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Dharmadasa T, Pavey N, Tu S, Menon P, Huynh W, Mahoney CJ, Timmins HC, Higashihara M, van den Bos M, Shibuya K, Kuwabara S, Grosskreutz J, Kiernan MC, Vucic S. Novel approaches to assessing upper motor neuron dysfunction in motor neuron disease/amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: IFCN handbook chapter. Clin Neurophysiol 2024; 163:68-89. [PMID: 38705104 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2024.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Identifying upper motor neuron (UMN) dysfunction is fundamental to the diagnosis and understanding of disease pathogenesis in motor neuron disease (MND). The clinical assessment of UMN dysfunction may be difficult, particularly in the setting of severe muscle weakness. From a physiological perspective, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques provide objective biomarkers of UMN dysfunction in MND and may also be useful to interrogate cortical and network function. Single, paired- and triple pulse TMS techniques have yielded novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in MND, and have provided important pathogenic insights, particularly pertaining to site of disease onset. Cortical hyperexcitability, as heralded by reduced short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and increased short interval intracortical facilitation, has been associated with the onset of lower motor neuron degeneration, along with patterns of disease spread, development of specific clinical features such as the split hand phenomenon, and may provide an indication about the rate of disease progression. Additionally, reduction of SICI has emerged as a potential diagnostic aid in MND. The triple stimulation technique (TST) was shown to enhance the diagnostic utility of conventional TMS measures in detecting UMN dysfunction in MND. Separately, sophisticated brain imaging techniques have uncovered novel biomarkers of neurodegeneration that have bene associated with progression. The present review will discuss the utility of TMS and brain neuroimaging derived biomarkers of UMN dysfunction in MND, focusing on recently developed TMS techniques and advanced neuroimaging modalities that interrogate structural and functional integrity of the corticomotoneuronal system, with an emphasis on pathogenic, diagnostic, and prognostic utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanuja Dharmadasa
- Department of Neurology, The Royal Melbourne Hospital City Campus, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nathan Pavey
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Sicong Tu
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Parvathi Menon
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - William Huynh
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Colin J Mahoney
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Hannah C Timmins
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Mana Higashihara
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mehdi van den Bos
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kazumoto Shibuya
- Neurology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kuwabara
- Neurology, Chiba University, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Julian Grosskreutz
- Precision Neurology, Excellence Cluster Precision Medicine in Inflammation, University of Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Brain and Nerve Research Center, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
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Li A, Yi J, Li X, Dong L, Ostrow LW, Ma J, Zhou J. Distinct transcriptomic profile of satellite cells contributes to preservation of neuromuscular junctions in extraocular muscles of ALS mice. eLife 2024; 12:RP92644. [PMID: 38661532 PMCID: PMC11045223 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive weakness of almost all skeletal muscles, whereas extraocular muscles (EOMs) are comparatively spared. While hindlimb and diaphragm muscles of end-stage SOD1G93A (G93A) mice (a familial ALS mouse model) exhibit severe denervation and depletion of Pax7+satellite cells (SCs), we found that the pool of SCs and the integrity of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are maintained in EOMs. In cell sorting profiles, SCs derived from hindlimb and diaphragm muscles of G93A mice exhibit denervation-related activation, whereas SCs from EOMs of G93A mice display spontaneous (non-denervation-related) activation, similar to SCs from wild-type mice. Specifically, cultured EOM SCs contain more abundant transcripts of axon guidance molecules, including Cxcl12, along with more sustainable renewability than the diaphragm and hindlimb counterparts under differentiation pressure. In neuromuscular co-culture assays, AAV-delivery of Cxcl12 to G93A-hindlimb SC-derived myotubes enhances motor neuron axon extension and innervation, recapitulating the innervation capacity of EOM SC-derived myotubes. G93A mice fed with sodium butyrate (NaBu) supplementation exhibited less NMJ loss in hindlimb and diaphragm muscles. Additionally, SCs derived from G93A hindlimb and diaphragm muscles displayed elevated expression of Cxcl12 and improved renewability following NaBu treatment in vitro. Thus, the NaBu-induced transcriptomic changes resembling the patterns of EOM SCs may contribute to the beneficial effects observed in G93A mice. More broadly, the distinct transcriptomic profile of EOM SCs may offer novel therapeutic targets to slow progressive neuromuscular functional decay in ALS and provide possible 'response biomarkers' in pre-clinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ang Li
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonUnited States
| | - Jianxun Yi
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonUnited States
| | - Xuejun Li
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonUnited States
| | - Li Dong
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonUnited States
| | - Lyle W Ostrow
- Department of Neurology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple UniversityPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Jianjie Ma
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleUnited States
| | - Jingsong Zhou
- Department of Kinesiology, College of Nursing and Health Innovation, The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlingtonUnited States
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3
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Barel D, Marom D, Ponger P, Kurolap A, Bar-Shira A, Kaplan-Ber I, Mory A, Abramovich B, Yaron Y, Drory V, Baris Feldman H. Genetic diagnosis and detection rates using C9orf72 repeat expansion and a multi-gene panel in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol 2024:10.1007/s00415-024-12368-3. [PMID: 38625400 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-024-12368-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It is mostly sporadic, with the C9orf72 repeat expansion being the most common genetic cause. While the prevalence of C9orf72-ALS in patients from different populations has been studied, data regarding the yield of C9orf72 compared to an ALS gene panel testing is limited.We aimed to explore the application of C9orf72 versus a gene panel in the general Israeli population. A total of 140 ALS patients attended our Neurogenetics Clinic throughout 2018-2023. Disease onset was between ages 60 and 69 years for most patients (34%); however, a quarter had an early-onset disease (< 50 years). Overall, 119 patients (85%) were genetically evaluated: 116 (97%) were tested for the C9orf72 repeat expansion and 64 (54%) underwent gene panel testing. The C9orf72 repeat expansion had a prevalence of 21% among Ashkenazi Jewish patients compared to 5.7% in non-Ashkenazi patients, while the gene panel had a higher yield in non-Ashkenazi patients with 14% disease-causing variants compared to 5.7% in Ashkenazi Jews. Among early-onset ALS patients, panel testing was positive in 12% compared to 2.9% for C9orf72.We suggest a testing strategy for the Israeli ALS patients: C9orf72 should be the first-tier test in Ashkenazi Jewish patients, while a gene panel should be considered as the first step in non-Ashkenazi and early-onset patients. Tiered testing has important implications for patient management, including prognosis, ongoing clinical trials, and prevention in future generations. Similar studies should be implemented worldwide to uncover the diverse ALS genetic architecture and facilitate tailored care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalit Barel
- The Genetics Institute and Genomics Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - Daphna Marom
- The Genetics Institute and Genomics Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Penina Ponger
- The Genetics Institute and Genomics Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Alina Kurolap
- The Genetics Institute and Genomics Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Anat Bar-Shira
- The Genetics Institute and Genomics Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Idit Kaplan-Ber
- The Genetics Institute and Genomics Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Adi Mory
- The Genetics Institute and Genomics Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | | | - Yuval Yaron
- The Genetics Institute and Genomics Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Vivian Drory
- Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Hagit Baris Feldman
- The Genetics Institute and Genomics Center, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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4
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Li A, Yi J, Li X, Dong L, Ostrow LW, Ma J, Zhou J. Distinct transcriptomic profile of satellite cells contributes to preservation of neuromuscular junctions in extraocular muscles of ALS mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.02.12.528218. [PMID: 36824725 PMCID: PMC9949002 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.12.528218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neuromuscular disorder characterized by progressive weakness of almost all skeletal muscles, whereas extraocular muscles (EOMs) are comparatively spared. While hindlimb and diaphragm muscles of end-stage SOD1G93A (G93A) mice (a familial ALS mouse model) exhibit severe denervation and depletion of Pax7 + satellite cells (SCs), we found that the pool of SCs and the integrity of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are maintained in EOMs. In cell sorting profiles, SCs derived from hindlimb and diaphragm muscles of G93A mice exhibit denervation-related activation, whereas SCs from EOMs of G93A mice display spontaneous (non-denervation-related) activation, similar to SCs from wild-type mice. Specifically, cultured EOM SCs contain more abundant transcripts of axon guidance molecules, including Cxcl12 , along with more sustainable renewability than the diaphragm and hindlimb counterparts under differentiation pressure. In neuromuscular co-culture assays, AAV-delivery of Cxcl12 to G93A-hindlimb SC-derived myotubes enhances motor neuron axon extension and innervation, recapitulating the innervation capacity of EOM SC-derived myotubes. G93A mice fed with sodium butyrate (NaBu) supplementation exhibited less NMJ loss in hindlimb and diaphragm muscles. Additionally, SCs derived from G93A hindlimb and diaphragm muscles displayed elevated expression of Cxcl12 and improved renewability following NaBu treatment in vitro . Thus, the NaBu-induced transcriptomic changes resembling the patterns of EOM SCs may contribute to the beneficial effects observed in G93A mice. More broadly, the distinct transcriptomic profile of EOM SCs may offer novel therapeutic targets to slow progressive neuromuscular functional decay in ALS and provide possible "response biomarkers" in pre-clinical and clinical studies.
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5
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Dar NJ, John U, Bano N, Khan S, Bhat SA. Oxytosis/Ferroptosis in Neurodegeneration: the Underlying Role of Master Regulator Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:1507-1526. [PMID: 37725216 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03646-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Oxytosis/ferroptosis is an iron-dependent oxidative form of cell death triggered by lethal accumulation of phospholipid hydroperoxides (PLOOHs) in membranes. Failure of the intricate PLOOH repair system is a principle cause of ferroptotic cell death. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is distinctly vital for converting PLOOHs in membranes to non-toxic alcohols. As such, GPX4 is known as the master regulator of oxytosis/ferroptosis. Ferroptosis has been implicated in a number of disorders such as neurodegenerative diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD), etc.), ischemia/reperfusion injury, and kidney degeneration. Reduced function of GPX4 is frequently observed in degenerative disorders. In this study, we examine how diminished GPX4 function may be a critical event in triggering oxytosis/ferroptosis to perpetuate or initiate the neurodegenerative diseases and assess the possible therapeutic importance of oxytosis/ferroptosis in neurodegenerative disorders. These discoveries are important for advancing our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases because oxytosis/ferroptosis may provide a new target to slow the course of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nawab John Dar
- School of Medicine, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
| | - Urmilla John
- School of Studies in Neuroscience, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India
- School of Studies in Zoology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior, India
| | - Nargis Bano
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P, India
| | - Sameera Khan
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P, India
| | - Shahnawaz Ali Bhat
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, U.P, India.
