, for example Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington disease; therefore, mulating toxic protein aggregates would be a promising therapeutic strategy. Moreover, drug repurposing, in other words exploiting drugs that are already in use for another indication, has been attracting mounting attention for potential therapeutic purposes in NDs. Thus, in this review, we focus on summarizing a series of repurposed small-molecule drugs for eliminating or inhibiting toxic protein aggregates and further discuss their intricate molecular mechanisms to improve the current ND treatment. Taken together, these findings will shed new light on exploiting more repurposed small-molecule drugs targeting different types of toxic proteins to fight NDs in the future. Teaser: Drug repurposing has been gaining attention to yield therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Precision Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Precision Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhiwen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Precision Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Guan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Precision Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | | | - Bo Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, and Precision Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Biomarkers in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: The State of the Art in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052580. [PMID: 35269723 PMCID: PMC8910056 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease, characterized by the progressive loss of lower motor neurons, weakness and muscle atrophy. ALS lacks an effective cure and diagnosis is often made by exclusion. Thus, it is imperative to search for biomarkers. Biomarkers can help in understanding ALS pathomechanisms, identification of targets for treatment and development of effective therapies. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) represent a valid source for biomarkers compared to cerebrospinal fluid, as they are simple to collect, and to plasma, because of the possibility of detecting lower expressed proteins. They are a reliable model for patients’ stratification. This review provides an overview on PBMCs as a potential source of biomarkers in ALS. We focused on altered RNA metabolism (coding/non-coding RNA), including RNA processing, mRNA stabilization, transport and translation regulation. We addressed protein abnormalities (aggregation, misfolding and modifications); specifically, we highlighted that SOD1 appears to be the most characterizing protein in ALS. Finally, we emphasized the correlation between biological parameters and disease phenotypes, as regards prognosis, severity and clinical features. In conclusion, even though further studies are needed to standardize the use of PBMCs as a tool for biomarker investigation, they represent a promising approach in ALS research.
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15
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Sever B, Ciftci H, DeMirci H, Sever H, Ocak F, Yulug B, Tateishi H, Tateishi T, Otsuka M, Fujita M, Başak AN. Comprehensive Research on Past and Future Therapeutic Strategies Devoted to Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052400. [PMID: 35269543 PMCID: PMC8910198 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly debilitating fatal neurodegenerative disorder, causing muscle atrophy and weakness, which leads to paralysis and eventual death. ALS has a multifaceted nature affected by many pathological mechanisms, including oxidative stress (also via protein aggregation), mitochondrial dysfunction, glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, axonal degeneration, skeletal muscle deterioration and viruses. This complexity is a major obstacle in defeating ALS. At present, riluzole and edaravone are the only drugs that have passed clinical trials for the treatment of ALS, notwithstanding that they showed modest benefits in a limited population of ALS. A dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate combination was also approved to treat pseudobulbar affect (PBA) in the course of ALS. Globally, there is a struggle to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of this neurodegenerative disease, including implementation of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), CRISPR-9/Cas technique, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) or ALS-on-a-chip technology. Additionally, researchers have synthesized and screened new compounds to be effective in ALS beyond the drug repurposing strategy. Despite all these efforts, ALS treatment is largely limited to palliative care, and there is a strong need for new therapeutics to be developed. This review focuses on and discusses which therapeutic strategies have been followed so far and what can be done in the future for the treatment of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belgin Sever
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Eskisehir 26470, Turkey;
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan; (H.C.); (H.T.); (M.O.)
| | - Halilibrahim Ciftci
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan; (H.C.); (H.T.); (M.O.)
- Department of Drug Discovery, Science Farm Ltd., Kumamoto 862-0976, Japan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koc University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey;
| | - Hasan DeMirci
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Koc University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey;
| | - Hilal Sever
- Ministry of Health, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic, Istanbul 34098, Turkey;
| | - Firdevs Ocak
- Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli 41001, Turkey;
| | - Burak Yulug
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Alaaddin Keykubat University, Alanya 07425, Turkey;
| | - Hiroshi Tateishi
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan; (H.C.); (H.T.); (M.O.)
| | - Takahisa Tateishi
- Division of Respirology, Neurology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Fukuoka 830-0011, Japan;
| | - Masami Otsuka
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan; (H.C.); (H.T.); (M.O.)
- Department of Drug Discovery, Science Farm Ltd., Kumamoto 862-0976, Japan
| | - Mikako Fujita
- Medicinal and Biological Chemistry Science Farm Joint Research Laboratory, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan; (H.C.); (H.T.); (M.O.)
- Correspondence: (M.F.); (A.N.B.); Tel.: +81-96-371-4622 (M.F.); +90-850-250-8250 (A.N.B.)
| | - Ayşe Nazlı Başak
- Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation, Neurodegeneration Research Laboratory (KUTTAM-NDAL), Koc University, Istanbul 34450, Turkey
- Correspondence: (M.F.); (A.N.B.); Tel.: +81-96-371-4622 (M.F.); +90-850-250-8250 (A.N.B.)
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