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Grossini E, De Marchi F, Venkatesan S, Mele A, Ferrante D, Mazzini L. Effects of Acetyl-L-Carnitine on Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients: Evaluation on Plasma Markers and Members of the Neurovascular Unit. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1887. [PMID: 37891966 PMCID: PMC10604350 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress, the alteration of mitochondrial function, and the neurovascular unit (NVU), play a role in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis. We aimed to demonstrate the changes in the plasma redox system and nitric oxide (NO) in 32 new ALS-diagnosed patients in treatment with Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALCAR) compared to healthy controls. We also evaluated the effects of plasma on human umbilical cord-derived endothelial vascular cells (HUVEC) and astrocytes. The analyses were performed at the baseline (T0), after three months (T1), and after six months (T2). In ALS patients at T0/T1, the plasma markers of lipid peroxidation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and 4-hydroxy nonenal (4-HNE) were higher, whereas the antioxidants, glutathione (GSH) and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were lower than in healthy controls. At T2, plasma TBARS and 4-HNE decreased, whereas plasma GSH and the GPx activity increased in ALS patients. As regards NO, the plasma levels were firmly lower at T0-T2 than those of healthy controls. Cell viability, and mitochondrial membrane potential in HUVEC/astrocytes treated with the plasma of ALS patients at T0-T2 were reduced, while the oxidant release increased. Those results, which confirmed the fundamental role of oxidative stress, mitochondrial function, and of the NVU in ALS pathogenesis, can have a double meaning, acting as disease markers at baseline and potential markers of drug effects in clinical practice and during clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Grossini
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (E.G.); (S.V.)
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Sakthipriyan Venkatesan
- Laboratory of Physiology, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (E.G.); (S.V.)
| | - Angelica Mele
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Daniela Ferrante
- Statistic Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy;
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Center, Neurology Unit, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
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Ciuro M, Sangiorgio M, Leanza G, Gulino R. A Meta-Analysis Study of SOD1-Mutant Mouse Models of ALS to Analyse the Determinants of Disease Onset and Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010216. [PMID: 36613659 PMCID: PMC9820332 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
A complex interaction between genetic and external factors determines the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Epidemiological studies on large patient cohorts have suggested that ALS is a multi-step disease, as symptom onset occurs only after exposure to a sequence of risk factors. Although the exact nature of these determinants remains to be clarified, it seems clear that: (i) genetic mutations may be responsible for one or more of these steps; (ii) other risk factors are probably linked to environment and/or to lifestyle, and (iii) compensatory plastic changes taking place during the ALS etiopathogenesis probably affect the timing of onset and progression of disease. Current knowledge on ALS mechanisms and therapeutic targets, derives mainly from studies involving superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) transgenic mice; therefore, it would be fundamental to verify whether a multi-step disease concept can also be applied to these animal models. With this aim, a meta-analysis study has been performed using a collection of primary studies (n = 137), selected according to the following criteria: (1) the studies should employ SOD1 transgenic mice; (2) the studies should entail the presence of a disease-modifying experimental manipulation; (3) the studies should make use of Kaplan-Meier plots showing the distribution of symptom onset and lifespan. Then, using a subset of this study collection (n = 94), the effects of treatments on key molecular mechanisms, as well as on the onset and progression of disease have been analysed in a large population of mice. The results are consistent with a multi-step etiopathogenesis of disease in ALS mice (including two to six steps, depending on the particular SOD1 mutation), closely resembling that observed in patient cohorts, and revealed an interesting relationship between molecular mechanisms and disease manifestation. Thus, SOD1 mouse models may be considered of high predictive value to understand the determinants of disease onset and progression, as well as to identify targets for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ciuro
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Physiology Section, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Maria Sangiorgio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Physiology Section, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Giampiero Leanza
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
- Molecular Preclinical and Translational Imaging Research Centre—IMPRonTE, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Rosario Gulino
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, Physiology Section, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
- Molecular Preclinical and Translational Imaging Research Centre—IMPRonTE, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
- Correspondence:
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8
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Samanta N, Ruiz‐Blanco YB, Fetahaj Z, Gnutt D, Lantz C, Loo JA, Sanchez‐Garcia E, Ebbinghaus S. Superoxide Dismutase 1 Folding Stability as a Target for Molecular Tweezers in SOD1-Related Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200396. [PMID: 36083789 PMCID: PMC9828543 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Protein misfolding and aggregation are hallmarks of many severe neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's disease. As a supramolecular ligand that binds to lysine and arginine residues, the molecular tweezer CLR01 was found to modify the aggregation pathway of disease-relevant proteins in vitro and in vivo with beneficial effects on toxicity. However, the molecular mechanisms of how tweezers exert these effects remain mainly unknown, hampering further drug development. Here, we investigate the modulation mechanism of unfolding and aggregation pathways of SOD1, which are involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), by CLR01. Using a truncated version of the wildtype SOD1 protein, SOD1bar , we show that CLR01 acts on the first step of the aggregation pathway, the unfolding of the SOD1 monomer. CLR01 increases, by ∼10 °C, the melting temperatures of the A4V and G41D SOD1 mutants, which are commonly observed mutations in familial ALS. Molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations as well as native mass spectrometry and mutational studies allowed us to identify K61 and K92 as binding sites for the tweezers to mediate the stability increase. The data suggest that the modulation of SOD1 conformational stability is a promising target for future developments of supramolecular ligands against neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirnay Samanta
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical ChemistryTU Braunschweig38106BraunschweigGermany,Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS) 38106BraunschweigGermany
| | - Yasser B. Ruiz‐Blanco
- Computational Biochemistry, Center of Medical BiotechnologyUniversity of Duisburg-Essen45141EssenGermany
| | - Zamira Fetahaj
- Department of Physical Chemistry IIRuhr University44780BochumGermany
| | - David Gnutt
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical ChemistryTU Braunschweig38106BraunschweigGermany,Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS) 38106BraunschweigGermany,Department of Physical Chemistry IIRuhr University44780BochumGermany
| | - Carter Lantz
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California-Los Angeles90095Los Angeles, CAUSA
| | - Joseph A. Loo
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of California-Los Angeles90095Los Angeles, CAUSA
| | - Elsa Sanchez‐Garcia
- Computational Biochemistry, Center of Medical BiotechnologyUniversity of Duisburg-Essen45141EssenGermany
| | - Simon Ebbinghaus
- Institute of Physical and Theoretical ChemistryTU Braunschweig38106BraunschweigGermany,Braunschweig Integrated Centre of Systems Biology (BRICS) 38106BraunschweigGermany,Department of Physical Chemistry IIRuhr University44780BochumGermany
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Johnson SA, Fang T, De Marchi F, Neel D, Van Weehaeghe D, Berry JD, Paganoni S. Pharmacotherapy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Review of Approved and Upcoming Agents. Drugs 2022; 82:1367-1388. [PMID: 36121612 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-022-01769-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder involving loss of upper and lower motor neurons, with most cases ending in death within 3-5 years of onset. Several molecular and cellular pathways have been identified to cause ALS; however, treatments to stop or reverse disease progression are yet to be found. Riluzole, a neuroprotective agent offering only a modest survival benefit, has long been the sole disease-modifying therapy for ALS. Edaravone, which demonstrated statistically significant slowing of ALS disease progression, is gaining approval in an increasing number of countries since its first approval in 2015. Sodium phenylbutyrate and taurursodiol (PB-TURSO) was conditionally approved in Canada in 2022, having shown significant slowing of disease progression and prolonged survival. Most clinical trials have focused on testing small molecules affecting common cellular pathways in ALS: targeting glutamatergic, apoptotic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress mechanisms among others. More recently, clinical trials utilizing stem cell transplantation and other biologics have emerged. This rich and ever-growing pipeline of investigational products, along with innovative clinical trial designs, collaborative trial networks, and an engaged ALS community', provide renewed hope to finding a cure for ALS. This article reviews existing ALS therapies and the current clinical drug development pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Johnson
- Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI), Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge St, Suite 600, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Ton Fang
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Fabiola De Marchi
- Department of Neurology, ALS Centre, Maggiore della Carità Hospital, Novara, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Donatienne Van Weehaeghe
- Nuclear Medicine Subdivision, Department of Imaging and Pathology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - James D Berry
- Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI), Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge St, Suite 600, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Sabrina Paganoni
- Neurological Clinical Research Institute (NCRI), Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge St, Suite 600, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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10
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Martins AS, Gromicho M, Pinto S, de Carvalho M, Madeira SC. Learning Prognostic Models Using Disease Progression Patterns: Predicting the Need for Non-Invasive Ventilation in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. IEEE/ACM TRANSACTIONS ON COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND BIOINFORMATICS 2022; 19:2572-2583. [PMID: 33961562 DOI: 10.1109/tcbb.2021.3078362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a devastating neurodegenerative disease causing rapid degeneration of motor neurons and usually leading to death by respiratory failure. Since there is no cure, treatment's goal is to improve symptoms and prolong survival. Non-invasive Ventilation (NIV) is an effective treatment, leading to extended life expectancy and improved quality of life. In this scenario, it is paramount to predict its need in order to allow preventive or timely administration. In this work, we propose to use itemset mining together with sequential pattern mining to unravel disease presentation patterns together with disease progression patterns by analysing, respectively, static data collected at diagnosis and longitudinal data from patient follow-up. The goal is to use these static and temporal patterns as features in prognostic models, enabling to take disease progression into account in predictions and promoting model interpretability. As case study, we predict the need for NIV within 90, 180 and 365 days (short, mid and long-term predictions). The learnt prognostic models are promising. Pattern evaluation through growth rate suggests bulbar function and phrenic nerve response amplitude, additionally to respiratory function, are significant features towards determining patient evolution. This confirms clinical knowledge regarding relevant biomarkers of disease progression towards respiratory insufficiency.
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11
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Synaptic Effects of Palmitoylethanolamide in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12081161. [PMID: 36009055 PMCID: PMC9405819 DOI: 10.3390/biom12081161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence strongly supports the key role of neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Neuroinflammation may alter synaptic transmission contributing to the progression of neurodegeneration, as largely documented in animal models and in patients’ studies. In the last few years, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), an endogenous lipid mediator, and its new composite, which is a formulation constituted of PEA and the well-recognized antioxidant flavonoid luteolin (Lut) subjected to an ultra-micronization process (co-ultraPEALut), has been identified as a potential therapeutic agent in different disorders by exerting potential beneficial effects on neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation by modulating synaptic transmission. In this review, we will show the potential therapeutic effects of PEA in animal models and in patients affected by neurodegenerative disorders.
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Synucleinopathy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Potential Avenue for Antisense Therapeutics? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169364. [PMID: 36012622 PMCID: PMC9409035 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common adult-onset motor neuron disease classified as both a neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorder. With a complex aetiology and no current cure for ALS, broadening the understanding of disease pathology and therapeutic avenues is required to progress with patient care. Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) is a hallmark for disease in neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Lewy body dementia, and multiple system atrophy. A growing body of evidence now suggests that αSyn may also play a pathological role in ALS, with αSyn-positive Lewy bodies co-aggregating alongside known ALS pathogenic proteins, such as SOD1 and TDP-43. This review endeavours to capture the scope of literature regarding the aetiology and development of ALS and its commonalities with "synucleinopathy disorders". We will discuss the involvement of αSyn in ALS and motor neuron disease pathology, and the current theories and strategies for therapeutics in ALS treatment, as well as those targeting αSyn for synucleinopathies, with a core focus on small molecule RNA technologies.
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Chiarotto GB, Cartarozzi LP, Perez M, Tomiyama ALMR, de Castro MV, Duarte ASS, Luzo ÂCM, Oliveira ALRD. Delayed onset, immunomodulation, and lifespan improvement of SOD1 G93A mice after intravenous injection of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue. Brain Res Bull 2022; 186:153-164. [PMID: 35718222 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2022.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective and progressive loss of motor neurons from the spinal cord, brain stem, and motor cortex. Although the hallmark of ALS is motor neuron degeneration, astrocytes, microglia, and T cells actively participate. Pharmacological treatment with riluzole has little effect on the lifespan of the patient. Thus, the development of new therapeutic strategies is of utmost importance. The objective of this study was to verify whether human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) from adipose tissue have therapeutic potential in SOD1G93A transgenic mice. The treatment was carried out in the asymptomatic phase of the disease (10th week) by a single systemic application of ad-hMSCs (1 ×105 cells). The animals were sacrificed at the 14th week (the initial stage of symptoms) or the end-stage (ES) of the disease. The lumbar spinal cords were dissected and processed for Nissl staining (neuronal survival), immunohistochemistry (gliosis and synaptic preservation), and gene transcript expression (qRT-PCR). Behavioral analyses considering the onset of disease and its progression, neurological score, body weight, and motor control (rotarod test) started on the 10th week and were performed every three days until the ES of the disease. The results revealed that treatment with ad-hMSCs promoted greater neuronal survival (44%) than vehicle treatment. However, no effect was seen at the ES of the disease. Better structural preservation of the ventral horn in animals treated with ad-hMSCs was observed, together with decreased gliosis and greater synapse protection. In line with this, we found that the transcript levels of Hgf1 were upregulated in ad-hMSCs-treated mice. These results corroborate the behavioral data showing that ad-hMSCs had delayed motor deficits and reduced weight loss compared to vehicle animals. Additionally, cell therapy delayed the course of the disease and significantly improved survival by 20 days. Overall, our results indicate that treatment with ad-hMSCs has beneficial effects, enhancing neuronal survival and promoting a less degenerative neuronal microenvironment. Thus, this may be a potential therapy to improve the quality of life and to extend the lifespan of ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Bortolança Chiarotto
- Laboratory of Nerve Regeneration, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Cidade Universitaria "Zeferino Vaz", Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Campinas, 13083-862, SP, Brazil
| | - Luciana Politti Cartarozzi
- Laboratory of Nerve Regeneration, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Cidade Universitaria "Zeferino Vaz", Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Campinas, 13083-862, SP, Brazil
| | - Matheus Perez
- Laboratory of Nerve Regeneration, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Cidade Universitaria "Zeferino Vaz", Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Campinas, 13083-862, SP, Brazil; School of Physical Education and Sport of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-907 Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Laura Midori Rossi Tomiyama
- Laboratory of Nerve Regeneration, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Cidade Universitaria "Zeferino Vaz", Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Campinas, 13083-862, SP, Brazil
| | - Mateus Vidigal de Castro
- Laboratory of Nerve Regeneration, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Cidade Universitaria "Zeferino Vaz", Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Campinas, 13083-862, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriana S S Duarte
- Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas/Hemocentro-Unicamp, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Sangue, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ângela Cristina Malheiros Luzo
- Hematology and Hemotherapy Center, University of Campinas/Hemocentro-Unicamp, Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia do Sangue, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Leite Rodrigues de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Nerve Regeneration, University of Campinas - UNICAMP, Cidade Universitaria "Zeferino Vaz", Rua Monteiro Lobato, 255, Campinas, 13083-862, SP, Brazil.
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14
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Jensen BK, McAvoy KJ, Heinsinger NM, Lepore AC, Ilieva H, Haeusler AR, Trotti D, Pasinelli P. Targeting TNFα produced by astrocytes expressing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-linked mutant fused in sarcoma prevents neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction in mice. Glia 2022; 70:1426-1449. [PMID: 35474517 PMCID: PMC9540310 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Genetic mutations that cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressively lethal motor neuron disease, are commonly found in ubiquitously expressed genes. In addition to direct defects within motor neurons, growing evidence suggests that dysfunction of non-neuronal cells is also an important driver of disease. Previously, we demonstrated that mutations in DNA/RNA binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) induce neurotoxic phenotypes in astrocytes in vitro, via activation of the NF-κB pathway and release of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα. Here, we developed an intraspinal cord injection model to test whether astrocyte-specific expression of ALS-causative FUSR521G variant (mtFUS) causes neuronal damage in vivo. We show that restricted expression of mtFUS in astrocytes is sufficient to induce death of spinal motor neurons leading to motor deficits through upregulation of TNFα. We further demonstrate that TNFα is a key toxic molecule as expression of mtFUS in TNFα knockout animals does not induce pathogenic changes. Accordingly, in mtFUS-transduced animals, administration of TNFα neutralizing antibodies prevents neurodegeneration and motor dysfunction. Together, these studies strengthen evidence that astrocytes contribute to disease in ALS and establish, for the first time, that FUS-ALS astrocytes induce pathogenic changes to motor neurons in vivo. Our work identifies TNFα as the critical driver of mtFUS-astrocytic toxicity and demonstrates therapeutic success of targeting TNFα to attenuate motor neuron dysfunction and death. Ultimately, through defining and subsequently targeting this toxic mechanism, we provide a viable FUS-ALS specific therapeutic strategy, which may also be applicable to sporadic ALS where FUS activity and cellular localization are frequently perturbed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigid K. Jensen
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Kevin J. McAvoy
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Present address:
Manfredi LaboratoryWeill Cornell Medicine, Cornell UniversityNew YorkNYUSA
| | - Nicolette M. Heinsinger
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Angelo C. Lepore
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Hristelina Ilieva
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Aaron R. Haeusler
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Davide Trotti
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Piera Pasinelli
- Jefferson Weinberg ALS Center, Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, Department of NeuroscienceThomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
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15
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Pérez-Torres EJ, Utkina-Sosunova I, Mishra V, Barbuti P, De Planell-Saguer M, Dermentzaki G, Geiger H, Basile AO, Robine N, Fagegaltier D, Politi KA, Rinchetti P, Jackson-Lewis V, Harms M, Phatnani H, Lotti F, Przedborski S. Retromer dysfunction in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2118755119. [PMID: 35749364 PMCID: PMC9245686 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2118755119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Retromer is a heteropentameric complex that plays a specialized role in endosomal protein sorting and trafficking. Here, we report a reduction in the retromer proteins-vacuolar protein sorting 35 (VPS35), VPS26A, and VPS29-in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in the ALS model provided by transgenic (Tg) mice expressing the mutant superoxide dismutase-1 G93A. These changes are accompanied by a reduction of levels of the α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor subunit GluA1, a proxy of retromer function, in spinal cords from Tg SOD1G93A mice. Correction of the retromer deficit by a viral vector expressing VPS35 exacerbates the paralytic phenotype in Tg SOD1G93A mice. Conversely, lowering Vps35 levels in Tg SOD1G93A mice ameliorates the disease phenotype. In light of these findings, we propose that mild alterations in retromer inversely modulate neurodegeneration propensity in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo J. Pérez-Torres
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Irina Utkina-Sosunova
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Vartika Mishra
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Peter Barbuti
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Mariangels De Planell-Saguer
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Georgia Dermentzaki
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Heather Geiger
- Computational Biology, New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013
| | - Anna O. Basile
- Computational Biology, New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013
| | - Nicolas Robine
- Computational Biology, New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013
| | - Delphine Fagegaltier
- Center for Genomics of Neurodegenerative Disease, New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013
| | - Kristin A. Politi
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Paola Rinchetti
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Vernice Jackson-Lewis
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | | | - Matthew Harms
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Hemali Phatnani
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Center for Genomics of Neurodegenerative Disease, New York Genome Center, New York, NY 10013
| | - Francesco Lotti
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
| | - Serge Przedborski
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032
- Department of Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027
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16
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Gyawali A, Latif S, Choi SH, Hyeon SJ, Ryu H, Kang YS. Monocarboxylate transporter functions and neuroprotective effects of valproic acid in experimental models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:2. [PMID: 35012534 PMCID: PMC8744235 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00785-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devasting neurodegenerative disorder for which no successful therapeutics are available. Valproic acid (VPA), a monocarboxylate derivative, is a known antiepileptic drug and a histone deacetylase inhibitor.
Methods To investigate whether monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) and sodium-coupled MCT1 (SMCT1) are altered in ALS cell and mouse models, a cellular uptake study, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and western blot parameters were used. Similarly, whether VPA provides a neuroprotective effect in the wild-type (WT; hSOD1WT) and ALS mutant-type (MT; hSOD1G93A) NSC-34 motor neuron-like cell lines was determined through the cell viability assay.
Results [3H]VPA uptake was dependent on time, pH, sodium and concentration, and the uptake rate was significantly lower in the MT cell line than the WT cell line. Interestingly, two VPA transport systems were expressed, and the VPA uptake was modulated by SMCT substrates/inhibitors in both cell lines. Furthermore, MCT1 and SMCT1 expression was significantly lower in motor neurons of ALS (G93A) model mice than in those of WT mice. Notably, VPA ameliorated glutamate- and hydrogen peroxide-induced neurotoxicity in both the WT and MT ALS cell lines. Conclusions Together, the current findings demonstrate that VPA exhibits a neuroprotective effect regardless of the dysfunction of an MCT in ALS, which could help develop useful therapeutic strategies for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmita Gyawali
- College of Pharmacy and Drug Information Research Institute, Sookmyung Women's University, Cheongpa-ro 47-gil 100 (Cheongpa-dong 2ga), Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Sana Latif
- College of Pharmacy and Drug Information Research Institute, Sookmyung Women's University, Cheongpa-ro 47-gil 100 (Cheongpa-dong 2ga), Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung-Hye Choi
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, South Korea
| | - Seung Jae Hyeon
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, South Korea
| | - Hoon Ryu
- Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, South Korea
| | - Young-Sook Kang
- College of Pharmacy and Drug Information Research Institute, Sookmyung Women's University, Cheongpa-ro 47-gil 100 (Cheongpa-dong 2ga), Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 04310, Republic of Korea.
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17
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Dhasmana S, Dhasmana A, Narula AS, Jaggi M, Yallapu MM, Chauhan SC. The panoramic view of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A fatal intricate neurological disorder. Life Sci 2022; 288:120156. [PMID: 34801512 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurological disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons. In the United States alone, there are 16,000-20,000 established cases of ALS. The early disease diagnosis is challenging due to many overlapping pathophysiologies with other neurological diseases. The etiology of ALS is unknown; however, it is divided into two categories: familial ALS (fALS) which occurs due to gene mutations & contributes to 5-10% of ALS, and sporadic ALS (sALS) which is due to environmental factors & contributes to 90-95% of ALS. There is still no curative treatment for ALS: palliative care and symptomatic treatment are therefore essential components in the management of these patients. In this review, we provide a panoramic view of ALS, which includes epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiologies, biomarkers, diagnosis, therapeutics (natural, synthetic, gene-based, pharmacological, stem cell, extracellular vesicles, and physical therapy), controversies (in the clinical trials of ALS), the scope of nanomedicine in ALS, and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Dhasmana
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Anupam Dhasmana
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Acharan S Narula
- Narula Research LLC, 107 Boulder Bluff, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA
| | - Meena Jaggi
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Murali M Yallapu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Subhash C Chauhan
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA.
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18
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Guida N, Sanguigno L, Mascolo L, Calabrese L, Serani A, Molinaro P, Lau CG, Annunziato L, Formisano L. The Transcriptional Complex Sp1/KMT2A by Up-Regulating Restrictive Element 1 Silencing Transcription Factor Accelerates Methylmercury-Induced Cell Death in Motor Neuron-Like NSC34 Cells Overexpressing SOD1-G93A. Front Neurosci 2021; 15:771580. [PMID: 34899171 PMCID: PMC8662822 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2021.771580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) exposure has been related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis and molecular mechanisms of its neurotoxicity has been associated to an overexpression of the Restrictive Element 1 Silencing Transcription factor (REST). Herein, we evaluated the possibility that MeHg could accelerate neuronal death of the motor neuron-like NSC34 cells transiently overexpressing the human Cu2+/Zn2+superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene mutated at glycine 93 (SOD1-G93A). Indeed, SOD1-G93A cells exposed to 100 nM MeHg for 24 h showed a reduction in cell viability, as compared to cells transfected with empty vector or with unmutated SOD1 construct. Interestingly, cell survival reduction in SOD1-G93A cells was associated with an increase of REST mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, MeHg increased the expression of the transcriptional factor Sp1 and promoted its binding to REST gene promoter sequence. Notably, Sp1 knockdown reverted MeHg-induced REST increase. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated that Sp1 physically interacted with the epigenetic writer Lysine-Methyltransferase-2A (KMT2A). Moreover, knocking-down of KMT2A reduced MeHg-induced REST mRNA and protein increase in SOD1-G93A cells. Finally, we found that MeHg-induced REST up-regulation triggered necropoptotic cell death, monitored by RIPK1 increased protein expression. Interestingly, REST knockdown or treatment with the necroptosis inhibitor Necrostatin-1 (Nec) decelerated MeH-induced cell death in SOD1-G93A cells. Collectively, this study demonstrated that MeHg hastens necroptotic cell death in SOD1-G93A cells via Sp1/KMT2A complex, that by epigenetic mechanisms increases REST gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luca Sanguigno
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Mascolo
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Lucrezia Calabrese
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Angelo Serani
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Molinaro
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - C Geoffrey Lau
- Department of Neuroscience, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Luigi Formisano
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Reproductive and Dentistry Sciences, School of Medicine, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
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19
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Mukherjee S, Cogan JD, Newman JH, Phillips JA, Hamid R, Meiler J, Capra JA. Identifying digenic disease genes via machine learning in the Undiagnosed Diseases Network. Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:1946-1963. [PMID: 34529933 PMCID: PMC8546038 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rare diseases affect millions of people worldwide, and discovering their genetic causes is challenging. More than half of the individuals analyzed by the Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) remain undiagnosed. The central hypothesis of this work is that many of these rare genetic disorders are caused by multiple variants in more than one gene. However, given the large number of variants in each individual genome, experimentally evaluating combinations of variants for potential to cause disease is currently infeasible. To address this challenge, we developed the digenic predictor (DiGePred), a random forest classifier for identifying candidate digenic disease gene pairs by features derived from biological networks, genomics, evolutionary history, and functional annotations. We trained the DiGePred classifier by using DIDA, the largest available database of known digenic-disease-causing gene pairs, and several sets of non-digenic gene pairs, including variant pairs derived from unaffected relatives of UDN individuals. DiGePred achieved high precision and recall in cross-validation and on a held-out test set (PR area under the curve > 77%), and we further demonstrate its utility by using digenic pairs from the recent literature. In contrast to other approaches, DiGePred also appropriately controls the number of false positives when applied in realistic clinical settings. Finally, to enable the rapid screening of variant gene pairs for digenic disease potential, we freely provide the predictions of DiGePred on all human gene pairs. Our work enables the discovery of genetic causes for rare non-monogenic diseases by providing a means to rapidly evaluate variant gene pairs for the potential to cause digenic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Souhrid Mukherjee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Joy D Cogan
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - John H Newman
- Pulmonary Hypertension Center, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - John A Phillips
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Rizwan Hamid
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jens Meiler
- Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Institute for Drug Discovery, Leipzig University Medical School, Leipzig 04103, Germany; Department of Chemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04109, Germany; Department of Computer Science, Leipzig University, Leipzig 04109, Germany.
| | - John A Capra
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Vanderbilt Genetics Institute, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA; Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
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20
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Labarre A, Tossing G, Maios C, Doyle JJ, Parker JA. A single copy transgenic mutant FUS strain reproduces age-dependent ALS phenotypes in C. elegans. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2021; 2021. [PMID: 34568776 PMCID: PMC8459179 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the human DNA/RNA binding protein FUS are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration, including some aggressive and juvenile onset forms. Cytoplasmic inclusions of human FUS proteins are observed in various neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington’s disease or spinocerebellar ataxia, suggesting that FUS proteinopathy may be a key player in neurodegeneration. To better understand the pathogenic mechanisms of FUS, we created single copy transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans strains expressing full-length, untagged human FUS in the worm’s GABAergic neurons. These transgenic worms expressing human mutant FUS (mFUS) display the same ALS-associated phenotypes than our previous multiple copy transgenic model, including adult-onset age-dependent loss of motility, progressive paralysis and GABAergic neurodegeneration. These phenotypes are distinct from the transgenic worms expressing human wild-type FUS (wtFUS). We introduce here our C. elegans single copy transgenic for human mutant FUS motor neuron toxicity that may be used for rapid genetic and pharmacological suppressor screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Labarre
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada.,Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Gilles Tossing
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada.,Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Claudia Maios
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada
| | - James J Doyle
- Division of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.,Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada.,Metabolic Disorders and Complications, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre , Montreal, Canada
| | - J Alex Parker
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montreal, Canada.,Department of Neuroscience, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
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21
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Molecular Pathology of ALS: What We Currently Know and What Important Information Is Still Missing. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11081365. [PMID: 34441299 PMCID: PMC8391180 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11081365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite an early understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) as a disease affecting the motor system, including motoneurons in the motor cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord, today, many cases involving dementia and behavioral disorders are reported. Therefore, we currently divide ALS not only based on genetic predisposition into the most common sporadic variant (90% of cases) and the familial variant (10%), but also based on cognitive and/or behavioral symptoms, with five specific subgroups of clinical manifestation—ALS with cognitive impairment, ALS with behavioral impairment, ALS with combined cognitive and behavioral impairment, the fully developed behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia in combination with ALS, and comorbid ALS and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Generally, these cases are referred to as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal spectrum disorder (ALS-FTSD). Clinical behaviors and the presence of the same pathognomonic deposits suggest that FTLD and ALS could be a continuum of one entity. This review was designed primarily to compare neuropathological findings in different types of ALS relative to their characteristic locations as well as the immunoreactivity of the inclusions, and thus, foster a better understanding of the immunoreactivity, distribution, and morphology of the pathological deposits in relation to genetic mutations, which can be useful in specifying the final diagnosis.
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22
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Geevasinga N, Van den Bos M, Menon P, Vucic S. Utility of Transcranial Magnetic Simulation in Studying Upper Motor Neuron Dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11070906. [PMID: 34356140 PMCID: PMC8304017 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11070906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterised by progressive dysfunction of the upper and lower motor neurons. The disease can evolve over time from focal limb or bulbar onset to involvement of other regions. There is some clinical heterogeneity in ALS with various phenotypes of the disease described, from primary lateral sclerosis, progressive muscular atrophy and flail arm/leg phenotypes. Whilst the majority of ALS patients are sporadic in nature, recent advances have highlighted genetic forms of the disease. Given the close relationship between ALS and frontotemporal dementia, the importance of cortical dysfunction has gained prominence. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive neurophysiological tool to explore the function of the motor cortex and thereby cortical excitability. In this review, we highlight the utility of TMS and explore cortical excitability in ALS diagnosis, pathogenesis and insights gained from genetic and variant forms of the disease.
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23
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Vucic S, Pavey N, Haidar M, Turner BJ, Kiernan MC. Cortical hyperexcitability: Diagnostic and pathogenic biomarker of ALS. Neurosci Lett 2021; 759:136039. [PMID: 34118310 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cortical hyperexcitability is an early and intrinsic feature of both sporadic and familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).. Importantly, cortical hyperexcitability appears to be associated with motor neuron degeneration, possibly via an anterograde glutamate-mediated excitotoxic process, thereby forming a pathogenic basis for ALS. The presence of cortical hyperexcitability in ALS patients may be readily determined by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), a neurophysiological tool that provides a non-invasive and painless method for assessing cortical function. Utilising the threshold tracking TMS technique, cortical hyperexcitability has been established as a robust diagnostic biomarker that distinguished ALS from mimicking disorders at early stages of the disease process. The present review discusses the pathophysiological and diagnostic utility of cortical hyperexcitability in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Vucic
- Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
| | - Nathan Pavey
- Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mouna Haidar
- Florey Institute of Neuroscieace and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bradley J Turner
- Florey Institute of Neuroscieace and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney and Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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24
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Nishimura AL, Arias N. Synaptopathy Mechanisms in ALS Caused by C9orf72 Repeat Expansion. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:660693. [PMID: 34140881 PMCID: PMC8203826 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.660693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a complex neurodegenerative disease caused by degeneration of motor neurons (MNs). ALS pathogenic features include accumulation of misfolded proteins, glutamate excitotoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction at distal axon terminals, and neuronal cytoskeleton changes. Synergies between loss of C9orf72 functions and gain of function by toxic effects of repeat expansions also contribute to C9orf72-mediated pathogenesis. However, the impact of haploinsufficiency of C9orf72 on neurons and in synaptic functions requires further examination. As the motor neurons degenerate, the disease symptoms will lead to neurotransmission deficiencies in the brain, spinal cord, and neuromuscular junction. Altered neuronal excitability, synaptic morphological changes, and C9orf72 protein and DPR localization at the synapses, suggest a potential involvement of C9orf72 at synapses. In this review article, we provide a conceptual framework for assessing the putative involvement of C9orf72 as a synaptopathy, and we explore the underlying and common disease mechanisms with other neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we reflect on the major challenges of understanding C9orf72-ALS as a synaptopathy focusing on integrating mitochondrial and neuronal cytoskeleton degeneration as biomarkers and potential targets to treat ALS neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes L Nishimura
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, UK Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia Arias
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, UK Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,INEUROPA, Instituto de Neurociencias del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain
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25
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Early Hypoexcitability in a Subgroup of Spinal Motoneurons in Superoxide Dismutase 1 Transgenic Mice, a Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Neuroscience 2021; 463:337-353. [PMID: 33556455 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), large motoneurons degenerate first, causing muscle weakness. Transgenic mouse models with a mutation in the gene encoding the enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) revealed that motoneurons innervating the fast-fatigable muscular fibres disconnect very early. The cause of this peripheric disconnection has not yet been established. Early pathological signs were described in motoneurons during the postnatal period of SOD1 transgenic mice. Here, we investigated whether the early changes of electrical and morphological properties previously reported in the SOD1G85R strain also occur in the SOD1G93A-low expressor line with particular attention to the different subsets of motoneurons defined by their discharge firing pattern (transient, sustained, or delayed-onset firing). Intracellular staining and recording were performed in lumbar motoneurons from entire brainstem-spinal cord preparations of SOD1G93A-low transgenic mice and their WT littermates during the second postnatal week. Our results show that SOD1G93A-low motoneurons exhibit a dendritic overbranching similar to that described previously in the SOD1G85R strain at the same age. Further we found an hypoexcitability in the delayed-onset firing SOD1G93A-low motoneurons (lower gain and higher voltage threshold). We conclude that dendritic overbranching and early hypoexcitability are common features of both low expressor SOD1 mutants (G85R and G93A-low). In the high-expressor SOD1G93A line, we found hyperexcitability in the sustained firing motoneurons at the same period, suggesting a delay in compensatory mechanisms. Overall, our results suggest that the hypoexcitability indicate an early dysfunction of the delayed-onset motoneurons and could account as early pathological signs of the disease.
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26
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Kiernan MC, Vucic S, Talbot K, McDermott CJ, Hardiman O, Shefner JM, Al-Chalabi A, Huynh W, Cudkowicz M, Talman P, Van den Berg LH, Dharmadasa T, Wicks P, Reilly C, Turner MR. Improving clinical trial outcomes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol 2021; 17:104-118. [PMID: 33340024 PMCID: PMC7747476 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-020-00434-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Individuals who are diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) today face the same historically intransigent problem that has existed since the initial description of the disease in the 1860s - a lack of effective therapies. In part, the development of new treatments has been hampered by an imperfect understanding of the biological processes that trigger ALS and promote disease progression. Advances in our understanding of these biological processes, including the causative genetic mutations, and of the influence of environmental factors have deepened our appreciation of disease pathophysiology. The consequent identification of pathogenic targets means that the introduction of effective therapies is becoming a realistic prospect. Progress in precision medicine, including genetically targeted therapies, will undoubtedly change the natural history of ALS. The evolution of clinical trial designs combined with improved methods for patient stratification will facilitate the translation of novel therapies into the clinic. In addition, the refinement of emerging biomarkers of therapeutic benefits is critical to the streamlining of care for individuals. In this Review, we synthesize these developments in ALS and discuss the further developments and refinements needed to accelerate the introduction of effective therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Steve Vucic
- Sydney Medical School Westmead, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Christopher J McDermott
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre, Sheffield, UK
| | - Orla Hardiman
- Academic Neurology Unit, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- National Neuroscience Centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jeremy M Shefner
- Department of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, Creighton University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - William Huynh
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Merit Cudkowicz
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul Talman
- Neurosciences Department, Barwon Health District, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Leonard H Van den Berg
- Department of Neurology, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Thanuja Dharmadasa
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul Wicks
- Wicks Digital Health, Lichfield, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Reilly
- The Motor Neurone Disease Association of New Zealand, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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27
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Ahmed RM, Halliday G, Hodges JR. Hypothalamic symptoms of frontotemporal dementia disorders. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 182:269-280. [PMID: 34266598 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-819973-2.00019-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has traditionally been regarded as a disease of cognition and behavior, but emerging evidence suggests that the disease also affects body functions including changes in eating behavior and metabolism, autonomic function, sleep behavior, and sexual function. Central to these changes are potentially complex neural networks involving the hypothalamus, with hypothalamic atrophy shown in behavioral variant FTD. The physiological changes found in FTD are reviewed and the key neural networks and neuroendocrine changes mediating these changes in function discussed, including the ability to use these changes as biomarkers to aid in disease diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, and as potential treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah M Ahmed
- Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Glenda Halliday
- Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John R Hodges
- Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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28
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Ahmed RM, Steyn F, Dupuis L. Hypothalamus and weight loss in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2021; 180:327-338. [PMID: 34225938 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-820107-7.00020-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disorder. While initially pathophysiology was thought to be restricted to motor deficits, it is increasingly recognized that patients develop prominent changes in weight and eating behavior that result from and mediate the underlying neurodegenerative process. These changes include alterations in metabolism, lipid levels, and insulin resistance. Emerging research suggests that these alterations may be mediated through changes in the hypothalamic function, with atrophy of the hypothalamus shown in both ALS patients and also presymptomatic genetic at-risk patients. This chapter reviews the evidence for hypothalamic involvement in ALS, including melanocortin pathways and potential treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah M Ahmed
- Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Frederik Steyn
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Department of Neurology, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, UMR-S 1118, Centre de Recherches en Biomédecine, Strasbourg, France.
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29
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Ahmed RM, Hodges JR, Piguet O. Behavioural Variant Frontotemporal Dementia: Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Understanding of the Disorder. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1281:1-15. [PMID: 33433865 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-51140-1_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), particularly the behavioural variant (bvFTD) form, has fascinated researchers. Recent years have seen an increasing interest in aspects of bvFTD that extend beyond the initial focus on cognitive changes and frontal executive dysfunction. Changes have been identified in aspects including fundamental changes in physiology and metabolism, and cognitive domains such as episodic memory. Work on social cognition has emphasised the importance of a breakdown in interpreting and expressing emotions, while the overlap between psychiatric disorders and bvFTD has been brought into focus by the finding of high rates of psychotic features in carriers of the c9orf72 gene expansion. We review these aspects in the chapter " Behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia: Recent advances in diagnosis and understanding of the disorder" and also potential markers of disease progression and early diagnosis that may aid in the development of treatment options, which have thus far eluded us.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah M Ahmed
- Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia. .,Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - John R Hodges
- Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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30
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Fogarty MJ, Mu EWH, Lavidis NA, Noakes PG, Bellingham MC. Size‐dependent dendritic maladaptations of hypoglossal motor neurons in SOD1
G93A
mice. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2020; 304:1562-1581. [DOI: 10.1002/ar.24542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Fogarty
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic Rochester Minnesota USA
| | - Erica W. H. Mu
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Nickolas A. Lavidis
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Peter G. Noakes
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
| | - Mark C. Bellingham
- School of Biomedical Sciences The University of Queensland St Lucia Australia
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31
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Shibuya K, Misawa S, Uzawa A, Sawai S, Tsuneyama A, Suzuki YI, Suichi T, Kojima Y, Nakamura K, Kano H, Prado M, Kuwabara S. Split hand and motor axonal hyperexcitability in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2020; 91:1189-1194. [PMID: 32934003 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-324026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The 'split hand' sign refers to preferential wasting of the thenar and first dorsal interosseous muscles with relatively sparing of the hypothenar muscles in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and both cortical and spinal/peripheral excitotoxic mechanisms have been proposed. We aimed to study split hand and axonal excitability in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) in which cortical motor neurons are intact. METHODS In 35 patients with genetically confirmed SBMA, 55 with ALS, 158 with other neuromuscular diseases and 90 normal controls; split hand was strictly determined by amplitudes of compound muscle action potentials. Nerve excitability testing of median motor axons was performed in 35 SBMA and 55 patients with ALS and 45 normal controls. RESULTS Split hand was as frequently found for patients with SBMA (57%) and ALS (62%), compared with disease (20%) and normal (0%) controls. Excitability testing showed that in both SBMA and ALS, strength-duration time constant was longer, and threshold changes in depolarising threshold electrotonus and superexcitability in the recovery cycle were greater than in normal controls (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Split hand is not specific to ALS and can be caused by the peripheral mechanism alone in SBMA, whereas the effect of upper motor neuron lesion cannot be excluded in ALS. Our results also suggest that SBMA and ALS share common axonal excitability changes; increased nodal persistent sodium and reduced potassium currents that may accelerate motor neuronal death and differently affect axons-innervating different muscles. Ion channel modulators could be a therapeutic option for both SBMA and ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazumoto Shibuya
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Sonoko Misawa
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Akiyuki Uzawa
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Setsu Sawai
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Atsuko Tsuneyama
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yo-Ichi Suzuki
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tomoki Suichi
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuta Kojima
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Keigo Nakamura
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kano
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Mario Prado
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kuwabara
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
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32
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Banerjee S, Benji S, Liberow S, Steinhauer J. Using Drosophila melanogaster To Discover Human Disease Genes: An Educational Primer for Use with "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Modifiers in Drosophila Reveal the Phospholipase D Pathway as a Potential Therapeutic Target". Genetics 2020; 216:633-641. [PMID: 33158986 PMCID: PMC7648582 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.120.303495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the dawn of the 20th century, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has been used as a model organism to understand the nature of genes and how they control development, behavior, and physiology. One of the most powerful experimental approaches employed in Drosophila is the forward genetic screen. In the 21st century, genome-wide screens have become popular tools for identifying evolutionarily conserved genes involved in complex human diseases. In the accompanying article "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Modifiers in Drosophila Reveal thePhospholipase DPathway as a Potential Therapeutic Target," Kankel and colleagues describe a forward genetic modifier screen to discover factors that contribute to the severe neurodegenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This primer briefly traces the history of genetic screens in Drosophila and introduces students to ALS. We then provide a set of guided reading questions to help students work through the data presented in the research article. Finally, several ideas for literature-based research projects are offered as opportunities for students to expand their appreciation of the potential scope of genetic screens. The primer is intended to help students and instructors thoroughly examine a current study that uses forward genetics in Drosophila to identify human disease genes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarah Liberow
- Biology Department, Yeshiva University, New York 10033
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33
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Wang M, Liu Z, Sun W, Yuan Y, Jiao B, Zhang X, Shen L, Jiang H, Xia K, Tang B, Wang J. Association Between Vitamins and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Center-Based Survey in Mainland China. Front Neurol 2020; 11:488. [PMID: 32625160 PMCID: PMC7314934 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, conflicting results about the role of vitamins in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have been reported along with a lack of systematic studies on all types of serum vitamins in patients with ALS. Moreover, extensive studies have been conducted on vitamins in other neurodegenerative diseases; however, whether serum vitamin alterations in ALS are similar to those in other neurodegenerative diseases remains unclear. Therefore, we performed a study involving a large Chinese cohort of patients with ALS to address this gap. In this study, 202 patients with ALS, 214 with a neurodegenerative disease that mimicked ALS (mimics), and 208 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum vitamins of all subjects were examined under fasting state in Clinical Laboratory. As a result, we found that higher vitamin A and E levels and lower vitamin B2, B9, and C levels were in patients with ALS compared to healthy controls, and that high vitamin A and E levels, and low vitamin B2, B9, and C levels were associated with an increased risk for ALS. In addition, serum vitamin C was lower in early-onset ALS patients compared to those in late-onset ALS patients; however, there was no significant correlation between serum vitamins and age at onset, sites at onset, disease duration, or disease severity of ALS. We also found that patients with ALS showed similar vitamin alterations to mimics, with the exception of vitamin E. In summary, our study adds information to the literature on the role of vitamins in ALS and provides support for clinical guidance regarding dietary changes and vitamin supplements in patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengli Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Weining Sun
- General Practice, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yanchun Yuan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bin Jiao
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xuewei Zhang
- Health Management Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lu Shen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Kun Xia
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Beisha Tang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Junling Wang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Li C, Chen Y, Chen X, Wei Q, Ou R, Gu X, Cao B, Shang H. MicroRNA-183-5p is stress-inducible and protects neurons against cell death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:8614-8622. [PMID: 32558113 PMCID: PMC7412410 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the death of motor neurons. A fundamental pathogenesis of ALS is the prolonged cell stress in neurons, which is caused by either accumulation of protein aggregates or reactive oxygen species. However, the mechanistic link between stress sensing and cell death is unsettled. Here, we identify that miR-183-5p, a neuron-enriched miRNA, couples stress sensing and cell death programming in ALS. miR-183-5p is immediately induced by hydrogen peroxide, tunicamycin or TNF-α in neurons. The overexpression of miR-183-5p increases neuron survival under stress conditions, whereas its knockdown causes neuron death. miR-183-5p coordinates apoptosis and necroptosis pathways by directly targeting PDCD4 and RIPK3, and thus protects neurons against cell death under stress conditions. The consistent reduction of miR-183-5p in ALS patients and mouse models enhances the notion that miR-183-5p is a central regulator of motor neuron survival under stress conditions. Our study supplements current understanding of the mechanistic link between cell stress and death/survival, and provides novel targets for clinical interventions of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Li
- Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongping Chen
- Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xueping Chen
- Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qianqian Wei
- Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruwei Ou
- Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaojing Gu
- Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bei Cao
- Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huifang Shang
- Department of Neurology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Wang L, Li C, Chen X, Li S, Shang H. Abnormal Serum Iron-Status Indicator Changes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Patients: A Meta-Analysis. Front Neurol 2020; 11:380. [PMID: 32508736 PMCID: PMC7251146 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.00380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: In recent years, the role of iron metabolism in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) attracts more and more attention, and some studies have focused on the link between abnormal serum iron indicators and ALS. However, there are still big conflicts and inconsistency among different studies. To study the possible relationship between ALS and disturbed iron metabolism, we conducted this meta-analysis to conclude characteristics of abnormal serum iron-status indicator changes in ALS patients. Methods: We searched and screened main databases, including the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, to find studies related to the association between iron metabolism and ALS. The Revman 5.3 software was used to conduct meta-analysis. Results: Eleven studies were finally included in our analysis, composed of 1,599 ALS patients and 1,255 controls in total. The results showed that the ferritin level was much higher in ALS patients compared with controls (MD = 70.48, 95% CI [51.41, 89.55], p < 0.00001), and the transferrin level was decreased in ALS patients compared with controls (SMD = −0.28, 95% CI [−0.38, −0.18], p < 0.00001), while there was no statistical difference in iron levels (SMD = 0.48, 95% CI [−0.07, 1.03], p = 0.09) between ALS patients and controls. Conclusions: Our research finds unusual changes in several indicators representing iron status, which suggest possible iron metabolism abnormalities in ALS patients. That may provide evidence for the link between iron metabolism and the pathogenesis of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Wang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chunyu Li
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xueping Chen
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuying Li
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huifang Shang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Paez-Colasante X, Figueroa-Romero C, Rumora AE, Hur J, Mendelson FE, Hayes JM, Backus C, Taubman GF, Heinicke L, Walter NG, Barmada SJ, Sakowski SA, Feldman EL. Cytoplasmic TDP43 Binds microRNAs: New Disease Targets in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2020; 14:117. [PMID: 32477070 PMCID: PMC7235295 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.00117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal, and incurable neurodegenerative disease. Recent studies suggest that dysregulation of gene expression by microRNAs (miRNAs) may play an important role in ALS pathogenesis. The reversible nature of this dysregulation makes miRNAs attractive pharmacological targets and a potential therapeutic avenue. Under physiological conditions, miRNA biogenesis, which begins in the nucleus and includes further maturation in the cytoplasm, involves trans-activation response element DNA/RNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP43). However, TDP43 mutations or stress trigger TDP43 mislocalization and inclusion formation, a hallmark of most ALS cases, that may lead to aberrant protein/miRNA interactions in the cytoplasm. Herein, we demonstrated that TDP43 exhibits differential binding affinity for select miRNAs, which prompted us to profile miRNAs that preferentially bind cytoplasmic TDP43. Using cellular models expressing TDP43 variants and miRNA profiling analyses, we identified differential levels of 65 cytoplasmic TDP43-associated miRNAs. Of these, approximately 30% exhibited levels that differed by more than 3-fold in the cytoplasmic TDP43 models relative to our control model. The hits included both novel miRNAs and miRNAs previously associated with ALS that potentially regulate several predicted genes and pathways that may be important for pathogenesis. Accordingly, these findings highlight specific miRNAs that may shed light on relevant disease pathways and could represent potential biomarkers and reversible treatment targets for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Amy E. Rumora
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Junguk Hur
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, United States
| | - Faye E. Mendelson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - John M. Hayes
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Carey Backus
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | - Laurie Heinicke
- Single Molecule Analysis Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Nils G. Walter
- Single Molecule Analysis Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Sami J. Barmada
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Stacey A. Sakowski
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Eva L. Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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37
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Ahmed RM, Devenney EM, Strikwerda-Brown C, Hodges JR, Piguet O, Kiernan MC. Phenotypic variability in ALS-FTD and effect on survival. Neurology 2020; 94:e2005-e2013. [PMID: 32277059 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000009398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if survival and cognitive profile is affected by initial presentation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD) (motor vs cognitive), we compared survival patterns in ALS-FTD based on initial phenotypic presentation and their cognitive profile compared to behavioral variant FTD (bvFTD). METHODS Cognitive/behavioral profiles were examined in 98 patients (59 ALS-FTD and 39 bvFTD). The initial presentation of ALS-FTD was categorized into either motor or cognitive. Survival was calculated from initial symptom onset. MRI brain atrophy patterns were examined using a validated visual rating scale. RESULTS In the ALS-FTD group, 41 (69%) patients were categorized as having an initial cognitive presentation and 18 (31%) a motor presentation. Patients with motor presentation experienced a significantly shorter median survival of 2.7 years compared to 4.4 years (p < 0.001) in those with a cognitive presentation. No differences between motor vs cognitive onset ALS-FTD were found on cognitive testing. When compared to bvFTD, ALS-FTD-cognitive presentation was characterized by reduced language function (p < 0.001), verbal fluency (p = 0.001), and naming (p = 0.007). Both motor and cognitive onset ALS-FTD showed reduced emotion processing (p = 0.01) and exhibited greater motor cortex and dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex atrophy than bvFTD. Increased motor cortex atrophy was associated with 1.5-fold reduction in survival. CONCLUSIONS Initial motor presentation in ALS-FTD leads to faster progression than in those with a cognitive presentation, despite similar overall cognitive deficits. These findings suggest that disease progression in ALS-FTD may be critically linked to physiologic and motor changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah M Ahmed
- From the Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (R.M.A., M.C.K.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre (R.M.A., E.M.D., J.R.H., M.C.K.) and School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre (C.S.-B., O.P.), The University of Sydney; and ARC Centre of Excellence of Cognition and its Disorders (C.S.-B., O.P.), Sydney, Australia.
| | - Emma M Devenney
- From the Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (R.M.A., M.C.K.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre (R.M.A., E.M.D., J.R.H., M.C.K.) and School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre (C.S.-B., O.P.), The University of Sydney; and ARC Centre of Excellence of Cognition and its Disorders (C.S.-B., O.P.), Sydney, Australia
| | - Cherie Strikwerda-Brown
- From the Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (R.M.A., M.C.K.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre (R.M.A., E.M.D., J.R.H., M.C.K.) and School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre (C.S.-B., O.P.), The University of Sydney; and ARC Centre of Excellence of Cognition and its Disorders (C.S.-B., O.P.), Sydney, Australia
| | - John R Hodges
- From the Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (R.M.A., M.C.K.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre (R.M.A., E.M.D., J.R.H., M.C.K.) and School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre (C.S.-B., O.P.), The University of Sydney; and ARC Centre of Excellence of Cognition and its Disorders (C.S.-B., O.P.), Sydney, Australia
| | - Olivier Piguet
- From the Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (R.M.A., M.C.K.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre (R.M.A., E.M.D., J.R.H., M.C.K.) and School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre (C.S.-B., O.P.), The University of Sydney; and ARC Centre of Excellence of Cognition and its Disorders (C.S.-B., O.P.), Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew C Kiernan
- From the Memory and Cognition Clinic, Department of Clinical Neurosciences (R.M.A., M.C.K.), Royal Prince Alfred Hospital; Central Sydney Medical School and Brain & Mind Centre (R.M.A., E.M.D., J.R.H., M.C.K.) and School of Psychology and Brain & Mind Centre (C.S.-B., O.P.), The University of Sydney; and ARC Centre of Excellence of Cognition and its Disorders (C.S.-B., O.P.), Sydney, Australia
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Moore S, Rabichow BE, Sattler R. The Hitchhiker's Guide to Nucleocytoplasmic Trafficking in Neurodegeneration. Neurochem Res 2020; 45:1306-1327. [PMID: 32086712 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-020-02989-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The widespread nature of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking defects and protein accumulation suggests distinct yet overlapping mechanisms in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. Detailed understanding of the cellular pathways involved in nucleocytoplasmic transport and its dysregulation are essential for elucidating neurodegenerative pathogenesis and pinpointing potential areas for therapeutic intervention. The transport of cargos from the nucleus to the cytoplasm is generally regulated by the structure and function of the nuclear pore as well as the karyopherin α/β, importin, exportin, and mRNA export mechanisms. The disruption of these crucial transport mechanisms has been extensively described in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. One common theme in neurodegeneration is the cytoplasmic aggregation of proteins, including nuclear RNA binding proteins, repeat expansion associated gene products, and tau. These cytoplasmic aggregations are partly a consequence of failed nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery, but can also further disrupt transport, creating cyclical feed-forward mechanisms that exacerbate neurodegeneration. Here we describe the canonical mechanisms that regulate nucleocytoplasmic trafficking as well as how these mechanisms falter in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen Moore
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.,School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Benjamin E Rabichow
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Rita Sattler
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, 350 W Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA.
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Nucleocytoplasmic Proteomic Analysis Uncovers eRF1 and Nonsense-Mediated Decay as Modifiers of ALS/FTD C9orf72 Toxicity. Neuron 2020; 106:90-107.e13. [PMID: 32059759 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The most common genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in C9orf72 (C9-HRE). While RNA and dipeptide repeats produced by C9-HRE disrupt nucleocytoplasmic transport, the proteins that become redistributed remain unknown. Here, we utilized subcellular fractionation coupled with tandem mass spectrometry and identified 126 proteins, enriched for protein translation and RNA metabolism pathways, which collectively drive a shift toward a more cytosolic proteome in C9-HRE cells. Among these was eRF1, which regulates translation termination and nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). eRF1 accumulates within elaborate nuclear envelope invaginations in patient induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) neurons and postmortem tissue and mediates a protective shift from protein translation to NMD-dependent mRNA degradation. Overexpression of eRF1 and the NMD driver UPF1 ameliorate C9-HRE toxicity in vivo. Our findings provide a resource for proteome-wide nucleocytoplasmic alterations across neurodegeneration-associated repeat expansion mutations and highlight eRF1 and NMD as therapeutic targets in C9orf72-associated ALS and/or FTD.
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Teixeira MI, Lopes CM, Amaral MH, Costa PC. Current insights on lipid nanocarrier-assisted drug delivery in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2020; 149:192-217. [PMID: 31982574 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2020.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The central nervous system (CNS) is vulnerable to pathologic processes that lead to the development of neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, Multiple sclerosis or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These are chronic and progressive pathologies characterized by the loss of neurons and the formation of misfolded proteins. Additionally, neurodegenerative diseases are accompanied by a structural and functional dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Although serving as a protection for the CNS, the existence of physiological barriers, especially the BBB, limits the access of several therapeutic agents to the brain, constituting a major hindrance in neurotherapeutics advancement. In this regard, nanotechnology-based approaches have arisen as a promising strategy to not only improve drug targeting to the brain, but also to increase bioavailability. Lipid nanocarriers such as liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC), microemulsions and nanoemulsions, have already proven their potential for enhancing brain transport, crossing more easily into the CNS and allowing the administration of medicines that could benefit the treatment of neurological pathologies. Given the socioeconomic impact of such conditions and the advent of nanotechnology that inevitably leads to more effective and superior therapeutics for their management, it is imperative to constantly update on the current knowledge of these topics. Herein, we provide insight on the BBB and the pathophysiology of the main neurodegenerative disorders. Moreover, this review seeks to highlight the several approaches that can be used to improve the delivery of therapeutic agents to the CNS, while also offering an extensive overview of the latest efforts regarding the use of lipid-based nanocarriers in the management of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Teixeira
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, MEDTECH, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - C M Lopes
- FP-ENAS/CEBIMED, Fernando Pessoa Energy, Environment and Health Research Unit/Biomedical Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, Rua Carlos da Maia, 296, 4200-150 Porto, Portugal
| | - M H Amaral
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, MEDTECH, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - P C Costa
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, MEDTECH, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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Chiarotto GB, Cartarozzi LP, Perez M, Biscola NP, Spejo AB, Gubert F, França Junior M, Mendez-Otero R, de Oliveira ALR. Tempol improves neuroinflammation and delays motor dysfunction in a mouse model (SOD1 G93A) of ALS. J Neuroinflammation 2019; 16:218. [PMID: 31727149 PMCID: PMC6857328 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-019-1598-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The development of new therapeutic strategies to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is of utmost importance. The use of cyclic nitroxides such as tempol may provide neuroprotection and improve lifespan. We investigated whether tempol (50 mg/kg) presents therapeutic potential in SOD1G93A transgenic mice. METHODS Tempol treatment began at the asymptomatic phase of the disease (10th week) and was administered every other day until week 14, after which it was administered twice a week until the final stage of the disease. The animals were sacrificed at week 14 (initial stage of symptoms-ISS) and at the end stage (ES) of the disease. The lumbar spinal cord of the animals was dissected and processed for use in the following techniques: Nissl staining to evaluate neuronal survival; immunohistochemistry to evaluate astrogliosis and microgliosis (ISS and ES); qRT-PCR to evaluate the expression of neurotrophic factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines (ISS); and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the alpha-motoneurons (ES). Behavioral analyses considering the survival of animals, bodyweight loss, and Rotarod motor performance test started on week 10 and were performed every 3 days until the end-stage of the disease. RESULTS The results revealed that treatment with tempol promoted greater neuronal survival (23%) at ISS compared to untreated animals, which was maintained until ES. The intense reactivity of astrocytes and microglia observed in vehicle animals was reduced in the lumbar spinal cords of the animals treated with tempol. In addition, the groups treated with tempol showed reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL1β and TNFα) and a three-fold decrease in the expression of TGFβ1 at ISS compared with the group treated with vehicle. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our results indicate that treatment with tempol has beneficial effects, delaying the onset of the disease by enhancing neuronal survival and decreasing glial cell reactivity during ALS progression in SOD1G93A mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luciana Politti Cartarozzi
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology-Unicamp, Campinas, 13083-865, Brazil
| | - Matheus Perez
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology-Unicamp, Campinas, 13083-865, Brazil
| | | | - Aline Barroso Spejo
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology-Unicamp, Campinas, 13083-865, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Gubert
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Sala G2-028, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | | | - Rosália Mendez-Otero
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Sala G2-028, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Cidade Universitária, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Leite Rodrigues de Oliveira
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Institute of Biology-Unicamp, Campinas, 13083-865, Brazil. .,Laboratory of Nerve Regeneration University of Campinas-UNICAMP Cidade Universitária "Zeferino Vaz", Rua Monteiro Lobato 255, Campinas, SP, 13083970, Brazil.
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Lei Y, Zhang ZF, Lei RX, Wang S, Zhuang Y, Liu AC, Wu Y, Chen J, Tang JC, Pan MX, Liu R, Liao WJ, Feng YG, Wan Q, Zheng M. DJ-1 Suppresses Cytoplasmic TDP-43 Aggregation in Oxidative Stress-Induced Cell Injury. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 66:1001-1014. [PMID: 30372676 DOI: 10.3233/jad-180460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
DJ-1 (also called PARK7) is a multifunctional redox-sensitive protein that is protective against oxidative stress-induced cell death. TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a major protein component of pathological inclusions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. Reducing aberrant aggregation of TDP-43 is a potential approach to prevent cell death. To investigate whether DJ-1 might inhibit TDP-43 aggregation to exert a protective effect in oxidative stress-induced injury, we tested the protein level and subcellular localization of TDP-43 and DJ-1 in SH-SY5Y cells transfected with wild-type DJ-1, DJ-1 mutant (L166P) cDNA, or DJ-1 siRNA. We show that oxidative stress induced by paraquat leads to the formation of cytosolic TDP-43 aggregation in SH-SY5Y cells. DJ-1 overexpression decreases paraquat-induced cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43 in SH-SY5Y cells and protects against paraquat-induced cell death. Transfection of DJ-1 L166P mutant or DJ-1 siRNA leads to increased cytosolic aggregation of TDP-43 in paraquat-treated SH-SY5Y cells and promotes cell death. These data suggest that DJ-1 may protect against oxidative stress-induced cell death through the suppression of cytoplasmic TDP-43 aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Lei
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhi-Feng Zhang
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China.,Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Rui-Xue Lei
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Shu Wang
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Zhuang
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - An-Chun Liu
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun-Chun Tang
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng-Xian Pan
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Rui Liu
- Department of Physiology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei-Jing Liao
- Center for Brain Clinic, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University School of Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu-Gong Feng
- Research Institute of Neuroregeneration & Neurorehabilitation, and Department of Neurosurgery, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qi Wan
- Research Institute of Neuroregeneration & Neurorehabilitation, and Department of Neurosurgery, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Mei Zheng
- Department of Neurology, Beijing University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
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Czarny P, Bialek K, Ziolkowska S, Strycharz J, Sliwinski T. DNA damage and repair in neuropsychiatric disorders. What do we know and what are the future perspectives? Mutagenesis 2019; 35:79-106. [DOI: 10.1093/mutage/gez035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractOver the past two decades, extensive research has been done to elucidate the molecular etiology and pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. In majority of them, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), bipolar disorder (BD), schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, increased oxidative and nitrosative stress was found. This stress is known to induce oxidative damage to biomolecules, including DNA. Accordingly, increased mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, as well as RNA damage, were observed in patients suffering from these diseases. However, recent findings indicate that the patients are characterised by impaired DNA repair pathways, which may suggest that these DNA lesions could be also a result of their insufficient repair. In the current systematic, critical review, we aim to sum up, using available literature, the knowledge about the involvement of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA damage and repair, as well as about damage to RNA in pathoetiology of neuropsychiatric disorders, i.e., AD, PD, ALS, BD, schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, as well as the usefulness of the discussed factors as being diagnostic markers and targets for new therapies. Moreover, we also underline the new directions to which future studies should head to elucidate these phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Czarny
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Bialek
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Sylwia Ziolkowska
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Justyna Strycharz
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Tomasz Sliwinski
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
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44
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Fogarty MJ, Mu EWH, Lavidis NA, Noakes PG, Bellingham MC. Size-Dependent Vulnerability of Lumbar Motor Neuron Dendritic Degeneration in SOD1 G93A Mice. Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2019; 303:1455-1471. [PMID: 31509351 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The motor neuron (MN) soma surface area is correlated with motor unit type. Larger MNs innervate fast fatigue-intermediate (FInt) or fast-fatiguable (FF) muscle fibers in type FInt and FF motor units, respectively. Smaller MNs innervate slow-twitch fatigue-resistant (S) or fast fatigue-resistant (FR) muscle fibers in type S and FR motor units, respectively. In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), FInt and FF motor units are more vulnerable, with denervation and MN death occurring for these units before the more resilient S and FR units. Abnormal MN dendritic arbors have been observed in ALS in humans and rodent models. We used a Golgi-Cox impregnation protocol to examine soma size-dependent changes in the dendritic morphology of lumbar MNs in SOD1G93A mice, a model of ALS, at pre-symptomatic, onset and mid-disease stages. In wildtype control mice, the relationship between MN soma surface area and dendritic length or dendritic spine number was highly linear (i.e., increased MN soma size correlated with increased dendritic length and spines). By contrast, in SOD1G93A mice, this linear relationship was lost and dendritic length reduction and spine loss were observed in larger MNs, from pre-symptomatic stages onward. These changes correlated with the neuromotor symptoms of ALS in rodent models. At presymptomatic ages, changes were restricted to the larger MNs, likely to comprise vulnerable FInt and FF motor units. Our results suggest morphological changes of MN dendrites and dendritic spines are likely to contribute ALS pathogenesis, not compensate for it. Anat Rec, 303:1455-1471, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Fogarty
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Erica W H Mu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Nickolas A Lavidis
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter G Noakes
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.,Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Mark C Bellingham
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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Sheean RK, McKay FC, Cretney E, Bye CR, Perera ND, Tomas D, Weston RA, Scheller KJ, Djouma E, Menon P, Schibeci SD, Marmash N, Yerbury JJ, Nutt SL, Booth DR, Stewart GJ, Kiernan MC, Vucic S, Turner BJ. Association of Regulatory T-Cell Expansion With Progression of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Study of Humans and a Transgenic Mouse Model. JAMA Neurol 2019; 75:681-689. [PMID: 29507931 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2018.0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Importance Neuroinflammation appears to be a key modulator of disease progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and thereby a promising therapeutic target. The CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) infiltrating into the central nervous system suppress neuroinflammation and promote the activation of neuroprotective microglia in mouse models of ALS. To our knowledge, the therapeutic association of host Treg expansion with ALS progression has not been studied in vivo. Objective To assess the role of Tregs in regulating the pathophysiology of ALS in humans and the therapeutic outcome of increasing Treg activity in a mouse model of the disease. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective multicenter human and animal study was performed in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and research institutes. Clinical and function assessment, as well as immunological studies, were undertaken in 33 patients with sporadic ALS, and results were compared with 38 healthy control participants who were consecutively recruited from the multidisciplinary ALS clinic at Westmead Hospital between February 1, 2013, and December 31, 2014. All data analysis on patients with ALS was undertaken between January 2015 and December 2016. Subsequently, we implemented a novel approach to amplify the endogenous Treg population using peripheral injections of interleukin 2/interleukin 2 monoclonal antibody complexes (IL-2c) in transgenic mice that expressed mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), a gene associated with motor neuron degeneration. Main Outcomes and Measures In patients with ALS, Treg levels were determined and then correlated with disease progression. Circulating T-cell populations, motor neuron size, glial cell activation, and T-cell and microglial gene expression in spinal cords were determined in SOD1G93A mice, as well as the association of Treg amplification with disease onset and survival time in mice. Results The cohort of patients with ALS included 24 male patients and 9 female patients (mean [SD] age at assessment, 58.9 [10.9] years). There was an inverse correlation between total Treg levels (including the effector CD45RO+ subset) and rate of disease progression (R = -0.40, P = .002). Expansion of the effector Treg population in the SOD1G93A mice was associated with a significant slowing of disease progression, which was accompanied by an increase in survival time (IL-2c-treated mice: mean [SD], 160.6 [10.8] days; control mice: mean [SD], 144.9 [10.6] days; P = .003). Importantly, Treg expansion was associated with preserved motor neuron soma size and marked suppression of astrocytic and microglial immunoreactivity in the spinal cords of SOD1G93A mice, as well as elevated neurotrophic factor gene expression in spinal cord and peripheral nerves. Conclusions and Relevance These findings establish a neuroprotective effect of Tregs, possibly mediated by suppression of toxic neuroinflammation in the central nervous system. Strategies aimed at enhancing the Treg population and neuroprotective activity from the periphery may prove therapeutically useful for patients with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca K Sheean
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fiona C McKay
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erika Cretney
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christopher R Bye
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nirma D Perera
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Doris Tomas
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard A Weston
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Karlene J Scheller
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Elvan Djouma
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Parvathi Menon
- Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephen D Schibeci
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Najwa Marmash
- Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Justin J Yerbury
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Stephen L Nutt
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - David R Booth
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Graeme J Stewart
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,Westmead Hospital, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mathew C Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Steve Vucic
- Westmead Institute for Medical Research, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,Western Clinical School, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bradley J Turner
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Lynch E, Semrad T, Belsito VS, FitzGibbons C, Reilly M, Hayakawa K, Suzuki M. C9ORF72-related cellular pathology in skeletal myocytes derived from ALS-patient induced pluripotent stem cells. Dis Model Mech 2019; 12:12/8/dmm039552. [PMID: 31439573 PMCID: PMC6737948 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.039552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a late-onset neuromuscular disease with no cure and limited treatment options. Patients experience a gradual paralysis leading to death from respiratory complications on average only 2-5 years after diagnosis. There is increasing evidence that skeletal muscle is affected early in the disease process, yet the pathological processes occurring in the skeletal muscle of ALS patients are still mostly unknown. Specifically, the most common genetic cause of ALS, a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the C9ORF72 gene, has yet to be fully characterized in the context of skeletal muscle. In this study, we used the protocol previously developed in our lab to differentiate skeletal myocytes from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of C9ORF72 ALS (C9-ALS) patients in order to create an in vitro disease model of C9-ALS skeletal muscle pathology. Of the three C9ORF72 mutation hallmarks, we did not see any evidence of haploinsufficiency, but we did detect RNA foci and dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins. Additional abnormalities included changes in the expression of mitochondrial genes and a susceptibility to oxidative stress, indicating that mitochondrial dysfunction may be a critical feature of C9-ALS skeletal muscle pathology. Finally, the C9-ALS myocytes had increased expression and aggregation of TDP-43. Together, these data show that skeletal muscle cells experience pathological changes due to the C9ORF72 mutation. Our in vitro model could facilitate further study of cellular and molecular pathology in ALS skeletal muscle in order to discover new therapeutic targets against this devastating disease. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper. Summary: Evidence of protein aggregation and mitochondrial dysfunction were found in skeletal myocytes differentiated from ALS-patient induced pluripotent stem cells with the C9ORF72 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Lynch
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Theran Semrad
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Vincent S Belsito
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Claire FitzGibbons
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Megan Reilly
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Koji Hayakawa
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Imabari, Ehime 794-8555, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Suzuki
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA .,Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
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Welton T, Maller JJ, Lebel RM, Tan ET, Rowe DB, Grieve SM. Diffusion kurtosis and quantitative susceptibility mapping MRI are sensitive to structural abnormalities in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. NEUROIMAGE-CLINICAL 2019; 24:101953. [PMID: 31357149 PMCID: PMC6664242 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2019.101953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Objective To construct a clinical diagnostic biomarker using state-of-the-art microstructural MRI in the motor cortex of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods Clinical and MRI data were obtained from 21 ALS patients (aged 54 ± 14 years, 33% female) and 63 age- and gender-matched controls (aged 48 ± 18 years, 43% female). MRI was acquired at 3T and included T1-weighted scan (for volumetrics), arterial spin labelling (for cerebral blood flow), susceptibility-weighted angiography (for iron deposition) and multiband diffusion kurtosis imaging (for tissue microstructure). Group differences in imaging measures in the motor cortex were tested by general linear model and relationships to clinical variables by linear regression. Results The ALS group had mild-to-moderate impairment (disease duration: 1.8 ± 0.8 years; ALS functional rating scale 40.2 ± 6.0; forced vital capacity 83% ± 22%). No age or gender differences were present between groups. We found significant group differences in diffusion kurtosis metrics (apparent, mean, radial and axial kurtosis: p < .01) and iron deposition in the motor cortex (p = .03). Within the ALS group, we found significant relationships between motor cortex volume, apparent diffusion and disease duration (adjusted R2 = 0.27, p = .011); and between the apparent and radial kurtosis metrics and ALS functional rating scale (adjusted R2 = 0.25, p = .033). A composite imaging biomarker comprising kurtosis and iron deposition measures yielded a maximal diagnostic accuracy of 83% (81% sensitivity, 85% specificity) and an area-under-the-curve of 0.86. Conclusion Diffusion kurtosis is sensitive to early changes present in the motor region in ALS. We propose a composite imaging biomarker reflecting tissue microstructural changes in early ALS that may provide clinically valuable diagnostic information. A biomarker based on diffusion kurtosis imaging achieved an accuracy of 83%. Kurtosis-based measures were more abnormal in ALS than tensor-based measures. Motor cortex in the symptomatic hemisphere was smaller and had greater iron concentration. There was a 1 mL volume loss per year in ALS motor cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Welton
- Sydney Translational Imaging Laboratory, Heart Research Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australia.
| | - Jerome J Maller
- Sydney Translational Imaging Laboratory, Heart Research Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australia; GE Healthcare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
| | | | - Ek T Tan
- GE Global Research, Niskayuna, NY, USA.
| | - Dominic B Rowe
- MND Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia; Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie, Australia
| | - Stuart M Grieve
- Sydney Translational Imaging Laboratory, Heart Research Institute, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australia; Macquarie University Hospital, Macquarie, Australia; Department of Radiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
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48
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Vucic S, Westeneng HJ, Al-Chalabi A, Van Den Berg LH, Talman P, Kiernan MC. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as a multi-step process: an Australia population study. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2019; 20:532-537. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2018.1556697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Steve Vucic
- Westmead Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia,
| | - Henk-Jan Westeneng
- Department of Neurology, Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands,
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London, UK,
- Department of Neurology, King’s College Hospital, London, UK,
| | - Leonard H. Van Den Berg
- Department of Neurology, Brain Centre Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands,
| | | | - Matthew C. Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney and Institute of Clinical Neurosciences, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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49
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Moore S, Alsop E, Lorenzini I, Starr A, Rabichow BE, Mendez E, Levy JL, Burciu C, Reiman R, Chew J, Belzil VV, W. Dickson D, Robertson J, Staats KA, Ichida JK, Petrucelli L, Van Keuren-Jensen K, Sattler R. ADAR2 mislocalization and widespread RNA editing aberrations in C9orf72-mediated ALS/FTD. Acta Neuropathol 2019; 138:49-65. [PMID: 30945056 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-019-01999-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The hexanucleotide repeat expansion GGGGCC (G4C2)n in the C9orf72 gene is the most common genetic abnormality associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Recent findings suggest that dysfunction of nuclear-cytoplasmic trafficking could affect the transport of RNA binding proteins in C9orf72 ALS/FTD. Here, we provide evidence that the RNA editing enzyme adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 2 (ADAR2) is mislocalized in C9orf72 repeat expansion mediated ALS/FTD. ADAR2 is responsible for adenosine (A) to inosine (I) editing of double-stranded RNA, and its function has been shown to be essential for survival. Here we show the mislocalization of ADAR2 in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons (hiPSC-MNs) from C9orf72 patients, in mice expressing (G4C2)149, and in C9orf72 ALS/FTD patient postmortem tissue. As a consequence of this mislocalization we observe alterations in RNA editing in our model systems and across multiple brain regions. Analysis of editing at 408,580 known RNA editing sites indicates that there are vast RNA A to I editing aberrations in C9orf72-mediated ALS/FTD. These RNA editing aberrations are found in many cellular pathways, such as the ALS pathway and the crucial EIF2 signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that the mislocalization of ADAR2 in C9orf72 mediated ALS/FTD is responsible for the alteration of RNA processing events that may impact vast cellular functions, including the integrated stress response (ISR) and protein translation.
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50
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Pathophysiology and Diagnosis of ALS: Insights from Advances in Neurophysiological Techniques. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20112818. [PMID: 31185581 PMCID: PMC6600525 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20112818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disorder of the motor neurons, characterized by focal onset of muscle weakness and incessant disease progression. While the presence of concomitant upper and lower motor neuron signs has been recognized as a pathognomonic feature of ALS, the pathogenic importance of upper motor neuron dysfunction has only been recently described. Specifically, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) techniques have established cortical hyperexcitability as an important pathogenic mechanism in ALS, correlating with neurodegeneration and disease spread. Separately, ALS exhibits a heterogeneous clinical phenotype that may lead to misdiagnosis, particularly in the early stages of the disease process. Cortical hyperexcitability was shown to be a robust diagnostic biomarker if ALS, reliably differentiating ALS from neuromuscular mimicking disorders. The present review will provide an overview of key advances in the understanding of ALS pathophysiology and diagnosis, focusing on the importance of cortical hyperexcitability and its relationship to advances in genetic and molecular processes implicated in ALS pathogenesis.
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